The Final Four

I decided last week to use my final four Sunday sermons at Saint Matthias Church to lay out what I think are four essential characteristics of the Church. I think that the four are clearly discernible in the texts for the Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary, although one could draw other characteristics from the texts. On this past Sunday, reflecting on the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, the sermon was about the Church as a Community of Welcome.  God willing and the creek don't rise,  the three remaining sermons will be about the Church as a Graced Community, the Church as a Listening Community, and the Church as a Community of Companions on the Way.