West Center Congregational Church ~~~~United Church of Christ~~~~
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Blessings to all,
From Pastor John Barrett
Below are two excerpts from Pastor John's final sermon. To read the entire sermon click on the passage below.
I think it is most appropriate that the Gospel Witness for my final sermon before retiring includes the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Jesus also calls this the
first
commandment. And I like that Jesus makes a distinction between great and first. The word “great” has connotations of power, size and wealth, implying that others are inferior.
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I would like to “Make America great again,” not through power, wealth, and isolation, but through application of our national values, including our national empathy and our national generosity.
America as a
great
nation would be “one nation,
under God
with liberty and justice for all,” and Lady Liberty lifting her lamp beside the golden door, welcoming the tired, the poor, the wretched and homeless to this great, open-armed and open-hearted country of ours.
We Celebrated the Ministry of
Pastor John Upon His Retirement
October 29, 2017