On Sunday, May 12, 2024, VLC gathered in person and also broadcasted online via YouTube. Pastor Stuart shared a message about when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Jesus invited them to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Pastor Stuart reminded us that this prayer is in the plural you. As such, this prayer that Jesus taught us is for the church as a community. We are not in our testing alone. We have the Holy Spirit and the people of God as help in times of trial and testing and we can find our victory through the power of God’s Spirit within the body of Christ.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation, *but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)
*Some manuscripts include this last phrase, “but deliver us from the evil one.”