Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
In the children’s time, I talked about the second story from the Matthew passage, about the sons who each told their father one thing and then did another. The bad son said, “I’ll go work in the vineyard,” but then he didn’t follow through. The real problem is that he was for the vineyard before he was against it, and we don’t like flip-floppers. Bad joke.
I’ll admit, I look at politics the way a lot of people look at religion. Some people seem to ask why a person would invest so much interest and energy in something that interests them so little. They may maintain whatever their particular religious views are, but never vehemently. They have no interest in debating religion, they just let everyone think what they think. Personally, I have a hard time sympathizing with that view, because I’m a religion geek. Of course I have plenty of other interests in life, but I do enjoy that conversation about religion. (more…)
Join us today, Tuesday, September 23 for Food for Thought. We’ll be listening to and discussing the Speaking of Faith episode Evolution and Wonder: Understanding Charles Darwin.
We’ll take a fresh and thought-provoking look at Darwin’s life and ideas. He did not argue against God but against a simple understanding of the world — its beauty, its brutality, and its unfolding creation.
Bring your lunch and join us in the Session Room at noon. See you there!
Exodus 16:2-15
Philippians 1:20-30
For the record, I take my showers in the morning. I feel scuzzy if I don’t. But I didn’t take a shower this morning, because I slept in a box last night, along with many others from Hope. Now I’m feeling one of the many issues involved in getting out of homelessness. We often like to says that getting a job is the way to get out of homelessness: you just need to get a good job, and then you won’t be stuck without a home. Well, maybe you’d hire me today, after one night in a box. After a week? Probably not. The hiring manager would ask me why I didn’t clean up before the interview, and I sure wouldn’t want to say, “I couldn’t.” When I was writing this sermon, I also didn’t know whether I’d sleep at all well with that chilly east wind on my head all night, but I know I’m not as able and alert as I might have been. I still don’t know anything about real homelessness, but today I feel at least a little solidarity with those who didn’t have the choice of where to sleep last night. (more…)
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35
Paul tells us to welcome those who are weak and not to quibble about what he calls “disputable matters.” By weakness, he means the need to observe the Jewish laws, specifically about the sabbath and avoiding meat that had been sacrificed to idols. The sabbath was God’s special day set aside for worship – even though Jesus worked on that day – and these members of the church found it important to observe that day. They would have opposed work or professional football taking place on Sundays, as many people within the church have opposed. (more…)
Coming up next Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Food for Thought: the conclusion of “Einstein’s God.” Last Tuesday, we began this Speaking of Faith program, and we’ll wrap it up next week. If you want to catch up before you join us, listen to the show.
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
With the school year just having started, it’s a little mean of Paul to say in this passage from Romans, “now is the time to wake up from sleep.” He’s saying that the time we live in is precious, so we ought to dispense with debts – both those we owe and those that are owed to us. We’re close to God’s new day, when the debts of old days won’t matter anymore. In fact, Paul says that we’re already living in the new reality, and debt belonged to an old life that isn’t there anymore. In that old life, debts must be paid. In the new life, all our debts are forgiven in Christ. (more…)
Wednesday, September 10
12:00 Noon – 1:00 p.m.
HOPE COMMUNITY FORUM
A Brown Bag Lunch/Lecture Series
PRESENTS
CRIME ON THE IRON RANGE:
How Does it Affect You?
Presented by
Karl Sundquist, Assistant Attorney for
North St. Louis County, Criminal Division
(Mr. Sundquist is a native of Virginia)
Hope Community Forum is a brown bag luncheon series that takes place at
Hope Community Presbyterian Church
212 5th Ave. S.
Virginia, MN
(Across from the Library)
NO CHARGE COFFEE PROVIDED BY THE CHURCH
The C. E. Committee
invites everyone to a
Barbecue
September 7th
12:00 Noon
Back to Olcott Park
In case of bad weather we will move to the basement.
