St. Timothy Lutheran Church

                              

                                                                          July 9, 2020

  

                                                            Isaiah 55:10-13

Scripture readings

for Sunday, July 12

Isaiah 55:10-13

Psalm 65:9-13

Romans 8:1-11

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

REFLECTION

Pastor Ivy Gauvin


Isaiah is addressing the exiles from Judea, which includes Jerusalem. God speaks through Isaiah to the captives in Babylon in the 6th century BC. They longed to return to the Holy Land and yet, for many, Babylon was all they knew. God sent them there as punishment for their disobedience to God’s commandments.

  

God had promised that one day God's people would return to their homeland. Here God tells them that time is now! There will be a parade back to Judea and with even nature getting involved--mountains, hills, and trees. All creation rejoices in God's faithfulness to God's promises.

 

But we aren't in exile. We're in our own homeland. What does this passage have to do with us? Besides being beautiful poetry that sings of God's wonder and promises, we need to think about how this applies to us here in Chautauqua County.

 

Some of us are in an exile of sorts. For months we were stuck in our homes. As much as we love them, it had gotten to be a bit much for many. COVID 19 exiled us from our regular daily activities of work and school, of going out with friends for dinner on Friday evenings.

 

No flying to see far away family (for us to Kansas City to see my son, his wife, our granddog, and grandkitties). No drives to nearby places to see friends and family (going to Rochester to see my daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, and multiple fur-babies).

 

Much has changed in these months: how we worship, how we visit, how we shop; you name it! We’ve been changed. Things are opening up. We’re in Phase 4, but we still need to be careful. In some ways, our lives will never be the same. However, we are coming out of COVID exile and as the prophet wrote,

“… you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life" (v. 12).


 


10-11 Just as rain and snow descend from the skies

    and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,

Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,

    producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,

So will the words that come out of my mouth

    not come back empty-handed.

They’ll do the work I sent them to do,

    they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.

12-13 “So you’ll go out in joy,

    you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.

The mountains and hills will lead the parade,

    bursting with song.

All the trees of the forest will join the procession,

    exuberant with applause.

No more thistles, but giant sequoias,

    no more thornbushes, but stately pines—

Monuments to me, to God,

    living and lasting evidence of God.”

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























No in person services in the building until further notice.  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 10:00 to Worship in Spirit .

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


***We have concluded our study of 30 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  We are taking off for the rest of the summer and will regroup in September, with the devotional, 30 Day Journey with Jane Austen. Keep your eyes and ears open all of you fans of "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice."



***5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date:  85

Keep bringing in items - donations collected during the summer!




***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.








***Small groups to help us through this time of COVID 19.  Clink the  link below.

 

https://upstatenysynod.org/abide-small-group-ministry



VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR


Hello, friends. 

I have offered to take over the Zoom Virtual Coffee Hour (VCH) until we are able to begin fellowship in person again at St. Timothy.

I have a Zoom Pro account, so it will not shut down automatically at 45 minutes. This will allow us to have a little more time, and accommodate more people to join us. 

I will be sending out an email VCH invitation to everyone we have an email for.

However, all you have to do is join my meeting at 11:00 am on Sunday by going to the ZOOM app, and putting in the following ID and Password numbers:

ID: 571-743-2555

Password: 050787

If you are not yet using ZOOM, feel free to call me and I can walk you through downloading the free app. It's pretty easy, even for me!

 

Keep on keeping on.  We will go forward together!

In Christ,

Sarah

goebel.sarah3@gmail.com

716-450-2986




                            It’s almost blueberry season…Did you know…..

 

They’re low in calories and incredibly healthy, potentially regulating blood sugar levels and aiding heart and brain health.

Often marketed as a superfood, blueberries are an excellent source of several vitamins, beneficial plant compounds, and antioxidants

 

Blueberries are a good source of manganese and vitamins C and K1. They also provide small amounts of copper, as well as vitamins E and B6.

 

Blueberries may decrease your risk of heart disease, boost brain health, lower blood sugar levels, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Eating blueberries on a regular basis may prevent heart disease, improve brain health, and help moderate blood sugar levels.

 

Anyone have any pictures or stories that they would like to share?  Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com







 

 

 


         For our community of faith as we seek to do God’s work in the world.

·         For those in our congregation and community who suffer silently with illness, financial burdens, and family obligation.

·         For people affected by coronavirus, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.

·         For victims of wildfires, flooding and earthquakes.

          ForHans Steen, Roy Pihl, George and Janet Balcom, Maj-Britt Traynor, Beverly Klang, Trudy Fetzner, Thom Shagla, Matt Isaacson, Mabel Tranum, Mark Patterson, Gloria Fitzpatrick, Sarah Van Staalduinen, Alberta Prall. For people serving in the military, including Ben Wickerham and Jeffrey Clauson, and their families, those caught up in persecution, violence and war.

·         For all children, that the love of Christ may reach them through all of us who have resources to love, protect, pray and provide for them.

·         For:  The ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.