Luke 9:37-48

New beginning on 7 January 2018 at 287 Kingsman Dr. Newport News, VA

Sermon Notes as a webpage

The previous Messiah wannabes who dotted the scene before Jesus were a motley bunch of crackpots, axe-to-grind types, thundercloud-over-the-head types, rebels and fellows of dubious character. They were all, ultimately, flashes in society’s pan, and their following typically disintegrated rapidly upon their often untimely and ignoble deaths. Then came Jesus! At the beginning, he, too, was regarded as just another voice to be tolerated for a season. As headlines increasingly sang out his accolades, among ever greater numbers, fears began to blossom among those who would maintain the status quo. To quicken the silencing of this troublesome sect, the religious rulers orchestrated his death, thinking, by it, to have restored peace and order in their domain. They were almost right. Almost.

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God Himself, though all-knowing, eternally perfect and infinitely self-sufficient, has deemed compromise to be a vital element of His dealings with us.  The unfailing love of the lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.  Lamentations 3:22 NLT  And in His truly infinite wisdom and impeccable planning, He is having us reqresent His Kingdom interests during our pilgrimage here.  So, how do we, with the realities of our humanity all too obvious, navigate the in it but not of it dilemma?

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No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer; It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body.  If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar; Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musky and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.  Luke 11:33-36, The MESSAGE

Fr. Pacella holds a Masters in Theology from Harvard University Divinity School, a Masters in Divinity from Yale University Divinity School, Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, and is currently a doctoral candidate of Moral Theology. Fr. Pacella served as the senior pastor of New London Covenant Church for 20 years (New London, CT), became ordained as a Charasmatic Episcopal Minister, and served as Vicar and founder of Church of the Blessed Redeember, Williamsburg, VA. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the following institutions: Saint Leo University (Religion) Langley Center, Hampton, Virginia Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia (Humanities) Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Virginia (Philosophy) College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia (ROTC) Holy Trinity College & Seminary, Libertytown, Maryland (Post Graduate Ethics) University of Maryland Police Academy, College Park, Maryland (Police Ethics) Hampton Roads Police Academy, Williamsburg, Virginia (Police Ethics) University of Northern Virginia (ESL Instructor, Post Graduate and Doctoral).

Fr. Pacella, an honorably discharged military veteran, served with the US Navy during the Vietnam conflict in the Seventh Fleet West Pacific Cruise, and more recently as a US Army Battalion Chaplain.

Our sincere apologies that the sound quality isn't the best.  Except for some background noise that couldn't entirely be cleaned up, the message itself is excellent, and well worth listening to!