Lessons for August 24:
▪ Isaiah 58: 9b-14
▪ Psalm 103: 1-8
▪ Hebrews 12: 18-29
▪ Luke 13: 10-17
Are you feeling bent over this week? Sometimes life feels more burdensome than
joyful. Sometimes illnesses last a long time.
There are people on our prayer list who have been on the list for some time. I recently talked to Eloise. She was such a wonderful volunteer for our altar guild. I
remember especially her help during COVID when we were worshipping outside. Setting up everything. She and Fred still assist with food deliveries to the pantry.
She has been battling one illness after another. Most recently melanoma was discovered around her eye. It was fortunate that her optometrist discovered it and that she was referred to a renowned surgeon who will be operating on it on September 9 with a follow up on the 16th.
Michael Shea has been on our list for various issues mostly related to his breathing. Each time he pulls through. He is scheduled to have oral surgery on August 20.
Kim Guevara’s mother Carol was on our list for a long while as well. She passed away on August 10th, but not without seeing her son, who has had a marvelous recovery from cancer. Kim and Cesar are on their way to Canada and will be returning Sept. 5. Judy Martin has health issues which cannot allow her return to church. We prayed for her husband Bill for years.
We have other people who have been on our list for years like:
Jeanne Koening, who has suffered through a variety of health issues and now is nearly blind, Bonnie Strack’s son Brendan Simms who lives in Palm Desert has been on our list as he deals with a variety of strokes.
Becky Malinowski, who moved to Arizona, is still battling cancer.
We have seen minor miracles for these people along the way and other wonderful answers to prayer. Would it not be wonderful if the people on this list were fully healed? What a celebration we would have.
So why, in our Gospel text, does not the synagogue erupt in joyous song when a woman in who has been unable to stand up straight for 18 years, finally stands up?
The reason given is that Jesus healed her on the sabbath.
We are teaching our preschoolers about creation in chapel time this month, remembering that on the seventh day God rested. So, the leader of the synagogue says to the crowd: “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured and not on the Sabbath day.”
Jesus wonders why you can take care of your ox and donkey on the Sabbath but not a “daughter of Abraham.” One of the great ways to honor God on the Sabbath, it would seem is to be about the work of God in the world.
We do not worship on the Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) anymore. The Christian church for thousands of years has worshipped on Sunday instead; the day Jesus rose from the dead. We put the emphasis not on the need to have a prescribed rest, but on celebrating the gift of Life Jesus gave us. We rejoice to share Life every day we are able. The answers to prayer do not happen on a schedule. They are a serendipitous gift of God. When they happen, when bent over people can stand, we stand up with them and give praise to God.
Our guide on safari, Malley, as we rode along, talked about the intervention on God in his life. He was headed on a road to ruin in his teens. He was quite entrepreneurial and found various ways to earn his own money. His father, a doctor, determined that he should use that money to continue his education. He chaffed at his father’s guidance. He secretly earned money and used it to purchase moonshine for himself and his brother. Moonshine in that area is heavy in
alcohol and leads many to their downfall. Much like meth does in our country. I saw the effects etched on the faces of some of Ombeni’s classmates in his hometown, Chome. The “drinkers” look decades older than Ombeni as they stumbled through life.
For Malley it was the stern intervention of his parents who moved his life in a different direction. He also became aware other ways that of the hand of God moved in his life. When he was bent over God lifted him up. Malley was educated in Germany, is married to the love of his life and has two children of his own, an adopted orphan from his village and a thriving business. We celebrated with him.
PRAYER – Lord, thank you for miracles when they happen in our lives. Thank you for being
with the people on our prayer list. May we continue to be open to celebrating the moments
you intervene in our lives. Moments when people who are bent over by illness, worry, or heart
ache stand up. Amen.
Grace and Peace, Pastor John Bunge
THANKS TO YOUR HELP
T
he outside games were enjoyed by all. School supplies were given out. School supplies were handed out. Hot dogs, beans, Jerry Mill’s Famous
Potato Salad and Ice Cream Desserts were enjoyed by all.
The cornhole tournament came down to three of the Mkanza family. Elisha and Russell bested Elisha’s mother Caroline and Pastor, who had oust Ombeni and Preston.
Thanks to Lou Hitter for leveling the countertop in the fireside room. It looks great. They will be on vacation for a few weeks, traveling through Wyoming and South Dakota.
Again, thank you to all for your support of the church in Tanzania.
Pastor Bunge is back in the office and will be here Mondays and Tuesdays.
Meditation – Nelson is planning on being back on September 4 and will offer an opportunity
for new members to join the group.
PANTRY -2nd & 4th Saturday; from 8 to 10:00. The Lord is good and has provided for our pantry. We still could use rice, soup, canned fruit, canned meat (chicken or tuna) and, of course, always cereal. Any donations to the church designated “Pantry” are used to make food purchases for the pantry. Thanks for your support.
WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASS by our OWN MASTER WATERCOLORIST, HOLLY. We are taking a break until sometime soon this Fall.
DRAMA CLASSES for Youth directed by Michelle Mureaux will begin again in August.
QUILTING – Emily Smith’s Group (909.255.2452) has been cleaned up in the sewing room.
They have completed 4 quilts for the San Bernardino Wellness Center and six for LWR.
• Pat Teeters is home with medications after being hospitalized with fluid on her lungs.
• Nelson Hall is home slowly but surely; he received communion on the 12th.
• Brad Blue continues his recovery and is back at work.
• Robyn Blue’s grandniece Lainey celebrated her 4th Birthday and continues her recovery.
Thanks to all who continue to give shoes for Soles 4 Souls. The box is still in
the Narthex for continued donations. Thanks to David Strack for coordinating.
Thanks to Holly from Family Assistance Center in Yucaipa for making donations as well.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS
• Eloise will be having surgery on Melanoma discovered around her eye on September 9 with
a follow up on the 16th. She was blessed to have an optometrist who noted the Melanoma
and a renowned LA surgeon, who will be doing the surgery. Thank you for your prayers.
• Kyle Hadley has a soft tissue infection in his ankle and has been on antibiotics for a couple of weeks.
• Bonnie Hallberg will be rescheduling her shoulder surgery. A routine ultrasound done prior
to the surgery fortuitously discovered a blood clot in her leg. She is on blood thinners to
dissolve the clot and will reschedule shoulder surgery likely three months from now.
• Michael Shea is having oral surgery on August 20 and would appreciate our prayers.
• Lauren Shaffer who works with us remotely, made it through her surgery and is recovering.
She does have a blood clot which will resolve in October.
• Kim Guevara lost her mother Carol who lives in Canada. Thank you for your prayers. Kim
and Cesar are on there way to Canada and will be returning Sept. 5.
We continue to pray for Cesar Guevara’s brother, Marco. They did receive some good
news as Kayla, their granddaughter, is now able to live with son, Kyle.
• Debbie, a friend of Kim Guevara’s, is being attended to in Scottsdale; was released from the
hospital and is recovering after receiving a new liver.
• Judy Martin has several health issues and cannot return to church. Thanks for your prayers,
cards and visits by Carol.
• Bonnie Strack appreciates continued prayers for her son Brendan Simms, who has suffered
from a series of strokes.
• Jennifer’s breast chemo treatments for cancer are over, her surgery is scheduled for
August 20th to be followed by radiation treatments.
• Continued prayers for Jacque Kottmeier
• Jeanne Koening. Her health issues continue but she is now connected to Loma Linda, so
care is much closer.
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH
AUGUST
24 FIESTA DAY TO CELEBRATE JUL-SEPT. BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES – Taco Bar
31 POTLUCK – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLAN TO HELP BY BRINGING A MAIN DISH, SALAD,
BREAD, CHIPS, ANYTHING OR SIGN UP TO CLEAN UP– sign up in Narthex
PRAYER CARDS – Thanks for sending out cards to remember family and friends.
Thanks again to the artists: Emily, Kim, Barbara, Karen, Holly, Pat T., Linda D., Connie
PRAYER/FRIENDSHIP ROCKS – Karen & Connie have painted some prayer/friendship rocks
for you to keep, give to someone, surprise someone, etc. Thanks to Sharon C. who will help.
