From the Bridge Pastor
Bible Study. I have been asked to consider leading a Bible study at Pierce Street Coffee Works. I really enjoy leading Bible studies and would be pleased to do this while I am with you. In a red folder on the welcome table there is a sheet to indicate your desire to be a part of this.
Why have a Bible study? The Bible is the foundation of our faith. It contains writings about history, letters, narrative, poetry, prophecy, teaching, and wisdom. Each one of these types of writing provides many opportunities for very interesting Bible studies. Here is a teaser: do you know that there are two different creation stories in Genesis? Do you know what them different? If not, would you enjoy a Bible study on those stories? If so, please make sure that you sign up and indicate your preferences for the frequency and time of these sessions.
Stewardship. In Mark 6:34-44 we read: The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, "You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.
The reading of the 5,000 men is one of the most famous miracles that Jesus performed as recorded in the Bible. Mark says “crowd” included “people.” The men were counted, but the women and children (if there were children in the group) were not. Let’s imagine that there were families in the “crowd”. Families composed of a dad, a mom, and at least one child. Let’s imagine that all of them were hungry. Let’s imagine that at this event Jesus fed at least 15,000 human beings with five loaves of bread and two fish!
As believers in our Triune God, we are called upon to feed the poor in the name of Jesus. We do not need to provide food for 15,000 people, but as St. Teresa of Calcutta taught, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”
We are called to be thankful, generous givers. In a few weeks, we will have Stewardship Sunday. Pledge sheets and envelopes will be distributed. You will be invited to take those home and prayerfully look at what you have been giving and how much more you might be able to give in 2023. You will be able to return the sealed envelopes during the following weeks. All the pledges will be dedicated in December.
As always, if you are someone you know would benefit from a pastoral visit, please call the office, and let Michael or me know.
In Christ,
Pastor Del
