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Thoughts: Jesus told a parable about a field planted with good seed. An enemy of the field’s owner planted weeds with the good seed. The owner’s servants asked if they should destroy the weeds so the good plants could thrive.
“No, let them grow together,” the owner said. “At harvest time, gather the weeds first and burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.” This seems straightforward. But when the multitude had left, the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable. Sometimes, when the disciples asked Jesus for an explanation, Jesus was impatient. We can almost hear his tired sigh, see him shake his head, hear him mutter.” How could I have made it any clearer!” But this time Jesus responded immediately with a detailed explanation of the parable. He ended with a beautiful promise: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father.” Discussion: Why is this a lesser known parable? Activity: In this record of the Pilgrims’ first few years in the New World, William Bradford wrote that “… one small candle may light a thousand ….” This week, what could your small candle light? Remember in prayer this week Vivian Hansard, Dick and Mildred Parker and Mike and Tina Stefanski. This Sunday in the Christian Life Center you may sign up to give blood on August 18th. Concerns from Sunday, July 16: Lynne Meek and George and Jane Berquist – Prayers for family and friends of Beth Nitos, a close family member, who died Saturday morning. Megal Corera – Prayers for my safe trip to Sri Lanka on the 22nd to see my siblings and not contact Dengue and for a safe return back home on August 10th. Joyce Bauman – Dick and Mildred Parker – Just because….. Dick Parker – Prayers for my procedure tomorrow and continued healing for Millie. Thanks for prayers! Jayne Saeger & Tina Stefanski – The prayers and love and caring from all of you are the support that is sustaining us in this difficult journey. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Tim Teagan – For a friend starting treatment for colon cancer and safe travel mercies for the Rumels. Joy: Jovi Julian – We give our thanks to God for all His blessings – for my son John Julian being chosen Troy Police Officer of the Year!
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Thoughts: The parable in Matthew 12:1-9 makes farmers shudder. Seed is precious. It is not to be wasted. Either seed has been carefully culled from previous crops – labor intensive – or it has been bought – expensive. No sower worth shooting would fling seed about so irresponsibly.
Seeds do not choose where they fall. So this parable must have been directed toward sowers. Discussion: What seeds may fall near us that we do not want to nurture? Activity: The old hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves” admonished us to sow seeds of kindness “in the morning, at noontide, and the dewy eve.” Remember in prayer this week Vivian Hansard, Mildred Parker, and Mike and Tina Stefanski. Tonight at 7:30pm our softball team will take the field at Good Shepherd Lutheran School. Tomorrow the softball team will take the field at 6:15pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran School. Both games need fans. This Sunday is Communion with Pastor Weatherly and Rev. Jane. Following coffee fellowship at 11:30am will be a service in our chapel celebrating Wanda Payne. Next Monday is the August Tidings deadline. Next Monday is also Baldwin servers. Meet at church at 9:30am to carpool. Concerns from Sunday, July 9, 2017: Janice and Bob Drager – Request prayers for a close friend who has been on a ventilator for 10 days. Aurand Family – Prayers for Scott’s brother, Rodney, who is recovering from a heart attack on Friday. Terry Oliver – Granddaughter Kaylee (6 years old) having tonsils removed tomorrow at Beaumont Royal Oak. Carley Gordon – Prayers for my grandma, Sue Nurek, as she is home recovering from a fall last Thursday. Bill & Sue Wesp – Concerned for my mom as she deals with the loss of my dad. Joys: Aurand Family – Prayers for Andrew as he starts his job with Parker this week. Bob Whitford – I will race on my 4th Port Huron to Mackinack sailboat race later this month. Dick & Millie Parker – Continued thanks for cards, notes, calls, and visits during Millie’s recovery. Thanks also for support with the passing of Dick’s sister, Helen. Cathy Miller – Thanks for your prayers and cards. I’m feeling better. Linda & Rick Wright – Marriage of our daughter, Cori, to Justin Cannon. May God bless them. Megan Steiger – Update on Troy Co-op Parent Lisa whom we prayed for two weeks ago after she experienced cardiac arrest during a weekend away in Grand Rapids. Lisa was able to return home a week later and is on the mend, following many medical interventions, including a temporary heart pump. Thank you for your prayers for her, her husband, and their 3 young children. Finance – As of today, $4895 has been raised for “Paving the Way Through Faith!” We’re looking for more Faith so we can restore our Capital Replacement Fund for the next non-budgeted, but needed, Project! Many thanks to all who have already contributed. Thoughts: It starts early – being perverse.
Little Micah: I’ll play the pipe, and you dance. Little Jeremiah: Nah, I don’t wanna dance. Little Micah: Then I’ll pretend I’m a mourner, and you can wail and carry on. Little Jeremiah: Nah, I don’t wanna mourn. John the Baptist was criticized for neither eating or drinking – actually, he lived on locusts and wild honey – so people said he had a devil. Can’t you just hear his mother Elizabeth agonizing over his diet. “Now John, you come home and have dinner with your father and me. Remember how you love my leg of lamb with parsley potatoes? And mint jelly, of course, and my famous fig cookies. You don’t eat enough, John. You’re too thin!” Jesus came eating and drinking normally. So people said, “What a glutton! What a drunkard! And he hangs around with sinners!” Discussion: What annoys us about other people? Activity: What annoys other people about us? _____________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Stu & Vivian Hansard, Eunice Kraase, Steve Olsavsky, Mildred Parker, Sylvia Peacock, Joyce Rampenthal, and Mike and Tina Stefanski. This Saturday is Men’s Breakfast at 8:00am. Bring a friend, bring your Bible. See you here! This Sunday is Worktrip Sunday. Come hear and see what our youth did in Norristown, PA. Next Monday, July 10th, is the UMW Fellowship luncheon at Camp Ticonderoga at 11:30am. All are welcome. On Sunday, July 16th, at 11:30am in the Chapel, we will be celebrating Wanda Payne’s life. All are welcome to join us. Concerns from Sunday, July 2, 2017: Joyce Bauman – On June 28th we lost a very good Christian friend. Joyce Berard, Jan Garrett, Eleanor Rickabus and myself will miss her so much. Wanda taught us to take a sometimes boring game of pinochle and add a fifth hand and two decks of cards and play a fun game. It was challenging for 5 seniors at times, but also hilarious. Wanda was a very excellent player and did a good job of keeping us on task. On the third Monday of the month we will always remember with joy her presence in our lives. We love you Wanda Payne. Bill & Sue Wesp – For friend, Janet, just diagnosed with breast cancer and for Sue’s parents who have multiple health concerns. No name - Prayers for all who suffer from demons of alcohol and drug addictions. No name – This is the Sunday that many of our UMC churches are welcoming pastoral changes. We know there are a lot of ups and downs coming and going in transitions. Remember the families and congregations in your prayers. Dick Parker – Death of my sister Helen Bobolink. Funeral was yesterday in Flint. Donna Klungle – Prayers for the family of Carrie Lozier who was our choir accompanist a few years ago. She passed away on Wednesday. Three small children. Her funeral is Wednesday at 10:00am at Kensington with visitation at9:00am. Joys: Wafaa Kareem – My brother’s diabetic foot has gotten better. Thank God. Martin & Carolyn Jones – Happy 50th birthday to son, Darren. Jayne Saeger & Tina Stefanski – Thanks for continued prayers. “Small” improvement with Mike, Praise God! Jennifer Fry – My sister-in-law, Lynn, is home from the hospital. No name – On this holiday week-end of the birth of America, you might want to think about how God has blessed you and your family by living in land of liberty, America. Joyce & Bill Rampenthal – Joyce is doing very good after her knee replacement surgery. We thank our church friends for their prayers, cards, calls and meals. Thanks to Pastor Weatherly for her visit. Thoughts:
(The newly commissioned disciples are starting on their first missionary journey.) Thaddeus: That was a lot of stuff to remember. Judas: I didn’t like the part about being dragged into court. James the Less: But Jesus said we would know what to say. Thomas: If we’re not too loud, I doubt if we’ll be arrested. Peter: But we have to get people’s attention. Now I’ve got a voice that carries. Andrew: Yes, we know, Peter. Simon the Zealot: Maybe some of the people we meet will invite us to supper. James; Hope they’re good cooks. Philip: Or at least have pretty daughters! Matthew: You guys remember to start with the outside fork and work your way toward the plate. Thaddeus: Say what? Nathaniel: Jesus said if people invite us, they’re really inviting him. John: I wish he had come with us. Discussion: Why do people invite other people to come to their home? Activity: Watch for someone who needs a symbolic cup of cold water. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week: Vivian & Stu Hansard, Corwin Hanson, Mildred Parker, Wanda Payne, Joyce Rampenthal, Mike and Tina Stefanski and their family. Remember this entire week to pray for our 23 youth and 7 leaders on worktrip in Norristown, PA. They will return late on Sunday. Careful in our driveway this week at church. Paving has begun under the direction of the Trustees. Please pray about your “Paving the Way Through Faith” donation for this much-needed project. This Wednesday morning, June 28th, at 10am, will be the last Mid-week Word until August 2nd. Please join Rev. Jane and the gang for food, fun, fellowship, Bible Study and a little prayer. This Wednesday, June 28th, at 6:15pm, we have another opportunity to cheer on our softball team at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, south of 15, cross street Eton. Next Tuesday, July 4th , the office will be closed. Watch for this Word@Home on Wednesday following staff meeting. Concerns from Sunday, June 25th: Megan Steiger – Pray for Trop Co-op parent Lisa, mother of 3 young children. Last night while in Grand Rapids for the weekend with her husband, she had a spontaneous tear in an artery of her heart and after revival from cardiac arrest, is now in ICU with low heart function. Jennifer Fry – Sister-in-law, Lynn, still is in the hospital due to complications following surgery last Thursday. Vi Freeman and Jean Roberson – Please pray for our sister-in-law, Joan, who will be undergoing major surgery this week. Mary Jo & Dale Johnston – Mary Jo will have outpatient surgery Tuesday. Frank & Karen Glidden – Prayers for granddaughter Natash, who is having more back surgery today. Jill Woods – A friend who lost her sister last night from an illness. Scott Aurand – Prayers for my good family friend Jennifer undergoing a complicated surgery Monday. No name – Prayer for a co-worker’s daughter that she may control her alcoholism. Pray for Cathy Miller still having trouble with vertigo. Jayne Saeger – Thank you, Thank you for your love and prayers! Mike is very sick and it is not a good outlook for him. Your support makes all the difference to us. Thank you Jan Peacock – appendectomy this week and in church today. Joys: Kathy Sobanski – 31 pints of blood including 2 double reds last Wednesday. Ben Olesen – thank you to our dear church family for their kindness to us during y illness. We are so fortunate to be part of such a loving congregation. Ben and Sue Andy & Laura Barnes – Birth of Addison Wilson expected today. our first niece. Debbie Hagelstein – Wishing my sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Ron, “Happy 40th anniversary and prayers for another joyful 40!” |
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January 2021
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