The most valuable things in life are not attained with money. God’s grace is free. This does not mean that it is cheap, or that it should be taken lightly. The gift of Christ moves us to orient our lives toward what is of true value.

Our district superintendent stopped by to give a message on our church for our Bicentennial Celebration Sunday event.

Christ brings peace. The Isaiah passage is the famous “the wolf shall live with the lamb” image, and the Micah passage is the “swords into ploughshares” image, which has had a recent expression in the “megatons to megawatts” project.

The “living water” imagery is found in Ezekiel, who has a vision of a new temple, with a river of water flowing from it, which brings life to all. Zechariah reiterates the image: “on that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem.” The imagery is repeated in a climactic way at the end of

The image of the “repairer of the breach” points first of all to the fact that there is a basic breach or gap between ourselves and God, which results in a breach in our relations with others. Christ is the repairer of the breach, who restores us into right relationship with God and with other.

We need a spiritual transformation. God promises a “new heart and new spirit,” a promise that comes to fulfillment in Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.