May 21, 2020

                                                                 Luke 24:44-53

Scripture readings

for Sunday, May 24

Acts 1:6-14

Psalm  68:1-10, 32-35

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

John 17:1-11

REFLECTION

Pastor Ivy Gauvin

Today is Ascension Day, which we will celebrate on Sunday. This passage from the end of Luke’s gospel sets the stage for the happenings of the book of Acts, also written by Luke.

In this scene, Jesus has been crucified, raised from the dead and was appearing to his disciples and others. Life was not to continue like that, however. The time had come for Jesus to return to his Father, which would enable the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, empowering them to share the faith.

There are a couple of things that stand out to me in this passage. Verse 45 says, “Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” That was foundational. Without understanding how Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection connected with the Hebrew Scriptures, how could they ever testify to God’s work? This was not some new, cooked-up religion entirely separate from the only scripture they had at the time.  
 

Notice Jesus tells the disciples to stay put “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” That power is the promised Advocate, Paraclete, Holy Spirit. The Greek word used here for power is the one from which we get the word dynamite. KABOOM! That’s power! God and God’s power were essential for God’s people to share God’s good news and their story intersecting with God’s story. That is what the Christian life is about!

If our story stays APART from God’s story, then we are missing out on so much in life. However, if we allow our story to become A PART of God’s story, that makes all the difference in the world. It changes our personal lives and our corporate lives. We are empowered by God’s Spirit in our world to effectively witness to what Jesus has done historically in Palestine with his first followers and in our own lives as his later followers.

What has God done in your life lately? Share your story.

44[Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

  50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing 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

                  Spring Work Day at St. Timothy Lutheran Church

Saturday, June 6th         Rain Date  June 13th

9:00 a.m.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Weeds don't take a break during the pandemic.  Bring your tools and masks as we practice social distancing and spruce up the church for our official in person opening SOON.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup

Saturday, May 30         9:00 a.m.

Meet at the church

Bring a pair of gloves

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

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! Contact Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com. 

We are having a Family Pick Up  EVERY FRIDAY from 2-4 pm for ALL of our district students and families.  We are handing out bags of food to any families in need, no questions asked.  This is held at St Timothy’s.  Please use the side entrance of the church. 

***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

***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.

Dear Church,

Thank you for your ongoing prayer and support. We ask for your continued prayers as we work through another transition. Kristy, our former Call Center Coordinator, had her last day last Thursday. It was sad to see her go as she has done a wonderful job caring for the volunteers and our neighbors in need. We know that God has a plan and has already been preparing the next Coordinator. Please pray for this individual that they will hear the calling God has for them at Love INC.

Please share the following job description.

Connections Center Coordinator

Love INC is seeking an individual with a heart for the ministry of Love INC and helping our neighbors in need who is gifted in the area of administration and record-keeping. Must have experience in group training/facilitation, personnel management and knowledge of community resources. Must be a detail-oriented, self-directed, strategic, multitasker, who can work independently. Must be proficient in basic computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel. This is a part-time 17 hours a week position 3-4 days a week. A complete job description is available upon request by contacting Susan Justham at 716- 338-9828 or susan.loveinc@gmail.com

Attached the latest Prayer Newsletter

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 05/11/2020

Praise - the Furniture Ministry was able to make some deliveries.  Pray for the safety & protection of the volunteers

The Clearinghouse Coordinator has resigned. We currently have some one to serve as an interim but are looking for a replacement. Please pray for God to bring the right person forward who has a heart for the ministry and the skills to assist in moving the ministry forward.

Updates and Continued Prayer

Family of 5 who are struggling financially. The husband’s work hours were cut because of the Covid-19 “Pause’ and the wife is a stay-at home mom.  They needed some diapers that were provided them through Baby Gap Ministry at Jamestown Free Methodist.  Pray for all the families who are going through a similar struggle.

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.  Praise – One of our current board members has stepped up to take on the treasurer position. 

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

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. *Praise – needed furniture was delivered

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. 

An older gentleman, moving from the mission into his own apartment, needs furnishings. Pray for his health and family relationships.   Praise - Needed furniture was delivered

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 Praise – need furniture, cleaning products and personal items have been delivered

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 hosted a Mother’s Day Math Detective Scavenger Hunt to benefit Love INC. It was a great success!

   Summer Camp Decision in the Midst of COVID-19

While it will probably come as no surprise, given the current and expected continued impact of COVID-19 in Upstate NY, the LCLC Board of Directors has made the painful but necessary decision to cancel our 2020 summer camping season.  

Please click here  for a complete explanation of why this decision was made and how we will proceed into the near future.

May the love of God sustain you, this and every day.