“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket,
but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

These words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount remind us that we are called to be his light in the world. But sometimes we have a difficult time doing that. We would rather keep our lights “under a bushel basket.” Not because we are ashamed of who we are or what we are doing. And not because we don’t want to help other people give glory to God. It’s more due to the fact that we don’t want to be seen a boastful or bragging. We often fear that when we let our lights shine, so that our good works can be seen, the people who see them will give the glory to us, rather than to God.

If we truly believe that we are God’s lights in this world, then we can’t be afraid to let our light shine. For when we do that, the light of God that dwells within us shines ever brighter. And it brightens this dark world by visiting those who are in prison, by feeding the hungry, and taking care of the homeless. When we allow ourselves to shine as God’s light in the world, then our hearts are filled with the unconditional love that we receive through Jesus, our Savior.

This Sunday (February 9) our worship service will provide us with the chance to let our lights shine brightly. Over the last several months and weeks (and even years) we have been asked to share things with the Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministry, the Winston-Salem Overflow Shelter, Sunnyside Ministry, and the Southern Province Synod. On this coming Sunday, please make a special effort to bring to church:

Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministry- men’s hygiene articles: toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, lotion, and hair conditioner. Articles NOT permitted are: glass containers, aerosol cans, non-disposable razors/blades, and liquid products with alcohol as an ingredient (mouthwash, cologne, etc.)–soap, deodorant, and lotion products are allowed to have alcohol as ingredients.

Winston-Salem Overflow Homeless Shelter- Handwarmers, winter clothing, warm blankets, etc.

Sunnyside Ministry- Jars of Peanut Butter

Southern Province Synod- Bags of wrapped candy to be put in the knitted hearts as a reminder that “love knits us together.”

Please bring what you can of these items so that as we worship on Sunday February 9, we can proudly see how we, as Fries Memorial Moravian Church, are letting our light shine brightly to bring glory to God.