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Good morning! We're so happy you chose to join us today! We have been meeting in person for a while now, and we would love for you to join us if you feel comfortable doing so. When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns. You can share your prayer requests as a comment to this post. When you are ready to get started, you can use the prayer below. Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace. This week's lesson is on 2 Samuel 12:1-9, 13-15. The story of King Davie and Bathsheba is one we are familiar with. She is pregnant with David’s child. David tries to persuade her husband to take time to be with his wife, Uriah is so loyal to his King that he refuses. David goes to plan B. He sends Uriah to the front lines where he is killed. David then marries the widow Bathsheba. God is not pleased and sends the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan is fearful that the Lord is sending him on a potentially suicidal mission. He delivers his news in the form of a parable. The story of how a rich man takes unfair advantage of a poor man infuriates David. The punishment that David recommends is the penalty for stealing a sheep recorded in Exodus 22:1. Nathan then says to David,”YOU ARE THE MAN!” Scripture tells us that God holds humans accountable. Sin must be confronted, especially when committed by those in powerful positions. David took a wife who was not his to take. David offered no excuse, he confessed. Confession allows the heart to once again be fully devoted to the Lord. The path to forgiveness for David and for us can be found in 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. David’s story warns us that sins have consequences in others’ lives. The baby died. It also warns us that: Sins we ignore instead of confess harden our hearts to other sins, making us complicit in the wickedness of others. Prayer Father, give us the boldness to speak truth to power and the humility to recognize our need for accountability. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen Thought to Remember Confess your sins and turn to the Lord. Next week's lesson will be on Ezra 7:1-10, 23-26.
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Good morning! We're so glad you've joined us for the third Sunday of Advent! As we meet in person, we share together our joys and concerns. Take some time to consider the past week, and what prayer requests you might have to share. If you would like, you can add them in the comments so that we can all pray for them. When you are ready, use this prayer (source) to get started: God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whom others shun, and as the happiness of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This week's lesson is on 2 Samuel 9:1-7, 9-12.
Good morning! We're so happy you're joining us today! From Lois: I would like to wish everyone a Happy Grandparents Day. I am blessed to be a grandparent. It is also a responsibility to help raise your grandchildren in a Christian environment. It does take a village to raise a child. When we meet together in person, we share our joys and concerns with each other before we focus on our Sunday school lesson. Think about your needs and concerns right now, and if you like, you can share them in the comments. When you are ready, use this morning prayer. Oh God, enlighten my mind with truth; Inflame my heart with love; inspire my will with courage enrich my life with service. Pardon what I have been; Sanctify what I am; order what I shall be and thine shall be the glory and mind the eternal salvation through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. This week's lesson is on 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 14-19.
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