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Pastor Christine Jones holds degrees in both Religious Studies and English. She spent many years traveling in China, Japan and the Emirates as a teacher of English as a Second Language. She returned to the US in 2016 and in 2022 answered God's call to ministry as a bi-vocational local pastor, working in the local church and also teaching at Glendale Community College. Christine brings a wealth of experience and a passion for ministry as she takes on the role of pastor at Community Church. She believes strongly that every member of the congregation has a role in "Serving God and Community that all may be one" John 17:21.
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When Faith Gets Real
It's easy to say, "I'm a Christian." It takes much more courage and discipline to act like one! To say it another way, the Walk is so much more important than the Talk! Striving to love, as Jesus loves, will warm more hearts than simply saying, "Jesus Loves You!"
What I love about this church community is how everyone supports each other. But it doesn't stop there – I have been patiently waiting to see how our faith spills over into genuine care for our Buckeye neighbors. When we collect coats for Coats for Comfort, we're not just gathering clothing; we're building bridges. When families throughout Buckeye know they can count on us to help keep their children warm, that's the gospel in action. When we support All Faith Community Service with food drives, we're showing that our faith isn't just something we talk about on Sundays – it's how we live every day. These are just a few examples of what this church is known for.
As we move into the month of November, I am starting a series of sermons that I am calling "Face to Face with Jesus". In this series, I will be examining what following Jesus really means. True discipleship means actively participating in God's transformative work in the world. This requires moving from passive observation to engaged service, using our resources, life stage, and circumstances to embody God's justice and love right where we are.
Imagine yourself in a relationship where you are told daily that you are loved. Yet, this person treats you poorly, ignores your needs, and demands that you comply with their every wish. In time, any of us would begin to question the genuineness of this friend or partner's love. The same holds true in our faith. We may claim to believe in God, but unless our life and actions line up with what we say we believe, our community will see right through us.
In the book of James, we read: "My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can't save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, 'Go in peace! Have a nice meal!'? What good is it if you don't actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn't result in faithful activity." (James 2:14-17)
Years ago, I remember chuckling when passing a billboard showing a muscle-bound man sporting a white mustache. The short phrase on the billboard, "Got Milk?" was the dairy industry's attempt to get more adults to drink milk. I don't know if they succeeded in their mission.
The mission of Christianity, should we decide to accept it (can you hear the Mission Impossible theme song?) is to make more disciples of Jesus Christ, which in turn will change our community into a more loving, hospitable, grace-filled place. It will take a lot more than Christians smiling and singing: "Jesus loves me, this I know"… Don't get me wrong, I love that song! But we must, as Jesus said, care for the least of these, who Jesus claims to be family. (Matthew 25:40) We are even told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:44)
Here's the beautiful thing – when our faith becomes real through our actions, something wonderful happens. The family who receives a warm coat doesn't just stay warm; they experience the love of Christ through our hands. The neighbors who see us consistently showing up for our community don't just notice our good deeds; they begin to understand what Christianity actually looks like. And we, as a church family, grow closer to each other and to God as we serve together.
In essence, the faith we claim to have must result in faithful living. Look for those small, everyday ways to show love – a kind word to a fellow church member struggling with a difficult week, a helping hand to a neighbor, patience with the grocery store clerk who's having a rough day. These aren't grand gestures, but they're the building blocks of authentic community.
Try to worry less about falling short of being like Jesus… we will! And never forget Jesus' response when living out our faith feels more like a mission impossible: "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."
Striving, with you, to live faithfully,
Pastor Christine
It's easy to say, "I'm a Christian." It takes much more courage and discipline to act like one! To say it another way, the Walk is so much more important than the Talk! Striving to love, as Jesus loves, will warm more hearts than simply saying, "Jesus Loves You!"
What I love about this church community is how everyone supports each other. But it doesn't stop there – I have been patiently waiting to see how our faith spills over into genuine care for our Buckeye neighbors. When we collect coats for Coats for Comfort, we're not just gathering clothing; we're building bridges. When families throughout Buckeye know they can count on us to help keep their children warm, that's the gospel in action. When we support All Faith Community Service with food drives, we're showing that our faith isn't just something we talk about on Sundays – it's how we live every day. These are just a few examples of what this church is known for.
As we move into the month of November, I am starting a series of sermons that I am calling "Face to Face with Jesus". In this series, I will be examining what following Jesus really means. True discipleship means actively participating in God's transformative work in the world. This requires moving from passive observation to engaged service, using our resources, life stage, and circumstances to embody God's justice and love right where we are.
Imagine yourself in a relationship where you are told daily that you are loved. Yet, this person treats you poorly, ignores your needs, and demands that you comply with their every wish. In time, any of us would begin to question the genuineness of this friend or partner's love. The same holds true in our faith. We may claim to believe in God, but unless our life and actions line up with what we say we believe, our community will see right through us.
In the book of James, we read: "My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can't save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, 'Go in peace! Have a nice meal!'? What good is it if you don't actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn't result in faithful activity." (James 2:14-17)
Years ago, I remember chuckling when passing a billboard showing a muscle-bound man sporting a white mustache. The short phrase on the billboard, "Got Milk?" was the dairy industry's attempt to get more adults to drink milk. I don't know if they succeeded in their mission.
The mission of Christianity, should we decide to accept it (can you hear the Mission Impossible theme song?) is to make more disciples of Jesus Christ, which in turn will change our community into a more loving, hospitable, grace-filled place. It will take a lot more than Christians smiling and singing: "Jesus loves me, this I know"… Don't get me wrong, I love that song! But we must, as Jesus said, care for the least of these, who Jesus claims to be family. (Matthew 25:40) We are even told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:44)
Here's the beautiful thing – when our faith becomes real through our actions, something wonderful happens. The family who receives a warm coat doesn't just stay warm; they experience the love of Christ through our hands. The neighbors who see us consistently showing up for our community don't just notice our good deeds; they begin to understand what Christianity actually looks like. And we, as a church family, grow closer to each other and to God as we serve together.
In essence, the faith we claim to have must result in faithful living. Look for those small, everyday ways to show love – a kind word to a fellow church member struggling with a difficult week, a helping hand to a neighbor, patience with the grocery store clerk who's having a rough day. These aren't grand gestures, but they're the building blocks of authentic community.
Try to worry less about falling short of being like Jesus… we will! And never forget Jesus' response when living out our faith feels more like a mission impossible: "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."
Striving, with you, to live faithfully,
Pastor Christine