October 31, 2024
John 11:32-44
Scripture readings
for Sunday, Nov. 3
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 24
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44
REFLECTIONS
Pastor Ivy Gauvin
In John’s gospel, miracles are signs from God. This one is a sign that Jesus was sent by God to show God’s glory and to give life. Lazarus in the cave with a stone covering the entrance prefigures Christ’s resurrection. Lazarus’ resuscitation symbolizes resurrection at the end of time. The words of Jesus have power over death.
Even at the beginning of the miracle, Jesus involves the crowd, asking them to “Take away the stone” (John 11:39). Jesus prays and as he does so, notice it’s a prayer of thanksgiving, making clear the restoration of Lazarus is not a magic trick performed by Jesus, but a blessing bestowed because of the alignment of the Son with the Father.
Jesus involves the crowd in the miracle with a secondary miracle. Lazarus was still bound in the grave clothes, like a mummy. The secondary miracle is how he got out. Jesus called out to the people to “Unbind him and let him go” (v. 44). Such involvement drives home what Jesus has done. They can see and touch and understand that Lazarus is alive. It’s not some trick.
Jesus speaks these last words not only to the crowd and the disciples, but to us. In holy baptism, God frees us from the rags of sin and death and dresses us in the royal clothing of Christ. In holy communion, we feast with God, the One who swallows up death forever. The last word is not death, but life as a beloved child of God.
32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34 He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus began to weep. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
• 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 Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Bryan Dahlberg, Judy Kelly, Roland Lepier, Lois Rumfelt, Nick Johnson, Eileen Beichner, Tom Dellapenta, Pastor Karen Larson, Pastor Gerry Zimmerman, James Dieter, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Sean Pecuch, and Ben Wickerham, those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.
• 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.
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
This week…
Nov.3 Worship at 10:00 am with communion
Nov. 4 & 6 Healthy Bones 9 am
Dog Lessons 4:15 pm
Nov. 7 Tai Chi 9 :30 am and 12:00 pm
Choir 5:00 pm
Nov. 8 Tai Chi 11:00 am
If you have any friends or family members who have passed away in the last year, please send to Pastor Ivy so that we may include their names on All Saints Sunday.
Sunday, November 10 at 6:00pm
benefits
Honduras Promise Children Mission
Live Auction with Andrew Campbell
Silent and Chinese Auction
Gift Baskets and Gift Certificate
Refreshments provided
Viewing at 5, Live Auction at 6 pm
EVERYONE WELCOME!!!
5 & 2 Ministry
24/25 SCHOOL YEAR
If you are currently a volunteer, we would love to have your support again this year. 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. Our next packing date is November 19.
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!!
If you can volunteer, please contact
Gale Svenson-Campbell at the link below. Thank you!!
ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 5TH. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!
Anyone that has any pictures or stories that they would like to share? Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com
Pastor Ivy Gauvin
