This Week at Clyde Park

A Note from Pastor Ryan

Accountability might be one of the more difficult tasks for the contemporary church. Our world has discipled us against correction. People would rather leave a community than be held to standards.

However, the gospel passage for this coming Sunday makes it clear that we are to hold one another accountable. In Matthew 18:15 Jesus tells the apostles that if they are sinned against they must approach their sibling.

This is difficult for a variety of reasons.

- We don’t want to be known as fragile people or as those who are easily offended. If we are we’ll likely be accused of being “snowflakes” or “sensitive.”

- Many of us have learned to be experts in DARVO the person we’re speaking with willDeny, Accuse, Reverse Victim &  Oppressor. This comes out as “well you did _______”

- Having experienced DARVO we don’t want to be held accountable ourselves. So we don’t want to follow Jesus’ clear commands because it will open ourselves up to accountability.

- At times we can create a false scenario in our head

• We don’t want to be accused of being judgmental.

So what are we to do with a passage like this one? Can we just ignore it?

As with most all difficult passages, we ought to re-contextualize the passage.

The disciples ask Jesus about greatness, and he says we have to become like children. Then he warns that if anyone causes one of the little ones to fall away, it would be better to have a milestone tied around your neck and thrown into the sea. Then Jesus tells the disciples that a shepherd will leave the 99 to find the 1. After this he talks about how to deal with sin in the church. This teaching leads Peter to ask, “Ok but if I’m sinned against, how many times do I have to forgive my brother? The famous reply from Jesus is 70x7.

Then Jesus warns that God will be harsh with us if we refuse to forgive each other.

In this context Jesus is instructing his disciples to create a community of care for one another. We are to become like children, we are to welcome children, understanding ourselves as those very children. Then we are to care for the little ones by seeking out those who have strayed away. Then like children we should be willing to confess when we have been sinned against by those who we ought to be loved by. This is not done, however, to injure those who have sinned against us, nor is the goal to get them back, make them pay, or some sort of revenge.

These instructions are done to create a community which will protect the vulnerable. And the expectation is forgiven. We cannot say we are following Jesus if our accountability becomes information to weaponize against someone else. God’s wrath will be poured out on those who act this way.

So how do we make this practical?

When I was in a gravity leadership cohort, they spoke about how we live in a call out culture, but none of us enjoys being called out. Instead we ought to call people in. We call people into the life of Christ, we lift each other up in prayer. And we approach each other in curiosity rather than judgement. When we set as a goal reconciliation through offense, we can actually reconcile.

To call someone in is to assume the best of those who have sinned against us. We assume positive intent, more often than not, people have not realized the harmful impact of their behavior. And within the church we aren’t interested in harming one another. Furthermore, we are siblings, so we can assume that we have shared values. We call people in to Christ by preparing to forgive them. The goal is not winning, the goal is mutual understanding and unity. Tho this is not easy, it is a task to which we are called.

Clearly we cannot ignore the teaching of Jesus, Jesus wants all of us to have abundant life. And we get there through the incarnate body of Christ- the church. And in this sense the task of accountability is to create a community of integrity and care.

Its Fantasy Football time! 

Men's MInistry is hosting Fantasy Football League. Join today: https://fantasy.espn.com/football/league/join?leagueId=476413219&inviteId=c48e28b6-ef82-432f-8e28-c71886ecb759

Community Dinner: Chicken Nuggets and Mac--N--Cheese

Cottage Prayer Meeting

Tuesday, September 15^th at 7:00 p.m.  See our poster in the foyer!

All Church Picnic!!

Please join us on September 20^th for our annual back to church picnic following the morning service!! A sign up sheet is in the foyer!

Game Day

Will is hosting a game day, October 3^rd, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the gym. Bring a game and drop in for some fun.

Trick-or Treat Trail

Annual Trick or Treat Trail will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Lamar Park. We have a table where we hand out candy and church information. Please let Lori Schriver or Pastor Ryan know if you can help during this event, If you would like to carpool, we will leave the church at 3:00 p.m.

Please join us for our annual Harvest Festival & Trunk or Treat Community Outreach

October 24^th from 2-4PM!

This is a great time for outreach in showing love to our neighbors, how great our church community is and see some really cute kids in costumes. Please see sign up sheets in the foyer and donate candy so we can serve between 200-2,000 kids. We can use everyone that can help out! See Pastor Chrissy with any questions!