Each week, The Wired Word takes a current news story and juxtaposes it next to Bible verses and stories as tools to navigate our daily walk with Christ. This is a unique way for us to extract hope and find ways to live out our faith in our journey with God.
If you would like to receive the weekly lesson (delivered each Thursday), please let Pastor Charles know!
~ Susanna Wesley
Almighty God, before whom stand the living and the dead, we Your children, whose mortal life is but a hand’s breadth, give thanks to You: For all those through whom You have blessed our pilgrimage, whose lives that have empowered us, whose influence is a healing grace, we lift up thankful hearts.
For the dear friends and family members whose faces we see no more, but whose love is with us forever . . .
For the teachers and companions of our childhood and youth, and for the members of our household of faith who worship You now in heaven…
For those who sacrificed themselves, our brothers and sisters who have given their lives for the sake of others…
That we may hold them all in continual remembrance, and ever think of them as with You in that city whose gates are not shut by day and where there is no night…
That we may now be dedicated to working for a world where labor is rewarded, fear dispelled, and the nations made one, O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage. Day by day we magnify You, and worship Your name, for ever and ever. Amen.
From the website of Wellspring UMC - Oswego, Illinois
Andrei Rublev's Holy Trinity icon (1411)
We bring the month of May to a conclusion next week as we celebrate one of the most unique aspects of Christianity: The Trinity.
Our lessons will come to us from 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and Matthew 28:16-20.
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| It's Pentecost in Glenville! |
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| Bob & Gloria S. welcome Roy B. to worship |
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| Kraig S. is today's reader |
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| Nancy B. shares flowers from her garden with Donna D. |
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| Pentecost cupcakes |
I think it was about five this morning that I opened my Testament on those words, “There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should be partakers of the divine nature” [II Peter 1:4].
Just as I went out, I opened it again on those words, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” [Mark 12:34]. In the afternoon I was asked to go to St. Paul’s. The anthem was, “Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Oh, let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with Thee; therefore, shalt Thou be feared. O Israel, trust in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.”
In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart.
But it was not long before the enemy suggested, “This cannot be faith; for where is thy joy?” Then was I taught that peace and victory over sin are essential to faith in the Captain of our salvation; but that, as to the transports of joy that usually attend the beginning of it, especially in those who have mourned deeply, God sometimes giveth, sometimes withholdeth, them according to the counsels of His own will.
After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He “sent me help from his holy place.” And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror.
