Soup Kitchen: November 1st

It's called Shepherd's Kitchen

It's a ministry of Honey Brook Presbyterian that offers a 

good hot meal at no charge to those who need it in the community.

We will volunteer there on November 1st

from 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Pastor Rich needs to know who is coming out for this, 

please email (revrichm@gmail.com) or text (610-401-5602) 

to let him know.  

Trunk or Treat is October 28th

Come to church this week in your costumes, decorate your cars in Halloween fashion.  This Sunday we will have trick or treat in the parking lot.  Afterward, stick around and watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on the church's big screen.  

J.A.M. Session for Sunday 10/21

New Member Luncheon 

this Sunday 

Immediately after church we will help get tables out and 

get the room prepared for the luncheon.  

We will then eat lunch with the rest of our church.

During this luncheon, there will be a fun game that we can participate in.
At about 12pm

we will meet in the Sunday School room.

This week we will talk about the fun had at Dorney,

Introduction of this new blog site, and a 
Fun Activity.   

Confirmation for Week of October 21st

To download and print this lesson click here:  DOWNLOAD

Work through the confirmation Lesson below.  Do the best you can on your own.  If you need help, or if you get stuck send me an email, (revrichm@gmail.com), text or call me (610-401-5602).  When you're done, post your answers at the bottom.  When we meet next I will go over this and we'll do an exercise to have some fun with it.  

Getting Started With The Bible

My Faith Story

This lesson is an introduction to the Bible.  If you don't have one, tell me.  I'll recommend one for you.  There are some good online Bibles as well.  Click here for the one I use:  ESV
Answer the following question:

What's the Bible got to do with me?

If you have a Bible of your own tell a brief story about it: How did you get it? Did someone give it to you? What have you used it for? Do you keep papers tucked inside? Have you marked certain passages?

Open the Bible

• What is the Old Testament? How many books does it contain?

• What is the New Testament? How many books does it contain?

• What are the names of the four Gospels in order?

The word Gospel means Good News.  It's the good news about Jesus Christ.

Flip through the gospels:  Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

• What kinds of stories do these Gospels tell about Jesus?

• What passage headings did you see?

• What headings were the same or similar in both Gospels?

• What stories did you see in Matthew, or Luke that isn't in Mark?

• Why is it both good and potentially confusing to have multiple accounts of the same story in the Bible?

Next, find the book of Romans.  Figure out who wrote this letter and to whom was it written.

• Why would this letter be something we'd consider scripture?

• What other letters can you find in the New Testament? 

Look at the list of Old Testament books in the table of contents.

• What books do you recognize from readings in church?

• What books are new to you?

Choose one of the unfamiliar books and flip through it, looking at the passage headings. 

• Which book did you look at?

• What did you notice about the book?

• Was it written in prose, verse, or both?

• Was it in first or third person?

• Did it seem to contain stories, speeches, poems, or something else?

Open the Catechism

Student Books haven't been handed out at the time of this posting, so I will get them to you.  In the mean time, you can skip this part.
Student Book page 305:  Read Luther's explanation of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. 

• What are the essential elements of baptism?

• How is the word of God "with and alongside the water"?

Quiz  

1. How many books are in the Bible?

     a. 1

     b. 33

     c. 66 

     d. 99

2. Which has the greater number of books?

     a. The Old Testament 

     b. The New Testament

     c. They have the same number of books.

3. In a Bible passage listing like "Jeremiah 27:13," the number 27 refers to the . . .

     a. chapter. 

     b. verse.

     c. number of words.

     d. year it was written.

4. When you see Genesis 23:4, the number 4 refers to the . . .

     a. chapter.

     b. verse. 

     c. number of words.

     d. year it was written.

5. The Bible was first written in . . .

     a. English.

     b. Latin.

     c. Egyptian hieroglyphics.

     d. Hebrew and Greek.

6. A good reason for reading the Bible is to . . .

     a. make God love you more.

     b. enrich your faith.

     c. seek information.

     d. both b and c. 

7. Lutherans believe the Bible is . . .

     a. inerrant (without errors).

     b. written by God.

     c. the source and guide for our Christian living. 

     d. all of the above.

8. The main purpose of the Bible is . . .

     a. to give hope and encouragement. 

     b. to make us feel guilty.

     c. to give us a history lesson.

     d. none of the above.

Conversation for Week of October 21st

Watch Video

Questions

Post your answers by clicking on the "Comments" link at the bottom.

1. Why do you think the coaches changed practice time?

2. If you could change one thing in your life so you better live out you faith, what would it be?

3. Why is it important for schools to take the religions of their students into account?

Going Deeper
Tired of the violent messages often used to cheer on teams, the cheerleaders at the Kountze High School in Texas decided to try a different approach. When making the giant paper banners football players run through at the beginning of a game, the cheerleaders decided to use Bible verses instead. They started with a quote from Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." On September 18, school officials announced that such messages would no longer be allowed. The superintendent  himself a Christian, believes that having the school's cheerleaders use religious messages is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." At its simplest, it means that the U.S. government cannot promote or obstruct any religion. The Supreme Court has come to interpret it to mean that no government or public institution, such as public schools, can promote any religion. The Kountze cheerleaders have a large number of supporters who say that their First Amendment right to free speech  allows them to use whatever messages they want on their banners.

One of the lawyers supporting the cheerleaders says the Supreme Court has ruled in the past that teachers and students keep their right to free speech even when they are in a public school. For example, students cannot be prohibited from private prayer during school. But opponents say that when students are acting as cheerleaders, they represent the school and are not allowed to use religious messages.

The case went to court, and on September 20, the judge granted a restraining order against the school's ban. This gave the cheerleaders permission to use Bible verses on their banners for two weeks. Another hearing on October 4 extended the restraining order for another two weeks.

Question

Post your answers by clicking on the "Comments" link at the bottom.

Do you think using Bible verses to cheer on football players promotes Christianity over other religions? Why or why not?
What do you think is the purpose of the First Amendment's rule about religion: avoiding offense, promoting freedom, or something else?

Trip to Dorney Park Set For Friday 10/19

Haunt V

at Dorney Park

We will leave from the church at 6pm.  

The park closes at midnight.  

We will stay as long as we have energy to do so.