Being a Part of the Kingdom of God

Dear Friends,

 

We will be using the following readings on Sunday, November 1^st, which is All Saints Day: Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Psalm 149, Revelation 7:2-4, 9-17, and Matthew 5:1-12.  These readings deal with the markers of being a part of God's people – a part of the Kingdom of God .

 

When you hear the word "saint" of whom do you think? Each of us has those special people who have been spiritual parents and grandparents to us, those who we consider to be models of godliness. The "Free Dictionary" online defines "saint" in the following ways:

       a person who after death is formally recognized by a Christian Church, esp. the Roman Catholic Church, as having attained, through holy deeds or behavior, a specially exalted place in heaven and the right to veneration

        a person of exceptional holiness or goodness

       a person who has died and gone to heaven

       the collective body of those who are righteous in God's sight.

 

On Sunday, we will explore what it means to live the life of a saint in twenty-first century America, what it means to live as a part of God's Kingdom on earth. These are challenging times in which to live out Christ's call to be "in the world but not of the world." Let's be prepared to consider how we are doing in living up to the high call of Christ to be light and salt – to be saints! See you on Sunday. 

 

Blessings,  Becki+

Story of Blind Bartimaeuss

Dear Friends,

 

A message from Rev. Becki+

 

Greetings in the Name of Jesus! I am so very excited as I look ahead to Sunday and beginning our worship life together! Coming together to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth is at the core of our formation as the people of God.

 

This Sunday our readings include Isaiah 59:1-19, Psalm 13, Hebrews 5:12-6:1,9-12,  and Mark 10:46-52. I plan to tackle the Mark passage, which is the familiar story of "Blind Bartimaeuss." (Sometimes when I plan, God laughs; but we will trust that for this Sunday I will be preaching what I plan.)

 

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus proclaims the coming of God's kingdom by teaching about kingdom living in the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke's gospel Jesus proclaims the coming of the kingdom by picking up the Isaiah scroll and applying its teaching to himself. Mark proclaims the coming of God's kingdom with actions. From the beginning Jesus is seen healing people in body, mind, and spirit. The story of the healing of blind Bartimaeuss is the second of two stories in Mark where Jesus heals the blind. These are the list two physical healings reported in Mark. I suspect mark saved these two healings until last as they directly point to the fact that Jesus was and is the Messiah. The recovery of sight to the blind is one of the most powerful claims about the Messiah, and we see this fulfilled in Jesus.

 

Bartimaeuss cries out to Jesus, asking for mercy. Jesus then asks Bartimaeuss a most important question: "What do you want me to do for you?"This is a question Jesus asks each of us at various times, and he is asking it now, as we begin ministry together.  On Sunday we will explore this story and this  question  more fully. See you then!

 

Blessings,  Becki+

Thank You Father Keith and Welcome Rev Becki

The Congregation thanks Father Keith for his wonderful teachings, shepherding and love during our transition period and we wish him every success in his future ministry and the continued joy of the loving and healing hand of God.

Next Sunday, Oct 25th, we will be having a "Welcome Pancake Brunch" for the new Rector, Rev. Becki Neumann, following church in the cafeteria.  Come hungry!!!  -- Special thanks to Mary Derby, Cris Campbell, and Kathy Olson for all their efforts!

"The Last shall be First, and the First Last."

Dear Friends:  This Sunday's Gospel passage (Mark 10:35-45) is one we can scarcely believe happened!  After all, we're talking about St. John and St. James in this story!  But at this stage in their lives, they had a lot of growing to do in their spiritual lives, much like the rest of us.

 

These two disciples approached Jesus while they were walking on the way to Jerusalem, whispering schemes of high intrique.  'Lord, grant us to sit on your left and on your right when you come into your Kingdom!'  They wanted front row seats numbered two and three in Jesus' new administration.  It's funny how Jesus had used a child to demonstrate to them what is required to enter God's Kingdom (namely, the faith of a child), and now these two were acting childish!

 

Needless to say, the other disciples were not happy when they found out that both John and James had attempted an end-run in the Kingdom pecking order.  They wanted their place in the new order as well.  Both James and John asked for places at Jesus' left and right, but little did they suspect that those places were reserved for two thieves who were crucified on that bad Good Friday.  Both James and John said they were ready to drink from the cup of suffering, and undergo the baptism of the blood of persecution.  That they would receive in years to come.

 

But Jesus makes a good point here that we also should take note of.  He says, "The Last shall be First, and the First Last."  James, John, the others, and even you and me sometimes want it the other way:  the first should be first and the last should be last.  But that's not the way it is in God's Kingdom.  Ironically, the disciples were squabbling over their place in the Kingdom, all the while walking towards Jerusalem and Jesus' own death.  You see, Jesus became last, so we might have eternal life.  And we are also called to be servant leaders in a hungry and hurting world.  By word and deed, we can point the way to the Christ who loves us all!

 

I don't know if I will see all of you this Sunday.  But, for those of you who won't be there, let me tell you that this will be my last Sunday as one of your interim rectors.  I want you to know how special you are to me, and also know that I will miss each of you so very much.  South Riding Church has made a big difference in my life, and for that I will be forever grateful.  Please keep me in your prayers, as I will keep you in mine!

Keith Almond

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A message from Maryann Branch:

 

Little River Elementary is collecting food for the Loudoun County HolidayCoalition in the next few weeks.  If you would like to donate anything from the list below please bring it to church on the Oct 18th, or bring it to the School office during the week before Oct 22nd.  The following items are needed:  

Stuffing Mix, Boxed instant Potatoes, Pie Filling, Boxed Roll Mix, Boxed Pie Crust,  Canned Veggies, Canned Fruit, 100% Juice, Cereal, Canned tuna/chicken, Mac & Cheese, Pasta,Spaghetti Sauce, Peanut Butter, and Meaty Soups 

They are also running a Plastic BagDrive that ends November 6, collections at Church will begin on Oct 18th.   Please bring in your plastic grocery bags to recycle!

 

And of course, our thanks to those who serve the church so faithfully each Sunday morning

Story of the Rich Young Ruler

Dear friends:  In preparation for this Sunday's message, I direct your attention to Mark 10:17-31.  This is a familar story -- it is the story of the rich young ruler -- but be careful that we don't mistake familiarity with true understanding!

 

You may know the story.  A rich man approaches Jesus and asks Him what must he do to be saved.  This is the evangelist's dream passage!!  How easy it is, though, to focus on the preaching potential of the question, and miss Jesus' response. 

 

Anyway, Jesus tells the man that He must give up all his wealth, and then He will find eternal life by following Him.  And this is too much for the man to take!  In Jesus' day, to be wealthy meant that you were blessed by God.  This is the reasoning behind the whole Book of Job.  A wealthy Job is obviously blessed by God but is still afflicted, and everyone's theology is blown to smitherenes!  Anyway, as the wealthy man (and the disciples, too) reasoned it, if one gave up one's wealth, then that meant he wasn't blessed by God; and yet God said do so to find eternal life.  It didn't compute, and the man went away without finding what He was looking for.

 

But there is a deeper truth here.  Jesus is not telling us to necessarily give up our wealth when we become disciples.  Some believers are called to vows of poverty, but it is not a prerequisite for salvation.  Salvation comes through trusting Jesus with our lives.  The wealthy young man trusted himself and his possessions.  He couldn't lay that mindset aside so he could trust in the Lord.

 

This has profound implications for us, because this passage challenges us to think about what possesses us, which is just another way of saying that we need to think about those attitudes and items that we trust more than we trust God.  We're going to take a good, hard look at this on Sunday, and I look forward to seeing you in church!

Relationship between husband and wife

Dear Friends:

This Sunday our lectionary theme is the relationship between husband and wife under God's supportive love. For my main text I've decided to go back to the beginning of things, namely, back to Genesis chapter 2, verses 18-24. This is the story of how Eve was made from the rib of Adam..

A couple of things to remember about the Book of Genesis. First of all, none of the stories in chapters 1-3 are to be taken literally. They are allegories, that is, stories that convey theological truth through image and symbol. Jesus spoke allegorically all the time -- just think about the parables!! We know that these stories are meant to point us to greater truth because the Hebrew word "Adam" means "all men", and the word for "Eve" means "all women".

In addition, to even the casual reader, Genesis chapter 1 and chapter 2 both tell the Creation story in two different way. Technically, they are called "strands" of tradition, that is, they were passed down from generation to generation as oral tradition in seperate circles. But why have both? Simple. Because each one tells us different information about God and how He relates to humanity. Chapter 1 tells us that God created all existence in a very orderly pattern. Physical laws are in effect, and in fact, they even witness to the glory of God in Creation!! Chapter 1 tells us that humanity is the pinnacle of God's Creation. Chapter 2 tells us that we human beings share God's Spirit, and therefore can relate to God in a very unique, intimate, personal way. Sin ruined that relationship. Jesus Christ came to restore it.

Now unfortunately, history has sometimes used the Eve created from Adam story as a way to oppress women in society. Actually, this story shows the equal but complimentary roles men and women serve with each in created existence. It shows that marriage is always between a man and a woman, and is both God-given and God-blessed. And this passage demonstrates how much the Lord really loves us.

This Sunday we're going to get into all this in greater detail. I'll see you then.