This morning, as we celebrate the official start of the programmatic year with Kickoff Sunday, our worship will be centered on the Book of Acts. In Acts 6, we read about a grievance brought by the Hellenists against the Hebrews in the early church: the Hellenist widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. In response, the Disciples instructed the community to choose seven individuals known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom to take on this responsibility. This moment is widely recognized as the calling of the first deacons of the church—a pivotal step in ensuring that both the physical and spiritual needs of the community were met, even as the Disciples continued to preach the Good News of the Gospel throughout the region.

Sermon on Acts 6:1-7, delivered by the Reverend David J. Powers on September 7th, 2025.