I hope you all are having a wonderful day and are able to get done any errands or other duties done before whatever weather mess we are going to get tomorrow and Wednesday.
A few quick announcements:
- The mission trip meeting is this Thursday, February 3 at 7:30 pm at St. Michael's New Canaan, (5 Oenoke Ridge). All ages and abilities are invited.
- Saturday at 6pm bring your favorite game and a dish to share as we gather for Game Night before the Big Game.
- Souper Bowl of Caring is this Sunday, please bring any non-perishable food items for Redding Social Services or a monetary donation for the Connecticut Food Bank.
- This Sunday is also the baptism of Adele Kristina, daughter of Monika and Tyler, granddaughter of Sune and Ringa. Let us welcome her into her new life in Christ!
- Congratulations to our newest council members elected at yesterday's Annual Meeting: Paul, Ryan, Cheryl and Suzie. Thank you for your willingness to serve!
Book of Faith Puzzler:
Last week's question was: In the story of the wedding at Cana in John, Jesus turned water into wine. What was the water originally suppose to be used for A) Drinking water B) Sprinkling the bridal couple C) Purification rites D) Watering the garden. The wedding at Cana can be found in John 2:1-12. Verse 6 states: “Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.” So the answer is C…and that was a LOT of wine!
This week's question is: Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew’s version of the beatitudes. What other Gospel contains the beatitudes? A) Mark B) Luke C) John D) Mark and Luke E) none. Email me with your answer to be entered into this week's drawing (and with the predicted storm this week, I get the feeling that I will be making some bread).
Yesterday's sermon:
If you would like to read it, it can be found here. In the sermon, I talked about all God requires of us is to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. What is one way that you have done justice lately? Loved kindness? and walked humbly with God? How do you feel blessed by God when you do what God requires of you? Is there anything in the sermon that really spoke to you? Or was there any part that you did not understand?
This Sunday's text:
The first lesson is Isaiah 58:1-12. Isaiah warns the people that they are fasting for the wrong reasons. Instead of sharing their food with the poor and spending time in prayer with God, they were arguing among themselves and boasting about their fasts. Isaiah says that genuine fasting results with caring for the hungry, the homeless,and the naked. When have you given something up in order to care for those in need? As we prepare for Lent, are you someone who give something up every year? This year could you give it up and give what you would normally use to those who have nothing?
The second lesson is 1 Corinthians 2:1-16. Paul states he came to Corinth and preached Christ's message simply (if you have ever read 1 & 2 Corinthians you might beg to disagree that Paul preaches simply.) But even with the simple message God's wisdom was reveled to them. What are some theological concepts that are just easier to grasp in simple terms? That the more you think about them the harder they are to understand? The Trinity? Grace? Salvation? Paul also talks about spiritual gifts. What are your spiritual gifts? Do they make more sense in a life of faith than if you were an unbeliever?
The gospel is Matthew 5:13-20. Verse 16 is read at baptisms when the newly baptized receives a candle "Let you light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Do you still have your baptismal candle? Do you light it? How do you let your light shine before others? Does your good works glorify you or God? What does it mean to be the salt of the earth? And can salt loose it's saltiness?
Have a blessed week!
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