Sovereign God,
We understand birth and death. We know that events occur in life that affect us in profound ways. These are natural parts of the human condition. What we do not understand, O Lord, are the circumstances when your children are self-centered, narrow, un-accepting, contentious, unwilling to change for the common good, and even cruel to each other. The Apostle Paul tell us “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation”. (2 Corinthians 5:18) Please forgive us, O Lord, when we choose “our way” over a path that honors all opinions. Forgive us, Author of Peace, when we build walls rather than bridges. Forgive us, we pray, when our actions are contrary to our avowed faith. You are our God. Please transform our hearts. In Jesus name. AMEN.
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Terry Jones daughter, Tamara, and her boyfriend, Nick, will be married today or tomorrow. Please pray for this couple and for Terry, who appears to be in his last days.
Jim Walta was hurt in a farming accident and is at the OU Medical Center in OKC. Please pray for Jim.
Please pray for the family of Peggy Steele. Her funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel.
Our Faith Leader Group will be participating in a retreat this Friday and Saturday. Please pray for them.
Sunday is a big day. Come to our All-Church Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The Pony Express run begins Sunday and will conclude on November 20th.
We are doing two Mission Sundays on November 13th and 20th. If you would like a table in the loggia for your mission, then contact the church office.
The scripture for today is Colossians 1:24 – 2:5:
I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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