Special music by the chancel choir.

Life isn’t fair sometimes. As patronizing as that phrase may sound, it’s an accurate assessment of frustrating situations that pervade our thoughts as we work through the injustices we encounter. These injustices may be related to socio-economic issues such as racial or gender biases, or they may be related to events in our lives. Tragedies that we encounter, such as the unexpected death of a seemingly healthy mother giving birth or the sudden loss of a loved one due to cancer, are unjust from our perspective, and there is no one to point to for blame or retribution. Such “injustices” can be the most difficult to cope with.

In this week’s passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus encourages us to be persistent in our faith despite the injustices we encounter. He gives us a parable of a woman who was being ignored by a judge, yet she persistently came to the judge until he finally gave in and addressed her issues. Jesus concluded “Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?” Join us this Sunday as we reflect on faith and prayer as a means of addressing the injustices we encounter in our lives.

Prayers of the People for October 16, 2022 by Allison Essinger.

Special music for October 16, 2022 by the chancel choir.

Special music by the chancel choir.

Prayers of the People for October 9, 2022 by Rev. Mike Wilkerson.

This Sunday, we are blessed to hear a message from Marilyn Hohnstein, Certified Lay Minister from Gila Mountain United Methodist Church.  Marilyn will be speaking on Jesus' healing of ten men suffering from a skin condition, drastically changing their lives and standing in society.  Of the ten that were healed, only one took time to return to Jesus and thank him for this healing.  We look forward to sharing time together on Sunday morning as we explore this scripture passage together!

As we come to worship this coming Sunday, we (most of Christianity) recognize this day as World Communion Sunday. Isn’t that exciting? What’s it all about? Does that mean that everyone takes communion at the same time and in the same way? Maybe that would be good but even if we did that it wouldn’t be what I think Jesus was talking about when He first shared communion with His disciples. 1 Corinthians 11:17-26 tells us what Jesus wanted and we’re going to spend the morning focusing on what each of us senses communion is for them? I think we’ll be surprised what we discover as we look back both in the church’s history, but more importantly as what we have sensed it to be. The Church has put many restrictions on the activity called “communion” and at some points has almost lost an understanding of this very precious experience. I hope you’ll come to worship with an open mind that you might truly find your understanding of communion – not mine or the church’s. Let us be at prayer as we prepare for World Communion Sunday, that we might grow in our understanding of this action that we take almost matter-of-factly. Look forward to seeing you at the Communion Table this Sunday.

Special music by the chancel choir.

Prayers of the People for October 2, 2022, by Debbie Pallack.