The title of a beloved Christmas hymn expresses the sentiments, Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me. Mahatma Gandhi advised that, "You Must Be the Change you Wish to See in the World…" It all begins with each nonviolent individual. Acknowledging that we have been made in the image of God; our Christian theology, our understanding of salvation history holds that God wants you to have it all, to live in peace and to live life in its fullest and deepest expressions… Not merely a 50% improvement, or better performance, but abundant life drenched in freedom and creative spirit. Yet none of us are free until all of us are free, and with freedom comes responsibility.

This echoes in all that we do. For example, the goal in quality marriage counseling is not simply to solve a particular crisis or dilemma, but to help make that relationship the very best that it can be for all involved. The attainable ideal is to help create that kind of trust and confidence that will enable both parties to maintain their own needs, dreams and aspirations while supporting the hopes, dreams and aspirations of their partner. For some of you, this comes as easily as your next breath, for others of us; it takes some work and commitment. Peace of heart, mind, and soul is not easily attained, but it is the promised goal.

The same applies with the Church. Our church leadership desires and strives to help make your experience at Faith one of the deepest church experiences of your life. We trust that you are fed and nourished by the Word of God found in Scripture and the Sacraments. We know that you experience a genuine concern not only for your own well-being, but also that of your neighbors and friends, and even a loving concern for folks on the other side of the planet whom we may never meet. Your local worship community is a place where you can see God in your sister’s eyes and in your brother’s face, where you can reach out or sit still, and be touched by the healing power of God in your life. In comments about preaching in the local congregation, St. Augustine answered with these words: What is learned is how to live a good life; and how to live a good life is learned to enable you to live forever…. There you are, that’s what’s learned in the house of discipline: to love God, to love your neighbor; God as God, neighbor as yourself [Sermon399.1,3].

In contrast to the embarrassing representations of Christianity offered by the inflammatory comments of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, we at Faith and in most mainline Christian churches offer an authentic alternative to the fundamentalist and extremist propaganda spewed out in the media. We offer a particular sort of love, not an abstract love, but a love tested in the crucible of daily life. An unconditional love that takes concrete form in human society. Again in the words of St. Augustine, "Whoever, therefore, supposes to understand the divine scriptures or any part of them so that it does not build up the double love of God and of the neighbor does not understand it all" [I.36.40].

It is my hope that folks will continue to welcome friends and colleagues to participate with our church in the confidence that we share something very important every Sunday in our worship and our fellowship, and throughout the week. Especially in this past year we have played a very strong role in this community as advocates for the poor and marginalized, as well as having strengthened our circle of friends and support with the continued blessings of the merger. Outreach with the wonderful multicultural diversity with which we have been blessed here in the San Fernando Valley is an exciting calling. My hope in coming years is that we might consider the possibility of becoming an Internship Site to assist in training future generations of pastors by sharing our unique opportunities for ministry with a seminarian. It is probably a few years away and will require stable leadership and increased financial commitment on our part. This is an exciting ministry God has placed before us. May we continue to learn from and to be surprised by God’s goodness reflected in the diversity of our communities.

What will the future hold? The only way to predict the future is by creating it. Let us each use our hands to mold our actions into powerful images of the goodness of God. Let us sculpt each day to the glory of God. Let us be attentive and respond appropriately to the suffering we encounter with the compassion of Jesus, the one we see as the very embodiment of the nature of God. Loving words and actions. It all begins with each nonviolent individual. It all begins with you! It all begins with me!

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