Join us for online worship this Sunday, November 15, at 10:15 a.m. at https://vimeo.com/channels/1547852.

You can view and download the bulletin here.

 

The parables of Jesus come with no set interpretation.

The parables of Jesus do not readily tell us what to think or how to act.

The parables instead invite us to enter them, to walk about, to look around and listen to what is said, and in this way to consider our lives and our world in anew in light of what we discover in these stories.

Each time we hear a parable, it confronts us with new challenges and new possibilities.

What we discover depends in part on where we find ourselves in the parable. And, of course, we usually want to see ourselves alongside those who do the right thing.

So when we hear the story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, we want to be among the wise. We’re no fools. We don’t want to be caught off guard. We want to make sure we’re prepared, that we have all the supplies needed, that our lamps are trimmed and burning.

But as we look at our lives in these days, could any of us be faulted for feeling more like those who are running low on oil?

We feel more realistic than foolish as we join with those five bridesmaids and cry: “Our lamps are going out!”

If we are to find the oil that we need—and we can find it;

If we are to let our lights shine once more—and shine they will;

If we are to get through these difficult days—and we will get through them

It will happen as we open ourselves to the renewal that faith offers.

 

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Amos 5:18-24; Matthew 25:1-13

SERMON       “Dwindling Oil, Renewing Hope”

The Rev. Bill Lovin preaching

 

ANTHEM       “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes”                Don McAfee

                        Kevin Koepnick, Josh Ramseyer, Colin Wilson

 

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome to join us online.