O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth. Today we shout “Hosannas”. We remember Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Life is good because he will bring power and glory to our side. Tomorrow things change. The power of the Messiah is not experienced in might, influence, wealth, or driving out the “Romans”. The power of the Christ is love, bringing evil to the light of day, speaking truth to power, and extending God’s grace and forgiveness to all. Is it possible we could be among those who, later this week, shout “Crucify him” because he is not what we wanted or expected? Forgive us, we pray. May the true glory of this day be made manifest in our hearts. May our journey through this Holy Week prepares us to celebrate resurrection and new life. We offer this prayer in the name of the One who was nailed to a cross, Jesus, our Lord. AMEN.
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Please pray for our hospitalized: Imogene Price, Birdene Schoonover, and Austin Wade.
Please continue to pray for Fig Newton as he recovers from hand and elbow surgery.
Please continue to pray for Kathy Stocksen and Mary Beth Cassody as they mourn the death of loved ones.
Please pray for Willo Clark and Laura Deatherage that they might gain strength each day.
We have an all-church brunch this morning at 9:15 a.m. in the Loggia prior to our combined service of worship where the choir will lift up their voices in praise to God by singing “The Seven Last Words”. Then, after the worship, we will turn to the balcony to have the all-church picture taken. It will be a GREAT DAY!
The scripture for today is Matthew 18:15-22:
“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. But 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. 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. 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. Again, 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. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 103:1-14:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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