Loving and Learning in Lodi, Sunday, September 13, 2020

“I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to the house of the Lord!” While our homes, our planet, and our hearts are “the house of the Lord,” there is something so beautiful and holy about our church family gathered in prayer in the house of the Lord: the sanctuary! These ancient words from Psalm 122 express the joy we feel to once again gather together in worship.  The lectionary lesson from Matthew 18: 21-35 although very stern in places is ultimately very good news:  Just as we celebrate our freedom to return to worship together on holy ground we remember our spiritual freedom in Christ.  Let us live in peace - as we accept the tender mercies and forgiveness of our good God, we are granted the grace to forgive ourselves and others. What true freedom and joy there is to be found when we enter and live in the “house of the Lord.”    Pastor Pam

 

Scripture:  Matthew 18: 21-35

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^[a]

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold^[b] was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.^[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

The Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

Hymns:  "My Hope is Built" #368 verses 1,2,4     "Help Us Accept Each Other" #560 verses 1,3,4      "Freely, Freely" #389 verses 1&2

 

The ramp continues to move forward.  Things are being ordered and worked on.  Prayers for the trusteed and Frank Nehls Construction as the project moves forward. 

 

Thank you:  My deepest love and appreciation to all who participated in the DRIVE BY on September 2nd in honor of my 92nd birthday.  It was totally an unexpected surprise.  Also, thanks to all who have honored me by sending birthday cards.  I am so glad to be back in my own home.  Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!  Ruth Anderson

 

We Celebrate and Give Thanks as we re-open this Sunday, September 13 – 10:00am in the sanctuary!

We celebrate the grace and blessing of “Come as You Are” and look forward to our return to the sanctuary this Sunday, September 13th. 10:00am  Together as the Body of Christ we will all be mindful to the guidance given to us by the Back to the Sanctuary ministry team.  We celebrate Marta Van Loon’s leadership of this team. We will no longer have the audio attached to the weekly e-mail. We will still broadcast on Facebook.
If anyone needs help getting on our church Facebook page, just let us know!

We will not be using hymnals or passing an offering plate.  The hymn lyrics will be on the screen.  Al Zona made two beautiful, handcrafted offering boxes for our offerings to be placed in.  One will be at the front of the church and one in the back. You can place your offerings in before or after the service, or while Missy plays the offertory music.  Please remember, also, 1 person in the elevator at a time and wear a mask.
Missy will continue to offer her beautiful music, midweek, as she has been doing through audio transmission.
People are welcomed to contact Pastor Pam or the Return Committee with any questions or concerns.

  You can mail your offerings to:  Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH  44254

 

Rev. Pamela Buzalka       (216)-704-0307        pamelab23@hotmail.com