April 30, 2020

                                                                  John 10:1-10

Scripture readings

for Sunday, May 3

Acts 2:42-47

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10

REFLECTION

Pastor Ivy

I love sheep. They are so cute and fluffy! On the other hand, they really smell! When we lived as a family in Fairport, NY, the kids were in high school and we lived near a sheep farm. All the kids had a nickname for it, the “stinky farm.” Getting up close and personal to these cute creatures means you get a good whiff of them.

What especially struck me in reading this passage this morning, however, is the shepherd calling the sheep by name. Jesus doesn’t mind getting up close and personal with us. Here Jesus describes himself as the “gate,” but in the following verses, he’s the shepherd. Can you imagine? Jesus knows our names! He knows us. Have you ever felt that if someone really knew you, knew what you were like deep inside, they would run? Jesus knows us better than anyone else and still he wants a relationship with us. Our inner life is no surprise to him. He loves us just as we are.

“the sheep follow him because they know his voice” (v. 5). I have seen this in action in Bethlehem when I lived there in the ‘80s. You would see large flocks of sheep filling the street and a teenage boy leading them. None of them wandered off. They just followed.

In Christ the gate and shepherd, we find someone to lead us through the difficult days we are living in and the unknown days ahead. What does Jesus want for us? Abundant life. Jesus wants what’s good for us.

Loving Shepherd, these are tough times we are living in. From one day to the next we don’t know what to expect. Help us to hear your voice and to follow you today and every day. Amen.

[Jesus said:] 1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

  7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

PRAYER REQUESTS

Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which

time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need

for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Govenor Cuomo extends NY PAUSE to May 15.  No in person services until after May 15.  Interactive bulletins will still be available until we return to regular worship services.  Your input is greatly appreciated.

Follow the link below each Sunday at 9:30 to Worship in Spirit .

St. Timothy Updates due to Coronavirus Pandemic and weekly Interactive Bulletins. Heres the link:

http://www.sttimothybemus.com/coronavirus-updates.html

***Don’t forget fill out the census form. To do it online, go to https://2020census.gov/. 

***5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date: 84 

We continuously collect food items for the 5 & 2 Ministry.  Bring your donations and place in the black bin in church narthex.  Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex.  Monetary donations welcome!

***ONLINE GIVING now available at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards.   3 ways to give:

   - Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com

   - Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone

   - Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.   

For further information, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.

If anyone is interested in making masks to donate, here is the link to the pattern/instructions on how to make the masks. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-A0X_35jQmkH6VfKBgd1WN5Ebv2btJ-n/view?usp=sharing 

Here is a link where the completed masks can be dropped off:  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YbOmWEr2Jou8n3v_YGo0PUJN_SSl1Ix5/view?usp=sharing 

Thanks for your support in this important moment.  

Faithfully, 

Luke

The Rev. Luke Fodor
Rector, St. Luke's Church
410 N Main St
Jamestown, NY 14701 
(716) 483-6405 (office)
(347) 495-1482 (cell)
luke.fodor@stlukesjamestown.org

Upcoming Commemorations

Monica, mother of Augustine, died 387

Monday, May 4, 2020

Monica was married to a pagan husband who was ill-tempered and unfaithful, but whom she helped bring into the Christian faith. She repeated the influence on her son Augustine, who went on to become one of the greatest church teachers.

Julian of Norwich, renewer of the church, died around 1416

Friday, May 8, 2020

When she was about thirty years old, Julian (or Juliana) reported visions that she later compiled into a book, Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love, now a classic of medieval mysticism. The visions declared that love was the meaning of religious experience, provided by Christ who is love, for the purpose of love.

Victor the Moor, martyr, died 303 (TFF)

Friday, May 8, 2020

Also known as Victor Maurus, this native of the northwest African nation of Mauritania was a soldier in the Roman Praetorian Guard. Under the persecution of Maximian, Victor died for his faith at Milan.

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, renewer of the church, hymnwriter, died 1760

Saturday, May 9, 2020

When he was 22, a group of Moravians asked permission to live on Zinzendorf's land. He agreed, and eventually worldwide Moravian missions emanated from this community. Zinzendorf participated in these missions, and is also remembered for writing hymns characteristic of his Pietistic faith.

Dear Church,

God continues to lay on my heart the great concern I have for those who are managing to hold on during these difficult times with the reality of the changes in life when the restrictions are lifted. The fear of what each face-to-face contacted might bring and questioning whether it is safe to go out again. The realities of businesses not returning along with jobs lost. Please continue to pray as we move forward to assist those neighbors in need and those new neighbors in need. 

Thank you for your ongoing support and your prayers for neighbors in need.

In Christ,

Susan L. Justham | Executive Director

Love In the Name of Christ of SCC

Helping Churches to Help People 

Phone: 716.338.9828

loveincscc.org

Love INC Prayer Requests 04/27/2020

Two potential new neighbors in need seeking diapers and furniture

Love INC needs a Board Member with Social Media Expertise to assist with better Social Media Communication 

Love INC needs a volunteer accountant/bookkeeper. Our current bookkeeper will be retiring in May and we are looking for a replacement.

Updates and Continued prayers

The Board and staff at Love INC to see where God is calling us to help during this crisis

Former Love INC neighbors in need have called for personal care items, cleaning products and diapers.  Pray for these families and all families who are struggling at this time.  

Love INC is collecting toiletries, cleaning products, diapers & wipes to assist this in need in the days to come.

Praise – Donations have started to come in.

A young mom escaping domestic violence is moving into her own apartment needs essential household items and furnishings.  Pray for discernment to make good choices for her and her daughter.  Through our Gap ministry at Bethel Baptist - Toiletries and cleaning products have been provided

A single woman fleeing domestic violence is moving into her own apartment at the beginning of April. Needing to reestablish her household needs everything.   Some small kitchen items, cleaning supplies and toiletries have been provided

A single older woman, desiring to get off assistance and unable to attend traditional classes because of medical issues is seeking a laptop computer to be able to take on-line classes.  Pray for her mental and physical health, the needed computer and “God-sightings” in her life.

Our furniture ministry needs twin-size beds.  We currently have 23 children waiting to sleep in their own beds. *** Furniture Ministry is Suspended until further notice

Please pray for clarity and direction regarding Love INCs role to our community, the cancellation of the Ministers March Mania basketball fundraiser and the financial need now and in the future.

An older gentleman, moving from the mission into his own apartment, needs furnishings. Pray for his health and family relationships. 

A young man whose past lead to homeless is moving into his own apartment. He is currently employed and needs furnishings.  Pray for peace with his past and his faith continues to grow

Our household ministry needs some items that are regularly requested by the families assisted

Toasters, Pots & Pans, Towels, washcloths, bowls and coffee makers   Praise – 2 coffee makers and 2 sets of pots and pans have been donated.   Bedding is currently being collected by our partner Church of the Nazarene

*****A single older woman who is need of a ramp for her home.  She has MS and has a lot of difficulties getting in and out of the house. Update- Busti Children are hosting a Mother’s Day Math Detective Scavenger Hunt to benefit Love INC see Busti Church of God Facebook for more information