Greetings to you as we begin the closing of our liturgical and calendar year. October is drawing to a close and, in typical Southern Virginia fashion, the weather and conditions are all over the spectrum. The leaves are turning and dropping, the chestnuts have almost all fallen, the temperature is all over the thermometer, and our society begins to look towards Christmas. As we approach All Saints’ Day, we remember those who have passed from our midst and gone to greater glory.
In worship, we ask for God to enrich the acts of faith, hope, and charity so we can bridge the gaps among the members of our community. We ask that God help us love the commands and direction God gives us, so we may be better representatives of God on the earth. Our Hebrew Scripture reading from the prophet Joel, we are told that God will not always punish God’s people. When the debt is paid and the people return to God, the bounty of God will be realized by those who stand firm with God. Our Psalmist sings the song of why we should praise God and the great things that God has done for us; if we stop and look for the great things God does in our lives. Our epistle reading from Paul’s second letter to Timothy tells us, as we see the end coming we need to keep pushing and share God’s message of community and hope.
Our sermon was based on the passage from Luke’s gospel on the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. While there is an obvious message – do not be prideful – the deeper message is to understand how these two members of Jewish society are loved at their core by God. Our challenge is to set aside our judgement of the other and remember they are loved like we are.
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14
Video of worship: https://youtu.be/RVEmaQmRPd0
Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/tf9dHiFdJ2o
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