HARVEST THANKSGIVING
October 8, 2023
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTOR.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
THE LESSON: Isaiah 55:1-12
“Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 6:27-35
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
PARISH LIFE NOTES
FAITHQUEST will be resuming on Sunday October 15 with Divine Diversions: The Good Samaritan. Leaders Adam and Len.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD.. The Faith Quest kids are starting to learn about the parable of the Good Samaritan and will finish up the unit by packing shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse to distribute through Operation Christmas Child. For the past 30 years, Samaritan’s Purse has distributed shoe boxes packed with gifts including toiletries, school supplies, clothing, and toys to the world’s most deprived children as a tangible expression of God’s love for them. Since 1993, almost 210 million children have received a shoebox. This picture shows boxes delivered this year to a Muslim minority community in Mongolia.
To help the Faith Quest kids in their efforts to be a blessing to children elsewhere, please bring items you would like to donate. You can pick up a list of potential items from the display table, or if you want, you can pack a box yourself. New items only, please, and no liquids. Bring the boxes or donations to the church by October 29 at the latest.
WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY. Sensible Shoes is an unusual novel, blending a fictional story with nonfiction teaching elements. Some readers view it only as a story of four characters on a journey. Others say yes to a deeper level of reading, embracing opportunity to take a “sacred journey” along with the characters, by opening themselves to the Spirit’s work and ending to God’s invitations. Speak to Lorna or see the signup sheet on the table in the landing.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30; Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
Evening Prayer: Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.