Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ! I want to add to what I had already written here two notes to keep in mind for tomorrow: one is that the afternoon “spooky concert” IS tomorrow, Sunday the 29th, at 4:00pm.
The other additional note follows on what has been a nerve and spirit-racking time for all of us in Maine. Several individuals had expressed concern about our gathering for worship while the perpetrator of the tragedy in Lewiston was still at large. Sadly, for his family, he was found dead last night, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. So, that immediate concern is allayed. While Card’s death eases the worry people around the state have been feeling, we continue to pray for the victims and their families. We pray as we look forward with the earnest intent of making necessary changes to stop incidents like this being repeated. I hope that we can be a center for conversation and action to end gun violence of any kind and certainly on this scale.
We do this as people of faith in a loving God who calls us to love, which is the challenge presented in this week’s scripture lessons. Although the leaders of the temple pose questions to Jesus with the intention of tripping him up, of making him appear sacrilegious or ignorant, his responses steer them and us in a different and challenging way. What does it really mean to love others as ourselves? We will have the opportunity to consider this together during our worship, which also invites us to sing together an old and familiar song as we pray in harmony.
Blessings and peace, Lisa.
Worship at Home Materials: We will be offering worship in-person as well as on Zoom this coming Sunday. Coffee & tea are available after the church service. Masks are suggested in the sanctuary and required during the singing of hymns, as the virus spreads most easily with the
projection of droplets.
Psalm 1, page 621 TNCH Psalm 1
A Reading from the Gospels Matthew 22:34-46
Message “Judgment Free Loving” Pastor Lisa
Below you will find materials to accompany this week’s Sunday Morning Worship via Zoom. An order of service with scripture readings, to accompany the service, are available by clicking the following links.
Helpful Hint: If you are planning to join the Sunday morning worship Zoom call, you might wish to print the following documents prior to joining the call, if you have that capability.
*A link to the sermon will be shared on our website during the week following the service.
Worship Bulletin:
October 29, 2023
Service of Worship for Home
To join us for worship via Zoom, please use the following information.
Whether or not you choose to set up an account, when it’s time for the meeting, click the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84751152418
Meeting ID: 847 5115 2418
Passcode: 553131