Peter Fitch ended last year by teaching that the meaning of the Gospel is found in the ancient Jewish promise that God Himself would come as King since the quality of the leadership that He saw in the world was severely deficient. Jesus fulfilled this promise and reinforced another part of it: the building of a new people who could give servant-hearted leadership (in the style of Psalm 23: 'being present without judgment or domination' in real-life situations) to the people in the world. Peter speaks of the mission of churches, and SCV in particular, as forming a community that helps people to develop in character, wholeness, and intimacy with God so that they can be better representatives of Jesus in their own day-to-day contexts. Today's talk is about character, viewed through several different lenses including a Bonhoeffer poem, Scripture, and life experience.

The Early (Celtic) Service Readings for the day can be found here. 

Walter Thiessen addresses some of the ways that we keep ourselves distant from God by hiding behind inauthentic selves and distorted images of God. The blessing of Aaron was used to invite something better.

The Early (Celtic) Service Readings for the day can be found here. 

Peter Fitch gives a basis for unity at SCV: an appreciation of the beauty of God's presence in the many different ways that a diverse group of people can offer it. Each act of worship, of compassion, of encouragement can usher in the 'something more' of God's presence. 

Peter Fitch leads a talk about Jesus' easy yoke. This service seemed particularly alive and almost everything in the talk is connected to something else, showing perhaps, a glimmer of God's weaving of circumstance.

Peter Fitch speaks out of John 15 about what it means to let God's life flow in and through our lives. Picture at left is "I am the Vine' by Rik Berry.