Today we gather to celebrate being an oikos of Jesus, his Immanuel household. (By the way, Immanuel is a great name for an oikos, being a descriptive name of Jesus, meaning, God with us.)
We gather to farewell and bless people who are leaving our oikos, blessing them for the next part of their life journey. We gather like the first oikoi in Acts, to hear God’s Word, to eat and drink together in Holy Communion, to pray, to support and care for one another.
The first Christians developed a reputation outside their communities. It was about how they loved one another. They were reflecting the love of Jesus, who said – “Love one another as I have loved you.” We are called to make the love of Jesus know in action and word, to proclaim his name beyond the oikos.
God bless you in all of your callings, loving, serving, and making Jesus knows. Amen.
