Super Bowl Sunday approaches!

Dear Congregation,

Super Bowl Sunday approaches! Not being a football fan myself, nevertheless, I plan to watch at least part of the game for the ads. The promise in the pre-game hype is that many of them will be funny. I try to take advantage of any opportunity for laughter in these days in which the news is so often filled with that which is not at all funny.

The upcoming Super Bowl reminds me of fundraisers for missions that the youth groups had in two of the churches I served. One called it “Souper Bowl Sunday” and had homemade soups (chicken noodle, potato, or vegetable) available for sale. Proceeds went to buy food at the local food pantry.

The other youth group in a different church took orders for submarine sandwiches to be enjoyed while watching the game. I can still picture in my mind’s eye helping put together those turkey & cheese or ham & cheese sandwiches in the church basement with the teens on the Saturday before game day. They had fun while actively living out Christ’s call to feed the hungry, as their earnings also went to the town’s Fish and Loaves Food Pantry.

What I remember also is how generous those who bought soup or subs were, donating more than the price of the food and saying, “Keep the change!” because they knew where the profits were going.

And so, I invite you to be present in worship this Super Bowl Sunday, to first feed your spirit as we consider the promises of the Beatitudes, then enjoy the game (and the commercials!).

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Candy Thomas
Interim Pastor
Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

 

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:3-11

  1. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  2. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
  3. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
  4. ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
  5. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
  6. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
  7. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
  8. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  9. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.