St. Timothy Lutheran Church

                              

                                                                           February 27, 2020


                                                       

                                                                   Matthew 4:1-1

Scripture readings

for Sunday, March 1

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

Psalm 32

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

REFLECTION

Pr. Ivy

It's a set up: it was God's Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. What is this really about? This too, was preparation for Jesus before he began his public ministry.

All of the enemy's tests regarded the nature of Jesus as the Son of God, with the final one being a challenge to worship the enemy in order to have everything—which was already his anyway! Did you notice Jesus' response in each instance? “It is written.” Jesus knew scripture and was confident in who he was.

Did you notice that in the second temptation the devil has caught on and uses the words, “for it is written.” Pretty sly, huh? And Jesus' reply, “Again it is written.” It's not enough to be able to quote scripture, but to have it enter your heart and transform you. Ultimately, Jesus is the Word of God and scripture tells us about the living Word.

Jesus demonstrated his identity in testing so that through our identity in Christ, we transform our community. Because Jesus knew who he was, he could confidently confront the devil. Do we know who we are as beloved children of God?

Let us pray.

Dear Lord, we thank you that in holy baptism you have made us your own beloved daughters and sons. May we remember this as we live our lives in you. Amen.

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' ”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' ”


Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' ”  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' ”


Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which

time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need

for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.

ANNOUNCEMENTS


***ONLINE GIVING now available at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards.   3 ways to give:

   - Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com

   - Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone

   - Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.   

 

For further information, contact Kathy Carlson at 485-1316.








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We continuously collect food items for the 5 & 2 Ministry.  Bring your donations and place in the black bin in church narthex.  Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex.  Monetary donations welcome!

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***5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date: 76


We continuously collect food items for the 5 & 2 Ministry.  Bring your donations and place in the black bin in church narthex.  Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex.  Monetary donations welcome! Contact Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com.



  











          

Click on the link below to find out more about the upcoming Synod Assembly.  This year they will be electing a Bishop!


https://upstatenysynod.org/synod-assembly-2020





Love INC Prayer Requests 02/24/20

A couple moving at the end of the month by team from Panama UM Church. Pray for them as they pack and look forward to their new home and the team of volunteers who are scheduled to help.

The household ministry needs some regularly requested items by the families assisted: toasters, pots & pans, towels, wash cloths, bowls and coffee makers.

Updates and Praises

A divorced gentleman in need of a mattress and a toaster oven.  Prayers are needed for an upcoming surgery on his neck and issues with a detached retina and possible loss of sight.

A single mom; expecting a third child with 2 children in foster care; needs a couch and a lamp. After being sober for over a year she is hoping her children will be returned after she completes parenting classes and obtains her CNA license to provide for her family.  Praise – the needed furniture has been delivered, baby not here yet keep them in your prayers

A single mom; with 2 children; is unable to work, needs beds and are currently sleeping on the floor.

An older lady was hospitalized for Pneumonia.  Pray for her and her son who was just laid off from his job. They are looking for more affordable housing.  Praise - they have moved into a first-floor apartment.  They were provided with the needed furniture and kitchen items.

A single mom of 2 teenagers, with no family support, lost her job and became homeless.  They are being assisted with rent, while she looks for a job. One child suffers from a mental illness requiring daycare. She needs furniture for her home.  Please pray this family, job opportunities for the mom and daycare for her sonPraise – They have moved into a new apartment with rent assistance.  She will be starting a new job this week; a family friend will be able to care for her son and they were provided furniture and kitchen items for theie home.

Love INC needs a Bilingual (Spanish) volunteer to help translate for neighbors in need.

Love INC needs a volunteer accountant/bookkeeper. Our current bookkeeper will be retiring in May and we are looking for a replacement.

A single older woman who is need of a ramp for her home.  She has MS and has a lot of difficulties getting in and out of the house.  Pray for her health and the funds would be available to build the ramp.***Praise the Children of Busti Church of God are hosting A RAMP-IT UP Fun Fair on April 1st from 5:30 pm -8:30pm  at Busti Church of God Gym to help raise the funds for this ramp.

Single lady with some medical issues residing in the Allen Park area needs help with some yard work and snow removal.  Please pray for her health and a volunteer to meet her need.**



Upcoming Commemorations

George Herbert, hymnwriter, died 1633

Sunday, March 1, 2020

An excellent scholar, Herbert served briefly in the English parliament, then became a parish priest. He was known for devoted care of his parishioners, as well as for writing poetry and hymns, including "Come, my way, my truth, my life." He died at age 40.

John Wesley, died 1791; Charles Wesley, died 1788; renewers of the church

Monday, March 2, 2020

These brothers led a revival originally intended to remain within the Church of England, one that involved frequent communion and advocacy for the poor. Except for a brief time in America, they worked in England. Charles was also a prolific hymn writer. After their deaths, their work led to the formation of the Methodist Church.

Perpetua and Felicity and companions, martyrs at Carthage, died 202

Saturday, March 7, 2020

Vibia Perpetua was a noblewoman, and Felicity her slave, who were catechumens at Carthage, northern Africa. They, with four other catechumens, had defied the Roman emperor who had forbidden conversions to Christianity, and were put to death in the amphitheater.

- For our community of faith as we seek to do God's work in the world.

- For those in our congregation and community who suffer silently with illness, financial burdens, and family obligation.

- For victims of violence and their families in all places.

- For victims of wildfires, flooding and earthquakes.

- For: Ron Simpson, Dan Kelly, Inara Ledder,  Ned Lindstrom, Dick Starks, Tim O'Brien, Gretta Kettle, George and Janet Balcom, Maj-Britt Traynor, Pat & Maureen Kibbe, Beverly Klang, Trudy Fetzner, Thom Shagla, Matt Isaacson, Sarah Van Staalduinen, Mabel Tranum, Bryan Brown, Jim Doherty, Karen Brown, and Bonnie Christoferson.

- For people serving in the military, including Ben Wickerham and Jeffrey Clauson, and their families, those caught up in persecution, violence and war.

- For all children, that the love of Christ may reach them through all of us who have resources to love, protect, pray and provide for them.

- For:  The ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.