Where you go, I will go.
Faith Notes for November 2, 2021 of FPC of Big Spring TX
News:
Last Sunday we celebrated the memory of those we’ve lost in the past years with the reading of names and the tolling of a bell. Then we gathered in the fellowship hall for “Fifth Sunday” potluck lunch. It was great to have a fellowship event where we could gather inside around tables and share a meal. Everyone’s contribution was thoughtfully prepared and eagerly enjoyed. Thanks to everybody who brought food, those who set up the event, and those who cleaned up.
Meetings and Gatherings Calendar:
Women’s Bible Study and the history seminar return this week!
November 3 - Women’s Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. in the church library.
- Lessons of History seminar at noon in the theater room.
- Lectionary Bible Study at 5:00 p.m. in the church library
November 4 - Worship Committee meeting at 3:00 p.m. in the parlor.
- Lunch Bunch at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
The Service Committee food drive is going on now! Please look for blue Walmart bags in the Narthex with lists of items needed. Fill up a bag and fill a need for food!
The Scriptures This Week:
This Sunday is November 7, the first Sunday of the month so we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. For this Sunday we’re cobbling together scriptures from the regular lectionary calendar for last Sunday with lectionary scriptures for this Sunday in order to include the wonderful story of Ruth. So our scriptures for this week will be: Psalm 146; 1 Kings 17:8-16; Ruth 1:1-18; Mark 12:38-44. These scriptures are also the basis for this week’s prayers.
Psalm 146 is a praise Psalm that emphasizes the brilliant truth and reliability of God compared to the frailty of humankind. “Don’t put your trust in powerful people or other mortals. They won’t help you. Instead put your trust in God alone.” It also identifies for us the people whom God helps: the oppressed, the hungry, prisoners, the blind, strangers, orphans, the bowed down. So how can people who are not among that group find grace? Be in solidarity with those who are and trust God.
In the 1 Kings scripture, Elijah is on the run for his life. God instructs him to go to Zarephath where he’ll find a widow who will feed him. The trusting prophet goes there but finds that the widow has no food other than just enough for a last meal for her and her son. Now a widow should be one of those who are most helped by God since, in the Old Testament, they are without resources for life but Elijah must ask this destitute widow to help him. It’s a mighty big ask but the miracle is done when both of them put trust in God rather than concede to the broken conditions of their lives.
Our Ruth reading comes at the very beginning of this short Old Testament book. Who doesn’t love this story? In the story, Naomi begins with a husband and two sons. Because of drought, the family immigrated to Moab. The husband died and the sons took Moabite wives, Ruth and Orpah. Then the sons died and Naomi sees travelling back to Bethlehem and throwing herself on the mercy of some family member now that the famine is over as her only choice. Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to stay in their own country and Orpah agrees. But Ruth is less connected to her national identity than to her family identity. She throws her lot in with her beloved mother-in-law. Ruth makes the hard choice over the familiar choice and becomes a major figure in the future of God’s people through King David, the ancestor of Jesus of Nazareth.
The gospel reading from Mark this week is not a question some member of the religious establishment to Jesus. There is no test. Instead, Jesus is making a point to his disciples. He contrasts privileged religious leaders who expect the benefits of rank and position with a widow (consider the widows in the other scriptures for this week) who is willing to give something out of her poverty whereas the leaders expect to gain out of other people’s poverty. Ruth is another woman who has nothing, but gives all that she has, which is only her life, for the sake of another.
Prayer Concerns:
*Please advise the church secretary or the Pastor of any changes you wish to make to the prayer list.
See you in church!
Allen