It is a very busy week here at Bethlehem, in fact it is the start of a few busy weeks at Bethlehem.
Rally Day is this Sunday! This is the start or kick off of the church's "program" year. After a quiet summer with no Sunday schools, no bible studies few other activities, we are kicking off things with a bang! Starting at 9am there will be a continental breakfast provided by the Sunday School teachers. The goal has also been set to collect AT LEAST 102 food items for Redding Social Services, some items came in this last Sunday which is a good start but we are still far from 102 items. There will also be canvass bags available to decorate that will be given to the community members who use the food bank at Redding Social Services and a parable trivia contest. Worship will be a festive experience using our "new" old setting of Now the Feast and Celebration. The Sunday school teachers and students will be installed during worship. And after worship we will take the all church photo by the cross.
Wednesday is the first The Finer Things in Life Bible Study! Calling all women! If you enjoy some of the finer things in life, then you are invited each Wednesday to the parsonage for chocolate, wine, scripture and possibly a fire. This coming Sunday we will be looking at the gospel for Sunday and future Sunday topics will also be discussed.
Worship Together is starting! If you have young children in your life, come enjoy a children focus worship service for kids and their parents or other caregivers. We will get down on the floor and sing, play instruments, hear and participate in Bible stories and worship God together. Worship Together is on Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am.
Theology Pub? If you are young adult (or at least consider yourself one) join myself and Bob at the Lumberyard Pub on Sundays at 7pm. Take a break in your football watching to talk about some questions you have about faith while drinking some of the best beers in Georgetown. Then stick around for some Sunday Night Football.
The Pasta Dinner is coming! Mark your calendar, buy your tickets! On Saturday September 25th from 6 to 8pm, the congregational council is hosting a pasta dinner to help raise money to renovate the church basement. Tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for kids and are available at the door or you can buy them in advance at church on Sunday. The Kapela band will be playing for our dinner entertainment.
I think that is all the announcements so now on to the texts!
The Old Testament reading for Sunday is Amos 8:4-7. How do you "trample on the needy and bring to ruin the poor of the land"? Do you ever complain that offering gets in the way of what you could otherwise spend your money on? If so have you adjusted your giving or have you continued to give even through complaints? Why?
The second lesson is 1 Timothy 2:1-7. What is the differences between supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings? The epistles states that God "desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth", what does that mean to you, especially in light of recent Christian/Muslim relations throughout the US?
The gospel is Luke 16:1-13, the parable of the unjust steward. When have you benefited because someone else was unjust? Have you ever lied to one in order to benefit someone else? The last verse is fairly famous: "No slave can serve two masters; for a salve will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Have you ever tried to serve two things? When has your love for money gotten in the way of serving God? And when has your love for God gotten in the way of obtaining more money?
As always I invite your responses these questions and thoughts on the text. Your thoughts help me develop my sermon so that I can preach about what is really on your hearts and minds.
And one last thing: This week's Book of Faith Puzzler I think confused a few people how it was worded in the weekly announcements so I'll elaborate a little. Yesterday we heard two parables about lost things: the lost sheep and the lost coin. There was a third parable that Jesus told about something that was lost, what was it? If you know the answer, shoot me an email. A winner will be drawn of all the correct answers and will be announce during worship to receive a prize.
Have a blessed week!
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