Here’s Pastor Karen’s
meditation for today, Saturday, September 29.
"Good morning!
Have you ever dozed off during a sermon before?
I think we all have had our “sleepy” moments—especially if the room is warm and the preacher is long winded. But when it happens during one of Paul’s long teachings in our Acts reading today, the sleeper is seriously injured and Paul is a witness to one of God’s miracles.
Paul, the traveling evangelist/church planter was encouraging the believers at one place on a Sunday –the “first day of the week.” And because he was leaving the next day and there were many lamps in the room providing light, his teaching went on until midnight!
And then…
“A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’”
Then Paul went back upstairs, and after they broke bread and ate, he continued talking with them until dawn!
And the people were comforted, not just by Paul’s words, but because the boy had been taken away alive after falling out a 3rd story window!
As I write my sermon today, I will remember this passage and try very hard not to make it too long. (I say this with a smile.) At the same time, I pray my congregation will get plenty of sleep tonight so they won’t be tempted to doze off tomorrow and perhaps injure themselves.
And, in all seriousness, may the Lord bless you with joy this Saturday. May you feel Christ’s peace as you worship at your home church with your family in the faith on Sunday—the “first day of the week.”
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you for your Word which remains as meaningful to us today as it was when it was first spoken thousands of years ago. Thank you for Christ, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and for your love and forgiveness that never ends. Lord, help me to be an encouragement to my flock tomorrow—the first day of the week—as encouraging as Paul was to his gatherings of believers. May I never lead my sheep astray, but only walk humbly beside them, cheering them on to persevere in service to You. Help me to be a blessing to the wider community of believers, a friend to all who seek to build up the Church and never break it down or cause it to divide. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Hosea 1:1-2:1; Acts 20:1-16; Luke 4:38-44; Psalm 87 and 90.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Karen
Have you ever dozed off during a sermon before?
I think we all have had our “sleepy” moments—especially if the room is warm and the preacher is long winded. But when it happens during one of Paul’s long teachings in our Acts reading today, the sleeper is seriously injured and Paul is a witness to one of God’s miracles.
Paul, the traveling evangelist/church planter was encouraging the believers at one place on a Sunday –the “first day of the week.” And because he was leaving the next day and there were many lamps in the room providing light, his teaching went on until midnight!
And then…
“A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’”
Then Paul went back upstairs, and after they broke bread and ate, he continued talking with them until dawn!
And the people were comforted, not just by Paul’s words, but because the boy had been taken away alive after falling out a 3rd story window!
As I write my sermon today, I will remember this passage and try very hard not to make it too long. (I say this with a smile.) At the same time, I pray my congregation will get plenty of sleep tonight so they won’t be tempted to doze off tomorrow and perhaps injure themselves.
And, in all seriousness, may the Lord bless you with joy this Saturday. May you feel Christ’s peace as you worship at your home church with your family in the faith on Sunday—the “first day of the week.”
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you for your Word which remains as meaningful to us today as it was when it was first spoken thousands of years ago. Thank you for Christ, who remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and for your love and forgiveness that never ends. Lord, help me to be an encouragement to my flock tomorrow—the first day of the week—as encouraging as Paul was to his gatherings of believers. May I never lead my sheep astray, but only walk humbly beside them, cheering them on to persevere in service to You. Help me to be a blessing to the wider community of believers, a friend to all who seek to build up the Church and never break it down or cause it to divide. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Hosea 1:1-2:1; Acts 20:1-16; Luke 4:38-44; Psalm 87 and 90.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Karen
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