St. James U.C.C. of Stillwater, PA

02/10/2025

good morning everyone ... Pastor Mark Rowell recorded a message for this morning ... the weather closed our buildings but we can still gather for worship here sp please click the following link ... Patti
https://youtu.be/GN7ZZzXS7ZI
Received, thank you.

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
Show quoted text

01/27/2025

12-4-2024 message from Pastor Mark

Psalm 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place

[a]



in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn us



[b] back to dust

and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”

4 For a thousand years in your sight

are like yesterday when it is past

or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream,

like grass that is renewed in the morning;

6

in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;

in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are consumed by your anger;

by your wrath we are overwhelmed.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,

our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;

our years come to an end

[c]

like a sigh.

10 The days of our life are seventy years

or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;

even then their span

[d]

is only toil and trouble;

they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger?

Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 So teach us to count our days

that we may gain a wise heart.

13 Turn, O Lord! How long?

Have compassion on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us

and as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be manifest to your servants

and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us

and prosper for us the work of our hands—

O prosper the work of our hands!

Footnotes

a. 90.1 Or our refuge

b. 90.3 Heb humankind

c. 90.9 Syr: Heb we bring our years to an end

d. 90.10 Cn Compare Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb pride



Isaiah 1:24-31

24 Therefore says the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:

Surely I will pour out my wrath on my enemies

and avenge myself on my foes!

25

I will turn my hand against you;



I will smelt away your dross as with lye

and remove all your alloy.

26 And I will restore your judges as at the first

and your counselors as at the beginning.

Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,

the faithful city.

27 Zion shall be redeemed by justice,

and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

28 But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together,

and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.

29 For you shall be ashamed of the oaks

in which you delighted,

and you shall blush for the gardens

that you have chosen.

30 For you shall be like an oak

whose leaf withers

and like a garden without water.

31 The strong shall become like tinder

and their work like a spark;

they and their work shall burn together,

with no one to quench them.



Luke 11:29-32

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a

sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.



30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the



people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.



31 The queen of the South will rise at the

judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the

earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed, something greater than Solomon is here!

32 The

people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they

repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and indeed, something greater than Jonah is here!

Jesus talks about “this generation”. What does he mean? The reason I ask this is we think about

generations in a way that allows us to name them and draw broad conclusions about them as a

group. But Jesus tells us he will return before the end of “this generation” and yet the disciples

and their children and their children’s children have all died off. Perhaps a way to look at

generation in this case a generation is best looked at as people who are living and have lived

under one of God’ covenants. Which means that we are part of “this generation” and we too are

asking for a sign despite the presence of Jesus in our lives.

God Bless

Mark

Thank you.

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
Show quoted text

01/16/2025

Psalm 106

Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord or declare all his praise? Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. Remember us, [a] O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help us

[b] when you deliver them, that we may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that we may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that we may glory in your heritage. Both we and our ancestors have sinned;

we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love

but rebelled against the Most High [c] at the Red Sea. [d] Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,

so that he might make known his mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, [e] and it became dry;

he led them through the deep as through a desert. So he saved them from the hand of the foe and delivered them from the hand of the enemy. The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.

Footnotes

a. 106.4 Heb mss Gk: MT me

b. 106.4 Heb mss Gk: MT me

c. 106.7 Cn: Heb rebelled at the sea

d. 106.7 Or Sea of Reeds

e. 106.9 Or Sea of Reeds

Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.

The Hebrew people asked themselves what had gone wrong between them and God during the tough times, why God had turned his back on them. The conclusion they often came to was that they had violated their covenant with God. Both in the present and in the past. We have a difficult time with our past. We wonder what things done in the past have to do with us, forgetting that the past has formed who we are and has colored many of our relationships with others whether we want to acknowledge this or not or even whether we recognize this or not. Perhaps if we paid more attention to our past, without trying to return to it, we would find our problems to find a way to resolve.



Numbers 27:1-11

Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son

of Machir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were

Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders,

and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the

wilderness; he was not among the congregation of those who gathered themselves together against

the Lord in the congregation of Korah but died for his own sin, and he had no sons. Why should the

name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among

our father’s brothers.” Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

“The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them. You shall also speak to the Israelites, saying: If a man dies and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughter. If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no

brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. And if his father has no brothers,

then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. It shall be for the Israelites a statute and ordinance, as the Lord commanded Moses.”



Luke 11:33-36

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel basket; [a] rather, one puts it on the

lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is

healthy, your whole body is full of light, but if it is unhealthy, your body is full of darkness. Therefore

consider whether the light in you is not darkness. But if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it

in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”

Footnotes

a. 11.33 Other ancient authorities lack or under a bushel basket

God Bless

Mark

12/07/2024

12-6-2024 message from Pastor Mark

Luke 1:68-79

68

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has looked favorably on



[a] his people and redeemed them.



69 He has raised up a mighty savior

[b]

for us

in the house of his child David,

70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

71

that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors

and has remembered his holy covenant,

73

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

to grant us

74

that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,



might serve him without fear,

75

in holiness and righteousness



in his presence all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

the dawn from on high will break

[c] upon

[d] us,



79

to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Footnotes

a. 1.68 Or has visited

b. 1.69 Gk a horn of salvation

c. 1.78 Other ancient authorities read has broken

d. 1.78 Gk will visit



Malachi 3:13-18

13 You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against

you?”

14 You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going

about as mourners before the Lord of hosts?



15 Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only



prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.”

16 Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book

of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name.

17 They

shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them

as parents spare their children who serve them.



18 Then once more you shall see the difference between



the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.



Philippians 1:18-26

18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or

true, and in that I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice,

19

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this



will turn out for my salvation.

20

It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any

way but that by my speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether

by life or by death.



21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

22

If I am to live in the flesh, that means



fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose.

23

I am hard pressed between the two: my desire



is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,



24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for



you.

25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your

progress and joy in faith,



26 so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ



Jesus because of me.



I don’t know how I feel about “Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or

true”. On one hand if Christ is preached only to accumulate power it seems to me that it has a

great potential to drive people away, but if God turns all things to good .... One thing is certain, I

have difficulty rejoicing like Paul when I suspect that false motives are involved. I pray that God

will indeed turn the results of all false motives will be turned

God Bless

Mark

12/01/2024

Hi everyone ... I am including the printed service order for today's church ... the video will only be the two pieces performed by the handbell choir ... we were unable to record the entire hour ... god Bless you all ... Patti
Orangeville Charge United Church of Christ

https://youtu.be/n4jQ2_vf8eQ

Prelude – Bells

Joyful Praise

Frosty the Snowman



Call to Worship

Leader: In the midst of night’s shadows and anguish,

All: We pray earnestly to experience your presence.

Leader: As dawn slips into the horizon and relieves night of its reign,

All: We pray earnestly to sense your presence.

Leader: As daylight grows into noontime, filled with the glow of sun’s light,

All: We pray earnestly to know your presence.



Please rise in Body or Spirit

Hymn: #169 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel



Peace Candle St. James



Children’s Message St. James



Unison Gathering Prayer

Lover God, Creator of Our Hearts, through your Spirit, our love grows for our neighbors.

Our hearts are drawn to your expanding light as we see through the faces of our

neighbors. May the joy of your Divine Love spill into each corner of your Realm as we

anticipate your love and light in this season of longer nights and bleak days. Amen.



Confession

God of the Possible and Probable, gloom often encapsulates us when life is confusing

and conflict is great. Our faith is rattled, and we are swallowed by shadows of fear. The

world often feels like the end is near even when a new beginning is around the corner.

We forget that even when shadows have lengthened, there remains a crack in the

surface. Light begins to stream into our space, and warmth dances upon our hearts.

When fear unnerves us, may we cling to the hope of God’s love and the possibilities of

joy once again. Amen.



Mutual Assurance

Leader: Take comfort, dear friends, that God’s grace will fill our hearts with joy as we know that

light grows ahead. May we cling to the crumbs of hope as we step into the nighttime with faith,

knowing Divine Bliss accompanies us in each step.

Congregation: Let go of your fears and doubts. God pours God’s love on you, in you and

through you to others.



Gloria Patri



Passing of the Peace



Readings

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.



Luke 21:25-36

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among

nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is

already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is

near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."



Message:



Affirmation

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus

Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin

Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to

the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right

hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the

Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.



Hymn: #168 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus



Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be

done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our

debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from

evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.



Offering



Invitation

God continues to increase love in our hearts for our neighbors within our congregation,

community, and world. Through our various gifts, we are able to strengthen our

connections and grow with our God, Holy Crafter of Gifts.



Doxology



Unison Dedication

Joyous God, Originator of all Gifts, this day and always, we celebrate the gifts of

our hands and hearts. We share our talents and time, knowing our energy builds

the world with love. We share our treasures, knowing that all gifts we entrust to

your Church will build your Realm. With joy, we devote our first fruits to loving you

and your children. Amen.



Please rise in Body or Spirit

Hymn: Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord



Benediction



As we open the doors to the dawn of this season, May the Creator of Our Hearts fill us with Joy,

May the Light of Christ fill our hearts with Hope, And may the Spirit of Tranquility assure our

souls with Strength. Amen.

For All the Joy: Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent Year C was written by the Rev. Michelle L.Torigian



Next Week’s Gospel

Luke 3:1-6



ANNOUNCEMENTS:

< please send church announcements by 7pm Wed. each week

NOTE: newsletter contributions due by 7pm Monday December 25

live streaming Sundays 8:45am

< 12-7-2024 Jubilase Choir St Matthew Lutheran Church 7pm

< 12-7-2024 Jubilase Choir St Matthew Lutheran Church 3pm

< 12-25-2024 Christmas eve O 3-pm < Z 4:30pm < St J 6pm

< Orangeville

< December mission < Agape.Inc

< watz in our shopping cart … holiday helpers for the Orangeville foodbank

< 12-4-2024 Consistory 7pm

< 12-4-2024 Sr Gathering 12-2pm Christmas Lunch

< 12-8-2024 Orangeville congregation mtg following service

< 12-12-2024 Orangeville congregation Christmas party at 5:30 pm –

covered dish + $10 gift exchange

< 12-18-2024 Blue Christmas Service 7pm All invited – bring a friend

< St James <

< Bell choir Tuesdays at 6:30pm

< Fitness and Yoga classes - Monday and Thursday 6 and 7pm

< 12-8-2024 < St James congregation mtg following service < 12-7-2024 Benton Winterfest 10-3 selling crafts and baked goods

< Zion

12-8-2024 < Zion Christmas party 4pm Tom + Lachelle Fulmer’s

Prayer List

< pray for our nation and those in roles of leadership of our nation … pray for a peaceful transition of power and the ability for all to love our neighbors



(O) Pastor Mark Rowell, Marty Rowell, Milt Hess, Geraldine and Frank Tobia, Janice Hastie, Mike Zimmerman, Kayson Taylor, Lily Rose, Cynthia Carroll, Elmer + Judy Roberts, Elaine Robbins, Betty Conner, Gail Yohey, Lester McHenry, Debbie Huff, Bob Sponenberg, Laura Titman, Sharlet Johnson, BJ Knect, Joanne Fedder, Barb White, Doris Welsh, Jane Bowman, Ed Edwards, Marc Hussey, Caroline Steward, Mary Lou Austin, Linda Winn, Jenny Holumbowiz, Levi McCarty, Dale Davis, Jeff Deck, Geraldine McWilliams, .

(SJ) Dorothy Wilson, Dennis Strausser, Tucker Hughes, Esther McMahon, Erma Busch, Grace Delker, Mike Bath.

(Z) Minette Meyer, Sherry Olson, Devona Albertson, Mary Dericott, Jeff Cleaver, Olivia Zoltowski, Megan Zoltowski, Colleen Kindig, Carol Parks

two songs performed by the Orangeville charge Hand Bell choir

11/30/2024

Announcement
Joint service at St. James at 10:30. Come support the people in your congregation who playing in
the bell choir.
Psalm 25
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Nehemiah 9:16-25
16
“But they, our ancestors, acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks and did not obey your
commandments;
17
they refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among
them, but they stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are
a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you
did not forsake them.

18 Even when they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is

your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies,

19 you in your great
mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud that led them in the way did not leave
them by day nor the pillar of fire by night that gave them light on the way by which they should go.
20 You
gave your good spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouths and gave them
water for their thirst.

21 Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness so that they lacked nothing; their

clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.

22 And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and

allotted to them every corner,

[a] so they took possession of the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the

land of King Og of Bashan.

23 You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them

into the land that you had told their ancestors to enter and possess.

24 So the descendants went in and
possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave
them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they
pleased.
25 And they captured fortress cities and a rich land and took possession of houses filled with all
sorts of goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate and
were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Footnotes
a. 9.22 Meaning of Heb uncertain

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and have charge of
you in the Lord and admonish you;

13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace

among yourselves.

14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the

fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.

15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but

always seek to do good to one another and to all.

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,
18 give

thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the

Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,

21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good;

22 abstain from every

form of evil.
give thanks in all circumstances. On the day after Thanksgiving, a day of gratitude, this is a good
reminder that we need to exercise our gratitude muscle all year round. I can’t help wondering how
much this can change the world, even if it only us at the beginning.

11/28/2024

Announcement
There is a Thanksgiving Eve service being held at Orangeville starting at 7 PM.

Psalm 63
1 O God, you are my God; I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
[a]
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
6 when I think of you on my bed
and meditate on you in the watches of the night,
7
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be prey for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
Footnotes
a. 63.5 Heb with fat and fatness

2 Samuel 2:1-7
2 After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” The Lord said to
him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” He said, “To Hebron.”

2 So David went up there, along

with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

3 David brought up the
men who were with him, every one with his household, and they settled in the towns of Hebron.
4 Then

the people of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
When they told David, “It was the people of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”

5 David sent messengers to
the people of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed
this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him!

6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to

you! And I, too, will reward you because you have done this thing.

7 Therefore let your hands be strong
and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

John 16:25-33
25
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to
you in figures but will tell you plainly of the Father.

26 On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to

you that I will ask the Father on your behalf,
27
for the Father himself loves you because you have loved

me and have believed that I came from God.
[a] 28
I came from the Father and have come into the world;

again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!

30 Now we know that
you know all things and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from
God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when
you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the
Father is with me.
33
I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face

persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”
Footnotes
a. 16.27 Other ancient authorities read the Father
I sometimes wish that Jesus spoke plainly all the time, but then I wonder if we would be
attempting to follow him if he did. Why do I say that? Because something that is spelled out in
black and white is something we either accept of dismiss with out really engaging with the
substance, but when Jesus speaks in figures we have to spend some time pondering what he
meant. Another reason is his figures often have multiple consistent meanings and the more time
we spend with them the more we learn.
Psalm 76
1
In Judah God is known;
his name is great in Israel.
2 His abode has been established in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah
4 Glorious are you, more majestic
than the everlasting mountains.
[a]
5 The courageous were stripped of their spoil;
they sank into sleep;
none of the troops
was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.
7 But you indeed are awesome!
Who can stand before you
when your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment;
the earth feared and was still
9 when God rose up to establish judgment,
to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
10 Human wrath serves only to praise you,
when you bind the last bit of your

[b] wrath around you.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and perform them;
let all who are around him bring gifts
to the one who is awesome,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
Footnotes
a. 76.4 Gk: Heb the mountains of prey
b. 76.10 Heb lacks your

Ezekiel 30:20-26
20
In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to
me:
21 Mortal, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; it has not been bound up for healing or
wrapped with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword.

22 Therefore thus says the
Lord God: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one

that was broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand.
23
I will scatter the Egyptians among the

nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
24
I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and
put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him with the
groans of one mortally wounded.
25
I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of
Pharaoh shall fall. And they shall know that I am the Lord when I put my sword into the hand of the king
of Babylon. He shall stretch it out against the land of Egypt,

26 and I will scatter the Egyptians among the

nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.