Folks,
The lessons for this Sunday include from Numbers a seemingly bizarre lesson wherein following Moses's lead (and in turn God's direction) the Israelites complained about the wilderness they were crossing, which apparently upset God who then sent poisonous snakes that bit the people and many died. Yet God also provided a remedy so that by gazing at a manmade snake the bitten person would be healed. One wonders why any "god" worthy of worship would do both? The background on this lesson is the series of travails the Jews underwent trying to find there "Canaan" and the book is called Numbers because of a couple censuses it chronicles, including enumeration of the "numbers" of members of the tribes of Israel - some of the driest OT reading save for bits like this odd one. Paul's letter to the Ephesians also speaks of condemnation for trespasses - though noting that people condemn themselves by "following the course of this world". (Note that here it seems he is uncertain on the matter of "free will" vs "determinism" (the latter meaning that God chooses those who will receive the "gift of faith" - a question that will be with us forever.) The gospel lesson OTOH rectifies the Numbers aberrance to my mind by asserting God's love instead of punishments. with what is perhaps the key Christian passage in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." and I would emphasise in the rest of the lesson that "those who do not believe are condemned already" - ie, they in effect have condemned themselves to a life without the blessing of faith - God does not actively condemn people but rather they do it to themselves, by not coming into the "light". So it is that we cannot explain why some choose to live in the light and others not - but we can affirm the joys of living in the light of faith, that trust in God's love that we are always speaking of. Once again I say, may we all choose to live in the light of God's gift of faith in God's love, and in turn shine the light that it gives us so that others can see it in us and perhaps join us in that light. Our love to all, Bart and Tony(!) and for all of us at St Matthew Church! Events TOMORROW St Matthew Church in San Ardo will be having Morning Prayer at our usual 10am hour. All are welcome and to participate in discussion of the lessons (it has become our custom to have a brief "Bible Study" as a part of the service. And from Rachael Denny of our fellow mission St Luke Church in Jolon we hear this: This coming Sunday, March 10, at 10:00 A.M., Susan Raycraft will lead a service of Morning Prayer at Saint Luke's Church in Jolon. There will be coffee and conversation in the parish hall afterwards. Everyone is welcome. Please note-Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead the night before! Other Events This Sunday St James Church in Paso Robles will be preparing gift Easter Baskets (yes, Easter is coming soon!) for the parish children who are First Communion candidates. Parishioners are invited to contribute gifts, including in some hollow "Easter Eggs". The parish newsletter and websites have already set out their Holy Week Schedule. And St James continues to have weekly Bible Study at 11am on Thursdays. During Lent St Benedict parish in Los Osos will be offering the Stations of the Cross service with the following schedule:
St Barnabas Parish in Arroyo Grande will be having a St Patrick's Day dinner. Our friend Adam who composes their "Weekly E" said :Be on the lookout for details for our St. Patrick's Day Dinner. The Sunday School kiddos will be selling tickets soon for this dinner fundraiser. It will be held on Saint Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17th at 5pm. More information coming! Contact Pam Pano if you have questions." Contact the parish office for full details. And from St Paul Cathedral in San Diego we her of the following event (apt for Lent): Forum Series: Walking the Seven Stone Path—A Lenten Practice 9 am, The Guild Room Join author and philosophy professor Peter Bolland for a five-week study of his new book The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom. Using questions and prompts from The Seven Stone Path Workbook, we’ll explore the insights from the world’s wisdom traditions and root them deeply into our own spiritual practice during this sacred Lenten season. Workbooks are free, but get your copy of The Seven Stone Path: An Everyday Journey to Wisdom online wherever you buy books, or buy it directly from the author at these sessions (cash, check, or Venmo). View entire schedule (Click Here). For full details on events at St Paul, go their website at stpaulcathedral.org
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