Service Highlights or Announcements for this Sunday
You will not want to miss our special music this Sunday, including “In the Garden,” performed by Stephanie Getz, flute, and Jiwon Lee, piano — a lovely and comforting musical offering!
We are currently awaiting approval of our regathering plan from the West District and California Pacific Conference. We are hopeful to be able to provide an outdoor service to a limited number of attendees. Please continue to ready the weekly Buzz email newsletter for details.
Come check out our virtual Gather(ing) via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7 pm. We would LOVE to see you there. Come ready to discuss our scripture passage and raise our voices in song! If you would like the Zoom link, please sign up here.
Reflection of the Week
This Sunday we will explore the Bible’s promise of Peace Beyond Understanding (Phil. 4:7). For countless reasons, we are all longing for this peace today.
The avenue to true peace is found in our other scripture reading, Matthew 22:15-22 in which Jesus clarifies the proper relationship between religion and government. Needless to say, this topic is at the forefront of all our minds in this election season.
Using a simple Roman coin, Jesus demonstrates that due allegiance should be given to human governments, while also reminding us where our higher allegiance is. If we are to remain at peace, and remain faithfully engaged in Christian service, we must constantly bear our higher allegiance in mind!
See you Sunday!
Peace and Health,
Pastor James
Scripture Passages of the Week
Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ 21They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
