Lectionary Readings for August 25th

The Prophet Jeremiah. Glass painting from the Choir of the
Bebenhausen Monastery, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, ca. 1335.

August 25, 2013

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Jeremiah 1:4-10:  Jeremiah's calling: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you . . . you shall go to all to whom I send you . . . . to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Psalm 71:1-6 (UMH 794): This psalm picks up on the fortress and youth motifs of the reading from Jeremiah.

Hebrews 12:18-29: Worship in the "unshakable" kingdom we have inherited is not "hands off" or "back away," but come in and join the fellowship of angels, martyrs, prophets, God the judge of all, and Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. And it is not just a symbolic material representation of spiritual realities, but an invitation to encounter those very realities directly, ourselves. How can we but express thanksgiving, with reverence and awe, when we worship?

Luke 13:10-17: Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath who had been crippled for eighteen years and confronts an outraged leader of the synagogue.

Fellowship Divine!

Each week following worship, we gather for a time of fellowship, and it was a delight today. 

Thanks to everyone who signs up to provide refreshments each week and for everyone who shares in this time together.

Today at Stevi UMC

Flowers from Carol Cragg

Paul Ludington leads the praise music

Lighting candles during the first hymn

Pastor Charles and friends during the children's message

CONCERNS

Searching for others willing to teach Sunday School classes.

Betty L. asking for church family to help with her move this Thursday and Friday.

Travelling mercies.

Prayers for family and friends of the 19 firefighters who died in the line of duty in Arizona.  The Corvallis UMC is blessing 19 prayer shawls for their families today.  (Seven of them were donated by our church’s UMW members.)

Anticipating one more/last visit with friend (that she will be able to remember).

All those who are about to begin another year of school/instruction.

All teachers and school administrators and support staff – getting ready for another school year.


Healing mercies for… Ken P. on respirator (for him and his family/friends) and… all those with broken bodies, broken spirits.

JOYS

Appreciating that “God is great!”

Family reunions.

Connecting with friends and family.

Celebrating friend’s 80^th birthday.

New experiences.

Sharon W.’s granddaughter is expected to deliver her twin boys in a few weeks: Gabriel and Ezekiel (“Gabe and Zeke”).

Visitors in church.

Our talented pianist this morning.

For all those who financially support the church.

Giving thanks for the church sending two youth to church camp.

Ginny M.’s grandson-in-law’s first day as a surgeon tomorrow, with four surgeries scheduled.

Grandson entering law school in Massachusetts soon.

Thanks be to God that it has been six months since Earl had surgery.

All those who are about to begin another year of school/instruction.

All teachers and school administrators and support staff – getting ready for another school year.

Laughter in church.

Unique vantage point of worshipping from the balcony, that is, worshipping with the “balconeers!”

Betty L. moving this week.  Happy family is here to help her move.

Ben L. and cousin Dave… who guided someone to top of St. Mary’s Peak (her first time).

Celebrating the people who agreed to teach Sunday School classes (Clay F. and Belinda A.).

Celebrating Clay Freeman and Belinda Alkula’s willingness to teach Sunday School classes.

All those who step in and are willing to wear “many hats” to help.

Question

QUESTION
(based on Jeremiah 23:23-24)

Am I a God nearby,
And not far off?
Why do you hide,
Remove yourself from me,
Run like a child
Into the forest
To keep from being found?
And if I should confront you
Face to face,
Or if I catch you
In your tears or shame,
What then
Makes you turn away from me,
Cover your heart
As if I could not see it
I , who made your heart,
I, who hear its dreams,
And I, who plant all love within it?
I am the One
Who, seeking, will always find you,
Who, absent, is always with you,
Who, silent, is always calling you,
Who, greater than the starlit universe,
Bends to offer you life.
Come to me.

--Timothy Haut, August, 2013

Today in Missoula

Pastor Charles and Belinda attended the School for Congregational Development's live feed from Denver today with more than twenty others from around the Conference.

The presenters (speaking from Denver) spoke about the need for the church to be "Innovating at the Edge." 

Habitat for Humanity Building in Stevi

If you are immediately willing & able to help Habitat 4 Humanity build the new house in Stevensville, please call Rick Weisman at 207-0285. 

They need help TODAY Friday, Aug 16 & TOMORROW, Aug 17, spreading gravel & putting down blue-board foam insulation before the concrete can be poured for foundation.  Rick is the on-site project manager.  Project location is at end of Mission Street, right behind the Senior Center.

 

If you can help later, they will be working for at least the next 3 months on Fridays & Saturdays only.  Please call Shirley Weisman at 207-0247 for scheduling to help later in the process.

UMW Retreat Last Weekend: "MISSION u"

"Love Feast" Table

Romani Festival

Great View from the Boulder Hot Spring Inn and Convention Center

Belinda Alkula attended last weekend's "Mission u" retreat, sponsored by the United Methodist Women (UMW).  She took the 125 pairs of socks that our church donated for this event's mission outreach project.  All the socks gathered will be donated to the Browning Free Store.

Everyone in attendance had a great time of study and fellowship.
Two studies were offered: The Call:  Living Sacramentally, Walking Justly led by Diane Martin and The Roma of Europe: An overview led by Tish Herries. 

On Friday night, the ladies enjoyed a Romani Festival, which included lively music!  It was fun to wear long skirts, bangles, beads and scarves. 

The staff at the Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Conference Center extended gracious hospitality to all!

Mission u - Learning Together for the Transformation of the World...  The dates for Mission u Winter School are February 7-8, 2014, at Billings Grace UMC.  Belinda highly recommends this to all women who want to deepen their faith and expand their commitment to mission outreach.