On March 14, Steve Hochstettler-Shirk (MCC-Ukraine) spoke on “Conform or transform?” (Romans 12:1-18). Paul asks what it means to be a Christian in today’s society. It is too tempting to use the world as our model, so in which respects might we be different from the world? For instance, Christians in the Soviet Union were not even allowed to do charitable work openly, attend university or obtain certain jobs. The costs for non-conformity were tremendous. We do not suffer as they did, yet we conform far more readily. MCCers in Russia do not conform to the expectations for foreign church workers (rather than being only theoretical and evangelical, the MCCers are practical and life their lives as examples). Steve told of his own father, a builder, who was quite poor because he was not paid for one large job. Nevertheless, he took needy people into his home readily and regularly. He sought to transform the world by acting in ways which did not put his financial aims ahead of people’s needs. Another way of stating it is, “Do not let the world squeeze you into its mould.” [JEK]

Passage: Rom 12:1-18
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event: Lent III
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No

Speaker: Steve Hochstettler
Worship Leader: Steve Thiessen
Song Leader: Rosie Perera
Pianist: Ruth Enns
Usher:
Zoom Coordinator:
Children's Feature Leader:

Bring Flowers:
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:

Child Care Volunteer: Richard Stobbe