Tag: unity

Pastor’s Notes 8/29/2025

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’ – John 17:20-21

I have always known the brightest star in the sky, the “North Star,” which is also known as “Polaris” or the “Pole Star.” Find it and I will always be pointing true north. As someone who is directionally challenged, having certainty like this is comforting.

For centuries travelers looked to this beacon for guidance. Unlike other stars that shift in the night sky, the polar star remains fixed in one place. Sailors at sea, explorers on land, and those journeying through unfamiliar territory relied on its steady presence to find their way. It became a symbol of constancy, direction, and hope when all else seemed uncertain.

This image speaks powerfully to faith. Just as travelers fixed their eyes on the polar star, Christians have long sought a guiding light that gives clarity, direction, and purpose. For the early leaders of our tradition, including Barton Stone, that guiding light was the unity of all Christians in Christ. Stone rooted his conviction in the prayer of Jesus found in John 17. Barton Stone once wrote:

“Let the unity of Christians be our polar star. To this let our eyes be continually turned, and to this let our united efforts be directed — that the world may believe, and be saved. A little longer forbearance with each other’s weakness, and truth will triumph. But let that man, who opposes Christian union, remember, that he opposes the prayer of Jesus, and the salvation of the world. How will he meet his Judge?”

Unity, then, is not a passing idea. It is the guiding presence that calls us beyond division, beyond preference, beyond self, and toward the greater purpose of God’s redeeming work in the world. And it is this unity in Christ and all that Jesus said, did, and stood for, that is our focal point.

As a congregation, we are still discerning what we believe together. In many ways, we are identifying our own “polar star.” We are still claiming the communal truths that guide us, the convictions that shape us, the commitments that hold us steady. Unity in Christ is part of our heritage as Disciples of Christ and remains a living call for us today.

May we keep turning our eyes to this star, walking together in grace, and trusting that Christ’s prayer for oneness continues to lead us forward. I look forward to worshipping with you in person or YouTube this Sunday.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 10/4/2024

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Jesus prayed that… they all may be one.” – from the “Restoration” doors in Cobbs Hall

Over 500 years of church history is represented on the double door panels of Cobbs Halls. The carved portrait of Martin Luther the “Father of Protestantism (1483-1546), John Calvin (1509-1564) who was one of the founders of Presbyterians, and “Father of Methodism” John Wesley (1703-1791), grace three of the panels.

The upper right panel is of Alexander Campbell (1788-1866, one of the founders of our denomination. He embraced fully the desire for the unity of Christ’s Church.

John 17:20-21 was one of the most inspirational texts to Campbell’s calling. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

The unity Jesus prayed for could only be achieved by returning to the simplicity of the New Testament church—free of denominational labels, creeds, and hierarchical structures. Campbell saw this passage as a divine call for the church’s visible unity. He also helped us to claim the foundational thought that where the scripture speaks, we speak, and where the scriptures are silent, we are silent.

Being a united people in Christ was core belief to our restoration movement. Alexander’s father Thomas Campbell said, “The church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.” Barton Stone said, “Let Christian unity be our polar star.”

On Sunday we will explore some ways that if Sun City Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) were to fully embrace the message of John 17:20-21 today, we could profoundly impact both the church and the broader world.

I look forward to worshipping with you in person or on YouTube Sunday!

Brett

Sermon 5/14/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

It is amazing to see things that are good individually, unite, forming something great: peanut butter and chocolate; macaroni and cheese, needle and thread, milk and cookies, Batman and Robin.

Unity is a good thing.

The next pillar that defines us as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is unity. There are two passages of scripture that we will focus on this Sunday. The importance of unity is highlighted in Psalm 133:1. “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”

In John 17:20-24, the author highlights a prayer of Jesus in which he requests: “‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.’” Jesus is offering a prayer of unity that all might be one in God, Christ himself, and each other.

This Sunday we talked about the founding fathers of our movement for wholeness, Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone and the claim being, “unity is our polar star.”