Looking Ahead to February 2, 2020

As this is the first Sunday of the month we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion during worship.  Also we will be taking our Second Offering to support our Local Outreach fund (which has been heavily used this month).

For the month of February we are inviting people to tell their stories about what the church means to them.  Each story will be followed by Scripture and a reflection based on what is included in the story.

This week our Scripture Readings are:

• Psalm 98 (VU p.818)
• 1 Peter 4:8-11
• Amos 5:21-24

Possible Reflections: Psalm 98 is one of a number of Psalms that talk about singing. Many people here at St. Paul's have a love for music and a love of sharing their musical gifts. Music has a special place in the church in general but most certainly here at St. Paul's

Last year when we had a series of stories told one of the threads that ran through all of the stories was community. To me the 1 Peter passage talks about community. It talks about holding each other in love. It also talks about open-ness to sharing the gifts we have. These things are vital as we build up our faith community.

When people talk about the history of the United Church of Canada in general and this congregation in specific a word that often comes up is justice. In this congregation there are memories of hard work done around God's call for a just world. Amos is one of those prophets that challenges us to do this continuously.

Come on Sunday and find out whose stroy we hear this week! And do these passages mesh with their story?
--Gord