"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
Luke 10:36-37
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Fr. Scott's sermon discussed the Gospel lesson for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity (Luke 10:23-37, BCP p. 208). He compared the dislike between the Jews and Samaritans of Jesus's time to the dislike between the Union and the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Both sides in each conflict shared similar heritages, cultures, and peoples. Jewish law of the time had rules and regulations about how people were required to help under the law. There were many long debates about exactly who was a neighbor. However, Samaritans were NOT included in the neighbor definition!
So who is our neighbor? Geographical neighbors? People in my town? People outside my country? People we are currently fighting? Our Lord is asking more. Our Lord says to love them all. The Gospel definition of a neighbor is any other human on this planet. To make this point Jesus uses the most extreme example He could in this parable - a Samaritan.
This message comes to us at time when our Nation is currently hurting. While we most certainly can oppose the actions of others and our leaders, we can't shake the mandate to love our neighbor, even our neighbors overseas. This is not an easy task and something that we could not do without the love of Jesus first coming into our own hearts.
Please find Fr. Scott's complete sermon at the 23:50
minute mark at the following link:
Thank you Fr. Scott for your very heartfelt sermon!
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This Sunday was Earl's last Sunday helping Fr. Scott with Holy Communion. Here are several photos of Earl this past Sunday.
Thank you, Earl for all your years of service at the altar!
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During the service, Scott and Sue shared their amazing musical talents, playing several pieces of music for us.
Thank you Scott and Sue!
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In Christian Education Fr. Scott discussed the fourth Ecumenical Council, the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD held in Bithynia. Over 520 bishops attended this council, making it the most well attended of the councils. The previous council settled the debate about our Lord's person. He was unified God and man in the hypostatic union but the door was left open for how the two natures of Christ, divine and human, related to each other.
This council repudiated the doctrine of monophysitism and created the Definition of Chalcedon which describes the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus Christ. This definition caused the first big split in the church with the Oriental Orthodox church splitting off. Also, this council named the top five Patriarchs of the Church with both Rome and Constantinople being in the first position. This is the beginning of the future split of the Eastern and Western churches. Next week he will discuss the Second Council of Constantinople.
Thank you Fr. Scott for that very informative lesson!
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After services we met downstairs. In recognition of all his years of service the congregation gave Earl gift cards to both The Chop House and to The Coffee Company. Thank you so much Earl!
We also hosted a luncheon with some of Earl's favorite foods! We included chicken/cranberry soup, Diane's homemade cornbread, Lynn's deli tray, and Carole's homemade apple pie with ice cream.
A wonderful lunch with wonderful company celebrating the contributions of a wonderful man!
Thank you Daryl for all the beautiful photos!
Thank you everyone for contributing!
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Thank you Diane, Rose Marie, and Sue for helping me with the clean out of the vesting room. We are converting the vesting room into a multi purpose room including vesting and youth Christian Education.
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As part of the process of getting the new sign installed in front of the church, Mike arranged to have the diseased walnut tree in front of the church cut down. Hopefully, we will get it sawed up and hauled away in the next couple of weeks.
Thank you Mike!
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A kind notice about two of our generous and hard working members!
Thank you Rose Marie and Carole for all you do for St. Peter's and for many other people!
Also, lots of prayers for Carole as she continues to recover from her back problems. Looking forward to seeing you in church again soon!
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Mike and Claudia sent the above picture taken at the Cumberland Falls during their recent driving vacation in Kentucky.
Teresa sent this photo of her and Lanny at the same spot a few years ago.
Beautiful location and wonderful people!
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Next they visited the Ark!
It looks amazing! Thank you for all the lovely pictures!
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Teresa, Diane, and I all agree that blue was the color for the last Sunday in August!
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