Thursday, October 20, 2005

Good Morning!

Monica needs to get a count for the Sunday School party on Friday night, so we need to let her know how many to expect. Her email is PHimpactyouth@aol.com, so drop her a note if you can attend.

More party information: Monica and Joey's house is at 4613 Nicholas Drive in Letson Farms. Show starts at 6P. Monica and Joey will have the drinks and chicken fingers -- you just need to bring a dessert or side. Just let her know what you are bringing so she can gently guide you to something else if that item is already on its way.

Don't let the fact that you may not have been to class discourage you from coming to the party -- as I mentioned yesterday, our in-person class attendance has been down a good bit, so we have been functioning mostly as a virtual class. If you are able to come, chances are you'll spend time with someone who has been there as much as you have (or me, for that matter).

The new unit for this week is Unit 25, God's Love and Ours

Focus Scripture for the Week:

1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.

Today's Scriptures: John 13-31-35

Today's Discussion:

-- the heart of today's scripture is verse 34 - "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must love one another."

-- there are two elements of this. First is the somewhat obvious idea that love is the spirit through we which we should relate to each other, it is the thing that drives our response as Christians to those in need. Love also drives our relationships with others -- there is a reason that love and peace are often mentioned together -- is that love does bring peace to many relationships, as well as bringing peace to us as individuals.

-- the second element of the role of love is in verse 35 -- Jesus knows that if his followers live out his command to love others, it is a great witness to non-believers. We know this to be true. Over and over again, we have heard stories about how a Christian, showing love to others, was a powerful witness to someone who observed it and wanted to know more about the Way. We heard it in our Laity Sunday message this past week. The folks we identify as Christians at work and in other places -- we don't know them because we see them praying at work -- we know them because we recognize that they show love to others through their actions.

Question for Sunday:

-- how did you show love today to someone?

Today's prayer request: Two from Brad Douglas:

"First is a coworker of my mothers was badly burned this weekend in Montgomery by a gas can that caught fire beside him.

Also, a coworker of mine's wife had surgery on Wednesday to remove a lump from her breast, she begins her chemo today."

Today's class member prayer:

Chris Wesson

Have a great day.

Jay