TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST FIRST READING

      These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing  the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you.

      Here, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about the when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and your gates.

Deuteronomyn 6:1-9

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST REFORMATION SUNDAY GOSPEL READING

     Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus_, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

      Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

      Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

      So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s  calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST REFORMATION SUNDAY SECOND READING

      Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanant priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once and for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. 

Hebrews 7:23-28

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST REFORMATION SUNDAY PSALM READING

      When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.

       Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

     The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streamsin the Negev.

     Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

      He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Psalm 126

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST REFORMATION SUNDAY FIRST READING

     This is what the Lord says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return. They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

Jeremiah 31:7-9

THINKING OF HUMAN SOLUTIONS WOMEN’S SHELTER NEEDS

      On Saturday of God’s Work Our Hands several of our members volunteered at the Human Solutions Women’s Shelter. During this time of service they discovered a need: dishes, silverware, and twin sheets and blankets. These items frequently go missing as women move out of the shelter so women are currently eating off of plastic lids and whatever else they can scrounge up.

Thank you,
Sherry Willmschen

BETTY CARMELLA’S FUNERAL

      Betty Caramella’s Funeral will be at Willamette National Cemetery on November 9 th at 2:00pm. Please go to the main office at the cemetery for the location of the gravesite. We will have a celebration of life gathering at the church on November 9th from 3:00—6:00pm in the basement.