Sunday Worship from Hayes Barton Baptist Church (November 15, 2020)
.
>>> WELCOME TO HAYES BAPTIST
CHURCH IN RALEIGH, NORTH
CAROLINA.
WE SING THE GREAT HYMNS OF
FAITH, READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF
JESUS CHRIST.
GOOD MORNING, DEAR FRIENDS.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING IT IS.
WE WELCOME YOU TO HAYES BARTON
BAPTIST CHURCH.
IT'S SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER
15th.
WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
AS WE PREPARE THIS MORNING TO
LIGHT THE CHRIST CANDLE AND
WELCOME THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
AMONG US, I AM THINKING OF
WORDS FROM PSALM 34 FIRST 3 OH,
MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME AND
LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER.
PEOPLE OF GOD, THE HOUR HAS
COME.
LET US WORSHIP.
>>> ONE OF OUR ALL-TIME
FAVORITES, TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
THANK YOU, LISA AND JACKSON FOR
SHARING A WONDERFUL HYMN WITH
US ON THIS BEAUTIFUL, CRISP
NOVEMBER MORNING WITH A LITTLE
OVER A WEEK UNTIL THANKSGIVING
DAY.
WE TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT
THANKSGIVING DAY HAS A SPECIAL
PLACE IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR
HERITAGE AT HAYES BARTON
BAPTIST CHURCH.
USUAL THAT OUR FIRST WORSHIP
SERVICE EVER ON THIS CORNER WAS
HELD ON THANKSGIVING DAY IN
1926 AND OUR FIRST WORSHIP
SERVICE EVER IN THIS SANCTUARY
WAS HELD ON THANKSGIVING DAY 40
YEARS LATER IN 1966.
SO, GOES IN KEEPING WITH THAT
TRADITION, WE WILL BE HOSTING
ANOTHER THANKSGIVING DAY
WORSHIP SERVICE NEXT THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 26th.
BUT AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN THIS
VERY UNUSUAL YEAR, IT'S GOING
TO HAVE TO BE A VIRTUAL
SERVICE.
WE WILL SEND OUT THE LINK TO
OUR MEMBERS NEXT WEEK.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T ON
OUR E-MAIL LIST, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO ACCESS THE SERVICE ON
OUR WEBSITE AND WE WILL TELL
YOU MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT
SUNDAY.
WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US TO GIVE
THANKS TO GOD AND TO GIVE GOD
THE GLORY ON THANKSGIVING DAY.
NOW, SPEAKING OF OUR WEBSITE AS
I WAS A MOMENT AGO, IF YOU
HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, WHY
NOT LOG IN RIGHT NOW TO
HBBC.ORG AND SIGN OUR ONLINE
FRIENDSHIP PAD AND LET US KNOW
YOU ARE WITH US THEN OPEN A
COPY OF THE BULLETIN AND OUR
FEATURED HYMNS AND MAYBE EVEN
THE ACTIVITY PAGE FOR CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, AS WE TOLD YOU
BEFORE, WE PROVIDE THESE
RESOURCES TO ENHANCE YOUR
WORSHIP EXPERIENCE.
SO, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL AVAIL
YOURSELF TO THESE ITEMS.
WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH OUR
BULLETIN, YOU WILL NOTICE A
LONG LIST OF OPPORTUNITIES AND
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THIS
AFTERNOON WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER
OF OUR SUNDAY FAMILY
GATHERINGS.
THIS IS A VIRTUAL GATHERING, OF
COURSE.
IN EACH EPISODE WE WELCOME A
GUEST SPEAKER AND A NEW TOPIC
FOR CONVERSATION.
YOU WILL ENJOY TODAY'S FEATURE.
WE CALL IT LAUGHER FOR THE
HOLIDAYS.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST IS RECEIVE
VANITY SUSAN SPARKS.
SHE IS A BREACHER AND AUTHOR
AND ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?
A COMEDIAN, TOO.
SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF OUR
DEVOTIONAL BOOK THAT WE WILL
USE THROUGHOUT THE ADVENT
SEASON.
IT'S CALLED MIRACLE ON 31st
STREET AND WON THE FIRST PLACE
PRIZE FOR INSPIRATION BY
WRITERS DIGEST AND THE NATIONAL
ND EXCELLENCE AWARD.
I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY SPENDING
THESE MOMENTS WITH SUSAN
SPARKS.
JOIN US TODAY AT 4:00.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY RECEIVED
THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LINK
TO TODAY'S GATHERING, JUST SEND
AN E-MAIL TO KRISTIN.
SHE WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU
THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
NOW I WANT TO EXTEND A CALL FOR
HELP.
NEXT SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd, WE
PLAN A THIS WEEK AT HBBC VIDEO
SEGMENT THAT FEATURES PICTURES
THAT DISPLAY THINGS FOR WHICH
YOU ARE GRATEFUL.
IT COULD BE MOST ANYTHING, A
FAMILY MEMBER, THANKSGIVING
TRADITION OR SPECIAL TREASURE
IN YOUR LIFE.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
SHARING THESE IMAGES WITH OUR
ENTIRE BROADCAST CONGREGATION.
WE NEED YOU TO SEND THEM IN TO
US.
MAKE SURE TO E-MAIL YOUR
THANKSGIVING PICTURES TO US BY
THIS TUESDAY, DAY AFTER
TOMORROW.
YOU CAN E-MAIL THEM TO US AT
THIS WEEK AT HBBC.ORG.
WHILE I'M ON THE SUBJECT, THE
FOLLOWING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th
WE WILL SHARE PICTURES OF SOME
OF YOUR CHRISTMAS DECORATING
TRADITIONS.
WE NEED THOSE PICTURES TO BE IN
BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1st.
YOU CAN SEND THEM TO US BY E-
MAIL TO THIS WEEK AT HBBC.ORG.
>>> WELL, WE ARE COMING TO THE
ENDS OF OUR YEAR AND THAT MEANS
IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR ADVENT AND
CHRISTMAS WHICH MEANS IT'S
ALMOST TIME FOR OUR ANNUAL
ANGEL TREE.
EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME WE
PARTNER WITH SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP PROVIDE
PEACE, HOPE, LOVE AND JOY TO
CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN NEED.
LATER THIS WEEK WE WILL HAVE
THE ANGEL TREE LISTED ON OUR
WEBSITE AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
SELECT YOUR ANGEL VIRTUALLY.
GO TO THE ANGEL TREE TAB ON THE
WEB SITE, IT'S NOT UP YET BUT
IT WILL BE SOON AND YOU CAN
REGISTER AND FIND ALL THE
INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED AND
IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE JUST GIVE US A CALL
AT THE CHURCH OFFICE AND WE
WILL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU.
LET'S JOIN TOGETHER, YOU AND I,
TO SHARE MIRACLES IN THIS
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASON.
NOW, LET ME REMIND OUR HAYES
BARTON MEMBERS THAT WE WILL
HAVE A ZOOM CALL BUSINESS
MEETING NOVEMBER 18th AT 7:00.
WE WILL HEAR REPORTS FROM THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE PATH
FORWARD TASK FORCE AND
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE.
AND WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES REPORT
AND THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED
IN OUR MEETING LAST MONTH.
A ZOOM LINK WILL BE E-MAILED
EARLY THIS WEEK.
PHYSICAL YOU DON'T RECEIVE THE
LINK, CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE
AND WE WILL GET IT TO YOU.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME TO SHARE
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS.
ON THIS PAST FRIDAY, NOVEMBER
13th, CV FROM WILSON WAS 93.
YESTERDAY JIM WAS 91 AND ESTINE
FROM RALEIGH WAS 100.
TODAY MARGARET IS 90.
JUANITA IS 96 AND JACK, A LONG
TIME MEMBER OF MILL BROOK
BAPTIST CHURCH IS 94.
TOMORROW JoANNE, WHO WATCHES US
ALL THE WAY UP FROM NORFOLK,
CONNECTICUT, SHE WILL BE 95.
AND OUR OWN CHURCH MEMBER,
WALLACE RICHARDSON WILL BE 90.
THEN ON TUESDAY, AARON WILL BE
93 AND CHRISTINE BROWN OF
ROANOKE RAPIDS WILL BE 97.
EDNA WILL BE 97 AND ON
THURSDAY, DOROTHY CHRISTIAN
WILL BE 92.
RAY ROBERTS WILL BE 96 AND
WILLIAM FROM OXFORD WILL BE 95.
FINALLY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
20th, HARRY BEASLEY FROM APEX
WILL BE 90.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU.
THIS MORNING WE WELCOME MEGHAN
TO OUR SERVICE.
MEGHAN HAS LOVED SINGING AND
PERFORMING SINCE SHE WAS A
YOUNG GIRL.
BY THE WAY, SHE IS STILL PRETTY
YOUNG.
SHE EARNED A BACHELOR OF MUSIC
DEGREE FROM CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY
IN DECEMBER OF2019.
SHE HAS TAUGHT AT OUR HAYES
STUDIOS.
MEGHAN, WE ARE GLAD TO WELCOME
YOU THIS DAY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOU
LATER IN THE SERVICE.
>>> NOW, IT'S TIME TO HEAR A
WORD ABOUT YOUR CHURCH.
>> IT HAS BEEN EIGHT MONTHS
SINCE WE GATHERED AS A
CONGREGATION TO WORSHIP.
WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANY MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THEY
WORSHIPED WITH US AS THEY HAVE
BEEN UNABLE TO ATTEND THEIR
CHURCH IN PERSON.
WE ARE REMINDED THAT CHURCH IS
BIGGER THAN ONE CONGREGATION.
CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
GATHERED ACROSS THE WORLD.
SO, ONCE AGAIN WE CELEBRATE
THOSE WHO ARE WORSHIPING WITH
US FROM CHURCHES ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THESE CHURCHES ARE JUST
DOWN THE ROAD.
CHURCHES LIKE ASBURY UNITED
METHODIST OR AVIS BAPTIST
CHURCH.
VIRTUAL PRESENCE HAS INCREASED
DURING THIS TIME OR CHURCHES
FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD LIKE
BAPTIST CENTER IN CLAYTON.
NEARLY 150 YEARS OLD, NOW A
PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR THE
DIVERSE MULTIRACIAL AND
CULTURAL.
MEMBERS TRAVEL CREEDMOOR, IS
JONESBORO HAVE BEEN WORSHIPING
WITH US AS WELL.
WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED THAT WE
DON'T ALL HAVE TO HAVE BAPTIST
IN OUR NAME TO WORSHIP TODAY.
FRIENDS FROM RAYFORD
PRESBYTERIAN ARE PART OF OUR
SERVICE.
IN RIDGEWAY, FRIENDS FROM THE
CHAPEL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, AN
EPISCOPAL CHURCH SHARE WORSHIP
WITH US.
THIS IS A MISSION CHURCH.
YOUR CHURCH MIGHT BE THE ONE
THAT YOU GREW UP IN THAT
CONTINUES TO HOLD A SPECIAL
PLACE IN YOUR HEART LIKE FIRST
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN BELL HAVEN
WHERE YOU AND SEVERAL
GENERATIONS BEFORE YOU WERE
MARRIED.
SO MANY OF YOU SERVED
FAITHFULLY.
SO MANY OF YOU JOINED THE CHOIR
ON YOUR FIRST SUNDAY.
OTHERS SERVE AS A DEACON.
WATCHING DURING THIS TIME
REMINDED ONE PERSON OF THEIR
LINK BACK TO HBBC AS A MEMBER
OF SCOUT TROOP 25.
EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH IS MORE
THAN A BUILDING, YOU LIKE HBBC
MEMBERS MISS GATHERING TOGETHER
IN THE SACRED SPACES, THE
INSIDE OF YOUR CHURCH OR THE
BEAUTIFUL STAINED GLASS
WINDOWS, SPECIAL DECORATIONS OR
THE SPECIAL SERVICES THAT YOU
HAD TOGETHER IN THAT PLACE.
WE CELEBRATE WITH THOSE OF YOU
FROM PINE RIDGE BAPTIST THAT
WILL CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN
2024 AND THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE
BEEN CREATIVE DURING THIS TIME
AT MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH,
DRIVE UP CHUNK THANKS TO A
TRANSMITTER.
YOUR CHURCH IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
BECAUSE OF HOW GOD WORKED IN
YOUR LIFE AND YOU ARE PART OF
THAT CONGREGATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH
US AS WE DECLARE THE LORD IS
KING, LET THE HEAVENS RING AND
LET ALL THE EARTH BE GLAD.
>> THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD
AND TO MY LISTENING EARS
THE LORD IS KING, LET THE
HEAVENS RING.
LET ALL THE EARTH BE GLAD.
THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD.
FROM SHINNING UP ABOVE.
HE SENDS HIS SON, THE BE
BELOVED ONE.
THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD.
HE SENT HIS BELOVED ONE.
THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD. THE
LORD IS KING, LET THE HEAVEN'S
RING, LET ALL BE GLAD
>> SO VERY BEAUTIFUL.
LET US BOW TOGETHER FOR PRAYER.
INDEED, IT'S TRUE, O LORD, THIS
IS YOUR WORLD.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD IT IS.
SO OFTEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN
RAPTURE AS WE CONSIDER THE
SIGHTS AND THE SOUNDS AND THE
SMELLS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD
THAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR US.
THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAT IS
YOUR HANDIWORK AND IS THE
RESULT OF YOUR CREATIVE
ACTIVITY.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD, O
LORD.
SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A
TERRIFYING WORLD.
THINGS HAPPEN THAT WE DON'T
EXPECT.
OFTENTIMES WE FIND OURSELVES
SUFFERING AND HURTING AND
CRYING OUT TO YOU.
TODAY WE COME TO YOU, WE COME
TO YOU WITH GREAT THANKSGIVING
ON OUR HEARTS, GIVING YOU THE
GLORY AND WE COME AS WELL WITH
GREAT NEED ASKING FOR YOUR
GRACE AND YOUR PEACE AND YOUR
MERCY AND YOUR STRENGTH.
BE WITH US, O LORD.
BE WITH US ALWAYS.
GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO FOLLOW
YOU WHEREVER YOU WOULD LEAD US.
GIVE US THE COURAGE TO BE THE
PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THIS
WORLD.
AND GIVE US A FAITH DEEP DOWN
IN OUR HEARTS TO ALWAYS TRUST
YOU AS WE PRAY TOGETHER EVEN IN
THE MATTER THAT JESUS TAUGHT
HIS DISCIPLES WHEN HE SAID, OH,
FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN,
HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE
DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY
BREAD AND FORGIVE US OUR
TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE
WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR
THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE
POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER,
AMEN.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GIFTS.
NOT THE KIND OF GIFTS YOU GET
ON YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH A BOW ON
TOP.
INSTEAD THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU.
THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE GOOD
AT.
THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN USE TO
HELP OTHERS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE GIFTS
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU, SOME OF
YOU MAY THINK ABOUT SPORTS.
YOU MAY THINK ABOUT SOCCER,
FOOTBALL, BASEBALL OR
BASKETBALL.
THE GAME THAT YOU LOVE TO PLAY
AND THE WAY THAT YOU HELP YOUR
TEAMMATES.
OTHERS OF YOU MAY THINK ABOUT
ART, PAINTING, COLORING,
DRAWING, MAKING BEAUTIFUL
THINGS TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.
YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT MUSIC.
MAYBE YOU LOVE TO PLAY AN
INSTRUMENT OR TO SING AND MAKE
A JOYFUL NOISE.
THERE ARE OTHER GIFTS, TOO.
MAYBE YOU ARE GREAT AT COOKING
OR MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH OR
REALLY GOOD AT MATH AND SCIENCE
OR MAYBE YOU ARE GOOD AT BEING
AN ENCOURAGER.
THE KIND OF PERSON THAT PEOPLE
CAN COUNT ON AND MAKE THEM FEEL
BETTER WHEN THEY ARE HAVING A
BAD DAY.
WE ALL HAVE GIFTS TO USE THAT
GOD HAS GIVEN US.
IN OUR BIBLE STORY, WE SEE SOME
PEOPLE THAT USE THEIR GIFTS AND
OTHERS WHO DON'T.
AND JESUS REMINDS US THAT THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT
WHAT OUR GIFTS ARE NECESSARILY
BUT THAT WE USE THEM.
THAT WE USE OUR GIFTS TO HELP
OTHERS AND TO SHARE WITH
OTHERS.
THAT WE USE OUR GIFTS TO MAKE
THE WORLD A BETTER, MORE
HOPEFUL, IS MORE JOYFUL PLACE.
WHEN WE USE OUR GIFTS, NO
MATTER WHAT THEY ARE, WE HONOR
GOD BECAUSE THOSE GIFTS ARE
FROM GOD AND ARE TO BE USED FOR
HIS GLORY.
WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME?
LOVING GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THE
GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT GIFTS
AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO USE
THEM TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
AND TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER.
GOD HELP US TO USE OUR GIFTS
THIS WEEK TO BRING GLORY AND
HONOR TO YOU, IN YOUR NAME WE
PRAY, AMEN.
>>> OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR
TODAY COMES FROM THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 25
VERSUS 14-30.
"FOR IT IS AS IF A MAN, GOING
ON A JOURNEY, SUMMONED HIS
SLAVES AND ENTRUSTED HIS
PROPERTY TO THEM; 15 TO ONE HE
GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER
TWO, TO ANOTHER ONE, TO EACH
ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY.
THEN HE WENT AWAY.
HE ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE
FIVE TALENTS WENT OFF AT ONCE
AND TRADED WITH THEM, AND MADE
FIVE MORE TALENTS.
IN THE SAME WAY, THE ONE WHO
HAD THE TWO TALENTS MADE TWO
MORE TALENTS.
BUT THE ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED
THE ONE TALENT WENT OFF AND DUG
A HOLE IN THE GROUND AND HID
HIS MASTER'S MONEY.
AFTER A LONG TIME THE MASTER OF
THOSE SLAVES CAME AND SETTLED
ACCOUNTS WITH THEM.
THEN THE ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED
THE FIVE TALENTS CAME FORWARD,
BRINGING FIVE MORE TALENTS,
SAYING, 'MASTER, YOU HANDED
OVER TO ME FIVE TALENTS; SEE, I
HAVE MADE FIVE MORE TALENTS.HIS
MASTER SAID TO HIM, 'WELL DONE,
GOOD AND TRUSTWORTHY SLAVE; YOU
HAVE BEEN TRUSTWORTHY IN A FEW
THINGS, I WILL PUT YOU IN
CHARGE OF MANY THINGS; ENTER
INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER.'
AND THE ONE WITH THE TWO
TALENTS ALSO CAME FORWARD,
SAYING, 'MASTER, YOU HANDED
OVER TO ME TWO TALENTS; SEE, I
HAVE MADE TWO MORE TALENTS.'
HIS MASTER SAID TO HIM, 'WELL
DONE, GOOD AND TRUSTWORTHY
SLAVE; YOU HAVE BEEN
TRUSTWORTHY IN A FEW THINGS, I
WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF MANY
THINGS; ENTER INTO THE JOY OF
YOUR MASTER.'
THEN THE ONE WHO HAD RECEIVED
THE ONE TALENT ALSO CAME
FORWARD, SAYING, 'MASTER, I
KNEW THAT YOU WERE A HARSH MAN,
REAPING WHERE YOU DID NOT SOW,
AND GATHERING WHERE YOU DID NOT
SCATTER SEED; SO I WAS AFRAID,
AND I WENT AND HID YOUR TALENT
IN THE GROUND.
HERE YOU HAVE WHAT IS YOURS.'
BUT HIS MASTER REPLIED, 'YOU
WICKED AND LAZY SLAVE!
YOU KNEW, DID YOU, THAT I REAP
WHERE I DID NOT SOW, AND GATHER
WHERE I DID NOT SCATTER?
THEN YOU OUGHT TO HAVE INVESTED
MY MONEY WITH THE BANKERS, AND
ON MY RETURN I WOULD HAVE
RECEIVED WHAT WAS MY OWN WITH
INTEREST.
SO TAKE THE TALENT FROM HIM,
AND GIVE IT TO THE ONE WITH THE
TEN TALENTS.
FOR TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE, MORE
WILL BE GIVEN, AND THEY WILL
HAVE AN ABUNDANCE; BUT FROM
THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING, EVEN
WHAT THEY HAVE WILL BE TAKEN
AWAY.
AS FOR THIS WORTHLESS SLAVE,
THROW HIM INTO THE OUTER
DARKNESS, WHERE THERE WILL BE
WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.'
>> THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE
PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
>>> WHEN WE ARE TEENAGERS IT
CAN BE HARD TO KNOW WHAT OUR
GIFTS ARE.
AT THAT TIME IN OUR LIVES WE
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING
OUT WHO WE ARE.
IT CAN TAKE TIME AND EFFORT
BEFORE WE EVER KNOW HOW WE CAN
CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO THE
WORLD.
IN THE PARABLE THAT WE JUST
HEARD, JESUS TEACHES THAT GOD
GIVES US A RESPONSIBILITY.
JUST WHAT I WANTED, MORE
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S NOT THAT MUCH FUN TO THINK
THAT GOD IS GIVING US A TOUGH
JOB TO DO BUT MAYBE IT HELPS TO
KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
SPECIAL ABOUT YOU.
SOMETHING THAT CAN MAKE THE
WORLD A KINDER PLACE.
IN THE PARABLE JESUS TOLD, A
MAN GAVE HIS SERVANTS A PART OF
HIS TREASURE TO HELP MAKE IT
GROW.
IN THE SAME WAY GOD GIVES US A
PIECE OF GOD'S AMAZING LOVE.
OUR JOB IS TO SHARE THAT LOVE
SO IT WILL GROW IN OTHERS.
I HOPE THAT THAT MAKES THIS
RESPONSIBILITY SOUND A LITTLE
BIT BETTER.
WE HAVE A PART OF GOD THAT
LIVES IN US.
BUT IT CAN TAKE DIFFERENT
FORMS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF US HAVE
THE GIFT OF BEING EASY TO TALK
TO.
SO, WE CAN HELP GROW GOD'S LOVE
BY ENCOURAGING OTHERS,
LISTENING TO OTHERS OR SPEAKING
UP FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.
OTHERS OF US HAVE A GIFT OF
SERVICE.
SO, WE CAN HELP GROW GOD'S LOVE
BY OFFERING FOOD TO THE HUNGRY
OR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS CLEAN UP
THE YARD.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE
CAN MAKE OUR WORLD A BETTER
PLACE AND, GUESS WHAT, WHEN WE
HELP MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE, THE WORLD WILL BE BETTER
FOR US, TOO.
GOD INVITES US TO SHARE GOD'S
LOVE BY USING OUR GIFTS.
AS WE GROW FROM ADOLESCENTS
INTO ADULTHOOD WE DISCOVER WHAT
OUR UNIQUE GIFTS ARE AND HOW WE
CAN USE THEM FOR THE GOD OF
EVERYONE WE ENCOUNTER IN OUR
LIVES.
GOD WANTS US TO EXPLORE THE
GIFTS THAT WE SEE IN OUR
PARENTS OR FELLOW CHURCH
MEMBERS AND WE MAY LEARN ABOUT
THE GIFTS THAT WE SEE IN
OURSELVES AND THE GIFTS THAT
GIVE US A PASSION FOR OTHERS.
WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER FIND OUR
GIFTS AS WE HELP EACH OTHER
SHARE GOD'S LOVE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
RESPONSIBILITY WORTH HAVING.
>>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A
REMARKABLE SERVICE TODAY.
THE MUSIC IS VERY SPECIAL.
THE YOUR CHURCH SEGMENT THAT WE
RAN EARLIER HOW POWERFUL THAT
WAY.
I WAS EMOTIONAL AS I WATCHED
THAT.
THEN WORDS FROM SARAH AND WARD.
IT'S BEEN GOOD TO BE TOGETHER
THIS DAY.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL.
I READ ABOUT A SURVEY THAT WAS
TAKEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BY
PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 95.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING SURVEY
SAMPLE, YOU KNOW?
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, WE COULD
ALMOST DO THAT ON SOME SUNDAY
MORNINGS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
IT.
THIS MORNING FOR EXAMPLE, I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE KEEPING
COUNT BUT WE WISHED BIRTHDAY
GREETINGS TO 15 PEOPLE.
WHEN I ADDED IT UP AND DID THE
MATH, THEIR AVERAGE AGE CAME
OUT TO BE 93.9 YEARS OF AGE.
NOT QUITE 95 BUT CLOSE.
H. ANYWAY IN THIS WILL SURVEY
OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 95,
MORE THAN 50 PARTICIPATED AND
THEY WERE ASKED ONE QUESTION.
IT'S THE KIND OF QUESTION THAT
YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR A GROUP OF
PEOPLE THAT LIVED TO THAT
ACKNOWLEDGE.
BUT ACTUALLY IT'S A GOOD
QUESTION FOR ANY OF US NO
MATTER HOW LONG WE HAVE LIVED.
HERE IS THE QUESTION.
IF YOU COULD LIVE YOUR LIFE ALL
OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO
DIFFERENTLY?
THAT'S AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION.
NATURALLY THE ANSWERS FROM ALL
OF THOSE WERE ALL OVER THE
BOARD.
BUT THERE WERE THREE COMMON
RESPONSES THAT KIND OF BUBBLED
UP TO THE TOP.
HERE THEY ARE.
ONE, I WOULD REFLECT MORE.
TWO, I WOULD RISK MORE.
THREE, I WOULD DO MORE THINGS
THAT WOULD LIVE ON AFTER MY
LIFE IS OVER.
ALL OF THESE MAKE SENSE TO ME.
THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT TO ME
THIS MORNING, PARTICULARLY IN
LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURE READING
IS THE SECOND ONE.
I WOULD RISK MORE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S
ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE IN
THAT SURVEY REGRETTED THE MOST.
THEY DIDN'T TAKE AS MANY RISKS
IN LIFE AS THEY COULD HAVE OR
MAYBE EVEN AS THEY SHOULD HAVE.
IT CALLS TO MIND SOMETHING THAT
CHARLES PARNELL, THE GREAT
SPEECH WRITER ONCE WROTE.
HE SAID TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE
WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED NEAR LIFE
EXPERIENCES, CLOSED QUOTE.
THEY GO THROUGH LIFE BUNTING,
SO AFRAID THAT THEY NEVER TRY
TO WIN THE BIG PRIZES, NEVER
KNOWING THE THRILL OF HITTING A
HOME RUN OR EVEN TAKING A SWING
AT ONE.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING WAY OF
PUTTING IT.
A NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE, WE
HEARD OF NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES
WHEN A PERSON BRUSHES UP NEXT
TO DEATH BUT A NEAR LIFE
EXPERIENCE?
IMAGINE HAVING AN EXPERIENCE IN
YOUR LIFE THAT BRINGS YOU UP
CLOSE TO ACTUALLY LIVING.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE 95
YEAR OLDS WERE TALKING ABOUT.
IF THEY HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN
THEY WOULD TAKE MORE RISKS.
SOMEONE MIGHT ASK WHY DIDN'T
THEY WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE?
GOOD QUESTION.
THERE IS PROBABLY NOT JUST A
SINGLE ANSWER TO THAT BUT R BUT
I SUSPECT IN MOST CASES IT CAME
DOWN TO ONE SIGNIFICANT FACTOR
AND THAT WOULD BE FEAR.
ISN'T THAT THE REASON THE REST
OF US DON'T TAKE RISKS?
WE ARE AFRAID.
AFRAID OF WHAT?
OF A PLAYED OF A LOT OF THINGS.
THAT IT WON'T WORK OUT.
THAT WE WILL LOSE IT ALL AND
LOOK FOOLISH IN FRONT OF
EVERYONE ELSE OR PAY THE PRICE
FOR FAILING.
WHEN IT COMES TO RISKS THERE
ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO BE
AFRAID OF.
LOOK AT THE PARABLE JESUS TOLD.
ISN'T THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE
ONE TALENT MAN.
HE WAS AFRAID.
WHEN HIS MASTER DEMANDED TO
KNOW WHY HE HADN'T DONE MORE
WITH HIS OPPORTUNITY, HE
ADMITTED, I WAS AFRAID.
I WENT AND HID YOUR TALENT IN
THE GROUND.
HE WAS AFRAID.
AFRAID TO TAKE A SWING AT THE
BIG ONE.
AFRAID THAT HE MIGHT STRIKE OUT
AND MOST OF ALL AFRAID OF WHAT
HIS MASTER WOULD DO TO HIM IF
HE DID.
INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE
TAKING A RISK, HE DID NOTHING
OR HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE DONE
NOTHING.
TEA THE TALENT AND BURIED IT.
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU DO WITH
SOMETHING THAT IS DEAD, YOU
BURY IT?
MAYBE THAT'S THE POINT.
THAT POOR FRIGHTENED ONE TALENT
MAN WASN'T ACTUALLY DEAD BUT HE
WASN'T ACTUALLY ALIVE EITHER.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER KNOWN
PARABLES OF JESUS.
I WOULDN'T PUT IT AS HIGH AS
THE PRODIGAL SON OR THE GOOD
SAMARITAN OR THE MAN WHO BUILT
HIS HOUSE ON THE ROCK BUT IT'S
UP THERE.
HOW MANY STEWARDSHIP SERMONS
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE FIVE
TALENT MAN THAT WENT OUT AND
MADE FIVE MORE AND THE TWO
TALENT MAN WENT OUT AND MADE
TWO MORE.
THEY ARE FAITHFUL STEWARDS.
THEY GRATEFULLY RECEIVED THE
BLESSINGS THAT THE LORD EVEN
TRUSTED TO THEM AND PUT IT TO
GOOD USE IN THEIR KINGDOM.
IF THEY CAN DO IT, SO CAN WE.
YOU HEARD THOSE STEWARDSHIP
SERMONS?
SURE YOU HAVE.
SO HAVE I. I PREACHED A FEW OF
THOSE SERMONS AND I PROBABLY
WILL AGAIN.
GET READY.
THEY ARE COMING, BUT NOT TODAY.
WHAT ABOUT FUNERALS.
HOW MANY FUNERALS HAVE YOU
ATTENDED THAT WERE FOR DEVOTED
CHRISTIANS OR LOYAL CHURCH
MEMBERS AND THE MINISTER STANDS
UP AND RECRUITS OVER THE
DECEASED THE WORDS OF OUR LORD,
WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL
SERVANT?
YOU HEARD THAT BEFORE, HAVEN'T
YOU?
WE ALL HEARD THAT.
WE ALL WANT THAT TO BE SAID
ABOUT US WHEN THE TIME COMES.
WE HOPE IT'S NOT TOO SOON BUT
WHEN IT COMES, WE WANT THAT TO
BE SAID OF US.
SO, YES, WE KNOW THIS PARABLE.
WE KNOW IT WELL.
WHEN WE STOP TO REFLECT, WHICH
IS WHAT THOSE 95 YEAR OLDS WISH
THEY HAD DONE MORE OF, IT
REMINDS US OF THE PARABLE THAT
WE PONDERED LAST SUNDAY.
YOU REMEMBER THAT ONE, THE ONE
ABOUT THE 10 MAY DENSE, ALL OF
THEM WAITING FOR THE BRIDE
GROOM TO ARRIVE.
FIVE WERE WISE.
THEY BROUGHT ALONG EXTRA OIL
FOR THEIR LAMPS.
THEY WERE PREPARED FOR THE
BRIDEGROOM TO DELAY BUT THE
OTHER FIVE WERE FOOLISH.
THEY THOUGHT THE BRIDEGROOM
WOULD COME EARLIER WHEN
EVERYONE SAID HE WOULD COME.
THEN THEY RAN OUT OF OIL.
WHEN THEY WENT TO GET MORE, THE
BRIDEGROOM CAME AND THEY MISSED
HIM TOGETHER.
THOSE POOR FOOLISH MAY DANES.
YOU PUT THE TWO OF THESE
TOGETHER, THEY BOTH HAVE
SOMETHING OF THE SAME MOOD,
TONE AND FEELING.
NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF THE
MASTER IN THIS STORY.
WE ARE TOLD THAT HE DIDN'T COME
BACK UNTIL AFTER A LONG TIME,
LIKE THE BRIDEGROOM.
NOWHERE FOB SEEN DURING MUCH OF
THE ACTION.
GONE, DELAYED AND NO ONE CAN
SAY FOR CERTAIN WHEN HE IS
COMING BACK.
THEN NOTICE HOW WE HAVE BOTH
KIND OF CHARACTERS IN THESE
PARABLES.
WISE AND FOOLISH.
IN THE ONE TALENT MAN HE IS NOT
JUST FOOLISH BUT CALLED WICKED
AND LAZY.
THEN NOTICE THE SENSE OF
FINALITY IN THE END.
THE DOOR WAS SHUT ON THOSE
FOOLISH MAIDENS WITH NO HOPE OF
IT OPENING UP AGAIN.
IN OUR STORY, THE WORTHLESS
SLAVE IS THROWN OUT INTO THE
OUTER DARKNESS WHERE THERE WILL
BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF
TEETH.
I THINK I KNOW WHY HE WAS
AFRAID TO TAKE THE RISK, DON'T
YOU?
BUT IT'S NO DIFFERENT FOR US.
THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, THE STAKES
ARE HIGH.
LIFE IS PRECIOUS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO BE PLAYED
AROUND WITH.
ISN'T THAT THE POINT OF THE
PARABLE?
I HAVE READ FOR EXAMPLE THAT A
SINGLE TALENT IN THOSE DAYS WAS
THE EQUIVALENT OF SOMETHING
LIKE 15 OR 20 YEARS OF WAGES
FOR THE COMMON WORKER.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU PLAY
AROUND WITH, IS IT?
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BE TOO
RISKY WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY.
YOU COULD LOSE IT ALL.
THEN WHAT WOULD YOU DO.
WHAT?
THE WORLD WOULD YOU DO IF YOU
LOST ALL OF THAT.
I THINK WE CAN AGREE THAT YOU
DON'T WANT TO BE TOO RISKY WITH
THAT KIND OF TREASURE.
BUT, THEN AGAIN, WHAT GOD IS
IT.
WHAT GOD WILL IT DO YOU OR
ANYONE ELSE IF YOU JUST BURY
IT.
YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH
IT, DON'T YOU?
ISN'T THAT WHAT JESUS WAS
SAYING?
FOR HEAVENS SAKE, DO SOMETHING
WITH IT?
IT'S TOO PRECIOUS TO LIE THERE
IN THE GROUND.
WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULD LET
IT LIE THERE IN THE GROUND.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT IT'S
ALWAYS BOTHERED ME THAT THE
MASTER CALLED THE ONE TALENT
MAN WICKED AND LAZY.
UNDERSTAND, PLEASE, I'M NOT
QUESTIONING OUR LORD.
I AM TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF
THE STORY.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE ONE
TALENT MAN, MAYBE HE WAS A
LITTLE MORE LIKE THE WIZARD OF
OZ WHEN THE CURTAIN WAS PULLED
BACK ON HIM.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT DOROTHY SAID
TO HIM, DON'T YOU, IN HER
DISAPPOINTMENT, SHE SCOLDED
HIM.
YOU ARE A VERY BAD MAN, SHE
SAID, TO WHICH HE REPLIED, NO,
CHILD, ACTUALLY I'M A VERY GOOD
MAN.
I'M JUST A VERY BAD WIZARD.
FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IN THE
STORY, THE ONE TALENT MAN
WASN'T THAT BAD.
IN WORSE THAN A LOT OF OTHER
PEOPLE.
HE WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY
SCARED.
SCARED TO DEATH TO BE TRUTHFUL.
AND HIS FEAR KEPT HIM FROM
LIVING.
AND SOMETIMES THAT IS TRUE FOR
US, TOO, ISN'T IT?
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WHAT I
AM TRYING TO SAY IS WE HAVE TO
LEARN TO LIVE WITH OUR FEARS.
NOTE HOW I PUT THAT.
LIVE WITH OUR FEARS.
I DIDN'T SAY OVERCOME OUR
FEARS, YOUR RAT DI INDICATE OUR
FEARS, ELIMINATE OUR FEARS.
I'M NOT SURE ANY OF US COULD DO
THAT.
AFTER ALL, THERE ARE SO MANY
THINGS TO FEAR.
I MEAN, THE BIBLE SURELY
RECOGNIZES THIS.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW MANY
TIMES THE BIBLE SAYS FEAR NOT.
I TOLD YOU ABOUT HAROLD
KUSHNER.
HE CALLS IT THE 11th
COMMANDMENT.
WE REFER TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
AND POINT TO HOW THEY ARE GIVEN
TO ENRICH OUR LIVES AND KEEP US
SAFE AND SECURE.
ACCORDING TO KUSHNER, THERE IS
ANOTHER COMMANDMENT, AN 11th IN
THE BIBLE AND IT IS REPEATED
TIME AND AGAIN.
IT'S THE COMMANDMENT TO FEAR
NOT.
KUSHNER POINTS OUT THAT IT
APPEARS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER MORE
THAN 80 TIMES IN THE BIBLE.
ALL THE PAT Y WERE TOLD TO FEAR
NOT.
SO WAS MOSES AND JOSHUA.
THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE NEW
TESTAMENTS, MARY WAS TOLD TO
FEAR NOT.
JOSEPH, FEAR NOT, SHEPPARDS,
FEAR NOT AND DOWN THE LINE.
WHEN YOU STOP TO LOOK AT IT,
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT
REPEATED NEARLY SO OFTEN IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT.
DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE LESS TRUE
OR IMPORTANT BUT IT MEANS THAT
THIS 11th COMMANDMENT TO FEAR
NOT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS
THEY ARE AND JUST AS LIFE
GIVING.
AS I SAID, I'M NOT SURE ANY OF
US WILL GET TO THE POINT WHERE
WE WILL LIVE WITHOUT FEAR
ALTOGETHER.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY
OVERCOME OUR FEARS.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WE HAVE TO
RISE ABOVE OUR FEARS AND ALLOW
OURSELVES TO TAKE THE FREEDOM
AND RISK IN SPITE OF OUR FEARS.
GOD HAS EVEN TRUSTED TO EACH OF
US SOMETHING THAT IS FAR MORE
PRECIOUS THAN SILVER OR GOLD,
HE HAS GIVEN US LIFE.
LIFE IS OUR TALENT AND OUR
GIFT.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE INTO
THIS MAGNIFICENT GIFT LIVING IN
TO THIS GIFT.
THAT ARE SUGGESTS THE NEED TO
GROW, LEARN, BECOME MORE.
SO OFTEN WE STOP IN LIFE.
WE GET TO A CERTAIN POINT AND
WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE MADE IT
FAR ENOUGH, THAT THIS IS A CALL
TO BECOME MORE TO LIVE IN OUR
GIFT OF LIFE.
MANY OF YOU KNOW I HAVE
AFTERNOON OLDER BROTHER, VAN.
HE IS ALMOST FIVE YEARS OLDER
WHICH ISN'T THAT MUCH OF AN
INTERVAL AT THIS AGE BUT WHEN
WE WERE BOYS IT WAS A HUGE
DIFFERENCE.
VAN WAS BIGGER, STRONGER.
I DON'T REMEMBER MANY WRESTLING
MATCHES THAT I WON WITH VAN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT I DON'T
REMEMBER ANY WRESTLING MATCHES
THAT I WON WITH VAN.
OUR MOTHER CAME OUT OF THE
DEPRESSION.
SHE WAS SCHOOLED IN THE NO
WASTE PRINCIPLE.
IF VAN HAD JEANS STILL WORN SHE
WOULD GET THEM OUT AND HAVE ME
WEAR THEM, SOMETIMES BEFORE I
WAS BIG ENOUGH TO WE ARE THEM.
I WOULD COMPLAIN BECAUSE THAT
IS A CHILD'S RESPONSIBILITY,
ISN'T IT, TO ALWAYS COMPLAIN.
MOM, THEY ARE TOO BIG, BAGGY,
DON'T FIT AND HER RETORT WAS
CALM, THE SAME, THAT'S OKAY,
YOU WILL GROW INTO THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALK ABOUT.
TO SPEAK OF LIVING IN THE GIFT
OF LIFE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THAT THIS PRECIOUS GIFT IS
ALWAYS LARGER THAN WE ARE.
ALWAYS TOO BIG FOR US.
THE HOPE IS THAT WE WON'T
ALWAYS REMAIN AS SMALL AS WE
ARE.
THE HOPE IS THAT WE WILL GROW,
THAT WE WILL BECOME MORE THAN
WE ARE AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT.
THAT WON'T EVER HAPPEN IF WE
ARE NEVER WILLING TO TAKE A
RISK.
IF WE ARE ALWAYS TOO SCARED TO
TAKE A RISK YOU WILL NEVER HIT
A HOME RUN IF YOU NEVER TAKE A
SWING.
IF YOU ALWAYS GO UP TO THE
PLATE DETERMINED TO LAY DOWN A
BUNT, YOU NEVER WILL HIT A HOME
RUN.
YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE JOY OF
BEING FULLY ALIVE IF ALL YOU DO
IS TAKE THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN
YOU AND BURY IT IN THE GROUND.
YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH
IT.
SURE IT'S TOO BIG FOR YOU RIGHT
NOW.
BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO
BE.
LIVE IN YOUR GIFT, GROW INTO
YOUR GIFT.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T COME TO
THE END OF YOUR LIFE REGRETTING
THAT YOU NEVER LIVED, AMEN?
AMEN.
>>> WHAT A WAY FOR US TO
CONCLUDE THE SERVICE WITH THAT
GREAT HYMN WE ARE CALLED TO BE
GOD'S PEOPLE.
WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO OUR GOOD
FRIEND TOM JACKSON WHO LIVES IN
SPRING MORE.
HE IS USUALLY WATCHING.
IF YOU ARE WATCHING WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THAT MAGNIFICENT
HIM.
I WAS A FRESHMAN IN SEMINARY
MANY YEARS AGO.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS INTRODUCED TO
THE HYMN WE ARE CALLED TO BE
GOD'S PEOPLE.
IT QUICKLY BECAME ONE OF MY
FAVORITES AND REMAINED A
FAVORITE THROUGH THE YEAR.
A POWERFUL HYMN AND SUCH A
WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO
CONCLUDE A WORSHIP SERVICE THIS
DAY.
WE ARE CALLED TO BE GOD'S
PEOPLE, DEAR FRIENDS, YOU AND
I. THAT MEANS WE CAN GO OUT IN
THIS WORLD AND BE THE PRESENCE
OF CHRIST FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT WE COME IN CONTACT.
TAKE YOUR GIFT WITH YOU AND
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR JESUS
CHRIST, GOES YOU ARE CALLED TO
BE ONE OF GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
AREN'T WE GRATEFUL.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR MESS BEGAN
CAUSEY FOR SHARING WITH US THIS
DAY.
SHE DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB SINGING
FOR US.
WE WILL CERTAINLY SEXUAL WANT
TO HAVE HER BACK SOME TIME
BECAUSE WE WERE VERY MUCH
PLEASED BY HER MUSIC.
NOW, DON'T FORGET THAT I ASKED
YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
WE ARE PULLING TOGETHER THESE
PICTURES FOR OUR THANKSGIVING
EPISODE NEXT WEEK FOR OUR THIS
WEEK AT HBBC.
WHAT WE NEED IS FOR YOU TO GET
THE PICTURES TOGETHER AND SEND
THEM TO US AT THIS WEEK AT
HBBC.ORG AND WE NEED TO GET
THOSE BY TUESDAY.
WHILE YOU ARE GATHERING
PICTURES TOGETHER, DON'T FORGET
THAT WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A
VIDEO SEGMENT ON OUR DECORATING
TRADITIONS FOR CHRISTMAS.
MAYBE WHILE YOU ARE GOING
THROUGH SOME OF THOSE PICTURES
YOU CAN FIND SOME OF THOSE AS
WELL.
WE WILL NEED THOSE PICTURES A
WEEK FROM TUESDAY SO THAT WE
CAN RUN THAT ON THE FIRST
SUNDAY IN DECEMBER.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE
COMING TO THE END OF THE
CHRISTIAN CALENDAR FOR THIS
YEAR.
WE HAVE JUST ONE MORE SUNDAY
AFTER TODAY THEN WE START A NEW
YEAR.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE IN CYCLE B OF
OUR REVISED ELECTION SHOWN AREA
AND THE FOCUS GOSPEL WILL BE
MARK.
WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE READING
FROM MATTHEW THEN WE MOVE TO
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK.
TIME DOES FLY AND IT WILL SOON
BE THANKSGIVING DAY AND THEN
ADVENT FOLLOWING.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
TRADITIONS WE SHARE IN THESE
WONDROUS TIMES OF THE YEAR.
FOR NOW, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, MAY THE GRACE AND
PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
GO WITH YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY
WHEREVER HE MAY TAKE YOU.
PLAY HE GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE
WILDERNESS AND PROTECT YOU IN
THE STORM.
MAY HE BRING YOU HOME REJOICING
AT THE WONDERS HE HAS SHOWN
YOU.
MAY HE BRING YOU HOME REJOICING
ONCE AGAIN TO OUR DOORS IN THE
NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE
SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE
PRAY.
AMEN. HAS YOU COVERED ALL DAY
LONG.
>> COME ON.