MARCH 25, 2025 – Finding the Lost Ones
Last week I wrote about the show Lost in Space. This past week, Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore returned to earth after an eight-day mission turned into more than 9 months in space. Neither seemed extremely perturbed with Butch saying that “This is not an easy business that we’re taking part in. It is very difficult. Human spaceflight is tough and sometimes you run into situations that are unexpected, and we found ourselves in one.” One could say that about life as a whole. Living is an adventure and sometimes we can feel lost.
Chapter 15 of Luke has three parables about lost ones. First a lost sheep, second a lost coin and third a lost son. In all of them the lost are sought after and finally found.
The final story about the lost son is our Gospel text for Sunday (vs. 11-32). It is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus.
There are three main characters: The Prodigal Son, the Gracious Father and the Older Brother. You might have run across people like them in your life’s journey. I have.
I have known wayward sons and daughters who wander far from home and squander the gifts they have been given. Some end up as this boy did, wanting what pigs eat.
The second person is the Father, who has perhaps been overindulgent with the younger son, giving him his portion of the inheritance early. After the younger son leaves, he evidently searches the horizon daily for his son’s return. He like the Shepherd and the woman who lost the coin is not whole until the son is found.
The story is a bit unclear about how remorseful the younger son is when he decides to return home. He does have a speech prepared, but how “real” is it? The Father does not wait for the entire speech to be spoken. He embraces his son and gives him a ring, robe and sandals and prepares a feast for celebration. I have seen some “real” moments when people “come to themselves” and seek a different path, realizing that being a servant in the Father’s house is better than starving in a pigsty. We have NA groups at our church that attempt to assist people on this road to recovery. When I see transformations, I rejoice with all my heart. Of course, follow through does not always happen, but Jesus makes clear that the God who searches for Sheep, Coin, Sons loves to see life made new, the broken made whole, the lost found.
Sadly, the older brother does not share in the joy of this moment. He has been out working in the field and does not delight in the return of his Father’s son.
How unfortunate.
As Suni and Butch might attest, being lost is not all that thrilling. Not to be envied. The older son has had the chance to enjoy his Father’s presence all the while and all that the Father has, will belong to the elder son. He has been at work productively improving and benefiting the land that will be his.
The Pharisees listening in, seem to think that walking and working for the Father is thankless and joyless. How sad for them. We are not told if the elder son joins the party for his brother or not. We do know how many of the Pharisees did join in the celebration of Grace that Jesus introduces. But those that do not, miss out.
Prayer: Lord as faithful followers of Jesus, we thank you for seeking us when we are lost. Thank you also for the opportunity of knowing that you are “always with us.” May we be open to sharing the celebrations of life that you offer, when the lost are found . Amen.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor John Bunge
YOU have been so generous.
Your support of Faith and our outreach ministries is wonderful. 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.
UPCOMING REMINDERS
Wednesdays –
March 26, April 2 and 9: Wednesday soup suppers @ 5:00 p in the fireside room. We are focusing 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 to April 9.
Confirmation Classes will resume Palm Sunday, April 13.
Time of Meditation – will take a break for Lent; begin again after Easter.
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. March 31 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:
• Pat Teeters fell again but is back home.
• Joy and Jennifer of the preschool.
• Diane Watson fractured her foot and is in a walking cast.
• The Mureaux and Watson families thank you for assisting with the Memorial Services and reception and appreciate your prayers.
• Steve Cady’s brother-in-law Michael passed away. His sister Sherry is receiving treatment for breast cancer.
• Kim Guervara is back and her Mother Carol in Canada, is improving. Cesar’s health is improving.
• Michael Shea has been back with us.
• 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 and lost his license. Their daughter Jessica is able to help.
• Bonnie Strack appreciates continued prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered from a series of strokes.
PRAISE
• Kyle Hadley is making a solid though long recovery after eye surgery.
• Thanks to Pat Teeters! who cut multiple flowers for our prayer cards.
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!
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH MARCH DATES
SUNDAYS
Bingo BINGO has been a popular venue. We are asking you to go through your “precious” to see if you can donate any items for prizes. Or when you’re at a store and see candy or items on sale, thank you for thinking of us!
MARCH 30 FIRST QUARTER HAPPY BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS Tacos & Birthday Cake
ANNIVERSARIES February 23 Karen & Nelson Hall
BIRTHDAYS
JANUARY
Sharon Cady (Jan 4)
Jacque Kottmeier (Jan 10)
Preston Koger (Jan 15)
Melody Warner (Jan 22)
Caroline Mkanza (Jan 23)
FEBRUARY
Reese Mureaux (Feb 4)
Declan Reese (Feb 4)
Benet Reagan (Feb 7)
Janice Wheeler (Feb 7)
Heather Lewis (Feb 13)
Diane Watson (Feb 13)
Mary Wambganss (Feb 21)
Lisa Wendt (Feb 26)
MARCH
Brenda Batt (Mar 1)
Dave Lund (Mar 2)
Bonnie Strack (Mar 19)
Karen Hall (Mar 26)
Some of you have asked for a heads up for the Lessons to come. Here they are for March 30:
Joshua 5:9-12
9 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
10 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Psalm 32
1Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!
2Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long.
4For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
6Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
7You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
8“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye.
9Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.”
10Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
11Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 11b “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The
younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’
20 So
