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Reflections from your Co-Pastors
August 25, 2020
Matthew's Gospel 23:23-26
The entire chapter twenty-three of Matthew's Gospel is a list of woes spoken by Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is trying to tell these religious authorities that because they profess certain beliefs and values that they do not actually adhere to, they are hypocrites that will be subject to great sorrow and distress.(i.e. woe).
Their words and their actions do not match up. They do not walk their talk. They do not practice what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees strain their fluids so that they will not break the law that forbids the eating of any swarming creature. No gnats in their drinks! Yet they neglect the weightier things of the law such as mercy, justice and faith.
"Woe to you," scribes and Pharisees you hypocrites, Jesus says seven times to these religious authorities in chapter 23 of Matthew's Gospel; "Woe to you." Great sorrow and distress to each of
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you who says one thing but does another; who lives a life of hiding behind the veneer of righteousness; whose words profess support for the common good but whose actions favor their own good.
"Woe to you," says Jesus over and over again, "Woe to you."
I believe that Jesus is expressing his compassion and pity toward the scribes and the Pharisees, for to live this kind of divided life is indeed a life of great distress and sorrow.
May we all be blessed to live into the light of Christ.
Amen
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Discovery and Perspective
An open discussion of scripture
Thursday at 9:00 am
All are welcomed!
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Join in conversation and connection weekly with Pastor Jane
Thursdays - 9 a.m.
Zoom Video Link -
Zoom Phone/Audio Link
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 930 8604 8248 #
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Our Service Recordings and More
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During the service we honored Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian, a civil rights leader and ordained pastor -- who never stopped fighting for justice. Throughout his life, he believed that his work was inspired, guided, and sustained by God. For him, the civil rights movement, and everything he and others did in it was spiritual. “That’s why it was non-violent,” he said. He stood in the front lines of the fight for equality.
On August 8, 2013, President Barack Obama named Vivian as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Community Prayer Requests
Please pray for -
A friend of Rosanna Batemen (Lauren Roob) who's current chemo therapy has stopped working and the cancer has spread. We pray the new biopsy will yield a new treatment. She has 3 children - ages 10-15.
Friends of Sandra and Dick Life, Liz and Ken Zornes and Family, Houston, TX, whose daughter is struggling with addiction.
For the peaceful repose of the soul of David Heyman, a community member, and comfort for his wife, MaryAnne, and their family.
Please lift up Ted Boltz and his husband Fr. Frank Quintana; Ted was admitted to hospice care. Fr. Frank, a long time member of the ECC's Rocky Mountain Region, now pastors ECC Pastor of St. Oscar Romero Catholic Community in Albuquerque NM.
For Courtney, daughter of Jean and Tom Christen. Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe. For the continued recovery of Linda Joyce. The Kent family whose Mother Teri (community member) and Father recently passed.
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Jim DeMuth and family for the loss of his sister, Pat DeMuth. For Jennifer Pfeister and family for the passing of her father, Bill McClellan.
Dona Bosse - community member. Julie Schoenbauer and family for the passing of her father and for the family of Edwin White, brother-in-law of Pastor Jane.
For the peaceful repose of the souls of Bill, Greg, and Calvin - friends of Deacon Rosean. .
For Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother. For Dani - Niece of the Cloyds. Mary Crosby – parishioner. For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones and Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. For Lynne Barnes and family.
And Leo Six – father of Michael Six, Mike Gudim, Margie Weitz, Suzanne King, Robert Browell.
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For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage and other videos are located here.
Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection
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