Even Jesus needed a break.
He seems out of character in today’s reading from Mark when he talks to the non-Jewish woman who asks for healing for her daughter. We read that Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds. Could he be tired? God’s own Son – worn out, burned out, needing a rest?
Just like us – that’s what Jesus was. God’s Son and perfectly sinless, yes – yet also fully human, feeling everything that we feel, struggling with everything that we struggle with.
The very next story in Mark has Jesus healing a man who couldn’t hear or speak. Jesus touches the man’s ears and cries out, “Be opened!”
Perhaps that’s the deeper wisdom, the deeper healing awaiting us in this story. It we open ourselves to the Jesus who is completely human and able to feel like us, as well as to the Jesus who is completely divine and able to heal us – what miracles await us?
“Jesus took the man aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him ‘Ephphatha,” that is, ‘Be opened.’” And immediately, his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.” – Mark 7:33-34
Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146; James 2:1-17
During Fire Season
During this season of fire danger, we hold in our prayers the men and women who fight fires in our community and across the United States. We have at least eight people connected to our congregation who are involved.
Is a firefighter in your family? Please let Pastor Eileen know so that we can include them by name in our prayers.
Sunday School
Ice Cream Trough Party! Our fall term kicks off at 9:50 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, with a traditional treat: all-you-can-eat ice cream served in a long trough, with toppings to choose from.
Youth @ PLC is our all-ages Bible study, where young disciples learn the core stories of our faith and what it means in our lives. Our Teen Class focuses on our Faith Ancestors and what these flawed but faithful folks have to teach us. Classes resume at 9:50 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. Contact Trina Kleist for more information: trinakleist@gmail.com or call/txt (530) 575-6132.
Bible memory verses: Kids can earn Bible Bucks for verses they memorize and redeem them for cool prizes! If you want to work on memory verses ahead of the term starting, click here.
Get Involved at PEACE!
We have lots of ways for you to get involved here at PEACE Lutheran Church. Here are three areas of need. Please call the church office at (530) 273-9631 for more information.
- Assisting Ministers – These folks help the pastor during worship services by reading prayers and helping to serve Holy Communion. Please give prayerful consideration to joining this wonderful service!
- Hospitality & Fellowship – We need people to help with coffee after both services and to bring baked goods to share.
- Adopt-a-Spot – This project will help keep the PEACE campus inviting and beautiful. The plan is to divide the landscape area into 8 spots and ask that two volunteers maintain each spot. We think that monthly visits would be sufficient to do the job.