October 9, 2025

On Common Ground

Ten people are healed by Jesus, but only one returns to thank him. That is the central tension of today’s gospel story. But there is also a twist, one we may have missed if we were not listening closely: the one who thanked Jesus was a Samaritan.

The faithful of Jesus’ time would have known all about the hostility between Judeans and Samaritans. The conflict between the two groups stretched back generations and generations. It was animosity so entrenched that people probably did not remember the specifics of the fight. They just knew they hated the other side. A Judean would never associate with a Samaritan, much less heal one of them.

But as we see in this story and others throughout the gospels, Jesus did not seem to care about the labels the world assigned to people: scribe or Pharisee, sinner or tax collector. Jesus also did not stop to consider whether the person was from Judea or Samaria. He looked into the eyes of all who came to him and saw directly to their humanity. He brought healing and wholeness to everyone.

Just as Jesus told the Samaritan, he could tell us, too, that our faith makes us well. God gives us faith that overcomes the destructive words of the world, allowing us to transcend barriers and labels and to recognize the humanity in each individual. God is also calling us as a whole community to go and seek out the Samaritans of our own time and place—anyone whom the rest of the world rejects and reviles—and show them the same compassion and mercy we have received.

God’s love makes us whole. Words can hurt, but thanks to Jesus, words can heal too. More often than not, we will find common ground through God’s power to heal, even among the Samaritans.

From sundaysandseasons.com.

• 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 for all those affected by illness and those who care for them.

• For Bob Pecuch, Judy Kelly, Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Tyler LaChapelle, Elle Terreberry, Mark Kiendl, Samantha Kibbe, Heather Miller, Bryan Dahlberg, Lois Rumfelt, Nick Johnson, James Dieter, John Gingrass, and those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Sean

Pecuch, Ben Wickerham, Paul Hebert, and Nicholas Hebert, and those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.

• For the ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.

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

CALENDAR

Oct. 12

Oct. 13 & 15

Oct. 16

Oct. 17

Our Transition Pastor is Pastor Timothy Hoyer. His Cell Phone is (716) 490-5731 in case of an emergency.

Pastor Hoyer will have office hours at St. Timothy on Thursdays from 12 to 2pm.

WE WELCOME BACK TO KATIE CASTRO AS OUR SUPPLY PREACHER THIS WEEK!

Good News

If we ask for help, we are glad to receive it. When someone helps us without us asking for help, we feel we are on the receiving end of some kind of charity. For some reason, that makes us uncomfortable. We don't want to be a "charity case". As if receiving help is somehow a failure on our part.

Ten people asked Jesus for help. Those ten people were healed by Jesus. One praised God. That same one gave thanks to Jesus. The other nine treated Jesus as if Jesus was a doctor. "Send me the bill." That one person treated Jesus as God. He believed Jesus to be God, a gracious God. And Jesus told him, "Your faith has saved you." Not only was that one person healed of leprosy, he now had a gracious God who died and rose for him. He was also forgiven and promised life forever.

Who wouldn't give thanks for that?

God is gracious to us. We don't owe God anything. We are not a charity case. In a world that demands we need to deserve its help, we get to believe Jesus will always be gracious to us.

Peace,

Pastor Hoyer

LUNCHEON

***Luncheon following worship Sunday, November 2 sponsored by the Transition Team. Fun and food – all in one. Also, another great opportunity to meet Pastor Hoyer in person.

The Transition Team at St. Timothy

The Transition Team at St. Timothy is made up of four members- Tammy Haas, Trish Pecuch, Marcy Saar, and Melanie Yohe. They will meet regularly over the next several weeks and months to collect and organize important information about the church, our congregation, and community. The Synod MSP (Ministry Site Profile) is required paperwork in the call process. It is our goal as your Transition Team to lay the groundwork and complete the MSP, so a call committee can invite a new Pastor to serve St. Timothy.

Everyone in the congregation is encouraged to share their thoughts and support the team. We will be involving you in various ways to gather your ideas and opinions. For example- some weeks there may be a question that has a specific answer that could be recorded quickly on a piece of paper. Other questions or reflections may involve more thought or opinions and might be discussed over coffee or at an upcoming get-together. We feel by working with you and making it a hands-on and shared endeavor- we can become stronger and closer as a church community and work together through our current process of calling a Pastor. Don’t hesitate to let any of us know if you have questions or want further information.

5 & 2 PACKING Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 pm

The 25/26 school year is underway and we're starting to pack backpacks for our Bemus Point and area school students. We can't thank our volunteers enough for all you do to make this happen! If you're looking for a wonderful way to give back to your community, please consider volunteering 1 time a month packing bags of food for area students. We're done by 8:00 pm!

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

If you can volunteer, please contact

Gale Svenson-Campbell at the link above. Thank you!!