Tuesday, August 4, 2009

OUR WEEK — AUGUST 9TH - 15

REMINDERS —
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH —
RETREAT AT ANITA PARK.
———————————————————————THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH —
HIROSHIMA REMEMBERANCE DAY

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 20099:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
ATTENTION FIBER FOLK
SOUTH WEST IOWA FIBER & TEXTILE GUILDFUN DAY - Meet Lou Ann Thompson
Swap – Trade – “Stash Reduction”
SIGN UP FOR A TABLE — BRING SOME STUFF
CASEY COMMUNITY BUILDING-CASEY, IOWA≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2009 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: GREEN 2 SAMUEL 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
David's son Absalom had begun a civil war
against his
father's rule, yet David's orders to
his army were to
deal gently with him. When
Absalom was found stuck
in a tree, he was
executed, and brought to David.
As any parent
would, David wept bitterly.


Absalom had revolted against his father's reign,
gathered
an army around himself, and taken over
the palace in
Jerusalem. He sent his army to
attack and destroy David's
army. The battle was
fought primarily in the forests of
EPHRAIM.
Absalom and his men found themselves knocked

helpless or stuck in the dense trees. Absalom's
hair got
hung up in a tree, and Joab ordered him
killed. He was the target of all that hatred, and still
David wept bitterly.
2 SAMUEL 18:5-9
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION (NIRV)

5 The king gave an order to Joab, Abishai and Ittai.
He commanded them, "Be gentle with the young man
Absalom. Do it for me." All of the troops heard the king
give the commanders that order about Absalom.

6 David's army marched into the field to fight against
Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7 There David's men won the battle over Israel's army.
A huge number of men were wounded or killed that day.
The total number was 20,000.
8 The fighting spread out over the whole countryside.
But more men were killed in the forest that day than
out in the open.

9 Absalom happened to come across some of David's
men. He was riding his mule. The mule went under the
thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's hair got
caught in the tree. He was left hanging in the air. The
mule he was riding kept on going.
2 SAMUEL 18:15
(New International Reader's Version) NIRV
15 Ten of the men who were carrying Joab's armor
surrounded Absalom, struck him down and killed him.

2 SAMUEL 18:31-33
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION (NIRV)
31 Then the man from Cush joined David. He said,
"You are my king and master. I'm bringing you some
good news. The Lord has saved you today from all
those who were trying to kill you."

32 The king asked the man from Cush, "Is the young
man Absalom safe?"
The man replied, "King David,
may all your enemies be like that young man. May all
those who rise up to harm you be like him."

33 The king was very upset. He went up to the room
over the entrance of the gate and sobbed. As he went,
he said, "My son Absalom!
My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead
of you. Absalom! My son, my son!"
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PSALM 130 (UMH 848)
When David receives the news of Absalom's
death, his grief knows no bounds. This psalm
is often used at funerals. A response to the story
of David's deep grief over his son's death.
John Wesley heard this psalm sung by the choir
on the day he turned to God at Aldersgate in 1738.
(The Faith We Sing, 2136)
PSALM 130 (UMH 848)
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT)

A SONG FOR PILGRIMS IN GRIEF.
1 From the depths of despair, O Lord,
I call for your help.
2 Hear my cry, O Lord.
Listen to my prayer.

3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.

5 I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
6 I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from every kind of sin.
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EPHESIANS 4:25-5:2
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT)
WE focus on the practical hope of transformations in the lives of followers of Jesus and especially in
the "CULTURE" of the people. We are encouraged to engage in practices that build COMMUNITY.
Give up practices that lead to broken relationships
with God and others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and
abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned
passions. Alms, to be accepted of God, must not
be
gained by unrighteousness or robbery, but by
honesty and industry.


EPHESIANS 4:25
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the
truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”
Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing.
Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then
give generously to others in need.
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything
you say be good and helpful, so that your words will
be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the
way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his
own, promising you will be saved the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words,
and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has
forgiven you.

EPHESIANS 5:2
LIVING IN THE LIGHT
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do,
because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example
of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a
sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
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JOHN 6:35, 41-51
Christ shows that he is the true Bread, though people
who watched Him grow up are dubious. He is to the
soul what bread is to the body. He nourishes and
supports the spiritual life. May we with understanding
and earnestness say, Lord, always give us this Bread.

JOHN 6:35
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT)
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever
comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever
believes in me will never be thirsty.”

JOHN 6:41-51
41 Then the people began to murmur in disagreement
because he had said, “I am the bread that came down
from heaven.”
42 They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph?
We know his father and mother. How can he say,
‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.
44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who
sent me draws them to me, and the last day I will raise
them up.
45 As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught
by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns
from him comes to me.
46 Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who
was sent from God, have seen him.
47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes, has eternal life.
48 Yes, I am the bread of life!
49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but
they all died.
50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however,
will never die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this
bread, which I offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
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MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH —
This is Pastor Lynn's and Naomi's day off.
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BIBLE STUDY at Casey U.M.C. - 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
We are studying the Gospel of John.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 —
BIBLE STUDY at Adair U.M.C. from 9 to 11 A.M.
We are studying the Gospel of Matthew.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12TH —
Prayer Breakfast at Happy Chef at 7 A.M.
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FUTURE FOCUS —
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH —
Sacrament of Baptism Day for both
churches.
If anyone would like to schedule a baptism
please
call ABC Parish Office at 641-746-2210 or call

Pastor Lynn at 641-742-3614
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MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH —
Pastor Lynn leaves for two weeks vacation.
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IN SEPTEMBER —
We are planning a "NEW MEMBER" Class. Date
and time will be posted later.
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Our troops are filing back in from vacations and we
are beginning to think about outfitting our younger
troops for - - - that's right, SCHOOL. (I will wait a
moment while you get your strength back). We are
fortunate to live in a country where education for
each child is available. The system isn't perfect,
but it is there for our benefit and utilization. Every
day we see people who have come from a very low
place and achieved great things because they
persisted with their education. If you have an
opportunity to make a difference, tell them,
"Don't stay in school for anyone else —
STAY FOR YOURSELF."

Thank you for your countless hours and your
endless energy this summer. We do remarkable
things! In September our service time schedule
will change and we will have elements of our
church life resuming.
The wheels are still on and
the track is clear, so here we go.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn