Feeding 5000

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the enormity of suffering in the world? You may not even need to have such a large scope to feel overwhelmed. What about the suffering in your own community, your own family?

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In the story of Jesus feeding 5000 people in a desolate, empty place, we see the disciples overwhelmed. They have little enough for their own supper and the only thing they can think to do is to send the crowd away, send them home, hungry.

Jesus, of course, has another solution, another course of action. This Sunday, we will look at Jesus response to the needs of these people, under the shadow of the murder of John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:13-21) We will wonder at his compassion, and recognize that "send them away" is not an acceptable response to overwhelming problems, then or now.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven Like?

Jesus must have had this question from his disciples. These men had followed him, listened to him speak, recognized that he was special, bringing a new message, but, they weren't really clear on what this kingdom was really like. Matthew relates a series of parables that all start in much the same way: : The kingdom of heaven is like.....

Courtesy http://kingdomnewtestament.wordpress.com/

Jesus uses surprising, and unusual, metaphors for the kingdom. The mustard seed, yeast, a treasure lost in a field, a pearl, and finally a huge net. It's hard to see the relationship between some of these examples but it is clear that the kingdom of heaven is not at all what we might expect it to be. It is not big and brash and pushy and yet it does have a large effect. It is not readily visible, but when it is found, it brings so much joy  the finder will give up everything to have it. It is all encompassing, all powerful, and yet, inconspicuous.

This week we will examine what the kingdom of heaven means to us, in our time and place as we examine the parables of Matthew 13.

Weird Animals

Weird Animals are everywhere!

We are in the middle of VBS and we are learning about how God loves you even if you are different. We are learning about how much Jesus loves us from Axl, Fern, Iggy, Shred,  and Milton. There have been lots of new songs, crafts, and new friends.

This Sunday we will celebrate the kids and the things they have learned in our worship service. We'll look at the key verse for day two as our text for Sunday morning. Its Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus.

Join us this Sunday morning, for fun, fellowship, and a wonderful end to an exciting week.

Oh, did I mention the lunch afterward?

Welcome as Mission

At the end of chapter 10 of Matthew, after Jesus has enumerated all of the hardships his disciples will face in their lives of mission, all the things they will lose, he says that the act of welcoming will lead to gain. In fact, it seems that those who welcome the disciples, welcome Christ's workers, will receive the same reward as those on the front line. Jesus emphasizes how important it is for those in mission to have support.

Of course, when you realize all of us are called to mission in one way or another, you realize the interconnections in the support group. We have doers welcoming and welcomers doing. Jesus is describing a community of kingdom builders, all with special roles and gifts, all of whom need to be carried and supported in some way.

Join us this Sunday as we think about how this welcoming and receiving impacts the way we live where we are.

Strawberry Time

It's strawberry time!!! Well that may be a little premature since the late spring has set the strawberry crop back a couple of weeks. It is time for the Lucknow Strawberry Festival and this Sunday we will worship together with the other churches in town in an ecumenical service.

While it may seem an odd time to talk about fear, it is one of the themes of the gospel. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. He tells his disciples that they are of value, in fact such value  God, the Father, knows them so intimately that the hairs on their heads are all accounted for. As we enjoy God's creation, symbolized in the strawberry, this weekend, we are reminded of our mission to the world and that we need not be afraid as we go out as his disciples.

Join us this Sunday at 10:30 on the lawn of the Lucknow Presbyterian Church

A Baptism

Today we celebrated Father's day with a baptism.

Jeffrey Frederik James Reaman, son of Jamie and Jessica was baptized.

A Father's Day Card

This Sunday will be Father's Day. For some fathers there will be cards and gifts today to recognize, in a special way, the important role these men have played, and are playing, in the lives of their children. The cards will have headlines like "You are the Best Father" or "Dad of the Year" or "Dad, There's No One Who Can Compare to You". Inside the card there is likely to be a short poem with more words of praise or even words written personally from child to father.

Psalm 8 is a little like the poem written inside the Father's day card. It gives praise upon praise to a God who is over all the earth, high in the heavens, who sets the moon and stars, and yet, is willing to notice something as insignificant as humankind.

Lord, Our LORD, how excellent your name in all the earth.

Come join us as we worship and praise our heavenly Father this week.