29 April 2007

First Lesson - Proverbs 4:1-13 (Hebrew Names Version –HNV)

Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding; for I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law. For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my mitzvot (laws), and live. Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth. Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her. She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you." Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths. When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

Hymn - The God of Abraham Praise #3

Second Lesson - Acts 20:22-31 (HNV)

Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), not knowing what will happen to me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. But these things don't count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Yeshua, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God. "Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men, for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the talmidim (disciples) after them. Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

Third Lesson - Gospel According to Mary 9:1-10

When Mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to this point that the Savior had spoken with her. But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, Say what you wish to say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas. Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us? Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior? Levi answered and said to Peter, Peter you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said. And when they heard this they began to go forth to proclaim and to preach.

Hymn - A Mighty Fortress #13

Reading of the Gospel - Mark 8:1-21 (HNV)

In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Yeshua called his talmidim (disciples) to himself, and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way." His talmidim answered him, "From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?" He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his talmidim to serve, and they served the multitude. They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also. They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over. Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away. Immediately he entered into the boat with his talmidim, and came into the region of Dalmanuta. The Perushim (Pharisees) came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him. He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation." He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side. They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them. He charged them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Perushim and the yeast of Herod." They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread." Yeshua, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Twelve." "When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Seven." He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"

The Lords Supper

Recessional - Faith of Our Fathers #20

Coffee and Tea in the Alcove and Sunday School Room

Sunday School

Prayer List:

Also we pray for those who are sick or in poor health or away from home: Tommy Boutiette, Dorothy Boutiette, Kathy Straitt, Patty, Violet Turner, Gloria Achee, Harold and Juanita Hoffman, Joanne Stevenson, Alice and Bill Mercer, Angela Jenkinson, Patty Snyder, Craig M. Bragg,, Amanda Johnson, Wade Rist, Ruth Boyken, Tony Warrior, Barbara Johnson.

The Gospel According to Mary is an ancient writing of the good news of our Lord and Savior that was circulated and read in the early Christian churches beginning around 120 AD. Like most writings that did not fit the political agenda of the Roman Government and its puppet church of that era, the Gospel According to Mary, was eventually suppressed by Church Authorities. The importance of this work is that it clearly shows the importance of women in God’s plan for mankind's salvation. Unfortunately a “ole’ boys club” of church men gained prominence early in the formation of the church and began to fear women’s involvement as a threat to their power. Over time their dogma displaced the true role of women in church life as given us by the Messiah. Accordingly, The Rev. Patricia Westlake of Trinity United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., says she believes Magdalene was present at the Last Supper. And she believes other female disciples were on a par with the more famous 12 male apostles. In two of his letters, St. Paul also mentions important women of the early church. "For me, the Scriptures give [women] a prominent role," Westlake says. "Jesus gave them a prominent role. It's our culture that doesn't give them a prominent role."