Roxboro Presbyterian Church, Official

03/22/2026

the GOOD news is...
Fifth Sunday in Lent

rooted in justice, mercy, and faithfulness

© a sanctified art | sanctifiedart.org

The Things That Matter Most
I wrecked the family car, an old gold minivan
that had traveled every inch of I-95. It had worn cushions
and an old school map in the glove box.
It held a folder full of mix CDs under the passenger seat
and every memory of every family trip,
and I wrecked it.
I called the tow truck while the engine
hissed and smoked. I called my dad,
my own apologies tripping over themselves
to get to the front of the line.
I expected to be grounded.
I expected a “How could you?”
But when I got home that night,
my dad held me close and said,
“A car is just a car, but you are my child.
The only thing that matters is that you are okay.”
And I knew it for what it was.
It was mercy. It was love.
It was the thing that mattered most.

03/09/2026

Far More Abundantly
by Lauren Wright Pittman
Inspired by Ephesians 3:20-21
11”x14” Hand-carved block printed with oil-based
ink on paper, with gold leaf detail
I read this Ephesians text alongside the feeding of
the five thousand. I placed Jesus at the center of
the image,12 but he did not feed the crowds alone.
He asked his disciples to offer what they had. They
responded with meager resources, yet those small
gifts were enough.
Through the lens of Ephesians, if Jesus were to ask
us today what we have to give, our answer would
be:
We have the power you have given us to do the
impossible. The same power that turned five
loaves and two fish into a feast for thousands—
with leftovers—empowers us “to accomplish far
more abundantly than all we can ask or imagine.”
Do we allow this truth to settle into our bones and animate our actions?
I’ll admit, I tried to avoid this passage because it felt overly optimistic in light of today’s world. People
still go hungry. Wars rage. The earth groans under our misuse. Yet if we reimagine the systems we
created, studies show it is possible for every human being to have what they need.13 That would
require massive restructuring, international cooperation, and the reallocation of resources—but not
more than we already possess. We don’t need a miracle of multiplication. We simply need to use
what we’ve been given.
In a world convinced of scarcity, this is astonishingly good news. We already have enough. And as my
mentor used to say, “Enough is abundance.” What will we do with this abundance? Is it too lofty to
dream of a world that sustains all of life? Perhaps. Yet I believe it is God’s own desire that all may have
life, and have it abundantly.14 This is the work before us, accomplished through the power at work
within us, through Jesus Christ. Amen. —Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman
Look
Consider the archway and what it could symbolize. Do you see a table, a tablet, a boat, a door, a
tomb—or all of these things or something else?
the news is...
Third Sunday in Lent
together, the impossible is possible
12 In the center of the image, Jesus raises his arms and breaks bread. Above Jesus’ hands is a mustard seed. Surrounding the baskets
are thin line carvings of mustard flowers. Like the seed, we may be small, but we hold so much potential inside of us. Surrounding
the archway are twelve baskets of seven loaves or fish which take on the shape of flowers. The number twelve represents
community, and seven represents wholeness. When everyone has what they need, the community is whole.
13 globalcommonsalliance.org/news/new-research-reveals-path-to-prosperity-for-planet-and-people-if-earths-criticalresources-are-better-shared/
14 John 10:9-11
A Sanctified Art

03/08/2026

02/18/2026

the GOOD news is…all are invited
The host never stops inviting, and when all is said and done, there is still room at the table.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
6:00 pm
Tell Me Something Good
Grounding ourselves in the good news this Lent
A Sanctified Art

02/01/2026

https://youtu.be/AUMbbsFb2pg

"Kingdom Values"Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 5:1-13

01/25/2026

Sunday, January 25th. Today’s message is available to view on the church’s YouTube channel. Have a warm and peaceful day.