Monday, April 30, 2018

Readings for Sunday, May 6, 2018

Hello Everyone,

I am now back from my two week "stay-cation". I spent some of my days watching my grandkids, Leighana and Preston. I spend three days in the office throwing out too many papers that had accumulated, sorting through books and things to determine what needs to stay in the office, and boxing all the rest. Each of those three days were followed by a trip to Alexandria to get a cup of Dunn Brothers Coffee and drop the boxes off at Alexandria UMC.

Many thanks go to Bob Kutter who filled in for me the last two Sundays. I know he puts a lot of work into worship preparation the weeks before I went on vacation and into sermon preparation for the Sundays he led worship. Bob is God's blessing for our churches. Thank you, Bob.

National Day of Prayer for our country is this Thursday. There are prayer gatherings in Grey Eagle at the Fire Hall beginning at Noon and at the Memorial Park in Long Prairie also at noon. If you can make the time, please join with other in praying for our country, state, county, and city.

This coming Sunday is the Sixth Sunday of Easter, so, "yes", we are still celebrating Easter. Our appointed readings are:

Acts 10:44-48 - This is the conclusion to the story of Peter visiting Cornelius and family in Caesarea. To appreciate this ending, please read ALL of Acts 10. I think the most important verses in Chapter 10 is 34-35, "Then Peter began to speak to them: 'I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.'" What does that mean to us today? Is there any reason that any church may show partiality to anyone? Sometimes we quibble about "who fear him" and "does what is right". To quote a famous Pope, "Who am I to judge?"

Psalm 98 - Sing a new song to the Lord who has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness. Make a joyful noise to the Lord (all of you non-singers - I see you). For God will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

1 John 5:1-6 - I missed my favorite Bible verses this past week but I plan on making up for that this week. The two verses are in 1 John 4 and if you carefully read that chapter I am sure you will figure out what they are. The Gospel comes down to this: Love God who first loved us; in loving God you will love neighbor; in loving neighbor you will love God; and in this way love, whose name is Jesus Christ, will conquer the world.

John 15:9-17 - "This is my commandment that you love one another just as I have loved you". Enough said (but, if you must, reread the comments in the paragraph above.)

Have a wonderful week serving God by serving your neighbors.
Pastor Gary

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