September 2018 newsletter

House-to-House

 Family of Hope House Church                                   September 2018

Our Hypocrisy on ‘Social Action’     - Harvey Yoder

Mennonite Central Committee and other relief and service organizations are often criticized for being too focused on physically bettering people's lives and not enough on evangelizing them.

     Some of the questions raised are, What good is it to educate people and to improve their health and their means of livelihood if we don't help them with their eternal spiritual needs? And while we should of course offer emergency relief to people who are hungry and homeless, shouldn't our primary mission be to change people's hearts and prepare them for the life to come?

     Jesus' life and ministry is a demonstration of the fact that both are important.

     According to his inaugural address Jesus' mission, and ours, is to "bring good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to announce release to captives, to bring sight to the blind, and to free those who are in prison." All of this is in fulfillment of our obligation to love God above every other love or allegiance, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

     Here's where our hypocrisy comes in. The fact is that few of us pay attention just to our spiritual needs. Rather, most of us spend an extraordinary amount of time and money on the kinds of "social action" that benefit ourselves and our families.

     For example, we invest whatever energy and resources necessary to make sure we have the best housing in the best neighborhood possible, that our children have the best education available, that our every health needs are met to the fullest and finest extent, and that we have all of the recreational and entertainment opportunities we can afford.

     In short, these are among the many ways we love ourselves and our own families. And up to a point, we should.

     But that's where the "as yourself" question comes in. Shouldn't we be equally dedicated to the same kinds of needs in our neighbors around the world?

     Of course we can't do everything needed for every one in need. But as communities of faith we should never assume that we deserve better than others just because we are North Americans, nor assume that others' needs are primarily spiritual while ours are by right far more earth-based than heaven-based.

      It's at the heart of our Bible: "Love your neighbor and yourself, and as yourself.”

Notes, Prayers and Praises

• THE VIRGINIA MENNONITE RELIEF SALE will be held at the Rockingham Fairgrounds Friday evening, October 5 and all day Saturday, October 6. Be prepared to match your spending with generous giving at the SOS (Sharing Our Surplus) refugee gift table. 
• OUR CONDOLENCES TO LOIS RIVERA-WENGER, whose oldest brother Gordon passed away August 8.
• AUGUST BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Lewis Overholt (9/5), and David Weaver (9/23)! David is a resident of Crestwood at VMRC and a faithful supporter of our congregation.
• THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF LEWIS OVERHOLT'S 80th birthday at VMRC's Village Hall Saturday, September 15 from 12:30-4 pm!

September Lectionary Texts

2   Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Psalm 15  James 1:17-27  Mark 7:1-8, 14-23

9  Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23  Isaiah 35:4-7a  Psalm 146  James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37

16 Proverbs 1:20-33  Psalm 19  Isaiah 50:4-9a  James 3:1-12              

             Mark 8:27-38

23 Proverbs 31:10-31  Psalm 1 Jeremiah 11:18-20  James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a  Mark 9:30-37

30 Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22  Psalm 124  Numbers 11:4-29  James 5:13-20  Mark 9:38-50

September services, worship at 4, meal at 6 pm

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

Worship and sharing: Harvey Yoder

Bible Study: Paul Swarr                                                 (No evening meal)

9 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor)                432-0531

Worship and Sharing:                                  

Bible Study: Kent Palmer                                                   Brown bag meal

16 Location: FLRC, 273 Newman Ave. (ground floor)               432-0531

Worship and Sharing: James Stauffer                                   

Bible Study: Lewis Overholt                                             Brown bag meal

23 Location: Guy & Margie Vlasits 3399 Caverns Dr,  K-town 269-6706

Worship and Sharing: Lois Rivera-Wenger

Bible Study: Harvey Yoder                         Housewarming Carry-in Meal

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

Worship and Sharing: Susan Campbell                                            

Bible Study: Dick Dumas                                                     Carry-in Meal