Dear Friends in Christ, We continue the journey this Sunday as we share together Like Jesus? Lessons on Living from the Sermon on the Mount. This Sunday we will be looking together at Matthew 5:13-16, Salt and Light. One of the great gifts of Jesus' teaching is His use of common, ordinary images to communicate truth. The image of salt and light were valuable and timeless resources to the mid-eastern world, as they are today. Salt. I remember my friend Wynn Slayden had open-heart surgery at the age of 44. As he was

recovering he described how bland the food was on the prescribed diet. No salt. How he longed for just a little dash of salt. He said, "It would make my food so much better!" Some of you have been there. Too much salt leads to no salt. Just a little salt will change the entire experience. Light. I'm taken back in time to the musical Godspell. "Let your light so shine before men; let your light so shine." Some of us feel like our wicks are burning dimly and we don't have much light to shine. Others of us keep our light hidden. Jesus says "place your light on a lampstand so others can see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven. " Jesus, through Matthew is speaking not just to individuals, but also to the church. He says, like salt, like light, a little bit can make a huge difference. It is not lost on us in recent days that the light has been shining in the darkness across our world. Last week as the Boston crisis captured our minds and our hearts, we longed for someone to shine a little light on the darkness. Person after person in the aftermath of the bombings in Boston forgot about him or herself and offered what bit of light they could-and with all the lights of the individuals contributing, a huge difference was experienced.

Bishop Bill McAllily

It is easy to feel that darkness has the upper hand. So the church goes out and is faithful day after day. A handful of students give up their annual spring break beach trip and volunteer in a homeless shelter. A person tutors a child in reading in an afterschool program. A Sunday School Class sits with a spouse of a member who is in intensive care. The witness of the Church, like salt, flavors the whole when it seems as if the noise of the world is too much to overcome. Be Salt. Be light. That the kingdom might come on earth as it is in heaven. During the three worship services Sunday morning, we will continue our series as well as have the opportunity to receive the 2013 Confirmation Class of Brentwood United Methodist Church. It will be a high and holy occasion for me to be a part of this significant step in faith for those who will confirm their faith in Christ and become full members of Brentwood United Methodist Church. Finally, it was good to welcome Audrey Baer as new member. Welcome to our church community. I look forward to celebrating in worship with you on this very meaningful day. Bill McAlilly