Theme: Deciding to follow Christ and live Christ’s message of radical love, kindness and compassion requires we separate from the old and familiar and embrace something new and difficult. Yet from the divide of decision-making, the split from the past, the same life changing ingredients of love and compassion become the healing balm for new growth and reconciliation in our emergent new life in Christ.

Luke 12:49-53 (NRSV): ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’