I hope you all are enjoying this rainy last day of February as we look forward to the transition into spring. In the church we are beginning to transition towards Easter as we start looking to Lent.
- This coming Sunday, March 6 at 9am will be an intergenerational Sunday School where we will learn about Ash Wednesday and Lent. We will also be burning the palms from last year's Palm Sunday in order to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday.
- Ash Wednesday Worship is at 7:30pm on Wednesday March 9th. If you are not able to attend that service but would like to receive the ashes, please let me know and we can arrange a time to meet individually at another time that day.
- There is no Worship Together this Saturday, March 5.
- The Giving Basket is collecting cleaning supplies throughout March. All cleaning supplies, both household and personal, will be donated to Redding Social Services.
Book of Faith Puzzler
Last week's question was: In last Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us to “love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.” In what Gospel(s) does Jesus tell us to “love your neighbor as yourself’? In Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31 Jesus says “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” However in Luke 10:27 -28, a lawyer says in answering Jesus “you shall love…your neighbor as yourself” and Jesus tells him he is right. So Jesus tells us to do so in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Congratulations to Nancy B. for winning the puzzler.
This week's question is: How many years did it take Solomon to build the temple? A) 1, B) 3 C) 7 D)40 E) 70.
If you know the answer (or think you know the answer), email me by noon on Wednesday to be entered into this week's drawing. I was recently gifted a starter of Amish Friendship Bread that will be ready for baking on Saturday. So I get the feeling that this week's winner will get a loaf of that sweet goodness.
Yesterday's Sermon
If you would like to read it, the sermon can be found here. At the end of the sermon I gave everyone some homework to bring in pictures and stories of where you see God's love and God's abundance. Start emailing and bring in those pictures and stories. The bulletin board in the community room has been redone in order to make plenty of room to post those items. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing where you see God's love and abundance.
Also I told a story of when I stopped worry and God then provided. When have you stopped worrying about something and God then provided what you needed?
Sunday's Text
This Sunday is the Sunday of the Transfiguration, the time when Jesus went to the mountain with a few disciples and Moses and Elijah appeared to them; this happened shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem and began his journey towards the cross.
The first lesson is Exodus 24:12-18. Moses goes up Mount Sinai to receive the commandments where a cloud covered the mountain and the Lord's appearance is described as like "a devouring fire." Have you experienced God this way? How have you experienced God? Moses then stayed on the mountain for forty days. As we enter the 40 day journey of Lent, how do you hope to experience God as we journey towards Easter?
The second lesson is 2 Peter 1:16-21. The author states "we had been eyewitness of [Jesus Christ's] majesty" and "we ourselves heard [God's] voice come from heaven". How have you been an eyewitness to Christ's majesty and have heard God's voice? The author goes on to say that no prophecy ever came by human will but by the Holy Spirit working through people. How is the Holy Spirit working through you to prophecy? What does prophecy mean to you?
The gospel is Matthew 17:1-9. The gospel says Jesus was "transfigured" before the disciples. What does it mean to be "transfigured" to you? Have you ever seen anyone change before your eyes? Peter wanted to stay up on the mountain and make dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. How is this inward/worried/scarcity focused thinking? A voice from heaven came and told the disciples the same words that were spoken at Jesus baptism in Matthew 3:17"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased" and the voice ends with the command "listen to him." How did the disciples listen to him and not listen to him as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem and the cross? How do you listen and not listen to Jesus in your life?
This Sunday's Worship
The following people are signed up to help serve this coming week.
Worship Assistant: Mark H.
Reader: Cheryl M.
Communion Assistant: Tori M.
Usher: Tori M. & Matt M.
Coffee Hour: none
Preparing meals: none
If you are willing to host coffee hour or prepare a meal for those who would appreciate a meal this week, please let me know.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor Becca
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