Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
O God, the strength of all who hope in you, because we are weak mortals we accomplish nothing good without you. Help us to see and understand the things we ought to do, and give us grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture readings
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37

Sermon
"Make Good Choices"
Matthew 5:21-37; Deuteronomy 30:15-20
I say the same thing at the end of every wedding rehearsal: “Make good choices.” Two people will have their lives joined together in marriage the next day; it would be horrible to ruin that moment through an irresponsible choice the night before. This seems to be Moses’s outlook in Deuteronomy. The people are about to enter the Promised Land. Moses won’t be going with them, but that doesn’t mean he has nothing to say. Life or death, Moses says. It’s your choice. Jesus’ words today drive home the point that we have made bad choices. We have sinned. And just because all that talk about plucking out eyes and cutting of hands is hyperbole doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t serious. He took on the necessary suffering, allowing himself to be cut off from life. So now, in Jesus’ name, make good choices. Choose the good. Seek life and love and trust the future to God.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Harmony Community Church Food Pantry.  

Education hour at 9:45am

King David
Dr. Michael Graves, Armerding Professor of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College
(Third of three classes.) David the son of Jesse of Bethlehem is perhaps the most complex, noble, and tragic character in the Old Testament. His tumultuous rise to kingship and dramatic struggles with enemies without and within are described in 1-2 Samuel. Different portraits of David are painted in the Psalms and the book of Chronicles. The memory of David plays a major role in prophetic books. We are often left asking: Who is David? This three-week study focuses on David's rise to power, his kingship, and his symbolic role in scripture. In David, we will see how the Old Testament addresses major themes such as justice and mercy through the use of story and poetry.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the conference room. 

Adult Ed schedule for January and February

Sunday School, Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation classes meet in their regular classrooms.

2019-20 Sunday School, Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation schedule

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.