22nd Sunday after Pentecost
INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY
Can we pray the way Bartimaeus prays? People try to hush him up because by addressing Jesus as “Son of David” he is making a politically dangerous claim that Jesus is the rightful king. Could our prayers ever be heard as a threat to unjust powers that be? Bartimaeus won’t give up or go away quietly, but repeats his call for help more loudly. Do we ask so boldly? And are our prayers an honest answer to Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31: 7-9
This passage speaks not only of the southern kingdom, Judah, and its homecoming from exile in Babylon, but also of the northern kingdom (“Israel” or “Ephraim”) and its restoration. The northern tribes of Israel had been lost in exile to Assyria more than a century before Jeremiah prophesied.
PSALM: Psalm 126
SECOND READING: Hebrews 7: 23-28
Human priests of old offered sacrifice for their own sins and served only until their death. In contrast, Jesus is God’s Son, the Holy sinless, resurrected High Priest. Death did not terminate his priestly service, but through his death he has interceded for our sins.
GOSPEL: Mark 10: 46-52
Bartimaeus comes to Jesus with faith, asking that he might see again. Recognizing the identity of Jesus, Bartimaeus is the first person to call him “Son of David” in the Gospel of Mark.
Announcements!
CHANGE OF VENUE
Welcome to the W. Jefferson Senior Center. The village is celebrating Halloween with a Haunted House in the Community Center. It will be up for the Trunk or Treat event on the 23rd.
FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
As you know, we will be serving breakfast at First English again. There will be NO Reformation worship here at Zion that Sunday. This will be the last one this year. The next time we go there it will be 2022.
VOTING DAY
November 2 is Voting Day. Although we are not electing a President, there are other offices that will need to be filled. We also have rather interesting election here in Jefferson Township for a new Fire Department. This is an important issue and whether you are for it or against it, you might want to register your vote.November 7 will be All Saints’ Sunday. We will be remembering and honoring all of our Saints. The color for that Sunday is White. When you think about the rest of the Church year, there will only be two more Sundays until Advent.
ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY
The 7th of November will be All Saints’ Sunday. We will be remembering and honoring all of our Saints. The color for that Sunday is White. When you think about the rest of the Church year, there will only be two more Sundays until Advent. This is also the Sunday that we “Fall Back” with time. If your alarm clock is Analog, please set it back before you go to bed.
GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS.
Momentum Grows to Address Global Malnutrition: Jesus uses the actions of those who have faith—and your actions are making a difference.
Earlier this month, a group of bipartisan senators introduced the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021 (S.2956), a companion bill to legislation introduced in the House this past summer. This bill is the culmination of years of your willingness to partner with thousands of others in the mission to end global malnutrition.
I want to sincerely thank you for every letter, email, phone call, and meeting—for every time you urged your member of Congress to make nutrition a priority. It is working and they are listening. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
By next year, nearly 14 million more children are likely to be severely malnourished because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts. That means approximately 59 million young children—or almost the entire population of South Africa—will likely face life-threatening malnutrition if the global community doesn’t act.
Implementation of this bill will make a substantial difference in the lives of millions. We still have work to do together to pass the legislation in the House and Senate, but I wanted to take this moment to thank you for all you have done to pave the way for this victory. In these challenging times, nothing could be more good, compassionate, and just than to work for a World that has no hunger. We can, by God’s grace, make a difference.
In these challenging times, nothing could be more good, compassionate, and just than to work for a World that has no hunger. We can, by God’s grace, make a difference.
Rev. Eugene Cho
President and CEO, Bread for the World
PRAYERS
Please keep these people in your prayers: Richard Fogt at the loss of his sister, Michael Koch, Wesley and JoAnne Porter, Nicole Biler Robinette, Derek Taylor, who is in Marine Basic Training Parris Island, S.C.; and all of those who are still suffering from COVID 19 and their families.
Please remember all of our shut ins and sick: Arlene Castor and Nancy Hoene. (Also, pray for the families and caretakers of those on the prayer list.)
FUNDS FOR ZION
Please check the bulletin board behind the office door for all of the sign-up sheets for this year. Communion, birthday Sundays, and Worship Assistants/helpers. Thank you so much!
You can also remember special occasions or special people by contributing money that would normally be used for altar flowers. Instead the donation goes to our local food pantry.
