Sermon:”Purposeful Living”
Scripture: Mark 8:27-38
Is life purposeful? What kind of life has meaning? I think these questions are at the heart of the encounter of Jesus with his disciples and the “crowd” in today’s scripture. In particular, focusing on the notion of suffering and what personal and collective suffering might mean for purposeful living is useful preparation for this week’s worship.
Text and Context Notes: In preparation for this week’s sermon, it is good to note that this passage marks the beginning of a “gentile/greek ministry cycle” (7:24 to 8:9) in the gospel, whereby Jesus reaches out to non-Jews in a direct way. The passage occurs in what we would call Lebanon today, and then Jesus and the disciples travel around the northern part of Galilee to reach the region of the Decapolis (a gentile area on the other side of where Jesus’ ministry has occurred to this point). The “second” feeding of the multitudes in this Gospel is to a large crowd of Gentiles. The direct parallels in the preceding Jewish Galilean ministry cycle are 5:21-43; 6:30-44. The healings of the daughter of Jairus and the “daughter” suffering from hemorrhaging are instructive to the healing of the Syro-Phoenecian’s daughter. Also note how Jesus affirms the rights of women in these passages.
Join us for Worship at 10:30 a.m., and for coffee and fellowship after the service. All are welcome!
Pastor Allen Regular Office Hours
He will be in the church office during the following times unless called away:
Mondays and Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
1st, 3rd and 5th Monday evenings: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday afternoons: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Please note that Rev. Fairfax is generally available for pastoral concerns or other church business at most other times as well, so don’t hesitate to contact him outside of these office hours. Please drop by the church or contact him: 508-801-7294 (cell)/617-625-4823 (office), pastor@clarendonhillchurch.org.
– – – Upcoming Events – – –
CHPC Bible Study
Bible study meets at Porter Square Panera Bread every other Wednesday. For details on dates, time, place, and more information, please contact Kevin. (kevin.sungwon@gmail.com)
Prayer Group Meeting
Sunday, September 20th: We will meet in the Green Room after coffee hour. Jesus said, ‘When two or three are gathered in my name, I am there.” Bring your prayers about whatever joys or concerns you may have on your mind and in your heart. All are welcome to attend.
Fellowship Event: Apple Picking
Our next fellowship event will be apple picking, with a tentative date of Saturday, October 3rd. Everyone is invited! Save the date, and look for details to follow.
World Communion Sunday
On Sunday, October 4th, we will celebrate World Communion Sunday. The collection of the Peacemaking Offering takes place on that day also.
– – – Deacons News – – –
Deacon Meeting
The next Deacons meeting will be on Sunday, October 4th, after coffee hour, in the Green Room.
Prayer Request Email
The Deacons are in the process of setting up an online prayer request list. This will be a closed group (to insure privacy.) If you would like to be a member of the group so that you can ask for prayers, and have others pray for you, please send an email to Ellen (ellends1313@gmail.com). Once we have everything set up, we will share information about the group with the congregation, so that others can join.
– – – Community News – – –
The Cuatro Puntos concert, “From Damascus to Kabul”
Sunday, September 27th at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary, as the second concert of the Nave Gallery Music series for this fall. The members of the group are musical diplomats, having spent time this summer developing a music school for orphaned girls in Afghanistan. They are highly accomplished musicians, and they will be featuring a world premiere of Gullistan-e Nur “The Rosegarden of Light” by British composer Sadie Harrison, performed on traditional Afghan instruments with string quartet. For more information on this group and their mission, seehttps://www.facebook.com/navemusicsomerville and/orhttp://www.cuatropuntos.org/.