August 2017 newsletter

House-to-House

Family of Hope House Church                           August 2017

The Parable of the Terrible Tares

One of the July 23 scripture texts included Jesus's story of someone planting a field of wheat, then having an enemy sow noxious weed seeds in that field while the farmer slept.

     When the owner of the field was asked by his servants whether they should root out the unwanted weeds he told them to wait for the harvest to separate the good from the bad.

     In explaining the parable's meaning, Jesus says the field is the world, the wheat represents God's people and the weeds, evildoers. Let them both grow together, he said, until God separates them at the last judgment.

     This passage has been a source of confusion for those who assume this means that the church therefore exercises no discernment as to who is a follower of Jesus and who is not. This would contradict what is taught in passages like Matthew 18 and other texts which counsel us to meet with a erring person privately to bring about restoration, then if needed take another caring person with us to make another appeal, then involve the whole congregation if necessary to discern whether that person is to remain loved and cared for as a member or to be loved and re-evangelized equally warmly as an outsider. The church continues to love and care in either case.

     But this parable is not about the church but about the world. In other words, followers of Jesus are not to go about seeking and destroying God's enemies, going after unbelievers or persecuting members of ISIS or others who are clearly living in ways that are counter to the life and teachings of Jesus. Let God be the judge of all outsiders, Jesus is saying, meanwhile we are to go about the business of simply being a faithful community of Jesus followers.

     The field is the world.                                                                       - Harvey Yoder

Notes, prayers and praises 

• WE ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE TABLE at their worship service at 110 Old South High Street August 20.
• AUGUST BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Gail Blackburn 8/30! Also, Alma Jean and Harvey’s anniversary is 8/8 and James and Ruth Stauffer’s is 8/30.  
• WE WELCOME LEWIS AND MARY ELLEN OVERHOLT back home from their summer travels!
• PLAN TO MAKE A GENEROUS CASH GIFT  for MCC’s work with famine and war refugees at the Fall Mennonite Relief Sale September 29-30 in addition to purchasing of food and other items.

August lectionary readings

6   Genesis 32:22-31 Isaiah 55:1-5  Psalm 145:8-21  Romans 9:1-5  Matthew 14:13-21

13  Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28  1 Kings 19:9-18  Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 10:5-15  Matthew 14:22-33

20  Genesis 45:1-15  Isaiah 56:1, 6-8  Psalms 67  Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32  Matthew 15: 10-28

27  Exodus 1:8-2:10  Isaiah 51:1-6  Psalm 138  Romans 12:1-8  Matthew 16:13-20

August services, worship at 4, meal at 6

6 Location: Park Place, second floor meeting room                   564-3716

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera Wenger

Bible Study: Paul Swarr                               Sandwich and fresh fruit meal                                                 

13 Location: Guy Vlasits 1260 Parkway Dr.                              269-6706

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer

Bible Study: Richard Dumas                                                 Carry-in meal                            

20 Location: The Table, at 110 Old South High Street at 4:30 pm

                                                                                               Carry-in meal                                             

27 Location: Susan Campbell 1361 Lincolnshire Dr, 22802      564-1524

Worship and Sharing: Harvey Yoder                                     

Bible Study: Elly Nelson                                                   Carry-in meal