Psalm 111
The idea: Live with the psalm for the week: read it daily or at least a few times during the week; share any insights, revelations, words of challenge or comfort you receive; share your thoughts with others - either here or Sunday morning during our time of sharing praises and concerns during worship.
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Psalm for the Week
The idea: Live with the psalm for the week: read it daily or at least a few times during the week; share any insights, revelations, words of challenge or comfort you receive; share your thoughts with others - either here or Sunday morning during our time of sharing praises and concerns during worship.
Psalm 62
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken. How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Psalm 62
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken. How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Flagler County Cold-Weather Shelter Coalition Hero: Rabbi Merrill Shapiro
Rabbi Shapiro of Temple Beth Shalom in Palm Coast, on behalf of the Flagler County Cold-Weather Shelter Coalition, was selected as one of "Jenny's Heroes" and was awarded a $3,000 grant for the Coalition!
The surprise announcement happened in our church office with Rabbi Shapiro talking on speakerphone with former talkshow host Jenny Jones. Also present were members of Temple Beth Shalom: Aaron and Gladys Weiss, Clair Soriea; Gwen Barath, Carla Traister, and new coalition volunteer Lee Wilman.
The best part is that the original grant amount was $1000 - but during the course of the phone call Jenny Jones kept increasing the scope of the award to a GRAND TOTAL OF $3000. The largest single item purchase will be a new computer to be used for Coalition volunteer organizing, access for guests at the shelter to find job oppotunities or to connect with family, and publicity and communications. For more information on "Jenny's Heroes" and the grant presented to Rabbi Shapiro on behalf of the Cold-Weather Shelter Coalition go to: http://www.jennysheroes.com/heroes_20090116_merrills.shtml
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Soul Cafe
Last Sunday we reaffirmed our Baptismal covenant - a dangerous covenant!! A covenant that involves "response-ability" on our part. Now this Sunday we get a story about what comes next... God calling! We hear the story of God calling young Samuel at a time when “the word of the Lord was rare” and “visions were not widespread.”
The text for Sunday, 18 January, 2009, is:
Check it out... post your thoughts!
The text for Sunday, 18 January, 2009, is:
1 Samuel 3.1-10
[also may include verse 11-20]
Check it out... post your thoughts!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Psalm for the Week
Tell me what you think... I thought it may be a good practice to share what the lectionary psalm is each Monday. We can live with the psalm for the week: read it daily or at least a few times during the week; share any insights, revelations, words of challenge or comfort you receive; share your thoughts with others - either here or Sunday morning during our time of sharing praises and concerns during worship.
And lo and behold - this week is one of my all-time favorites! Read on...
Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. 1f I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.
O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
And lo and behold - this week is one of my all-time favorites! Read on...
Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. 1f I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed. How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you.
O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Soul Cafe
Here is the scripture reading for Sunday, January 11, 2009:
The Baptism of Jesus
Mark 1:4-11
Don't miss the "Reaffirmation of Our Baptism" service - a service I look forward to every year.
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