There was a big change in the USA as the automobile replaced the horse, roads were improved, and many people left their friends in the large inner cities and moved out to the suburbs.

​

  The comedian Milton Berle joked that "In the suburbs it's hard to buy your Christmas gifts early in the year. You never know who your friends will be in December"

 

  All of us do miss our friends when we are separated from them,but we as Christians have a special kind of friend.

One that's always around when we need him.

​

  Jesus is that faithful friend, and we as Christians are in fellowship with Him.

 

I Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom we were called into fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

   These words come from the very next verse after the Epistle for the XVIII Sunday after Trinity.

 

  St. Paul is writing to the Corinthian Christians and begins his epistle to them with a thanksgiving for the spiritual blessings which had so enriched them.

 

   Lest they become impatient as they waited for Christ's return, or become discouraged, Paul reminds them of something.

 

  He reminds them that God is faithful.

 

  We too need always to remember that as well.

 

  Paul also reminds them, (and us today as well), that Christians are called by God to have a part in the work of Jesus Christ as long as we are here on earth.

 

  Each time we receive Holy Communion, we should be reminded that by taking His body and blood in that Holy Sacrament, that we are entering into that fellowship, (or partnership if you will), with Christ.

 

  Christ died on the cross for us.

 

  He made it possible, by his sacrifice on the cross, for us to have peace with God and to have eternal life with Him.

 

  All true Christians must be so very grateful for this.

 

   We are called as Christians to not just be in fellowship with Christ when it suits us.

 

  We shouldn't just be in fellowship with Christ when we need something or we are in trouble.

 

   We are called to a working fellowship with Him.

 

  We as Christians must labor to spread the wonderful message of God's love to the rest of the world.

 

  Christians should show forth our gratefulness for this fellowship by giving of ourselves, with the talents God has given each of us, throughout the whole course of our lives to do whatever we can to assist in the work of His Church.

 

  It is our duty as Christians, but it should also be our great joy, to help make known to others, our Lord and Savior, and our faithful friend - Jesus Christ!