The PC-USA Matthew 25 initiative, begun in 2019, imagines the Matthew 25 imperative aligned around three pillars: Congregational Vitality, Eradicating Systemic Poverty and Dismantling Structural Racism.As a reminder, the actual text of Matthew 25: 35-40 reads: … for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Riverside’s Session voted in 2020 to become a Matthew 25 church. Your Matthew 25 Task Force has worked to remain true to the structure set out by the PC-USA while allowing our agenda to develop organically as we asked ourselves how we live out Matthew 25. We live out Matthew 25 as we…
- partner with Community Outreach to fund Meals on Wheels
- join with RPDS in a Spring Clothes Drive with DESC
- prepare for a Summer Book Club reading Just Mercy
- prepare for a Fall Education Series
- take the heart of Matthew 25 to our hearts and look to the ways in which we have seen God at work in our lives, and the ways in which we can join God in His work
Every week, we will ask and answer:“Where have you seen Matthew 25?”We as a Task Force will update you from time to time on our activities. More importantly, this question is meant for all of us to answer, in big ways and small ways. We invite you to share where you have you seen Matthew 25 at work! Email your story to communication@rpcjax.org
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