April 25, 2024
John 15:1-8
The Message
Scripture readings
for Sunday, April 28
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8
15 1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates [does not abide] from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
• 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, their families, essential workers, doctors, nurses, aides, those working in nursing homes, etc.
• For Ann Saar, Kay Marker Magneson, Roy Pihl, George Balcom, Thom Shagla, Eileen Beichner, Tom Dellapenta, Myron Klein, Pastor Karen Larson, , Pastor Gerry Zimmerman (Bethel, Portville and Shepherd of the Valley, Wellsville), James Dieter, Joe Gauvin, Emerson Allaby, John Gingrass, those serving in the military and law enforcement and their families, including Sean Pecuch, and Ben Wickerham, those caught up in violence and war who have no safe home in which to live.
• For the ELCZ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and ELCZa Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia.
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
CALENDAR
April 28 Worship
Pancake Breakfast
April 29 Dog Classes 5:00 pm
May 2 Tai Chi 9:30 am and 12:00 pm
Choir 5 pm
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
FOLLOWING WORSHIP
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Juice, and Coffee
Come join us for this special time of food and fellowship
Spring Work Day
Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 a.m. to noon
Rain date, Saturday May 18.
Looking for workers to edge flower beds,
spread mulch and wash windows.
Help spruce up our outside for the summer.
Mark your calendars!
ELCA Advocacy: Increase policy pressure for an immediate, permanent cease-fire
The devastating loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has shaken our church and its members. ELCA Advocacy Action Alerts make it easy to contact your elected officials. Use these alerts to call for a cease-fire, end military arms transfers to Israel while Israel violates the terms of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and support continued humanitarian aid to Gazans. Take action at ELCA.org/advocacy/actioncenter.
The Ashville Hewes Center has a Food/Clothing/Hygiene Closet! Whether it be a basic need for these items, an upcoming job interview, an upcoming school or personal event, a dress code concern, or a need for appropriate work attire for our vocational programs - we will have these resources on hand for all our students on the Hewes Campus to have their basic needs met. The students will create and vote on a name for the closet and make it their own! It will also be run by the students as they learn basic work skills. Alissa Rinaldo is our contact person here at St. Timothy, as well as the representative for the Hewes Center for 5 & 2 Ministry and Packing.
Below is a list of items they are requesting. For clothing, please keep in mind that these are middle/high school students ages 14-18 and what they would wear. Any donations can be brought to church and placed in our bin or hung on the Fellowship Hall coat rack. Alissa will pick them up when she comes to pack for the month. THANK YOU.
- Men’s & Women’s Clothing- casual, business & workwear
- t-shirts
- sweatshirts
- sweatpants
- leggings
- winter necessities- coats (casual & business), hats, gloves
- jeans - work jeans
- shoes & boots - casual & work footwear
- scrubs
- work outerwear - flannels, work coats, work gloves
- business apparel for job interviews or formal school & personal events
- women’s and men’s undergarments
- deodorant
- toothbrushes & toothpaste
- shampoo & conditioner
- body wash and soap
- hair brushes & combs & hair products
- lotion
- laundry detergent - preferably pods or smaller bottles to be sent home
- laundry stain remover
- feminine hygiene products
- reusable shopping bags
- backpacks
- travel bags (bags are for students to bring items home, discreetly)
- cosmetic bags
- clothing hangers
5 Loaves & 2 Fish Backpack Ministry
23/24 School Year
We contiuously 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
If you can volunteer, please contace Gale Svenson-Campbell at the link below. Thank you!! Our last packing date for this school year is Tuesday, May 21.
Bring your donations and place them in the black bin in the church narthex. Lists detailing items needed are also available in the narthex. Monetary donations welcome! Contact
Gale-Svenson-Campbell for details gales1949@gmail.com
ONLINE GIVING at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards
Three 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.
¨ Mailing in your weekly or monthly offering would be greatly appreciated for November, if you haven’t already done so.
Anyone that has any pictures or stories that they would like to share? Send them to sttimothy2015@gmail.com
REFLECTIONS
Pr. Ivy Gauvin
The words referring to relationships are what capture my attention as I think about and read this passage. In most other translations, it’s called abiding. However, does anyone really speak like that anymore? I was most impressed with the way Eugene Peterson used such a variety of words and phrases to translate “abide.” I highlighted those phrases traditionally translated as “abide.” This presents us with many options, which further enhances our understanding.
Our God is a God of relationship. We have this illustrated in the trinity and the exchange between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this passage, we see how God invites us into this relationship, illustrating it with grape vines and fruit.
There is a devotional I regularly read. One part of it says, “Can I imagine myself sitting quietly with Jesus? I, looking silently at Him, and He at me. How do I feel?” I picture myself with him in the living room, at home with him, able to tell Him anything.
Jesus calls us to abide, reside, join, live in, make our homes in and make ourselves at home with him. This results in fruitfulness, which God delights in, making us true followers of Christ. Come on in and make yourself at home in God’s presence.
Pastor Ivy Gauvin
