Thursday, October 1, 2015

My local church Advent resources are available from United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, October 1, 2015

My local church Advent resources are available from United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, October 1, 2015


Let us help your church expand its reach.
Our RETHINK CHURCH national Advent campaign begins Nov. 16!

View this 30-second spot and share it during worship or on social media.
Outreach Resources for Advent
• Free sermon-starter download based on Sent, the new five-week, churchwide Bible study from Abingdon Press.
• 100 free door hangers and invitation cards. Order by Dec. 1.
• Customizable direct-mail postcards: For a fraction of the cost, we can print and mail to households based on a radius around your church.
• Worship resources : New downloadable bulletin covers and worship graphics.
• Hispanic/Latino church resources: Downloadable worship graphics and bulletin covers, as well as door hangers, invitation cards and postcards.
People are looking for a church
to visit during Advent.
Help them find you!
Learn how to update your Find‑A‑Church profile
United Methodist Communications
810 12th Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4704, United States
rethinkchurch@umcom.org
Phone: 615.742.5400

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Today is our birthday! from United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, October 1, 2015

Today is our birthday! from United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, October 1, 2015




75 years ago today, the first Methodist Information office opened in New York. Through the years, the agency has grown and changed, but one thing has been constant: communicating a message of faith. This remains our focus, and we cannot wait to see what's next.
United Methodist Communications' chief exec Dan Krause was not a part of the groundbreaking cast who charted the course of the agency's rich and storied history, but he plays a starring role in its future.
So what are his goals for United Methodist Communications? Read on to find out.
Read the full story


Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
The General Commission on Communication elected former corporate marketing VP to lead the denomination's global communication agency beginning this past June.
A new leader for a new future by Diane Degnan*
Nashville, Tenn.
Moving beyond the first 75 years
Dan Krause was not a part of the groundbreaking cast who charted the course of United Methodist Communications' rich and storied history, but he plays a starring role in its future.
The General Commission on Communication tapped the seminary-educated, former corporate marketing VP to lead the denomination's global communication agency beginning this June, bringing with him a combination of business savvy, a heart for meaningful work and experience in teaching a team about the spirit of service.
“I’ve always been interested in business, but I also felt a calling to make a difference in the world,” says Krause. “My initial career brought me to the airline industry, but I always knew I’d want to go into some sort of non-profit setting where I can find deeper meaning in work that reflects my values.”
Having kids fast-forwarded that career move. “It makes you evaluate your life and what’s most important – and how your life reflects your values,” says Krause. “How do you balance your family, your career and your faith in a meaningful way?”
In the United Methodist Communications chief exec post, Krause saw a compelling opportunity to tell the story of the positive impact United Methodists are making in the world, as well as to be a uniting voice. So what are his goals for the agency?
“I’d like for us to be known as a collaborator across the denomination, a party that brings our agencies and churches together and creates dialogue in respectful ways. I’d like us to be known for providing resources that are engaging and inspiring and that lift up all the great work of our denomination. And I’d like for us to be known as communication leaders, sharing the message of God's work in the world so that lives are transformed through our ministries and participation in our faith communities,” he says.

Dan Krause welcomes attendees to the United Methodist Communications Game Changers Summit in Nashville, Tenn. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
A global voice for a global church
United Methodist Communications’ new leader is pretty much at home anywhere around the globe, thanks to a life of travel abroad. “My parents showed me a lot of the world,” says Krause. In fact, by the time he entered elementary school, he’d been to every continent except Antarctica. Add to that a career in the airlines industry, and he has been to about one-third of the world’s countries – more than 60.
That wanderlust has prepared him to tackle one of his goals for United Methodist Communications’ future direction, which is to more globally represent the church. “It was really formative for me, the chance to see other cultures and the diversity around the world.”
“I’d like to see United Methodist Communication be a global voice for the denomination. And I’d like to form stronger relationships with local churches around the world who are looking at how to communicate in their local communities, whether that’s creating strategic marketing plans or using new and innovative communication tools,” Krause says. “We want to be a more accessible resource to help them shape their communication strategy and be in partnership.”
Serving different demographics
“We’re in an era where people are mobile and social, so our resources need to be available in formats that are available where people are,” says Krause. “But we serve very different demographics in our churches and we have to balance that. We have people who prefer using traditional communications means, whether it’s a print magazine or a church bulletin.”
The Generation X-er says the tendency is to assume young people are going to use mobile media and older people are going to use traditional media, but those lines are becoming more blurred.
“My mom, my grandma, they are on computers, email, Facebook, so it’s not necessarily a generational trend. I think there are just pockets where some people embrace technology. And there are a lot of opportunities for mobile communications, not just in the U.S. but in Africa and the Philippines. For example, United Methodist Communications was at the forefront of using text messaging in the Ebola crisis.”

Thane Richard of Outernet demonstrates a Lighthouse device, that receives free digital information from anywhere on earth. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS
Technology down the road
In June, Lexus announced that they’ve created ahoverboard, not unlike Marty McFly’s in Back to the Future. In a day and time when mind-boggling technology is expanding by leaps and bounds, what role does it play in the church’s future?
For one thing, it’s changing the way people live their lives. They’re interacting with multiple media at one time.
“No longer do you sit on the sofa and just watch a TV show,” says Krause. “You might also have an iPad in your lap while texting on your phone. Communication has to change to communicate effectively and concisely when you’re not getting people’s undivided attention.”
He says United Methodist Communications will continue to embrace emerging technologies and then innovate beyond that.
Krause thinks the future is likely to hold a stronger convergence of technologies.
“The Fitbit on my arm knows about my activity today, while my car has a navigation system that knows where I need to go and the most efficient way to get there. At some level, will my car know what is going on with my Fitbit, which somehow relates to an overall plan held in some app in my phone for managing my life balance? And then how does my faith play into all of that? I think there's a huge opportunity for different technologies to relate and communicate with each other.
“But technology is an adventure; you never really know.”
*Diane Degnan is Director of Public Relations at United Methodist Communications.

[Spread the word]
United Methodist Communications
810 12th Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4704, United States
umcom@umcom.org
Phone: 615.742.5400

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Care Night Weekly for Wednesday, 30 September 2015 - CARE NIGHT WEEKLY - What's Happening This Week at Resurrection Care Night

Care Night Weekly for Wednesday, 30 September 2015 - CARE NIGHT WEEKLY - What's Happening This Week at Resurrection Care Night

THIS WEEK AT CARE NIGHT - Thursday October 1, 2015 (cor.org/carenight)
5:30 pm - OUTSIDE under tent - Dinner Menu - Chicken Strips, Cheesy Au gratin Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Garden Salad, Dinner Rolls, Lemon Bars
6:30 pm - Live Forward Worship (Student Center) | 7:30 pm - Live Forward Share Groups (Building C classrooms)
6:30 pm - Care Classes and Groups (see Care Night Bulletin for locations)
ANNOUNCEMENT: NO CHILDCARE available due to Leadership Institute.

NEXT WEEK: Resonate Couples Seminar - Oct 8 - One night workshop led by Grant Wood, LCMFT
Register for this and other Care Night classes online at cor.org/careclasses

THURSDAY Oct 1: Due to Leadership Institute, we will have a self-directed night with grief coaches and participants. Learn more at cor.org/grief

The next Listen and Learn Parent Support Group meets October 8. Amy Allison, Executive Director from the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City will be our speaker in honor of October being Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Topic is: Promoting independence in adults years and helping keep adults with disabilities healthy and safe. Room B231, 6:30 pm.
Upcoming Community Events:
October 16 - Dr. Temple Grandin & Friends are coming to Kansas City! Register at FHautism.com or call Future Horizons at 800-489-0727.
October 23-24: Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism Across the Lifespan Conference at JCCC. Click here for more info.
October 26 and 27: High Functioning Autism and Social Skills Building – www.pesi.com or call 800-844-8260

THIS THURSDAY Oct 1 in the Student Center - It Just Got Personal sermon series continues. This weeK: A Personal Story of Transformation - During Live Forward worship we will feature a testimony from a woman who has experienced recent grief and a love addiction. Whether you are stuck in a hurt or stuck in a habit, you will find God blessing you through her talk.
LIVE FORWARD FOR TEENS is called Propel and meets weekly at 6:30 pm in Room B229. Learn more about Live Forward at cor.org/liveforward


NEXT PRAYER CLASS: Thursday, Oct 29, for the one-night "Praying Out Loud" class led by Pastor Katherine Ebling-Frazier in Wesley Chapel. Learn more about our prayer ministry, including Retreats at Camp Timberlake, at cor.org/prayer.

REZVETS at Care Night: Thursday, October 1. In this program, we'll hear from reserachers from UMKC about their findings on a recently conducted needs assessment survey for vets and their family members. The program begins at 6:30 pm in room C028 in the lower level of Building C at Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS. If joining us for the 5:30 pm Care Night dinner before class, we will sit together at tables on the left-hand side of the room as you face the stage in the Student Center. Learn more about the Veterans Ministry, including service opportunities, our annual Veterans Day Dinner (Sunday, Nov 8) and conferences at cor.org/veterans

Thursday Oct 1 at ST@RZ (Singles Thriving at Resurrection) - We continue with the Brene Brown study "The Gifts of Imperfection" on authenticity, self-compassion, and resilient spirit.
Single Mothers Group meets weekly on Thursdays in Room B233 at 6:30pm. If you come to the meal at 5:30pm, you are welcome to eat with our Single Mothers in the overflow, room C136. Come and enjoy being with other women on the same journey of single motherhood! You are welcome!
Bowling - Sunday, October 4 , 2015 will determine if the Bowling League will continue. We need at least 12 folks to sign up. If you are planning on bowling, please ensure that you are in attendance this coming Sunday. Hope to see you there! Details at cor.org/singles.
All Saints Eve Dance - Friday, October 30, 2015, 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm. More details and registration online atcor.org/singles.
Learn more about these and other opportunities for fun, fellowship and growing in faith at cor.org/singles.

NEXT WEEK: Coaster Kids is back! Divorce Recovery for Kids - Oct 8 - Nov 12. Registration and small fee required.
Visit cor.org/support to see the full listing of support groups for those experiencing unemployment, divorce, health issues, caregiving, special needs, and more.
Our website: cor.org/carenight.
Questions?
Contact Cheryl.Greenough@cor.org | 913-544-0238
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The Daily Gospel for Thursday, 1 October 2015

The Daily Gospel for Thursday, 1 October 2015
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."[John 6:68]
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth week in Ordinary Time
Saints of the day:
St. Therese of Lisieux, Virgin & Doctor of the Church (1873-1897) - Memorial
Saint Therese of Lisieux
Virgin and Doctor of the Church
(1873-1897)
Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon, France on 2 January 1873. Two days later, she was baptized Marie Frances Thérèse at Notre Dame Church. Her parents were Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin. After the death of her mother on 28 August 1877, Thérèse and her family moved to Lisieux.
Towards the end of 1879, she went to confession for the first time. On the Feast of Pentecost 1883, she received the singular grace of being healed from a serious illness through the intercession of Our Lady of Victories. Taught by the Benedictine Nuns of Lisieux and after an intense immediate preparation culminating in a vivid experience of intimate union with Christ, she received First Holy Communion on 8 May 1884. Some weeks later, on 14 June of the same year, she received the Sacrament of Confirmation, fully aware of accepting the gift of the Holy Spirit as a personal participation in the grace of Pentecost.
She wished to embrace the contemplative life, as her sisters Pauline and Marie had done in the Carmel of Lisieux, but was prevented from doing so by her young age. On a visit to Italy, after having visited the House of Loreto and the holy places of the Eternal City, during an audience granted by Pope Leo XIII to the pilgrims from Lisieux on 20 November 1887, she asked the Holy Father with childlike audacity to be able to enter the Carmel at the age of fifteen.
On 9 April 1888 she entered the Carmel of Lisieux. She received the habit on 10 January of the following year, and made her religious profession on 8 September 1890 on the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In Carmel she embraced the way of perfection outlined by the Foundress, Saint Teresa of Jesus, fulfilling with genuine fervour and fidelity the various community responsibilities entrusted to her. Her faith was tested by the sickness of her beloved father, Louis Martin, who died on 29 July 1894. Thérèse nevertheless grew in sanctity, enlightened by the Word of God and inspired by the Gospel to place love at the centre of everything. In her autobiographical manuscripts she left us not only her recollections of childhood and adolescence but also a portrait of her soul, the description of her most intimate experiences. She discovered the little way of spiritual childhood and taught it to the novices entrusted to her care. She considered it a special gift to receive the charge of accompanying two "missionary brothers" with prayer and sacrifice. Seized by the love of Christ, her only Spouse, she penetrated ever more deeply into the mystery of the Church and became increasingly aware of her apostolic and missionary vocation to draw everyone in her path.
On 9 June 1895, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, she offered herself as a sacrificial victim to the merciful Love of God. At this time, she wrote her first autobiographical manuscript, which she presented to Mother Agnes for her birthday on 21 January 1896.
Several months later, on 3 April, in the night between Holy Thursday and Good Friday, she suffered a haemoptysis, the first sign of the illness which would lead to her death; she welcomed this event as a mysterious visitation of the Divine Spouse. From this point forward, she entered a trial of faith which would last until her death; she gives overwhelming testimony to this in her writings. In September, she completed Manuscript B; this text gives striking evidence of the spiritual maturity which she had attained, particularly the discovery of her vocation in the heart of the Church.
While her health declined and the time of trial continued, she began work in the month of June on Manuscript C, dedicated to Mother Marie de Gonzague. New graces led her to higher perfection and she discovered fresh insights for the diffusion of her message in the Church, for the benefit of souls who would follow her way. She was transferred to the infirmary on 8 July. Her sisters and other religious women collected her sayings. Meanwhile her sufferings and trials intensified. She accepted them with patience up to the moment of her death in the afternoon of 30 September 1897. "I am not dying, I am entering life", she wrote to her missionary spiritual brother, Father M. Bellier. Her final words, "My God..., I love you!", seal a life which was extinguished on earth at the age of twenty-four; thus began, as was her desire, a new phase of apostolic presence on behalf of souls in the Communion of Saints, in order to shower a rain of roses upon the world.
She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 17 May 1925. The same Pope proclaimed her Universal Patron of the Missions, alongside Saint Francis Xavier, on 14 December 1927.
Her teaching and example of holiness has been received with great enthusiasm by all sectors of the faithful during this century, as well as by people outside the Catholic Church and outside Christianity.
On the occasion of the centenary of her death, many Episcopal Conferences have asked the Pope to declare her a Doctor of the Church, in view of the soundness of her spiritual wisdom inspired by the Gospel, the originality of her theological intuitions filled with sublime teaching, and the universal acceptance of her spiritual message, which has been welcomed throughout the world and spread by the translation of her works into over fifty languages.
Mindful of these requests, His Holiness Pope John Paul II asked the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which has competence in this area, in consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with regard to her exalted teaching, to study the suitability of proclaiming her a Doctor of the Church.
On 24 August, at the close of the Eucharistic Celebration at the Twelfth World Youth Day in Paris, in the presence of hundreds of bishops and before an immense crowd of young people from the whole world, Pope John Paul II announced his intention to proclaim Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face a Doctor of the Universal Church on World Mission Sunday, 19 October 1997.[Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana]
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el. 2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah. 4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood Mattityah, Shema, ‘Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah and Ma‘aseiyah; while on his left were P’dayah, Misha’el, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Z’kharyah and Meshulam. 5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground. 7 The L’vi’im Yeshua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, ‘Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma‘aseiyah, K’lita, ‘Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan and P’layah explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.
9 Nechemyah the Tirshata, ‘Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher and the L’vi’im who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is consecrated to Adonai your God; don’t be mournful, don’t weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength.” 11 In this way the L’vi’im quieted the people, as they said, “Be quiet, for today is holy; don’t be sad.” 12 Then the people went off to eat, drink, send portions and celebrate; because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.
Psalm 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
The Holy Gospel of Yeshua the Messiah according to Saint Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmidim and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest. 3 Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-belt or a pack, and don’t stop to shmoose with people on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Shalom!’ to the household. 6 If a seeker of shalom is there, your ‘Shalom!’ will find its rest with him; and if there isn’t, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for a worker deserves his wages — don’t move about from house to house.
8 “Whenever you come into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put in front of you. 9 Heal the sick there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they don’t make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off as a sign against you! But understand this: the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for S’dom than for that town.
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day:
Vatican Council II 
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem, § 2)

After the Lord had sent the Twelve (Lk 9:2), he sent seventy-two others
The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all people to share in His saving redemption, and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, too, in the body of Christ, which is the Church, "the whole body . . . in keeping with the proper activity of each part, derives its increase from its own internal development" (Eph. 4:16). Indeed, the organic union in this body and the structure of the members are so compact that the member who fails to make his proper contribution to the development of the Church must be said to be useful neither to the Church nor to himself. 
In the Church there is a diversity of ministry but a oneness of mission. Christ conferred on the Apostles and their successors the duty of teaching, sanctifying, and ruling in His name and power. But the laity likewise share in the priestly, prophetic, and royal office of Christ and therefore have their own share in the mission of the whole people of God in the Church and in the world. They exercise the apostolate in fact by their activity directed to the evangelization and sanctification of all people and to the penetrating and perfecting of the temporal order through the spirit of the Gospel. In this way, their temporal activity openly bears witness to Christ and promotes the salvation of mankind. Since the laity, in accordance with their state of life, live in the midst of the world and its concerns, they are called by God to exercise their apostolate in the world like leaven, with the ardor of the spirit of Christ.
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The Daily Readings for Thursday, 1 October 2015

The Daily Readings for Thursday, 1 October 2015
Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el. 2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah. 4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood Mattityah, Shema, ‘Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah and Ma‘aseiyah; while on his left were P’dayah, Misha’el, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Z’kharyah and Meshulam. 5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground. 7 The L’vi’im Yeshua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, ‘Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma‘aseiyah, K’lita, ‘Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan and P’layah explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.
9 Nechemyah the Tirshata, ‘Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher and the L’vi’im who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is consecrated to Adonai your God; don’t be mournful, don’t weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength.” 11 In this way the L’vi’im quieted the people, as they said, “Be quiet, for today is holy; don’t be sad.” 12 Then the people went off to eat, drink, send portions and celebrate; because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.
Psalm 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmidim and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest. 3 Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-belt or a pack, and don’t stop to shmoose with people on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Shalom!’ to the household. 6 If a seeker of shalom is there, your ‘Shalom!’ will find its rest with him; and if there isn’t, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for a worker deserves his wages — don’t move about from house to house.
8 “Whenever you come into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put in front of you. 9 Heal the sick there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they don’t make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off as a sign against you! But understand this: the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for S’dom than for that town.
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The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Thursday, October 1, 2015
Meditation: Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el. 2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah. 4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood Mattityah, Shema, ‘Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah and Ma‘aseiyah; while on his left were P’dayah, Misha’el, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Z’kharyah and Meshulam. 5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground. 7 The L’vi’im Yeshua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, ‘Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma‘aseiyah, K’lita, ‘Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan and P’layah explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

9 Nechemyah the Tirshata, ‘Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher and the L’vi’im who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is consecrated to Adonai your God; don’t be mournful, don’t weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength.” 11 In this way the L’vi’im quieted the people, as they said, “Be quiet, for today is holy; don’t be sad.” 12 Then the people went off to eat, drink, send portions and celebrate; because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
Rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)
What a wonderful occasion! After decades of exile, the people of Israel finally heard the Law of the Lord proclaimed in a holy ceremony. Special preparations had been made for the festive day, from the rich food and drinks right down to the distinctive platform Ezra used to read out the Law.
So why did the people start weeping when they heard Ezra proclaim God’s word? Why did the Levites have to go through the crowd trying to calm people down? Because they began to feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the gap between the life Ezra was describing and the life they had been living. They saw how distant from the Lord they had become, and they began to grieve.
It was only after the Levites’ words of encouragement that the people saw God’s Law as something more than a burden meant to condemn them. It was a precious gift that revealed not only the justice of God, but his faithful love and mercy as well. They helped the people see that if God had given them the Law, then surely he would give them the grace to live it out!
Isn’t that just how God is? We get bound up in guilt and shame, and he comes alongside us to lift our burdens. We worry about all that we won’t be able to accomplish, and he reminds us that we can do all things in him. We fret over our past failures, and he reminds us that he has cast our sins away as far as the east is from the west.
How many times have you felt uncomfortable going to Mass or Confession because you don’t want to face up to something that is lacking in your life? Don’t ever let that happen again! Remember the Levites and their words to the people of Israel. Make it a point to rejoice in your salvation, and let that joy give you all the strength and freedom you need!
“Father, I know I am your child. Thank you for calling me into your family!” Amen!
Psalm 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy other talmidim and sent them on ahead in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “To be sure, there is a large harvest. But there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the Harvest that he speed workers out to gather in his harvest. 3 Get going now, but pay attention! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Don’t carry a money-belt or a pack, and don’t stop to shmoose with people on the road.
5 “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Shalom!’ to the household. 6 If a seeker of shalom is there, your ‘Shalom!’ will find its rest with him; and if there isn’t, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for a worker deserves his wages — don’t move about from house to house.
8 “Whenever you come into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put in front of you. 9 Heal the sick there, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they don’t make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off as a sign against you! But understand this: the Kingdom of God is near!’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for S’dom than for that town.
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My Utmost for His Highest Daily Devotion by Oswald Chambers in Crewe, England [Great Britain], United Kingdom "The Place of Exaltation" for Thursday, October 1, 2015

My Utmost for His Highest Daily Devotion by Oswald Chambers in Crewe, England [Great Britain], United Kingdom "The Place of Exaltation" for Thursday, October 1, 2015
…Jesus took…them up on a high mountain apart by themselves…[Mark 9:2]
We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God’s perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain. If we only have the power to go up, something is wrong. It is a wonderful thing to be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18). We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life— those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop. Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.
We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.
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WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS:
The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.… We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be. [My Utmost for His Highest, January 6, 736 R]
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Mark 9:2 Six days later, Yeshua took Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan and led them up a high mountain privately. As they watched, he began to change form,
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Bible in One Year:
Isaiah 11:1 But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai,
a shoot will grow from his roots.
2 The Spirit of Adonai will rest on him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and power,
the Spirit of knowledge and fearing Adonai —
3 he will be inspired by fearing Adonai.
He will not judge by what his eyes see
or decide by what his ears hear,
4 but he will judge the impoverished justly;
he will decide fairly for the humble of the land.
He will strike the land with a rod from his mouth
and slay the wicked with a breath from his lips.
5 Justice will be the belt around his waist,
faithfulness the sash around his hips.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb;
the leopard lie down with the kid;
calf, young lion and fattened lamb together,
with a little child to lead them.
7 Cow and bear will feed together,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 An infant will play on a cobra’s hole,
a toddler put his hand in a viper’s nest.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
anywhere on my holy mountain,
for the earth will be as full
of the knowledge of Adonai
as water covering the sea.
10 On that day the root of Yishai,
which stands as a banner for the peoples —
the Goyim will seek him out,
and the place where he rests will be glorious.
11 On that day Adonai will raise his hand
again, a second time,
to reclaim the remnant of his people who remain
from Ashur, Egypt, Patros,
Ethiopia, ‘Eilam, Shin‘ar,
Hamat and the islands in the sea.
12 He will hoist a banner for the Goyim,
assemble the dispersed of Isra’el,
and gather the scattered of Y’hudah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 Efrayim’s jealousy will cease —
those who harass Y’hudah will be cut off,
Efrayim will stop envying Y’hudah,
and Y’hudah will stop provoking Efrayim.
14 They will swoop down on the flank of the P’lishtim to the west.
Together they will pillage the people to the east —
they will put out their hand over Edom and Mo’av,
and the people of ‘Amon will obey them.
15 Adonai will dry up the gulf
of the Egyptian Sea.
He will shake his hand over the [Euphrates] River
to bring a scorching wind,
dividing it into seven streams
and enabling people to cross dryshod.
16 There will be a highway for the remnant of his people
who are still left from Ashur,
just as there was for Isra’el
when he came out from the land of Egypt.
12:1 On that day you will say:
“I thank you, Adonai,
because, although you were angry at me,
your anger is now turned away;
and you are comforting me.
2 “See! God is my salvation.
I am confident and unafraid;
for Yah Adonai is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation!”
3 Then you will joyfully draw water
from the springs of salvation.
4 On that day you will say,
“Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name!
Make his deeds known among the peoples,
declare how exalted is his name.
5 Sing to Adonai, for he has triumphed —
this is being made known throughout the earth.
6 Shout and sing for joy,
you who live in Tziyon;
for the Holy One of Isra’el
is with you in his greatness!”
13:1 This is a prophecy about Bavel, which Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz saw:
2 Hoist a banner on a high mountain,
shout to [the invaders];
beckon them to enter the Nobles’ Gate.
3 “I have ordered my holy ones,
summoned my heroes, eager and bold,
to execute my anger.”
4 Listen! A tumult on the mountains —
it sounds like a vast multitude!
Listen! The uproar of the kingdoms
of the nations gathering together!
Adonai-Tzva’ot is mustering
an army for war.
5 They come from a distant land,
from beyond the horizon.
It’s Adonai, with the weapons of his rage,
to lay waste to all the earth.
6 Howl! for the Day of Adonai is at hand,
destruction coming from Shaddai.
7 This is why every arm will hang limp
and everyone’s courage melt away.
8 They will be gripped by panic,
seized with pain and agony,
writhing like a woman in labor,
looking aghast at each other, faces aflame.
9 Here comes the Day of Adonai,
full of cruelty, rage and hot fury,
to desolate the earth
and destroy the sinners in it.
10 For the stars, the constellations in the sky,
will no longer give their light;
the sun will be dark when it rises;
and the moon will no longer shine.
11 “I will punish the world for its evil
and the wicked for their iniquity.
I will end the arrogance of the proud
and humble the insolence of tyrants.
12 I will make humans rarer than gold,
scarcer than Ofir’s pure gold.
13 This is why I will make the heavens tremble,
and the earth will be shaken from its place
at the wrath of Adonai-Tzva’ot
on the day of his fierce anger.
14 Then, like a hunted gazelle,
like sheep with no one to gather them,
everyone will head back to his own people;
everyone will flee to his own land.
15 Anyone found will be pierced through;
anyone caught will fall by the sword,
16 their babies dashed to pieces before their eyes,
their houses looted, their wives raped.
17 I will stir up against them the Medes,
who cannot be tempted by silver
or bought off with gold.
18 Their bows will tear young men to pieces,
they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb,
their eye will not spare children.”
19 Thus Bavel, that jewel of kingdoms,
the pride and glory of the Kasdim,
will be like S’dom and ‘Amora
when overthrown by God.
20 It will never again be inhabited,
never lived in through all generations.
Arabs will not pitch tents there
nor shepherds bring their flocks.
21 But wildcats will lie there,
their houses will be full of owls,
ostriches will live there,
and wild goats will dance there.
22 Jackals will howl in their palaces
and wild dogs in their temples of delight.
Its time is close at hand,
its days will not last long.
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner united with the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.
2 Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, 3 and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to one hope. 5 And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, 6 and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.
7 Each one of us, however, has been given grace to be measured by the Messiah’s bounty. 8 This is why it says,
“After he went up into the heights,
he led captivity captive
and he gave gifts to mankind.”[Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:19(18)]
9 Now this phrase, “he went up,” what can it mean if not that he first went down into the lower parts, that is, the earth? 10 The one who went down is himself the one who also went up, far above all of heaven, in order to fill all things. 11 Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers. 12 Their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah, 13 until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection.
14 We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in every respect grow up into him who is the head, the Messiah. 16 Under his control, the whole body is being fitted and held together by the support of every joint, with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows and builds itself up in love.
17 Therefore I say this — indeed, in union with the Lord I insist on it: do not live any longer as the pagans live, with their sterile ways of thinking. 18 Their intelligence has been shrouded in darkness, and they are estranged from the life of God, because of the ignorance in them, which in turn comes from resisting God’s will. 19 They have lost all feeling, so they have abandoned themselves to sensuality, practicing any kind of impurity and always greedy for more. 20 But this is not the lesson you learned from the Messiah! 21 If you really listened to him and were instructed about him, then you learned that since what is in Yeshua is truth, 22 then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires; 23 and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed, 24 and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth.
25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor,[Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16] because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body. 26 Be angry, but don’t sin[Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:5(4)] — don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; 27 otherwise you leave room for the Adversary.
28 The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.
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