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William Willimon tells a story...

Illustration
Proper 26 | Ordinary Time 31 - B
Hebrews 9:11-14
William Willimon tells a story that took place at the Field Museum in Chicago, where his father worked. This natural history museum had a small collection of live reptiles. It so happened that one of the herpetologists (snake specialists) on the museum staff was working late one night, when he was bitten by a deadly snake. So rare was this snake, that there was no known antidote to its bite. No one else was around to help. The museum's night guards were in another part of the building.

The scientist knew he was doomed. He decided there was no point in calling for help. He
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
George Reed
Dean Feldmeyer
For October 24, 2021:
  • Vision Check by Chris Keating — Jesus’ question of Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” becomes an invitation to a joyful, life-giving transformation experience of discipleship.
  • Second Thoughts: Don’t Let Go of My Hand by Quantisha Mason-Doll — In God’s future no one is left behind — even those who would be considered burdens.

StoryShare

David O. Bales
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
“Full-Throated Joy?” by David O. Bales
“With Weeping And Joy” by David O. Bales
“Second Chances” by Peter Andrew Smith


Full-Throated Joy?
by David O. Bales
Jeremiah 31:7-9

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
Sooner or later, we see life as it really is. Job sees clearly that the universe is greater than he can imagine. It’s not all about him. Something great and wonderful is going on, and though he has suffered tremendous loss, he is to reject dust and ashes and live authentically. He is free to be alive.

The author of Hebrews makes it clear that we don’t have to jump through anyone’s hoops anymore. We have the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice and as a result we have perfect access to God, unfiltered, unimpeded. That’s how it is.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Mark Ellingsen
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Job teaches us that being in the presence of God is an impressive experience. It is beyond what we can think or express. Author Christopher Morley in his book Inward Ho expressed this awesomeness: “I had a thousand questions to ask God; but when I met him they all fed and didn’t seem to matter.” Everything that we thought was so important vanishes in the presence of God. John Wesley put it this way:

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John Jamison

Object: A cloak, or something to use as a cloak, an old bowl, and a handful of pennies.

Note: If you believe your children can do it, this is a great message to have them role-play. Have one child play Bartimaeus, one play Jesus, and the other play the ‘crowd’. Depending on your group, you can ask for volunteers or select specific children for the roles of Jesus and Bartimaeus. If you don’t think role-play will work, just share the story without the role-play pieces.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

They said to the blind man, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." Jesus continues to call us today, so in our worship let us take heart, get up and respond to him.

Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes we don't hear you when you call.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes our hearts are low and we feel fed up and depressed.
Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Wesley T. Runk
Good morning, boys and girls. Today, we are talking about a very big word, and also a very important one. The word is intercession. What do you think the word intercession might mean? (let them answer) Those were all good tries, but they are not the answers. I said it was a big word and not one that we use very often. I think that I can help you learn what it means in just a minute. First of all, I want to tell you that Jesus is our intercession. That will help us to learn more about what the word means.
David E. Leininger
Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. Physically beautiful with the color and light; spiritually beautiful with story and song. Then there is the special baby -- a baby whose birth was greeted by angels, a baby whose birth meant tidings of joy for all people everywhere, a baby who would save the world. We gather for worship, enjoy familiar company, exchange holiday wishes, then go home, drink eggnog, and eat Christmas treats. God is in heaven and all is right with the world. Or so it often seems.

Stephen M. Crotts
A young man visiting a very small town in Virginia struck up a conversation with an older gentleman sitting on a loafers' bench outside the gas station. "Just look at this town!" The young fellow remarked. "Fresh air, no traffic, you sure don't have much of a population problem around here!" "Wrong, son!" The old man replied. "Dang near every problem we have here is caused by the population!"

It's true everywhere, isn't it? Man's greatest problem is man himself.

The Population Problem

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