The Executive Committee and the Vestry have reviewed the following response to the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania guidelines for our gathering for Sunday morning worship. A Revised Plan All enter by the Market Street parish hall entrance (which is accessible by all). Immediately inside the door will be a greeter who will record the individual’s…
1 Corinthians Paul founded the church in Corinth but discovers after he leaves that they have fallen into sin, error, and internal disputes. Paul writes this letter hoping to correct these problems. Come join the Bible Study Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am. 14 September Session One Paul opens with friendly greetings and then…
Readings—Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14; I Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 Today I will begin with the word “vengeance”. Webster defines vengeance as “punishment given in return for an injury or offense”. In ancient times it was not unusual for the offense of one man to be avenged by wiping out his entire family, or even…
Readings– Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 One of my favorite images of God at work is the image from Jeremiah of a potter, shaping clay. The image works for me because many times throughout my life I have been shaped by those loving, powerful hands, shaped and re-shaped, again and again. …
Jeremiah 2:4-13; Psalm 81:1,10-16; Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14 Part I Additional readings from the Old Testament Exodus 23: 9 You shall not oppress a stranger; you know the heart of a stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Leviticus 19: 33-34 When a stranger sojourns with…
Readings – Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2,8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 From the Penitential Order found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, p, 351: Jesus said, “The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all…
Readings- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Psalm 50: 1-8,23-24; Hebrews 11: 1-3,8-16; Luke 12: 32-40 From the Gospel according to St. Luke Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit… for the Son of Man [Jesus] is coming at an unexpected hour… First, “have your lamps lit…”. In the heat this summer we are constantly encouraged to…
Readings – Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9,43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 In ancient Israel about 1900 B.C.E. geologists tell us that the area around Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed by an earthquake followed by fire. The earthquake exposed some oil and gas deposits that ignited into a consuming fire. The people of the day, and those…
May the words of my mouth and meditations of all our hearts and minds be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock, and our Redeemer. Hosea’s story is wild: as a prophetic message to the nation of Israel, God instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute and bear children with her, knowing full well that this…
Readings –Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Our parents always told us that “actions speak louder than words”. Ever hear that? “Actions speak louder than words.” Hold that thought. St. Paul in our reading from Colossians wrote — [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church… In him all things hold together…
Examining the Ten Commandments You may feel you are familiar with the Ten Commandments, but are you aware there are two different versions in the Bible? Did you know the prophet Ezekiel in one of his prophecies seems to contradict part of one of the commandments? Did you know when listing the Ten Commandments both…