On Sunday, August 27, 2023, VLC gathered in person, which was also broadcast online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart Nice shared a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Lamp and his exchange regarding his mother and brothers. From these passages we are encouraged to develop our hearing to respond to God’s word, to repent by aligning our hearts to the Lord’s will, and to relate in love to those around us.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Luke 8:15-21 (NIV)