God of Grace and God of Glory,
Palm Sunday has passed and we are now moving through Holy Week. This is nothing new for us. We have been here many times before. The stories are very familiar to us and we know what to expect. Startle us with Your Divine Presence, we pray. May the scriptures we read and the rituals we perform take on new meanings for us. Place us, O Lord, at the Passover meal, in the garden, at the trial, on Golgotha, and at the empty tomb. May we be in the accounts and may they live in us. Forgive our complacency, Loving God. May the true power and wonder of the Holy Week story bring us to new depths in our spiritual journey. Guide us, O Lord, and keep us in Jesus name, AMEN.
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Birdene Schoonover is at home. Her son from Kansas was here over the weekend. Please pray for Birdene.
Please continue to pray for Joan Ingmire and reach out to her.
Austin Wade and Imogene Price are still hospitalized. Please life them up in your prayers.
We have over 65 people experience the Journey to the Cross. It was a profound experience for many. A special thank-you to Sally Wheeler for planning and setting it up.
The chancel Choir did a wonderful job yesterday, providing music that honored God and inspired the entire congregation. It was a great day.
Our Maundy Thursday service will be in the sanctuary this year. It begins at 7:00 p.m.
The scripture reading for today is Matthew 18:23-35:
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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