Scripture.

The Bible is so good! And it's the best kept secret, because it has a crummy reputation. We don't apologize for the Bible at St Andrew's—we embrace it, with all its complications and, sure, embarrassing parts. Like any relationship, the way we relate to scripture can change over time, can evoke strong feelings, can benefit from generosity and patience. Like Jesus himself says, it can be sharp—like a sword—so, handle with care. During sermon time in our worship, we dig into scripture as a community. We listen to it, let it speak, ask it questions, open our hearts to it, and witness how it works in each other. We treat it like a living thing and trust that God speaks to us through it. We anchor our communal living in its stories. We return to it for guidance. We give it space to work in us for healing and discernment. For one season, we tracked how many of the Sunday scripture passages (the lectionary) contained a command to care for the poor. It was a lot, y'all. In this season of uncertainty and fear in our national life, we look to the experience of the Hebrew prophets, and of Jesus, who lived and ministered under unjust regimes. Here's some good news, straight from the Gospel: When someone asked Jesus which part of the law is the greatest, he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.