So here's that word again, mission. It's a familiar word. It should be. After all, it's what we're about as Christians. But for some reason, although we use this word it often still gets pushed to the side. Mission, almost an afterthought sometimes. Mission, it's that thing some of the people do, that thing we give money to. Mission, it's what we do once a month. But other than that, we're about learning and studying and growing. And mission is about?

It is the witness of God's people to God's love as shown in the saving activity of Jesus Christ, as they respond to God lovingly calling, and sending them out in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God loves the world and invites us into a relationship of love and freedom in Jesus Christ. Jesus' death and resurrection make this possible. Jesus' life shows us how to live in love. When we enter into relationship with God, we are freed to more perfectly love each other and God's creation. We have good news to share. We have thrown ourselves on God's mercy, repented of our sins, accepted and received God's love and forgiveness and live a new life abandoned to God. It is joy. It is peace! It's not perfect, but, God loves us anyway and is helping us to be better. What news! We have a story to share of how we live day by day with God.

This new life puts us in relationship with other people who are also living this way. It is a communal story as we grow together. There are other people who would like to share in this story, but how will they know about it? We've got to tell them. That's one part of it.

When we look at Jesus, we don't only see words. We see an entire attitude of love and compassion that resulted in action. Jesus not only announced but demonstrated the good news of God's reign. God was active in the world through Jesus Christ and God continues to be active in the world today. God invites us share in what God is doing, to share in this story. God lovingly calls us and when we respond, God lovingly sends us out to share the story of God at work in the world and in our lives in word, action, and attitude.

We don't need to be strong to share this story, because the Holy Spirit is there to give us the strength that we need and to help us to see and understand what God is doing and saying. Prayer, Bible study, sharing in community, awareness of what's around us, and listening to God are all part of our growing in faith. As we grow in faith, we have more stories to share.

God loves the world.

God is already active in the world.

Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, came living and proclaiming the reign of God.

Jesus' words, actions, and attitudes show God's loving purpose for the world.

God loves each of us uniquely, inasmuch as God loves the world.

God invites us into relationship.

We can repent of our sins and receive God's forgiveness.

When we accept, we enter a new relationship of loving freedom with God and others.

God sends us out to share this love.

The Holy Spirit helps us.

Pray, study the Bible, share in community, be aware, listen, and grow in faith.