Dear Friends,

The Book of Philippians is a joyous letter written by the Apostle Paul to a community of Christians he deeply loves. In this remarkable epistle, the great apostle invited this community, formed by the radical grace of God, into a deeper experience of Christ, a more profound connection to one another and on to a courageous witness in their world.

Written from a Roman jail by an apostle in chains, this letter is an epistle of joy. Chained night and day to a jailhouse guard, Paul called the Christians in Philippi to a particular kind of joy. He invited them, and he invites us, into the joy of Christ. It is a joy that can grow even in the dark places of life. It is a joy for all who stand together in partnership with one another for the sake of the gospel.

Writing of this partnership, theologian Kent R. Hughes says in his introduction to his commentary on Philippians, "Human friendship is a wonderful thing, but fellowship goes beyond friendship. Fellowship occurs among friends committed to a common cause or goal and flourishes through their common pursuit of it." Paul knew the joy of serving Christ as part of a community of fellow disciples and he called the Philippians to become compatriots, bound together for the sake of a great cause. And that cause was nothing less than the proclamation of the radical grace of God to a world in great need.

At the beginning of his letter, Paul reminded his friends that God had indeed begun a good work in them and would complete what he started. Jesus Christ used this community of disciples to bring hope, healing, and justice to countless numbers of people in their world. God is still speaking that word of encouragement and challenge to the community of Christ-followers we call the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley.

We, like the church in Philippi, are a community formed by the same God of radical grace, living our lives in a strategic part of our world at a critical moment in human history. God is calling us to live our lives proclaiming, in word and deed, the astounding good news of Jesus Christ. Join us this spring as we explore a deeper kind of joy and a more courageous common mission.

God has indeed begun a great work in this church and God will complete what he started. That is his promise!

Grace and peace,

Tim Shaw
Interim Senior Pastor
 

www.fpcberkeley.org

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