“He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life….For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:6; 4:5–6, CSB)
Paul tells the Church that she is to proclaim the new covenant of reconciliation. This is not the ministry of the apostles alone—nor of clergy alone—it is the ministry given to the Church. And we are not proclaiming ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that the Church is the light of the world.
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, CSB)
We who have been illuminated by the knowledge of God’s glory are not to hold it in secret as if religion were a private matter. No! we are to lead those in darkness to the great promise given in Isaiah: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.” (Isaiah 9:2, CSB)
Saint Timothy’s Anglican seeks to live faithfully according to God’s word. Each one of us are to “…[be] ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15, CSB) We are to go and to invite the world to the Great Feast: “…Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:23, CSB) Thus, we have an individual responsibility to carry out the great commission given to the whole Church.
Friend Day is one opportunity for every member in our congregation to invite someone who has no church home to come and see. Because other visitors will join us on that day, they should not feel singled out. They will experience Anglican worship—many for the first time. They are invited to eat and fellowship with us—get to know us and we them. It is not too late to invite those friends, family, and neighbors to join us on September 8th and to invite them again. You were asked a month ago to pray for them, now invite them. Those you have invited, remind and tell them how much you are looking forward to them joining you. Offer to pick them up and bring them with you. Remember, we are not just inviting them to church for a day, but to meet Jesus!