Dear Church Family Please Note there will be only one combined service this Sunday September 11th at 10:00am *Please bring a dish to share after the service.
We will also acknowledge the beginning of the new school year for our children, for their secular education as well as their religious education. Gary will celebrate the "Blessing of the Back Packs", which will send our kids off on the RIGHT foot for this school year. Please bring your backpacks!
*Also during hospitality, there will be an opporturnity for any of you that may have questions concerning the internet, our new blogsite, website etc. John Bates and Deborah Webb will be able to hook you up or answer any technical communication questions you may have.
GRACE
Beginning Monday, September 12, the Monday Night With God program will join with the ‘Seekers’ group. We meet from to and will be experiencing and discussing God’s Grace. We will begin this Monday with a brief but beautiful movie called “The Butterfly Circus” and a discussion of the movie. Michael Podesta will be leading the group after this first Monday, so you know it will be great! All are welcome! Join us!
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Souper Saturday
201 Cedar Street
Cost for all-you-can-eat soup, ham biscuits, dessert and drinks
is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 12 and under.
Live music throughout the day!
We are looking for volunteers to provide soup and deserts, please see sign up sheet in CEC hall. Further information- contact Pam Glanville
Why be ordinary? Be Extraordinary! Donate Blood
Smithfield Blood Drive
**Thursday September 15th **
We are looking for volunteers to help assist with donors and provide sandwiches, and some light refreshments.
Please see sign up sheet in CEC hall.
News and Announcements:
Sun Sept 11 Combined Service
Mon Sept 12 Bible Study Seekers meet Pop Corn Theology
Tues Sept 13 Evangelism Meeting
Wed Sept 14 Bible Study Mid week Eucharist
Celebration Band Practice
Thur Sept
15 Red Cross Blood Drive
15 Red Cross Blood Drive
Brownie Group
Choir Practice –
Sun Sept 18 Early Quiet Service –
Celebration Service –
Sunday School; all ages –
Traditional Service –
Would you like to dedicate flowers in honor or memory of a loved one?
*Flower dates available October 2,16,23,30 & November 13*
Please contact Judy Cutler 757 357 5133.
Reader: A reading from Romans: [14:1-12]
Paul warns disciples not to pass judgment on others and urges followers of Jesus to honor the Lord in all that they do.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
People: Open our ears to hear your Word.
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother?And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture:
"As I live and breathe," God says,
"every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.
"As I live and breathe," God says,
"every knee will bow before me;
Every tongue will tell the honest truth
that I and only I am God."
So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
People: Open our ears to hear your Word.
The Gospel Lesson: Responding to Peter’s question about the limits of mercy, Jesus uses a parable to show that all people are in need of forgiveness.
Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew [18:21-35]
People respond: Praise and Glory to God.
Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, `Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Celebrant: The Gospel of Christ
People respond: Praise and Glory to God
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