Peace and Blessings
Worship With Us
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School Supplies
Once again the Salvation Army is collecting school supplies for needy Yonkers school children. The Board of World Service will be receiving school supplies for distribution by the Salvation Army until August 14, 2022. The following are requested supplies: Pens Pencils, both black and colored Pink erasers Crayons - boxes of 16 or 24 Marble notebooks Backpacks Rulers Scissors Pocket folders Pencil boxes Glue sticks Hand sanitizers Tissues Washable markers Highlighters Please participate!
in bringing the School Supplies as per list to our church on or before August 14, 2022. Monetary donations are also welcome, these donations will be given to Salvation Army in Yonkers. Please don’t forget our ongoing collection of
non-perishable food for the Yonkers Food Pantry! 
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This Sunday
Luke chapter 12 is about discipleship. Jesus is teaching his listeners about what it really means to be a disciple. He is also warning his disciples of what will happen to them once they go out and start serving Jesus truthfully and faithfully. For the last two weeks we are studying Luke chapter 12 and we learned about the value of the Kingdom of God, two weeks ago we discussed the possession of wealth and last week we pondered upon fear, worry and anxiety.
This week’s gospel reading for our Sunday worship is also from St. Luke 12: 49-56. These eight verses are some of the difficult verses to understand in this chapter. Jesus is urging his listeners to become the citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus knew about the coming crisis of our eternal destiny, and he wanted everyone to be prepared for this eternal destiny.
Jesus said in verse 49, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it was already kindled!" What does the fire represent? Theologians say it is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a symbol of God’s Word, the gospel, the faith, or the spiritual passion. “Frequently we see in the Bible, the use of the image of fire, it refers to two important functions: The refiner’s fire that purifies, or the fire of judgment which destroys.” Jesus is talking about the crisis of eternal destiny of coming judgment and fulfilling.
In Luke 3:16 we read John the Baptist’s promise that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. Jesus said that he wished that the fire of purification and judgment that he had come to cast on earth were already kindled. But that would happen only after Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Jesus says that he is in distress until the death on the cross is accomplished. Jesus’ anticipation of the cross was growing months before he died on the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus wanted it to happen because he knew that his death would bring about the salvation of His people (the elect).
Early in his ministry Jesus told people not to reveal who he was. He often spoke in parables and was more announced in his proclamation about his identity and mission. However, as he came to the last few months of his ministry, Jesus’ preaching became increasingly urgent as he urged his listeners to repent of their sin and believe that he indeed was the Christ sent by God to seek and to save the lost.
After Jesus’ death on the cross, he would of course be buried. Three days after his burial, God raised him back to life – a sign that he had accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for sin. It is at that point that the fire is cast on the earth. It is the fire that either purifies or destroys. It purifies those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus, and it destroys those who reject Jesus.
Jesus then went on to give a second image of baptism in verse 50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Now what does this baptism mean? In coming to cast the fire on the earth, Jesus also had to undergo a baptism. This obviously does not refer to his water baptism in the Jordan River, as he had already received that baptism. Here in verse 50 Jesus was looking to a baptism that was yet to be accomplished.
The baptism to which Jesus was referring was his death on the cross by crucifixion, which was now only a few months away. He would experience a fierce, fiery trial when he suffered the unmitigated wrath of a holy God as he bore the penalty of our sin on the cross at Calvary. Jesus was speaking about the pains that he would suffer on our behalf to secure our salvation.
That is why Jesus said in verse 51, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” I will never forget this verse, when I first went to the seminary during the advent, we were given the assignment to prepare a Christmas message on this verse. We all know the Christmas message is a constant message of the season of “peace, peace, and peace.” Growing up in India, I remember often listening to the Christmas messages on the theme of peace: every message was peace, the need for peace, the importance of peace and so on. If you would like to know more about the teachings of Jesus, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
This week’s gospel reading for our Sunday worship is also from St. Luke 12: 49-56. These eight verses are some of the difficult verses to understand in this chapter. Jesus is urging his listeners to become the citizens of the kingdom of God. Jesus knew about the coming crisis of our eternal destiny, and he wanted everyone to be prepared for this eternal destiny.
Jesus said in verse 49, "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it was already kindled!" What does the fire represent? Theologians say it is a reference to the Holy Spirit, a symbol of God’s Word, the gospel, the faith, or the spiritual passion. “Frequently we see in the Bible, the use of the image of fire, it refers to two important functions: The refiner’s fire that purifies, or the fire of judgment which destroys.” Jesus is talking about the crisis of eternal destiny of coming judgment and fulfilling.
In Luke 3:16 we read John the Baptist’s promise that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. Jesus said that he wished that the fire of purification and judgment that he had come to cast on earth were already kindled. But that would happen only after Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Jesus says that he is in distress until the death on the cross is accomplished. Jesus’ anticipation of the cross was growing months before he died on the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus wanted it to happen because he knew that his death would bring about the salvation of His people (the elect).
Early in his ministry Jesus told people not to reveal who he was. He often spoke in parables and was more announced in his proclamation about his identity and mission. However, as he came to the last few months of his ministry, Jesus’ preaching became increasingly urgent as he urged his listeners to repent of their sin and believe that he indeed was the Christ sent by God to seek and to save the lost.
After Jesus’ death on the cross, he would of course be buried. Three days after his burial, God raised him back to life – a sign that he had accepted the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus to pay the penalty for sin. It is at that point that the fire is cast on the earth. It is the fire that either purifies or destroys. It purifies those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus, and it destroys those who reject Jesus.
Jesus then went on to give a second image of baptism in verse 50, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Now what does this baptism mean? In coming to cast the fire on the earth, Jesus also had to undergo a baptism. This obviously does not refer to his water baptism in the Jordan River, as he had already received that baptism. Here in verse 50 Jesus was looking to a baptism that was yet to be accomplished.
The baptism to which Jesus was referring was his death on the cross by crucifixion, which was now only a few months away. He would experience a fierce, fiery trial when he suffered the unmitigated wrath of a holy God as he bore the penalty of our sin on the cross at Calvary. Jesus was speaking about the pains that he would suffer on our behalf to secure our salvation.
That is why Jesus said in verse 51, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” I will never forget this verse, when I first went to the seminary during the advent, we were given the assignment to prepare a Christmas message on this verse. We all know the Christmas message is a constant message of the season of “peace, peace, and peace.” Growing up in India, I remember often listening to the Christmas messages on the theme of peace: every message was peace, the need for peace, the importance of peace and so on. If you would like to know more about the teachings of Jesus, please join us in our worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM.
Peace and Blessings
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
Contact us:
Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West,
Bronxville, NY 10708
Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net
Phone: (914) 337-3829
Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West,
Bronxville, NY 10708
Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net
Phone: (914) 337-3829
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We are gathering feedback from you as to what worship experiences you have had these past few months, what inspired you, and what your needs from West Center are going forward. We really want to know what you think as to what West Center’s priorities should be in the coming months, so don’t be shy when we ask for your comments! 
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PLEASE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO MASK UP PROPERLY AND PRACTICE PHYSICAL DISTANCING -BE SAFE- -BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER- "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer" Romans 12:12 |
Stillspeaking
It's the shorter form of "God is still speaking," a campaign by the United Church of Christ to remind us that God still has a lot more to say. Since 2004, Stillspeaking has worked with thousands of UCC churches and individuals across the country to make religion relevant again and to extend an extravagant welcome to all--
because no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you're welcome here.
Here at West Center Congregational,
United Church of Christ.
It's the shorter form of "God is still speaking," a campaign by the United Church of Christ to remind us that God still has a lot more to say. Since 2004, Stillspeaking has worked with thousands of UCC churches and individuals across the country to make religion relevant again and to extend an extravagant welcome to all--
because no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you're welcome here.
Here at West Center Congregational,
United Church of Christ.
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Our Mission:
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Mail a check or make a donation through your online banking service.
Make the donation to: West Center Congregational Church, UCC
101 Pondfield Road West Bronxville, NY 10708
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Contact us: Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West, Bronxville, NY 10708 Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net Phone: (914) 337-3829 |
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