What makes for a blessed life?

This Sunday, and for the next several Sundays, we will be taking a fresh look at the powerful words of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. These well-known teachings have comforted and perplexed, humbled and empowered people for centuries - and they still do. They are glimpses of what it is like to live in the Light of the Kingdom of God here and now.

We'll start off with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-10, and see how those surprising words about what makes for a "blessed life" turn our world's assumptions upside-down.

I know you've heard these verses many times in the past, and I should confess that when I began looking at them once again on Monday morning, I felt a little bored! But sometimes staying with your boredom pays off, as you begin to let those words speak. As I stayed with them, and listened to them more deeply, new things began to appear. I'm looking forward to sharing with you what I discovered - for the first time - in the Beatitudes as we share in worship this Sunday.

Also this Sunday, we will hear from Elisa Regan with World Relief Chicago during worship. She will highlight their refugee resettlement program and how we can get more involved. In worship, we will also have the opportunity to support United Voices for Children, which does such good work for children and teens in our conference, through The Fifth Sunday Appeal for Children offering.