Mark 9:38-50

Thoughts:            We all know that Mark is the shortest gospel.  He begins with Jesus as an adult.  He proceeds swiftly through Jesus’ travels and teaching and miracles, his trial, death, and resurrection, and presents all this in sixteen tidy chapters.

So we are amazed to find that Mark repeats one verse three times in chapter 9.  Verses 44, 46, and 48 are identical.  “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”

When we remember verses we have memorized, this probably does not spring to mind.  Why did Mark think it was so important?  Did he like the idea of eternity?  Did the monosyllabic words (all but one) appeal to him?  Did he savor the sheer repetition?

In Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall,” Frost’s neighbor tells him, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

“And he likes having thought of it so well he says again, ‘good fences make good neighbors.’ “

Discussion:          What does Mark mean by “worm”?

Activity:               Memorize Jude 24-25.  (Perhaps you already know these verses.)

Remember in prayer this week Vivian Hansard, Joyce Bauman’s grandson, Spencer Harrison, Gladys Hughes, Betty Leach, Brenda Michaux, and Jim Kuszmaul’s granddaughter and Barbara Strozynski’s niece, Sara.

This Wednesday at 1:00pm is UMW sandwich making.

This Saturday is the all church work day beginning at 9:00am.  Many hands make light work.

Please join us on Sunday to celebrate Gladys Hughes during worship and at a special coffee hour.  She will be moving to Utah to be close to her daughter, Dorothy.