Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Praising the Lord at Country Springs - Sunday, Oct...

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Praising the Lord at Country Springs - Sunday, Oct...: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Board of Deacons sponsors a worship service at the Country Springs Retirement & Assisted Living Facility. ...

Sunday's Message: The Parables of Jesus - The Sower (Mark 4:1-20)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message: The Parables of Jesus - The Sowe...: During the months of September, October and November, we'll discuss the following parables found in the Gospel of Mark: September 22 - N...

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: During the months of September, October and November, we'll discuss the following parables found in the Gospel of Mark: September 22 - N...

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, October 14 and Sunday, October 20, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, October 14, 2024 - That all racial divisions be healed.
• Tuesday, October 15, 2024 - That police officers show strength and compassion when enforcing the law.
• Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - That we offer God thanks for all his blessings.
• Thursday, October 17, 2024 - That we approach our differences with both faith and commonsense.
• Friday, October 18, 2024 - That our leaders work for unity and cooperation.
• Saturday, October 19, 2024 - That families read their Bible and attend worship services together.
• Sunday, October 20, 2024 - That our judges would value the principles reflected in the Old and New Testaments.

Looking into the lectionary - Checking in with Montreat

October 20, 2024 Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost  Mark 10:35-45 Years ago, I fought for a seat next to famed Episcopal preacher Barbara Brown Taylor. At a small conference where she was the keynote speaker, a group of us hatched a plan to eat lunch with Barbara — a women-only table. The flaw in our plan: no one told the men, eager to sit with Barbara as well. We women went through the buffet line, trailing Barbara carefully, staying close so we wouldn’t lose her, as our pack leader guarded six seats around one round table. But as soon as Barbara set her tray down, two men swooped in. “May we join you?” Barbara, of course, said yes, while the rest of us exchanged eyes full of daggers, resenting these men for intruding on “our” seats. I’m embarrassed by this memory now, the seating game we adults play that harkens back to the school cafeteria, the place we all learned the rules. Where you sit and with whom matters. James and John should have been embarrassed, too. Their ambition got the best of them as they ask Jesus for special seats next to him in glory. Matthew and Luke rework this story from Mark, perhaps attempting to make these disciples look better. In Matthew’s version, the mother of James and John requests the honor on behalf of her sons (Matthew 20:20). Luke avoids specifics, boiling the story down to a “dispute” among the disciples (Luke 22:24). No matter the version, these disciples should know better, and Jesus says as much. “You do not know what you are asking” (Mark 10:38). Jesus isn’t interested in who is great and who will be glorified. He wants to know who will serve humbly, and who will sacrifice for the good of God’s people. This passage in Mark reminds us of Jesus’ purpose: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Beyond personal sacrifice and humility, Jesus preaches a gospel that counters the “rulers” who “lord over” others and the “great ones” who act as “tyrants.” In his book Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination, Walter Wink writes about this young carpenter from Galilee who “revealed to the world God’s domination-free order of nonviolent love.” ... Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for October 20, 2024, by Teri McDowell Ott Montreat Conference Center and community grapple with effects of Helene by Darla Carter Justice, peace and memory (October 20, 2024) by Elana Keppel Levy Horizons — Food justice by Rosalind Banbury Want the worship resources for October 13, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... What baseball can teach the church about faithful change Can the church embrace change without losing its core identity? Matthew Rich looks at MLB for inspiration. Enchanted sports in a secular age Professional sports has become "one of the ways in which we make meaning and tell our own stories," writes Scott Hagley. Lessons from losing Losing is painful. According to professional athletes, it can also lead to growth, writes Andrew Taylor Troutman. Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue amid PDA deployments and generosity from volunteers and churches Presbyterians urged to donate funds and buckets to help the Southeast rebound from widespread devastation. —  Darla Carter This Sweet Earth: Walking with Our Children in the Age of Climate Collapse The only way to appreciate and care for the earth is to move more slowly through the world. — Elizabeth Doolin on Lydia Wylie-Kellermann's new book Between anguish and resilience: Reflections from Bethlehem As we mark one year since the Israel-Hamas war began, Teri McDowell Ott checks in with Bethlehem-based mission co-worker Doug Dicks. Charlotte clergy organize to deliver help and hope in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath Grassroots efforts by North Carolina congregations witness to Christ’s love in the midst of widespread devastation. — Emily Enders Odom Revelation: Professing Christ Today In a world that frequently promotes hatred, hostility and division, discover Revelation’s call to embody God’s grace, generosity and forgiveness. A new Fresh Outlook study. Pre-order the Outlook's daily Advent devotional today! In a world dominated by binary thinking – light vs. dark, good vs. evil – this Advent devotional challenges us to see beyond familiar binaries and embrace the complex, natural patterns of God in the world.

One email: All the Advent resources you'll need

Give variety to your congregation’s Advent services with Outlook hymns (with sheet music) Mary Gladly Told Her Cousin by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette Advent wreath hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette Joseph Was Troubled by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette A Savior Born, A Gift of Joy (Christmas Joy hymn) by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette See all Advent and Christmas hymns An original, daily devotional — perfect for printing or emailing Patterns of divine possibility: An Advent search for God’s diverse ordering by Teri McDowell Ott Step into a journey of discovery this Advent with a devotional that challenges us to see beyond familiar binaries and embrace the complex, natural patterns of our creator in the world. In this devotional, Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott invites us to open our eyes to the intricate designs of God’s creation that often go unnoticed. Learn more Curious about our other devotional offerings? We've been doing this for years. See all Outlook Advent devotionals in our store. Advent Liturgies Blue Christmas service by Christine Chakoian "Creator of the Stars of Night: An Advent Candle Liturgy" by Carol Holbrook Prickett "Family Christmas Eve Service" by Jenny Lee

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Looking into the lectionary - Helene's aftermath: How to help

October 13, 2024 Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost  Mark 10:17-31 As recently retired ministers, my wife and I are applying for long-term care insurance. The initial interview included questions about annual income, net worth, and liquid assets. Taking stock of what we have and trying to plan for the future has been a humbling experience. During that inventory, I wrote this lectionary reflection about the rich man who asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” His track record of keeping the commandments since his youth was impressive. Perhaps he and others would attribute his wealth to his faithfulness. If so, then Jesus’s response to the rich man must have puzzled them all: “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Whenever I have studied this story in a group setting, someone asks, “If all of us sold everything we own and gave the money to the poor, wouldn’t we then be among the poor? Who would take care of us?” Discussions of those questions would inevitably lead to attempts to temper the blow of Jesus’s demand of the rich man (and us?). Mirroring a classic interpretation, folks often say, “Well, Jesus must have meant that only for that man at that time. Surely he couldn’t expect everyone to do that!” The context of Mark’s story makes a difference. The story begins, “As [Jesus] was setting out on a journey” (v. 17). A few verses later (v. 32), we learn the road leads to Jerusalem. The story of the rich man (10:17-31) and the story of the request of James and John (10:35-45) act as bookends to the third time Jesus tells his disciples about his death and resurrection. The disciples’ reactions (perplexed in v. 24 and angry in v. 41) lead Jesus to tell them again the nature of true discipleship. When Peter points out that he and the other disciples “have left everything and followed you,” (v. 28), Jesus teaches, “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” When the disciples as a group resent the jockeying of James and John for positions of power, Jesus again says, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (v. 44). The dialogue between the rich man and Jesus is reminiscent of that between the lawyer and Jesus in Luke 10:25-37. There, the lawyer’s question echoes the rich man’s question almost verbatim, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 10:25)? Both the rich man and the lawyer engage in conversation with Jesus about keeping the commandments and Jesus “adds” one more thing for each of them to do: the rich man is to go, sell, and give; the lawyer is to go and do likewise. We Protestants get a bit nervous at this point.  ... Thanks to this week's writer Rev. Philip Gladden. Read the rest of the commentary on the website. Order of worship for October 13, 2024, by Philip Gladden Bread from the world: World Communion liturgy by Heather Prince Doss Near and far (October 13, 2024) by Lucus Levy Keppel The aftermath of Helene: How to help by Mike Ferguson Want the worship resources for October 6, 2024? You can find them here. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Church property conference offers congregations more than prayer to keep their buildings Congregations facing hard choices about what to do with underutilized, high-maintenance sacred structures heard from real estate experts at a recent conference on the future of church buildings. — G. Jeffrey MacDonald Discussion guide for Outlook's reparations issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation. — Donald Griggs Christ’s compassion for the suicidal In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, Elana Keppel Levy pushes against the teaching that those who commit suicide go to hell. When friendships change Katy Shevel reflects on the challenge and gift of maintaining friendships through adulthood and life's different seasons. A queer eye for worship More Light Presbyterians offer advice for creating inclusive worship experiences. — Mike Ferguson A prayer for World Communion Sunday The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday. Recognized by the PC(USA) as well as other denominations, it celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our siblings around the world. — Molly Spangler Through a glass dimly: Repentance and repair in sacred spaces Shea Watts shares Covenant Presbyterian Church’s decision to remove stained-glass windows depicting Confederate figures. Fred Holper, influential figure in American liturgical theology, dies at age 77 Celebrated liturgics and homiletics professor at Austin, Union and McCormick seminaries was a noted authority on ordination and ministry. — Emily Enders Odom