Monday Morning Church

For the last few months I have been sending out an email typically on Monday morning* to members and friends of Bethlehem with some thoughts and many a questions about the upcoming Sunday's text. Today I thought I should start added those emails here.

I hope you all are having a wonderful day, especially if you have the day off from work and that you are staying cool.

Three quick announcements/reminders about this coming week:

• Thursday at noon is Senior lunch. Due to some concerns mentioned in worship, the location has been switched to The Sunset Grill in Norwalk. If you plan on attending, please contact Lillian Johnson, or reply to this email.
• Next Sunday after worship is a special berry fest coffee hour. The raspberries around the church property are starting to ripen and they should be ready to sample by next Sunday. If you have a favorite berry dish, please bring it to share!
• Also Congregational Council is meeting after worship on Sunday.

Now onto this Sunday's readings. This week, our gospel reading is one of many people's favorite parables, the good Samaritian, but first let's look at the 1st and 2nd lesson.

The first lesson is Deuteronomy 30:9-14 It is very human to think that people who have wealth or are gaining wealth have been looked upon favorably by God and those who are poor or losing their wealth have been looked upon unfavorably by God. How is this understanding of God and wealth good? How does it hinder our faith? What does it say about those who are poor but have a strong faith or those those are rich who do not acknowledge God? How does God make you abundantly prosperous?

The second lesson is Colossians 1:1-14. Paul and Timothy write to the people of Colossae of their prayers for them. When have you had someone specifically pray for you? What is it like when they tell you they have been praying for you? Who do you pray for?

The gospel lesson is Luke 10:25-37, the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus answers the first question "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" by the lawyer answering the question with the law to: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." How difficult is it to keep these laws? How do you put yourself before God and neighbors? Jesus answers the second question: "Who is my neighbor?" by telling the parable of a man who is left for dead being avoided by a priest and Levite (people who are suppose to care and are of kin to the man) but care for above and beyond what was needed by a Samaritan (a total stranger from a different culture). Therefore the "one who showed mercy" is a neighbor. How do you show mercy to others? How have you received mercy from others? How is it easier to show mercy on someone far away (Haiti post earthquake, starving children in Africa) than it is to show mercy on someone closer to home (homeless person on the street, a person whose car broke down on the side of the road, the family of loud misbehaving children at the restaurant)?

I hope these questions pique some thoughts and discussion. If you would like to continue the conversation please respond with your thoughts or come to bible study on Wednesday night at the parsonage when we will look deeper at these text.

Have a blessed week (and stay cool)

* Monday morning, but sometimes that means Monday afternoon, or Tuesday and once even Wednesday.