School started Monday, so keep a sharp eye
for little ones racing to get from here to there
in a hurry. Remember, they are our most
precious commodity.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24th —
ABC AD Council meeting at Adair UMC - 7PM
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH —
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: GREEN
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
EXODUS 3:1-15
(The Message)
We read the story of Moses and the burning
bush. Moses "turned aside to see" a bush
that was on fire but not being consumed.
What began as a curiosity in the desert turned
into an occasion for God to commission Moses
to lead the way to freedom for his people,
slaves in Egypt.
1 Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro,
his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the
flock to the west end of the wilderness and came
to the mountain of God, Horeb.
2 The angel of God appeared to him in flames of
fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked.
The bush was blazing away but it didn't burn up.
3 Moses said, "What's going on here? I can't
believe this! Amazing! Why doesn't the bush
burn up?"
4 God saw that he had stopped to look. God called
to him from out of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He
said, "Yes? I'm right here!"
5 God said, "Don't come any closer. Remove your
sandals from your feet.
You're standing on holy ground."
6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father:
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God
of Jacob." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
7 God said, "I've taken a good, long look at the
affliction of my people in Egypt. I've heard their
cries for deliverance from their slave masters;
I know all about their pain.
8 And now I have come down to help them, pry
them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out
of that country ans, ad bring them to a good land with
wide-open space land lush with milk and honey,
the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite,
the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
9 "The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and
I've seen for myself how cruelly they're being
treated by the Egyptians.
10 It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to
Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel,
out of Egypt."
11 Moses answered God, "But why me? What
makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh
and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
12 "I'll be with you," God said. "And this will be the
proof that I am the one who sent you: When you
have brought my people out of Egypt, you will
worship God right here at this very mountain."
13 Then Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the
People of Israel and I tell them, 'The God of your
fathers sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What
is his name?' What do I tell them?"
14 God said to Moses, "I-AM-WHO-I-AM.
Tell the People of Israel, 'I-AM sent me to you.'"
15 God continued with Moses: "This is what
you're to say to the Israelites: 'God, the God of
your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.'
This has always been my name, and this is how
I always will be known.
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PSALM 105:1-6, 23-26, 45 (UMH 828)
(The Message)
PSALM 105:1-6
1 Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
2 Sing him songs, belt out hymns, translate his
wonders into music!
3 Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who
seek God. Live a happy life!
4 Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his
works; be alert for signs of his presence.
5 Remember the world of wonders he has made,
his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered -
6 O seed of Abraham, his servant, O child of Jacob,
his chosen.
PSALM 105:23-26
23 Then Israel entered Egypt, Jacob immigrated
to the Land of Ham.
24 God gave his people lots of babies; soon their
numbers alarmed their foes.
25 He turned the Egyptians against his people;
they abused and cheated God's servants.
26 Then he sent his servant Moses, and Aaron,
whom he also chose.
PSALM 105:45
45 So they could do everything he told them -
could follow his instructions to the letter. Hallelujah!
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ROMANS 12:9-21
(New Living Translation)
9 Don't just pretend that you love others. Really
love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side
of the good.
10 Love each other with genuine affection, and
take delight in honoring each other.
11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord
enthusiastically.
12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be
patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
13 When God's children are in need, be the one
to help them out.
And get into the habit of inviting
guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging,
for the night.
14 If people persecute you because you are a
Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will
bless them.
15 When others are happy, be happy with them.
If they are sad, share their sorrow.
16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to
act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary
people. And don't think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do
things in such a way that everyone can see
you are honorable.
18 Do your part to live in peace with everyone,
as much as possible.
19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave
that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance;
I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.
20 Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your
enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty,
give them something to drink, and they will be
ashamed of what they have done to you."
21 Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer
evil by doing good.
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MATTHEW 16:21-28
(The Message)
Jesus tells the disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem, where he will be killed. Peter
rebukes him, and Jesus tells Peter that he is
a stumbling block to him by thinking as
humans think.
21 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that
it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem,
submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of
the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the
third day be raised up alive.
22 Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible,
Master! That can never be!"
23 But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my
way. Satan, get lost.
You have no idea how God works."
24 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples.
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let
me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am.
Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me
and I'll show you how.
25 Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the
way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
26 What kind of deal is it to get everything you
want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade
your soul for?
27 "Don't be in such a hurry to go into business
for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man
will arrive with all the splendor of his Father,
accompanied by an army of angels. You'll get
everything you have coming to you, a personal gift.
28 This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you
standing here are going to see it take place, see
the Son of Man in kingdom glory."
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MONDAY, AUGUST 29TH —
This is Pastor Bob's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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FUTURE FOCUS
COME TO THE FAIR!
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH — DON'T FORGET
Our two churches switch times this morning —
Holy Communion today —
(Daylight Savings time does not end until November)
FROM BISHOP TRIMBLE'S BLOG —
“Waiting for Superman”
documentary, “Waiting for Superman”. This film
dramatically tells the story of how so many children
are being left behind in the public education system.
It sounds the alarm for radical change. American
students rank below most industrialized countries in
everything, but confidence.
Bad schools contribute to bad neighborhoods,
Dropouts and other students with poor reading and
math skills are early predictors for who will end up
in prisons.
The movie allows viewers to follow several families
in their quest to get the best education for their
children.
Some schools are better than others. For many who
are not wealthy, hope lies in being picked by lottery
to attend a public charter school.
School unions, ineffective teachers, and what is
described as an outdated approach by American
schools, constitute the problem.
The movie made me weep even though there are
some signs of hope.
Here is what I believe:
• Good teachers can and do change lives.
• In our country those who can afford choices
usually opt to move to communities with the
best schools or pay for private education.
• Our system of education is based on a model
that few have choices, many have a chance,
and thousands are left behind.
What role do you think Christians have in
responding to this national crisis?
——— Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble
PLAYING CATCH-UP —
HERE IS A PICTURE OF PASTOR LYNN
WITH 6 DAY-OLD ISAAC AND ONE YEAR
OLD RHYS SHEPPARD. SHE SAYS:
“Being a Grandma is a blessing in my life.
May your days be filled with blessings.”
Pastor Lynn
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God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Bob
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