Join us for in-person service and Youth Church with the livestream on our FaceBook page: unityofsheboygan. All are welcome. Love lives here. Youth Church begins when the service begins and before the end the children come up to tell us what they learned and did.
Summer Hours: June - August Celebration begins at 10:00 am
Winter Hours: September - May Celebration begins at 10:30 am
White Stone Sunday
'On the stone a new name is written'
In ancient times, a white stone, whether in rough, tablet, or mosaic form, symbolized multiple things. It could signify a decisive vote in one’s favor, and religiously as a new and everlasting identity known by God and an eternal hospitality with the Divine. The white stone represents a new identity, election, innocence, safe passage, security, victory, honor, privilege, and hospitality.
In some cultures, the trial judges on a panel would deposit a black stone or a white stone in a bowl to cast their votes on the verdict of the accused.
A black stone indicated the judge favored a guilty verdict and a white stone meant the accused was considered innocent of the charge.
If the accused received more white stones than black from the panel, he was acquitted. So, the white stone became a symbol of being judged innocent.
In ancient Rome, before a gladiator match, the gladiators pulled stones from a bag and the ones who drew black stones were to fight while those who pulled white were given a reprieve. In Greece, following the Olympic Games, winners arriving back in their native cities were received in celebration, expense for the rest of his life.
The ancient Israelites had stones, made white with lime, as a sign of a covenant between their God and them. In this instance, the stones act as a tangible reminder of their God’s law and a memorial of that covenantal event. In the New Testament, Christians are promised a white stone with a new name written on it as a reward for persevering faithfulness.
In conclusion, a white stone, particularly as described in Revelation 2:17, signifies a decisive vote in one’s favor, a judgment of innocence, a reprieve from death, a covenant of safe passage, celebratory welcome, honor with free privileges, a new and lasting identity known only by and intimately in God, and finally an eternal hospitality with God.
For us this Sunday, we will be still and then find a word or two to carry with us for this New Year as a reminder of an intention.
Happy NewYear dear ones, abundant blessings to all,
Aubree-Lynn