CLOSED FRIDAYS

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This week’s scripture lesson is two parables. A parable is like a chord of several notes. We can often and easily pick out one of two notes, but to hear all the notes requires great concentration. What are the notes, themes to pick out?

Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of God. “A Man” is God. “Scatters” is God coming into the world. “Seed on the ground” is the Kingdom of God in the world. “Night and day” are the passing of time. “The seed sprouts and grows” is God’s Kingdom expanding in the world. “Though he knows not how” is not ignorance, but the inexorable persistence of the seed. “As soon as” a definite end time. “Grain is ripe” the purpose of the Kingdom is fulfilled. “He puts the sickle to it” The Kingdom of God will end in one expression. “Because the harvest has come.” The Kingdom is fully realized for the future. Did you hear the chord? What does this mean for us? Read the parables and see what you hear?

Mark 4:26-34 NIV

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

What did we see and hear in the second parable? The second parable introduces the mustard seed. It is a very small seed. A mustard is a nuisance plant, a weed. Farmers in Palestine worked hard to eradicate mustards from the fields of grain as they would ruin the quality of the grain harvest. The mustard grows about knee high, more as a tall grassy weed, never as a bush or tree. Jesus asserts that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, small and unremarkable to see, which we try to eradicate as an undesirable weed, but that it will grow to be the size of a great tree. This can be troubling to consider. Jesus then comforts the careful listener with the assurance that on the big branches birds can perch in the shade. This is a reference taken from Ezekiel and Daniel. They use this as an image of a great kingdom, growing like a tree until those around can shelter under it. (Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6: Daniel 4:12, 21).[Mark for Everyone Commentary by N.T. Wright, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville 2004, pg. 50.]

What does this mean for us? The Kingdom of God is among us. We may not notice it. It will not be defeated, removed, crowded out, or fail because of any human endeavor or effort. We do not need to understand it. It will seem to us as impossible – the smallest seed to become the mightiest tree. Time will pass as usual, but the Kingdom is increasing without our input. It will invade every aspect of our existence without invitation and despite our resistance. The Kingdom of God will be a place of rest and refuge for all. The Kingdom of God is here and now as well as there and then. Have FAITH in the Kingdom of God. PARTICIPATE in the Kingdom of God. SHARE the presence of the Kingdom of God with others that all may have rest and peace. The Kingdom of God will change the world.

Blessings, Pastor Tom

The Covid 19 infection rates continue to slowly fall in our area. In the three zip codes around Good Shepherd only 44 people were reported as Covid 19 positive this past week. 5 persons died of Covid 19 in Lee County this past week. The Covid 19 test positivity rate continues to hold at 3.84% in Lee County and the positivity rate in the Lee Memorial Hospitals ranges from 6% - 10.6%. The vaccination rate has risen to nearly 44% but is slowing. We must continue to be vaccinated to reach “herd immunity” and slow the development of variants and new threats. Please encourage family, friends, and neighbors to get vaccinated. All studies show that Vaccination is far better than infection. If you have a compromised immune system or take immune suppressing medicines please protect yourself by masking even if you are vaccinated.

DID YOU KNOW : About 900 lives could potentially be saved, annually in this country, if everyone had a “working” smoke alarm.

Most people die in the first 5 minutes of a fire.

When sleeping, you are unable to smell smoke. Smoke will most likely cause you to sleep more deeply.

The presence of a working smoke alarm increases your chance of surviving a fire by 50%. If the batteries in your smoke alarm “chirp, chances are the batteries are low. It is recommended that all sleeping areas have a smoke alarm. It is also recommended that batteries be replaced 1-2 times a year, coinciding with the time change.

The North Fort Myers Fire Department does much more than to provide transportation to emergency care facilities or provide lifts in the case of a fall. They also provide information and valuable resources. The GSUMC staff recently had the North Fort Myers Information Specialist, Christi Kulwicki, present a program on all the programs they offer. Christi entitled her program a “Safety Seminar” and it included information on Smoke Alarms as well as other important information.

GSUMC will be conducting a “Safety Seminar” for all members of the church in October. The focus will be on usage of AEDs, very basic CPR, Smoke Alarms, how to dispose of medications, etc. We hope you can join us. The information could help you or someone you love.

Florida Annual Conference of the UMC will be meeting on Friday and Saturday June 11 & 12. For delegates via ZOOM and for general viewing on the FLUMC.org webpage. The link for the Agenda items and other information is located below...click black button.

Every Tuesday morning volunteers from Good Shepherd UMC and other churches gather at All Soul’s Episcopal Church on U.S. 41 and prepare for the several hundred people coming on Wednesday morning to receive food, hygiene items and other needed items. Those receiving the assistance must register and live within the local zip codes. Through this cooperation we are able to help with greater efficiency and effectiveness. Good Shepherd has committed to provide hygiene products, laundry detergent and toilet paper. EBT and other assistance programs do not pay for these items from retailers. We repackage the items to assure distribution and availability to more people and to preclude resale. We appreciate the volunteers and the many donations of pill bottles and products that enable us to be in ministry.

The monthly income tracking report was completed today. In MAY we received $38,747.00 in Tithes and Offerings and a $6,000 gift to pay the required apportionments. That is far more than we could have asked or imagined – PRAISE THE LORD! We are getting back on track with our income. Expenses have not been completed for May so we do not know our balance, but we should be in a better position. I realize several people made large “special gifts” and for these we are grateful. We all must accept our responsibility to support our church and our ministries. It is not up to the few to give mightily, but for us all to give our best. We are all in ministry. We are all doing the work of the Kingdom of God in every way we all can consider. Thank you for your generous support of Good Shepherd. We will carefully steward all the gifts received and use them to increase the ministry of Jesus in North Fort Myers.

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