Consider the Word, November 4, 2021

Consider the Word, November 4, 2021
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for November 7:

• Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

 
Collect

Eternal God,

who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning,

grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,

that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do." She said to her, "All that you tell me I will do." So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him." Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

 
Reflection Questions

1. How do we see God at work here?
2. How do we understand the relationship between human will and divine agency?
3. The narrator of Ruth knows how the story ends, does hindsight change our understanding of God’s activity?
4. How does this story inform our sense of belonging, not as thoughtless sense of ownership, but rather of caretaking, safety, and affection?

 
Closing Prayer

O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. 

Let the desire of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows,

and give peace to your Church,

peace among nations, peace in our homes,

and peace in our hearts;

through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 
The Message: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17

3 ^1-2 One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, “My dear daughter, isn’t it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? And isn’t Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young women you’ve been working? Maybe it’s time to make our move. Tonight is the night of Boaz’s barley harvest at the threshing floor.

^3-4 “Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the threshing floor. But don’t let him know you’re there until the party is well under way and he’s had plenty of food and drink. When you see him slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage. Then wait and see what he says. He’ll tell you what to do.”

⁵ Ruth said, “If you say so, I’ll do it, just as you’ve told me.”

¹³ Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God’s gracious gift she conceived and had a son.

^14-15 The town women said to Naomi, “Blessed be God! He didn’t leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He’ll make you young again! He’ll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she’s worth more to you than seven sons!”

¹⁶ Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

¹⁷ The neighborhood women started calling him “Naomi’s baby boy!” But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, October 28, 2021

Consider the Word, October 28, 2021

Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for October 31:

• Isaiah 25:6-9
• Psalm 23
• John 11:32-44

 
Collect

Almighty God,

whose people are knit together in one holy Church,

the mystical Body of your Son,

grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment,

and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you;

through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 11:32-44

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What can we say (or do) in the midst of the suffering and reality and death?
2. What does it mean for us to have hope not on things on this earth but in the power of the cross of Christ and the resurrection?

 
Closing Prayer

Almighty God,

Father of mercies and giver of comfort,

deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn;

that casting all their care on you,

they may know the consolation of your love,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 
The Message: John 11:32-44

^29-32 The moment she heard that, she jumped up and ran out to him. Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When her sympathizing Jewish friends saw Mary run off, they followed her, thinking she was on her way to the tomb to weep there. Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, “Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

^33-34 When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, “Where did you put him?”

^34-35 “Master, come and see,” they said. Now Jesus wept.

³⁶ The Jews said, “Look how deeply he loved him.”

³⁷ Others among them said, “Well, if he loved him so much, why didn’t he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man.”

^38-39 Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”

The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, “Master, by this time there’s a stench. He’s been dead four days!”

⁴⁰ Jesus looked her in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

^41-42 Then, to the others, “Go ahead, take away the stone.”

They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.”

^43-44 Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face.

Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, October 21, 2021

Consider the Word, October 21, 2021
 
Readings for October 24:

• Job 42:1-6, 10-17
• Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
• Hebrews 7:23-28
• Mark 10:46-52

 
Collect

Lord God our redeemer,

who heard the cry of your people

and sent your servant Moses

to lead them out of slavery,

free us from the tyranny of sin and death,

and by the leading of your Spirit

bring us to our promised land;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: Mark 10:46-52

They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

 
Reflection Questions

1. How might this story be an illustration of discipleship?
2. What deeper spiritual reality might Jesus be teaching us in this healing story?

 
Closing Prayer

O Jesus Christ, teacher and healer,

you heard the cry of the blind beggar

when others would have silenced him.

Teach us to be persistent in prayer

and give us courage to ask plainly

what we need from you,

that we might respond in your name

by the power of the Spirit

through the ministry entrusted to us

for the sake of the gospel. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 10:46-52

^46-48 They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”

^49-50 Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.”

They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus said, “What can I do for you?”

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.”

In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, October 14, 2021

Consider the Word, October 14, 2021
 
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92395423097
Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
Readings for October 17:

• Job 38:1-7 (34-41)
• Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b
• Hebrews 5:1-10
• Mark 10:35-45

 
Collect

Almighty and everliving God,

increase in us your gift of faith,

that forsaking what lies behind

and reaching out to what is before,

we may run the way of your commandments

and win the crown of everlasting joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Readings: Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

 
Reflection Questions

1. Who should be the leader or make decisions in the assembly? 
2. What does it look like to be servants of one another?

 
Closing Prayer

Most High,

your Anointed One offered himself freely

as witness against our violence,

our acts of oppression,

and our sin.

As you delighted to call him your Son,

give us the courage to bring you equal delight

by our willingness to drink the cup of sacrifice

on behalf or our sisters and brothers,

and, with them, offer you praise unceasing

and lives transformed

as true heirs of your grace-filled realm. Amen.

 
The Message: Mark 10:35-45

³⁵ James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

³⁶ “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”

³⁷ “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”

³⁸ Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”

^39-40 “Sure,” they said. “Why not?”

Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”

^41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

Consider the Word, October 7, 2021 The Harvest Thanksgiving – Season of Creation

Consider the Word, October 7, 2021
The Harvest Thanksgiving – Season of Creation
 
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/92395423097
Meeting ID: 923 9542 3097
 
Readings for October 10:

• Deuteronomy 8:7-18
• Psalm 65
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
• Luke 17:11-19

 
Collect

Creator of the fruitful earth,

you made us stewards of all things.

Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness,

and steadfast wills to use your bounty well,

that the whole human family,

today and in generations to come,

may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

 
Readings: Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What does salvation look like in this text?
2. How does an encounter with this story shape who we are and who we should become?
3. For what things are you grateful?

 
Closing Prayer

Glorious God,

the whole creation proclaims your marvellous work:

increase in us a capacity to wonder and delight in it,

that heaven’s praise may echo in our hearts

and our lives be spent as good stewards of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 17:11-19

11-13 It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

17-19 Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson