Each Monday I send out an email to members and friends of Bethlehem with announcements but more importantly questions about the text for the coming Sunday.  Below is this week's Monday Morning Church

Good Morning!

Happy first day of school to many of the students and teachers who are starting today or later this week. I hope and pray that the year is exciting, you are able to have patience in learning and teaching, and that the wisdom you gain may help change the world.

I also have exciting news to announce: Sune & Ringa Gronlund are now proud grandparents of Leo Thomas McCullough, son of Tanja and Matt. Leo was born on August 25th.  We rejoice and celebrate Leo's birth and give thanks to God for the gift of new life.

Last Sunday after worship, the social committee met to plan some events and collections for the upcoming fall. Please mark your calendars.
Senior Lunch, September 9th at noon. This month we will be meeting at Chuck's Steakhouse in Danbury, all are welcome regardless of age.
Rally Day is September 19, breakfast will be served, crafts for all ages, and a food collection goal has been set of 102 items for Bethlehem's 102nd year of ministry.
The Fine Things in Life, a women's bible study will begin on Wednesday September 15th at 7:30pm. Come enjoy a glass of wine, some chocolate, possibly the fire if the weather is nice and hear the word of God.
Pasta Dinner on Saturday September 25. Tickets will be on sale this coming Sunday, proceeds go to remodel the church basement. You can also volunteer to help by seeing the sign up sheet in the community room. Watch for more details in the newsletter.
Book of Faith Puzzler:
Last week’s puzzler was: Which ailment did Jesus NOT cure: leprosy, stuttering, blindness, or crippled hand? Jesus did not cure stuttering. Jesus cured many people of leprosy, see Matthew 8:1-4 for one story. He also cured many blind people, see John 9:1-41 for one account. And Jesus cured a man with a shriveled hand in Mark 3:1-5 with similar accounts in other gospels. Congratulations to last week's winner, Carl Russo.
This week’s question: What did Lot’s wife turn into when she looked back on her home when fleeing? Think you know the answer? Email me your answer by noon on Wednesday. A winner will be chosen from all correct answers received. The winner will be announced in worship next week.


Now onto the text:

Our first reading is Deuteronomy 30:15-20. he Lord gives an if/then command to the Israelites and tells the consequences if they do not obey. If they obey then they shall live and become numerous and will be blessed. But if they do not obey and turn from God, they shall perish. Often parents give similar structures for rules to their children: if they clean their room they will get to have a friend over; if they don't then they can't watch TV. For you personally, do you obey such rule structures in order to avoid punishment or in order to receive the reward? Why do we need both rewards and punishments in order to obey rules, both God's rule and others?

The second reading is Philemon 1-21 (not that is not a typo, Philemon is only 25 verses long and therefore does not have any chapters). Paul is writing to Philemon to both encourage and commend him in his faith but also to get Philemon to receive his runaway slave, Onesimus, back as a Christian. When has a third party put in a good word for you? Maybe a job opportunity a dating situation, a college reference, or some other time? How does the word of a third party, especially one who is well respected help out? Does it ever hinder the situation?

The gospel lesson is Luke 14:25-33. Jesus tells the crowd that one must hate "father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes even life itself" in order to be his disciple and that you must carry his cross. Jesus says that being his disciple his costly. How is being Jesus' disciple costly for you? Is it? Should it be? Our lection ends with Jesus saying that we cannot be his disciples if we do not give up all of our possessions. What possessions are you still holding on to? What possessions are you not willing to give to God?

Do any of these text challenge you? Do they confuse you? Or upset you? How do you think the three relate to each other? What do you want to hear more about with text? As I start to form my sermon for this week, these are the questions I have on my mind and I would love to hear your answers, or even your questions.


I hope you have a wonderful week,
Becca