Amazing and Wonderful Grace

 August 31 2008

2 ' 26" Sister L welcomes everyone and gives announcements of upcoming fellowships

3'19"  Birthdays/Anniv, Pastoral team meeting for an upcoming meeting, at 4'06 says to see Kay for the prayer chain set up by R - and new prayerchain starts 9/7, 

6'22" Special day song for the Anniv with piano

7'10" Call to worship piano mix of Rachmaninoff and the hymn Come Thou Fount -- I think this is my niece playing so wonderfully 

9'12" Responsive reading

10'12 Come Thou Fount - I can hear nice singing with my sister leading out

12'13" Offering thoughts

12'35" Piano offertory (niece?) --beautiful!

15' 30" Doxology

15'50" sister has Offering prayer

16'20" Children's story with P.

29' Joys and Concerns, a new member of youth and others share

32' hymn "Jesus is Calling Oh Sinner, Come Home..." last verse is acapella with unrehearsed harmony

34'46 Sister leads congregation in prayer 

37'15" Scripture from Psalms

38'26" [Stream of consciousness quotes] Sister starts sermon with a Letter to the Editor in jest about why it's not important and a waste of time to go to church every Sunday. There is a comparison between nourishment of forgotten meals over 30 years vs. going to church, even though much of the sermons are forgotten. A challenging passage from Matthew about a landowner going out into the vineyard, "Why are you standing here idle all day...each received a daily wage...these last workers only worked one hour...friend, I am doing you no wrong...take what belongs to you...or are you envious because I am generous...the first will be last..." Sister continues her sermon while praying, using the phrase, it's just not fair, and how we learned at 4 that the front of the line is the place to be. Barbara Brown Taylor's writing is referenced. Later, Jesus explains to Peter and others that His kingdom is not like others. Taylor shares about waiting in line at the movies as a kid, being excited etc. What if the manager reversed the order and those that just arrived and were not hot from the summer heat went first? We earned going first because we got there first. After reading the commentary, Sister says: "Equal pay for equal pay is fair...treating everyone the same when they are not the same is not fair...life may not be fair, but God should be..." Sister says the most curious thing is where we place ourselves, where do we hear the story? We hear it from the front...we are the ones who have been cheated...that is how most of us hear the parable...it is entirely possible that to God we are around the block...we know all kinds of -- things that we never get around to doing...people get sick...storms come...only God can sort them all out...God is not fair...God seems to love us no matter what...by starting at the end of our lines-- his ways are not our ways...God is not fair...if God is not fair then there is a chance that we will get paid more than we are worth...because of who God is...God is generous...the cheers will be our own...a grace thing.

1 hour 28" Hymn Wonderful Grace of Jesus -- with all the moving parts in the chorus on piano and voice

1hour 4'15" Go in Peace...

piano quitly plays last hymn

Hello Readers,

What a great message from my sister in today's post, I give it an A+. Fair vs. Grace? I've also heard a similar way of putting it that we don't know the loads or what's in the bags others are carrying. A good reminder for me as I go into a new job. Facial expressions, phrasing, and the tones of voice used don't always mean what I think. I also tend to fall into the trap of thinking that since I gave grace others should give grace back to me. If it's conditional, is it grace?

I will appreciate grace for next week as I may not make a post since I will be traveling to see sister H!

Stay well.

Thanks for reading,

Amy BH





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