MARCH 19, 2025 – Warning Labels
When I was a kid, Lost in Space was on the air. Not a great show, but I do remember the line – Warning, Warning Will Robinson. Normally, something Dr. Smith was doing lead to the warning. His schemes always ended up poorly. He is pictured below without even a space helmet. Straw hats in space are not a good
choice. In fact, it is rarely a good choice. Back in the 60’s both helmets and straw hats were “out”. So were warning labels. Your safety was your problem.
We recently purchased a new bike. There were warning labels draped all over, at least a dozen, encouraging safety and use of
helmets. Ah the good old days when we would ride helmetless in blissful, dangerous ignorance.
We can learn from the past what not to do. Seatbelts for example were an option back in the 60’s. Now our SUV will not sift into gear without seatbelts being
latched. The result of the change is that traffic deaths are down five-fold.
In our second reading for Sunday from 1 Corinthians 10, Paul has a warning for the Corinthians. He wants them to learn from the experience of the Hebrews
who were “lost” in the desert for 40 years. The people who followed Moses were baptized in a way by passing through the sea. They eat meals together, like Christians who commune together. They drink water from the same spiritual Rock. Nevertheless, they were a disappointment to God, which is why they were “lost” so long. Paul accuses them of being focused on their own enjoyment and not the community or their faithful walk with God. They complained even as God
provided for them. Paul urges the Corinthians to learn from their example. Life will have its times of testing but do not give in. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10: 5 and 6)
Our preschool Director Joy Kirby recently found out she was pregnant and due in July. It has been over a decade since her daughter was born so this was a surprise.
Like my daughter and daughter-in-law, she was warned to avoid certain food and drink. We do learn from the past how to bring better health to babies.
Our preschooler’s Site Supervisor, Jennifer Maldonado, found out she had breast cancer and is in treatment. It has been decades since her mother was diagnosed.
Happily, her mother has survived cancer free for over 30 years. The treatments are even better today. So, we pray for Jennifer, with much hope in our hearts. Sheis also blessed in part because she saw the warning signs early. Not every danger or difficulty in life can be prevented by a warning label or by remembering history. In our Gospel text Jesus is told about Galileans who were killed by Pilate and another 18 people who died when a tower fell on them. They were innocent people who suffered because of the actions of a despot and poor construction of a tower. Jesus’ recommendation is to be aware of the fragile nature of life and focus on what you can do to “live long a prosper” as Star Trek’s Dr. Spock would say. I do prefer him to Dr. Smith. I think Jesus and Paul would broaden that to focus on Self to that of Community.
Perhaps: “Live, Long and Wide and thus truly Prosper”.
PRAYER: Lord thank you for the insights of scripture that help us learn from the past. Shine a bright light on our path to a long and full life.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John Bunge
YOU have been so generous.
Through your support of Faith and our outreach ministries is wonderful. As mentioned last week nearly $1050 was given to sponsor the Mkanza youth and support our youth ministry. In addition this year, nearly $3,000 was sent to aid those who lost their homes in the recent wildfires, another $4,500 went to the work of the Synod and the wider church generally. Another $400 was matched for Luther Glen and for Habitat for Humanity. With your generous hearts in mind, we are emboldened to ask for your support of a Preschool Director and Site Supervisor. If you would like to give funds for a baby basket for Joy and a special gift for Jennifer as she spends the next four to six months on disability, just mark your offering envelope and we will present it to them at a special celebration at the preschool.
REMINDERS
Wednesdays –
March 19 – April 9: Wednesday soup suppers @ 5:00 p in the fireside room. We will focus on Adam Hamilton book and video series the Gospel of
Luke. You can buy his book on Luke – Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts and Outlaws on Amazon. Thank you for signing up for bringing soup.
Pastor Bunge will be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays in March and into the first week of April.
Confirmation Classes resumes SUNDAY, March 23.
Time of Meditation – is taking a break for Lent; begin again after Easter @ 1 p on Thursday and a introductory class @ 12:30 p.
PANTRY -2nd & 4th Saturday; from 8 to 10:00 The pantry could use Pasta (any kind), dry beans and/or dry peas, macaroni & cheese.
Thrivent Choice Dollars – if you have Thrivent financial products you may have Choice Dollars you can designate to Faith. $2,400 so far. Call Thrivent if you need
assistance. The end of March is the last day to give 2024 dollars.
QUILTING – Emily Smith’s Group (909.255.2452) has started anew and has completed 2 quilts which they shared with The San Bernardino Wellness Center.
They are working on quilts for our graduating High School Seniors – Benet and Rachel.
PRAY for:
• Joy and Jennifer of the preschool, mentioned above.
• The Mureaux and Watson families thank you for assisting with the Memorial Services and reception. Continue to pray for them.
• Diane Watson suffered a bone fracture in her foot.
• Steve Cady’s brother-in-law Michael passed away. His sister Sherry is receiving treatment for breast cancer.
• Kim Guervara was back and her Mother Carol in Canada, is improving.
• Michael Shea was with us on Ash Wednesday.
• Eloise Johnson continues well with her health issues.
• Jeanne Koening’s condition has not improved, the pain in her head is unrelenting. Joe totaled their pickup. Their daughter Jessica was able to link into City of Hope.
• Bonnie Strack appreciates continued prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered from a series of strokes.
PRAISE
• Pat Teeters and Nelson were back in church as was erwin Buschauer.
• Krissy Koger’s sister-in-law, Michelle Koger had her kidney removed and is recovering well as is their friend Terry Lee whose liver is functioning well.
• Kyle Hadley is recovering from extensive eye surgery which went well.
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH MARCH DATES
UPDATE OF DIRECTORY
March 23 – Debi Hitter will be taking pictures in Fireside Room. If you want to update your photo, sign up in Narthex or show up at 11:07. The previous picture will be used otherwise.
ANNIVERSARIES Adding date/year. Sign up in Narthex WILL PUBLISH a list of Birthdays & Anniversaries
SUNDAYS
MARCH 16 POTLUCK – signup in Narthex
MARCH 23 BINGO – Thank you to everyone for the prizes! —Recently, Karen Hall, Pat Teeters, Bonnie Mills, Jan Wheeler, Steve & Sharon Cady.
To keep things current, we’ve added a RAFFLE to the day. So, if you have any nicer things that are taking up space, please donate them to us as well. We wrap
them nicely and everyone gets a raffle ticket. People appreciate the fun. MARCH 30 FIRST QUARTER HAPPY BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS
Thanks to all you have given shoes for Soles 4 Souls. The box is still in the Narthex for continued donations.
You are special people! We are a congregation of FAITH!
Some of you have asked for a heads up for the Lessons to come. Here they are for March 23:
Isaiah 55:1-9
1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and
without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 63:1-8
1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory. 3 For your steadfast love is better than life itself; my lips shall give you
praise. 4 So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name. 5 My spirit is content, as with the richest of foods, and my mouth praises
you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches. 7 For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. 8 My whole being clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from
the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the
wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-
three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And do not complain
as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to
instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you
that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way
out so that you may be able to endure it.
Gospel Reading Luke 13:1-9
1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 [Jesus] asked them,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you
repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse
offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the
gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the
soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you
can cut it down.’ ”
