September 23, 2025
Lessons for September 21
• Amos 6: 4-7
• Psalm 146
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19
• Luke 16: 19-31
A Good Use of Riches
What shall I do with what I have?
Have you ever looked around your house and thought, how did I end up with all this stuff? One reason is we are bombarbed by advertisements. They follow my every query and click of
the mouse. Amazon right now is promoting Big Deal Days, even as Black Friday looms. The result can be that we end up with items that fade in their usefulness and fade in the
pleasure that they bring. Right now you are encouraged to look around your home and see if there are items you can, maybe even should part with. Here is an idea, keep the items that
bring your joy and bring the rest by church. We can set them up on Sunday, October 12 for the rummage sale. The sale itself will be Friday & Saturday Oct. 17 & 18. Note we need volunteers.
I talked to Judy Martin, who recently moved into Golden Oaks. Her daughter, Donna is helping to decide about what to keep and what to part with. She is also helping her to sell the house.
A couple of months ago Erwin’s grandson stopped by the church. He is handling erwin’s estate and is faced with a lot of the same decisions. One of the items he ran across in the house was a
musical German beer stein that had been given to erwin by Norma. He thought the church should have it. Musicial beer steins do bring some joy for a moment or two, but not for long.
Most of you know Connie and I were up seeing our granddaughter Lily for her first birthday. She found delight in balls and dogs, sandboxes and swings, bubbles and making funny noices.
Children show us that we do not need a lot of stuff, little things in Life can Light up our day. This week we moved from Luke chapter 15 to chapter 16. Chapter 15 was all about the joy of
finding lost sheep, lost coins and lost sons. Chapter 16 is all about the importance of using our funds to build relaitonships and care for people. We looked at the first parable last Sunday.
The wily steward used the master’s money to build relationships. The second parable, which is our focus this week, is about the rich man missing the chance to build a relationship with the
poor man named Lazarus at his gate. Jesus warns us the love of money can draw us away from relationships with God and with others (16:13).
In Chapter 16:19 – 31, we see the unfortunate result of focusing on money and passing pleasures to the neglect of the people around us.
The parable starts with a rich man who enjoys dressing up in purple and fine linen and feasting sumptuously every day. Sound nice? Dressing up feels good sometimes, but I am not sure
feasting everyday is such a good idea. Perhaps it had a part to play in his subsequent death. Outside his gate is a poor man named Lazarus. He is dress in sores and ulcers. He desires to eat
the crumbs that fall from the richman table but is given nothing. Outside in the gutter, dogs who are not his friendly pets, but strays looking for a meal, lick his wounds.
Lazarus is the only person named in any of the parables of Jesus. The name means “God helps”. Truly God is the only one who cares about this poor fellow.
Scene two starts with both men pass from this life. Lazarus is “carried away by the angels”. The rich man is “buried”. Lazarus finds comfort in the “bosom of Abraham”. This reminds me of the
comfort our grandchildren find in the bosom of their parents and grandparents. The rich man in contrast is alone in the land of the dead, tormented. Looking up he can see Lazarus, who he did not see in this life, being comforted. He calls out to “Father Abraham” for mercy, a mercy he did not give to Lazarus in this life. He feasted every day, now he asks for just a drop of water. Lazarus was nearby just at the richman’s gate. But
now there is a chasm, like the chasm the richman set up between himself and Lazarus. The drop of water is not coming. The rich man does have a heart for his relatives. “Send Lazarus to my father’s house” and warn
my five brothers (Luke 16:28). Sadly, that will not work, replies Abraham. They ignored Lazarus before, they will likely ignore him even raised from the dead. If they ignore Moses and the
prophets, they will not listen to one who is resurrected. The chasm built between themselves and Lazarus, is too large and now too late. Abraham’s admonition is to the richman is that he should have remembered Lazarus (verse 25). The thief on the cross asks Jesus to remember him and he did. Jesus tells the disciples during the Last Supper: Do this “for the remembrance of me.”
If we remember Jesus, if we remember that we, like Lazarus, are helped by God. Then we are drawn to create bridges not chasms. We hold the Lazarus to our bosom, through gifts to the Wellness Center, through our preschool, through our recovery programs, through our care for one another.
PRAYER Lord, hold us to your bosom and help us to see with your eyes, Lazarus at the gate.
Grace & Peace, Pastor John
RUMMAGE SALE to benefit the Pantry will be on October 17 & 18. Bring Items to the church on Sunday 10/12. We also need volunteers for the rummage sale — To set up tables Sunday
10/12 after church service. Set up and pricing Monday through Thursday 10/ 13-16, Also, sales helpers during the sale and cashiers Friday and Saturday 10/17 & 18. Hours will be 9 a – 2 p.
One day or several days; any time is appreciated. Upon request, a receipt letter for tax purposes will be provided. For non-members, a full name and address needed.
PANTRY -2nd & 4th Saturday; from 8 to 10:00. The Lord is good and has provided for our pantry. One of the recipients of the pantry has volunteered his pickup. Still, we could use rice, soup,
canned fruit, canned meat (chicken or tuna) and, of course, always cereal. Any donations to the church designated “Pantry” will be used to make food purchases for the pantry. Thanks for
your support.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
The support of the church has been such a blessing. We give $2,400 to our camp and $4,550 to our Synod in support.
Here at Faith, we are now looking at adding a stove to the Fireside Room for convenience of refreshments, meals, and our preschool. Thanks to Kyle Hadley and Lou
Hitter for helping with the installation. Together with Tim Drum and Dana Hadley we are blessed with people who care for our property.
Pastor Bunge will be in the office on Monday and Friday next week.
Meditation – will NOT be meeting, Nelson’s health is too compromised.
WATERCOLOR PAINTING CLASS by our OWN MASTER WATERCOLORIST, HOLLY. A new session will begin November 6-December 11, Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. If interested, sign up in
narthex or let Holly or Connie know. No class fee, materials provided if do not have own; please donate to the Camp fund for youth for taking the class.
QUILTING – Emily Smith’s Group (909.255.2452) has cleaned up the sewing room. They have completed four quilts for the San Bernardino Wellness Center and six for LWR.
PRAISE
• Pat Teeters was with us on Sunday, after being hospitalized with fluid on her lungs. Blessed are the first responders who likely saved her life. Thanks to Bonnie & Dave for bringing her.
• Kyle Hadley is off the antibiotics and back helping around the church.
• Eloise came through her surgeries for the melanoma discovered around her eye. She is receiving chemo and will know more in the weeks ahead. Thanks for your prayers.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS
• Nelson Hall continues to have health concerns and will not be able to continue with the Meditation Group.
• Bronson, the grandson of Brenda Batt’s grandson, has been suffering from nose bleeds and needs surgery.
• Lauren Schafer who works with us remotely, made it through her surgery and is recovering well. Once fully recovered she will be scheduled for surgery to remove a blood clot, likely
mid October.
• 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 about three months from now.
• Michael Shea had oral surgery on August 20 and is recovering. He awaits replacements for the extracted teeth.
• Kim Guevara lost her mother Carol who lives in Canada. Thank you for your prayers. Kayla, their granddaughter, is now able to live with her father, their son, Kyle.
• Judy Martin has moved into Golden Oaks and is receiving Hospice care.
• 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 went well but she is now receiving radiation treatments. She plans on being back in January.
• Continued prayers for Jacque Kottmeier
• Jeanne Koening. Her health issues continue but she able to go to Loma Linda, so care is much closer.
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.
FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH
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
We will provide fall cards in October.
PRAYER/FRIENDSHIP ROCKS – Karen, Connie, Sharon C., and Carol Hambre have painted prayer/friendship rocks for you to keep, give to someone, surprise someone, or put in your
garden, etc. We have painted for a Prayer Ministry that Paula will have rocks available in the Fireside Room for the AA, NA, Al-anon, etc. groups that meet weekly.
SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE HOUR
SEPTEMBER
28 POTLUCK – BBQ AT THE BEACH With Brats, Hot Dogs, Beer (non-alcoholic) If you would like to contribute, we could use a dessert and non-alcoholic beer.
OCTOBER
5 WELCA
12 CLERGY APPRECIATION DAY – Jerry Mills providing his Lucious Roast Beef with Veg, Salad, Dessert
19 BINGO –
23 POTLUCK – CHILIFEST Signup in Narthex
