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06410 August 16, 2006
The fruit-bearing business
A message to Presbyterians from the moderator
by the Rev. Joan S. Gray Moderator of the 217th General Assembly
ATLANTA * As I move into my term as moderator of the 217th General Assembly, I want to put before the church a passage of scripture that has been a foundation of my ministry. In his farewell address to his disciples, Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
The church is in the fruit-bearing business.
The fruit we are to bear is both internal and external. The internal fruit is the quality of life of the community of faith: our worship, our growth in grace, our relationships within the body of Christ. The external fruit is our witness to God's reign and our living toward the day when God's will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. We do not exist for our own sake but rather for the sake of the world God loves so much.
Jesus tells us in this powerful verse that without him we can do nothing. Unless we are in a life-giving relationship with him, our work in the church is in vain * the fruit we bear will not be "fruit that will last" (John 15:16). As Moderator, I am interested in focusing some attention on the quality of that relationship with the Lord * the Head of the Church * that enables us to be fruitful congregations, fruitful individuals, fruitful presbyteries, and a fruitful denomination for God's sake in the world.
One way I want to do this is by hosting a series of prayer retreats around the country over the next two years. The purpose of these retreats is to create a space where people active in fruit-bearing work in the world and the church can be nurtured in the vital relationship with the Vine.
The first one will be held at Zephyr Point Conference Center in Zephyr Cove, NV, November 12-14, 2006. As plans develop, information will be posted online.
I am honored to serve as your moderator, and I look forward to meeting many of you in these next months. Please pray for me as I do my best to be fruitful and faithful.
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