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This Week at First

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October 19th: Fear Not

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    Laity Sunday: This year, our “guest” preacher for Laity Sunday will be our own Mike Poltonavage, who serves as a Christ Servant Minister. Here is an idea of the direction he will be taking us:


    Fear. What do we fear? We’re all afraid sometimes. We’re going to look at an angel’s message from long ago and a favorite holiday cartoon (even though it’s only October). They both tell us why we don’t have to be afraid. Our scripture is Luke 2:8-14 and a few others. Our message is titled simply “Fear Not.”


    See you Sunday.


    Grace and Peace,

    Pastor Jim


    Luke 2:8-14


    The Shepherds and the Angels

    8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord.  12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,

     

    14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[c]








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    October 12th: How Much is Enough?

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      In a materialistic world of greed, we often ask, “How much is enough?” This week, that is the question, but it has nothing to do with materialistic wealth; rather, it has to do with our faith. Using both 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and Luke 17:5-10 as our scriptures, we will explore just “How Much Is Enough?”


      See you Sunday.


      Grace and Peace,

      Pastor Jim


      2 Timothy 1:1-14


      Salutation

      1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

       

      2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

      Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

       

      Thanksgiving and Encouragement

      3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.  4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.  5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.  6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;  7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

       

      8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God,  9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,  10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher,[a]  12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.[b]  13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.


      Luke 17:5-10


      5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a[a] mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

       

      7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’?  8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’?  9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?  10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”








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      October 5th: Why the Open Table?

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        October 5th, World Communion Sunday: On this World Communion Sunday, we are going to examine our United Methodist Theology of the sacrament. Our scriptures will come from Luke 22:14-21, 24:13-35. The message is titled “Why the Open Table?”


        See you Sunday.


        Grace and Peace,

        Pastor Jim


        Luke 22:14-21, 24:13-35


        The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

        14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.  15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;  16 for I tell you, I will not eat it[a] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;  18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.[b]  21 But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.  



        The Walk to Emmaus

        13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem,  14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b]  18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”  19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,  20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.  22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,  23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.  24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”  25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!  26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?”  27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

         

        28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.  29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.  30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.  32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”  33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.  34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”  35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.








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