June 11, 2020

Romans 5:1-8

Scripture readings

for Sunday, June 14

Genesis 1:1-2:4a

Psalm 8

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Matthew 28:16-20

REFLECTION

Pastor Ivy

This is a very rich passage of scripture. Paul is writing to congregations in Rome that are in disarray. There is infighting and division. Meanwhile, they are under the heavy hand of Roman authority and are suffering because of it.

So, Paul tells them and us all what believers have because of being justified with God—being made right with God. Everything flows from that relationship. The piece I want to focus on is hope, a word that is repeated throughout this passage. The source of our hope is Christ and our relationship with him. It is not a characteristic that we have to do something in order to receive it. It is pure gift and is part of the whole salvation package.

How do we grow our hope? Unfortunately, it is through the difficult things in life. As Paul puts it, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Ok, none of that sounds too difficult until we look at the beginning—suffering. It’s hard to connect suffering and hope and yet, look at various people in history who have suffered and yet seemed so hopeful. One that comes to mind is Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian whose family hid Jews in their home during WW II.

Corrie and her family were all arrested and sent to a concentration camp. She alone survived. Corrie used to tell the story of how she would complain about the lice in the part of the camp in which she and her sister, Betsy resided. Betsy gently reminded her that it was the lice that kept the Nazi soldiers from coming in and harassing them!

There are others we can think of like Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Ghandi and so on. They all suffered, and yet their hope seemed boundless.

Finally, hope is so powerful that it “does not disappoint us.” That’s saying something and I like the reason that is so, “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Can you visualize this pouring? I don’t imagine it as nice and neat, but rather, it as messy because our extravagant God does not hold back in his giving of gifts.

In the midst of these days of COVID 19 and protests and violence, can we dig into our relationship with God and access that hope in which he wants us to abide? It’s easy to get discouraged, but as Paul elsewhere told the Romans, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Let us pray: Great God, you look on us with love. In the middle of the ugliness we see on our tv screens and read about, you are with us and with all who suffer. Ground our lives in your hope so that all people would see Jesus in us. Amen.

1Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

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

We will be doing Holy Communion this week J

***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, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.

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!

***5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date: 85

Love INC Prayer Requests 06/11/2020

A young woman has been homeless with a young toddler and another baby is due in September. She needs furniture for their apartment.

A young mother with three young children (all toddlers) had to leave her home due to an abusive relationship. She now has her children from Foster care but has no family in the area. She has her own place to live but needs furniture and kitchen items. Please continue praying for her needs to be met.

An older woman has suffered domestic violence but is in need of a microwave now that she is living by herself.

*****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 Praise, the ramp is complete with the help of funding from Christ First UMC and Busti Church of God and volunteers from Bemus Point UMC, Christ First UMC, St. James RC. The day it was completed was the neighbor in needs birthday and she was so excited!

A middle age gentleman will be receiving a couch. He is recovering from alcoholism and prayer for feeling worthy of the church’s love. Praise God for the donations received to bless these people so they see the love of Christ!

Praise - the Furniture Ministry was able to make some deliveries. Pray for the safety & protection of the volunteers

Family of 5 who are struggling financially. The husband’s work hours were cut because of the Covid-19 “Pause’ and the wife is a stay-at home mom. They needed some diapers that were provided them through Baby Gap Ministry at Jamestown Free Methodist. Pray for all the families who are going through a similar struggle.

Love INC needs a Board Member with Social Media Expertise to assist with better Social Media Communication

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

LCLC Open to Hikes & Picnics

Enjoy the outdoors at LCLC.

While our summer youth camping season has been canceled due to COVID-19, LCLC remains open to individuals and families looking for a "nature park" in which to hike or picnic for the day. Overnighting, however, is not possible.

Options for enjoying yourself at LCLC this summer will continue to maintain all the current COVID-19 precautions. Including social distancing, wearing masks when needed, not visiting LCLC if you are ill, and not gathering in groups of 10 or more.

Individuals and families should plan to be completely self-sufficient during their time at LCLC. Similar to hiking in a state forest, visitors will need to bring their own food, beverages, charcoal, grill, refuse bags, and campfire wood, as needed.

Outdoor areas available for reservation include:

• 4 miles of hiking trails

• Pavilion with charcoal grill

• Wales Hollow Fire Circle

• RATS Village Fire Circle

• Waterfront Fire Circle (swimming is not permitted)

Registration procedures:

Interested visitors need to register with the office by calling 716-386-4125 or emailing lee@lclcenter.org. The number of individuals and families on site at any one time will be strictly monitored and limited for the health and safety of all. Group gatherings of over 10 are not allowed at this time.

Costs:

While hiking is free, the reservation of a Campfire Circle or Pavilion is $10.00 per site.

We look forward to safely seeing you soon!

· 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 people affected by coronavirus, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.

· For victims of wildfires, flooding and earthquakes.

• For Hans Steen, Alberta Prall (Julie Bihler’s mother), Roy Pihl, Rose Johnson-Prieur, Avis West, George and Janet Balcom, Maj-Britt Traynor, Beverly Klang, Trudy Fetzner, Thom Shagla, Matt Isaacson, Mabel Tranum, Gloria Fitzpatrick, Sarah Van Staalduinen

· 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.