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September 7, 2023
Matthew 18:15-20
Scripture readings
for Sunday, Sept. 10
Ezekiel 33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 18:15-20
• 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, their families, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.
• For the Family and Friends of Lee Magneson, Dianne Sloan, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Adam Hull, Lianne Edborg, Marty Wittstrom, Sarah VanStaalduin, Charlene Hunter, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, Karen Brown, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Christine Kaffka and Ben Wickerham, 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.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
REFLECTION
Pr. Ivy Gauvin
“Jesus offers practical advice to his disciples on how individuals—and the church as a whole—should go about restoring relationships when one member has sinned against another,” is the way Sundaysandseasons.com nicely summarizes this Sunday’s gospel. After all, being the people of God as the church is all about relationships: relationship with God, relationship with each other, and relationship with our neighbors near and far.
Sometimes it's easier for us to keep things inside ourselves instead of telling the truth. We don’t want to hurt someone, but we are only hurting ourselves and the other members of the church.
We may be tempted as well to start telling all our friends about the terribly wrong we’ve suffered. Jesus says to talk with the offender alone. If all goes well, that’s great. If it doesn’t, bring in witnesses.
A recent incident took place among a small group of close friends of mine. There was palpable tension between two people. The other night, when we were out to dinner, it erupted. The offended person called and called and texted, desiring to rectify the situation. The other refused to answer her. It was so frustrating that one person said she’d stop coming to our little gatherings because she did not want to be the source of tension.
Finally, I received a text the other day saying that the two had talked and that all was well between them. I was thinking of this scripture passage: that we might have to take the next step of one or two others joining with the two so that all would be reconciled.
Skipping to the end of the passage. Many people who believe in the “prosperity gospel” think that these last words are about praying for success--from healing to financial freedom. However, looking at the whole passage, it is clearly about church discipline.
The final verse—oh, how we love and identify with it! “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Oh yes, especially with attendance being down, these words are so comforting. And they are true, but once again, that is not what Jesus meant in the context of this passage. The entire passage is about church discipline and interpersonal relationships. Jesus is there with the small group of people as they consider and act on each member's actions. That was a shock to me.
The problem with misinterpretation of scripture is that we read it in bits and pieces—a verse of the day, for instance. One of the Lutheran mainstays of scriptural interpretation is interpreting scripture with scripture. Take in the complete passage, book, and all the scripture to have a better understanding of what God is saying. Pray for understanding. Jesus is with us always.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN US THIS SUNDAY………
Food, games, raffle basket, GREAT conversations. Join our “family reunion” so we can catch up with you all!! RAIN or SHINE at church. Immediately following worship.
A memorial service for Lee Magneson will be held at 11 am Friday in St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Friends will be received in the church from 4-6 pm Thursday and from 10-11 am Friday.
CALENDAR
Sept 10 - Worship 10:00 am
Church Picnic
Sept 14 - Tai Chi 9:30 am and 12:30 pm
Choir
Sept 15 - Adopt-a-Highway
5& 2 Ministry
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 and on our website. Monetary donations always welcome! Contact Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details.
gales1949@gmail.com
5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date: 110
Fighting childhood hunger in our community one child at a time.
Helping combat food scarcity in our community.
Summer Break is over and we're
starting up again in September.
Can you volunteer every 3rd Tuesday
from 7-9 pm at church?
Contact Gale Svenson-
Campbell at:
Where is God Leading Us?
… for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)
Upstate New York Synod Women of the ELCA invites all women to the 2023 Convention Gathering, Friday – Sunday, October 6th – 8th at Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua, New York. Our theme – Just Love ~ Where is God leading us? – explores where we’ve been during these last four years, since our last Synod Women’s Gathering. But the theme also challenges us to explore where we hope to go, trusting in God’s guidance …for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
Marilyn Dyer, Director of Resource Develop-ment, St. Paul’s Center for homeless mothers and their children, Rensselaer, New York, serves as our keynote speaker. We also plan time to share with one another what God has been doing in our lives during this time of challenge and for some, change.
Our weekend offers opportunities for prayer and worship, studying God’s Word, wonderful fellowship and meeting new Sisters in Christ.
Contact Lois Rumfelt – (716) 664-4409 or at rumfelt@stny.rr.com – for a reservation/ registration form and more info.
(NOTE: Accommodations include all meals while at the retreat center). Scholarship and financial assistance – also available.
Reservation Deadline: Friday, September 15th
***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.
Anyone have any pictures or stories that they would like to share? Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com
