Peace and Blessings
Worship With Us
|
Can you help?
What is the “Neighbors in Need”
|
The mustard plant which is a small bush-like tree that typically grew to approximately nine-feet from a remarkably small seed. This mustard plant was not grown in gardens since the distribution of seeds meant they grew up in places not desired and were grown in large numbers. Because the plants grew into trees, birds loved them for nesting. Obviously one of the points of the parable is that while the mustard seed has a small beginning, it ends with a surprisingly large effect. However, in the Mustard Seed parable Jesus also mentions that birds come and perch in the tree's branches. Few commentators, drawing on images of birds in Ezekiel, seem to see an allegory to the Gentile inclusion. Others insist that this is strictly a one-point parable and that the birds carry no additional allegorical meaning.
Palestinian farmers hated the mustard plant since it would take root in any fertile soil, such as vineyards where crops had been planted. Without specific chemicals to attack the mustard plant, it was going to be a part of the landscape no matter how hard you tried to stop it. The persistence of the mustard plant was an example of how our determination should be as we spread the Gospel of Christ through the Word of God.
The same point was made in St. Matthew 17: 20, when Jesus told the disciples that the reason they could not exorcise the demon in an epileptic boy, the seemingly impossible, was because of their, “little,” faith, meaning not lack of amount, but lack of authenticity. There Jesus uses the analogy of the mustard seed, the smallest in size, and states that faith barely visible could “move mountains,” that is, obstacles impossible to deny.
Here Jesus uses another metaphor, “uprooting a mulberry tree,” meaning a seemingly impossible task. Faith, a gift from God, can “move mountains” and “uproot trees” and empower a disciple to forgive a seemingly impossible sum of times, even on the same day.
The New Testament writers boldly portray Jesus meeting the powers of this world head on in a showdown. And when it was over and the dust had settled, the resurrection story claims: those powers had been dismantled. Jesus is the Christ, and that's the way it is" The question before the house is, "Do we believe them?" When we are completely honest, the answer is probably, "Well, yes; but..." So, we, like the disciples, cry out, "Lord, increase our faith!"
We are fully aware that we need more faith. We have some but it is not enough. Saints have more faith than nonbelievers, and clearly, we want to be on the side of the angels. Furthermore, we assume like the disciples, that Jesus is the one to see about increasing our store of faith. The disciples came to Jesus with the request to increase their faith. In the eyes of Jesus, the disciples apparently had no faith whatsoever! None! Even a little of it could work wonders, but Jesus says the disciples have not as much as a grain of mustard seed.
Can anyone take Jesus seriously? Does any believer truly think that if he or she had enough faith, mountains could be moved into leaping around like lambs or trees taken for a stroll? For me Faith is not about giving intellectual agreement to a particular doctrine or idea. Faith in us not about how much in all that they are and all that they do. It is in our faith-relationship with Jesus or how strongly we believe Jesus’s words or actions.
When we speak about a married couple’s faithfulness we do not mean they believe or agree with each other’s ideas or even a particular understanding of marriage. They are faithful because they have committed themselves to each other in love and trust. They are faithful because they continually give their life to the other and receive the other’s life as their own. They are faithful because they carry with them that one relationship wherever they go,
It is my humble opinion that faith will not change the circumstances of our lives, instead it changes us. Living in faith will not cover us from the pain and suffering of our life, it does not undo the past, and it will not guarantee a different future. But faith is the means by which we face and deal with the circumstances of our life: the difficulties, sorrows, losses, joys, successes, the opportunities and possibilities of the life. If you would like to know more about how to increase your faith please join in our worship on Sunday at 11: 00 AM.
Palestinian farmers hated the mustard plant since it would take root in any fertile soil, such as vineyards where crops had been planted. Without specific chemicals to attack the mustard plant, it was going to be a part of the landscape no matter how hard you tried to stop it. The persistence of the mustard plant was an example of how our determination should be as we spread the Gospel of Christ through the Word of God.
The same point was made in St. Matthew 17: 20, when Jesus told the disciples that the reason they could not exorcise the demon in an epileptic boy, the seemingly impossible, was because of their, “little,” faith, meaning not lack of amount, but lack of authenticity. There Jesus uses the analogy of the mustard seed, the smallest in size, and states that faith barely visible could “move mountains,” that is, obstacles impossible to deny.
Here Jesus uses another metaphor, “uprooting a mulberry tree,” meaning a seemingly impossible task. Faith, a gift from God, can “move mountains” and “uproot trees” and empower a disciple to forgive a seemingly impossible sum of times, even on the same day.
The New Testament writers boldly portray Jesus meeting the powers of this world head on in a showdown. And when it was over and the dust had settled, the resurrection story claims: those powers had been dismantled. Jesus is the Christ, and that's the way it is" The question before the house is, "Do we believe them?" When we are completely honest, the answer is probably, "Well, yes; but..." So, we, like the disciples, cry out, "Lord, increase our faith!"
We are fully aware that we need more faith. We have some but it is not enough. Saints have more faith than nonbelievers, and clearly, we want to be on the side of the angels. Furthermore, we assume like the disciples, that Jesus is the one to see about increasing our store of faith. The disciples came to Jesus with the request to increase their faith. In the eyes of Jesus, the disciples apparently had no faith whatsoever! None! Even a little of it could work wonders, but Jesus says the disciples have not as much as a grain of mustard seed.
Can anyone take Jesus seriously? Does any believer truly think that if he or she had enough faith, mountains could be moved into leaping around like lambs or trees taken for a stroll? For me Faith is not about giving intellectual agreement to a particular doctrine or idea. Faith in us not about how much in all that they are and all that they do. It is in our faith-relationship with Jesus or how strongly we believe Jesus’s words or actions.
When we speak about a married couple’s faithfulness we do not mean they believe or agree with each other’s ideas or even a particular understanding of marriage. They are faithful because they have committed themselves to each other in love and trust. They are faithful because they continually give their life to the other and receive the other’s life as their own. They are faithful because they carry with them that one relationship wherever they go,
It is my humble opinion that faith will not change the circumstances of our lives, instead it changes us. Living in faith will not cover us from the pain and suffering of our life, it does not undo the past, and it will not guarantee a different future. But faith is the means by which we face and deal with the circumstances of our life: the difficulties, sorrows, losses, joys, successes, the opportunities and possibilities of the life. If you would like to know more about how to increase your faith please join in our worship on Sunday at 11: 00 AM.
Peace and Blessings
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj
Minister
Join Us!
Sunday, October 16 11:00 AM
Ask Boldly, Live Justly
Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 16 11:00 AM
Ask Boldly, Live Justly
Blessing of the Animals
|
Please don’t forget our ongoing collection of
non-perishable food for the Yonkers Food Pantry! 
|
|
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
|
|
|
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! 
|
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.
|
Our Mission:
|
Your donations help us to continue with our Missions during these trying times!
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
Click here for
Other Ways to donate to West Center
|
Contact us: Church Office: 101 Pondfield Road West, Bronxville, NY 10708 Email: westcenterucc@verizon.net Phone: (914) 337-3829 |
|