Beth is the Sunday School teacher at St. Peter’s Place. She has been teaching our kids since we
started the church about seven years ago.
Every Sunday she invests in our children, not just telling them about
the love of God, but showing them.
It’s one thing to read about the love of God, to hear about it. It’s quite another to see it in action,
to actually experience someone loving you as they love themselves. When you experience
this love, it’s then easier to love God and other people.
Pretty soon after my two sons could walk, they trekked through the woods to Miss Beth’s and Mr. Greg’s house to play with their children, Roy and Amy. My boys are now in high school and middle school.
For fifteen years, these friends have been investing in our kids. Every Sunday we start our service the way many Christian congregations have started for over two thousand years: with the Summary of the Law. The Summary of the Law originates from the Shema (meaning “hear”) and is from Deuteronomy 6. Jewish congregations have been starting their worship with it for thousands of years. It is a way of reminding us what’s really important in life.
The Summary of the Law
Our Lord Jesus Christ
said:
The
first commandment is this:
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
The second is this:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
I think the first part of this, knowing God is one and loving him with our whole selves, is a lot easier when we’ve been the recipients of the second part of this, being loved by a neighbor.
Thanks, Miss Beth, for loving our kids. You are now on your third group of our future!
Peace,
Jonathan
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