June 6, 2012
| From Pastor Roger - Who is my neighbor? You know the story (Luke 10). An expert in the law is trying to set Jesus up and justify himself. Jesus turns the tables, quoting Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18, which summarize the law into its two over-arching themes: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Aha, thinks Mr. Wise Guy, I've got Jesus trapped now. "And just how am I supposed to know who is my neighbor?" he asks. So, Jesus tells him the story – which you have heard all of your lives. If this were the outline for a modern screenplay, it might read like this:
Then Jesus places the burden back on Mr. Wise Guy: "Who do you think was a neighbor…?" As we get more people involved in the day-to-day operations of the church, we're finding that many members don't know about two funds that are used to help us be a good neighbor. The church office gets an average 2 to 3 calls a week asking for help. Usually the request is for money to pay rent or lodging, buy gas, purchase medicine. Sometimes the caller just needs a ride, sometimes someone to talk to, but mostly, people need money. We want our church to be a good neighbor, but the reality is that our coffers are limited and some of the requests are not true cries for help. We want to be good stewards of God's funds, money which comes from God's blessings to you. The church has a system in place to help us be a good neighbor and good stewards. Anyone requesting help must fill out a form, which is reviewed by a committee that is scheduled to meet twice a month. The form has helped us narrow the field of requests to those who are in real need. Requests are funded through two funds. A benevolent fund is set up to serve members in need. This fund was established through a very generous donation from one of our church members and has helped several of our own church families through tough times. Our poor fund is designed to help members of the community who need help. Money in this fund comes from the collection taken up at the door as you exit on Communion Sabbaths. Would you like to help us continue to be a good neighbor? Both funds are always in need of extra boosts. You can mark your tithe envelope for the Benevolent Fund or the Poor Fund, or put in an extra amount at the next Communion Sabbath (July 7). The Financial Aid review committee could use one or two more members. Contact the church office at 696-2511 or vancouveradventist@gmail.com if you are willing to serve. | What's happening >3:30 pm Memorial Service for Lester Zundel Future events: THIS WEEK Wednesday, June 6 6:00pm Shabbat Service Sabbath, June 9 9, 11am Pastor Jeff Richards - "Conversion: Religion vs Love" 10:00am Sabbath School 3:30pm Lester Zundel Memorial NEXT WEEK Monday, June 11
Wednesday, June 13 Friday, June 15 What difference can forty days make? A lot, if you are praying, says Dennis Smith, author of the "40 Days" books. The Oregon Conference invites you to join us on a forty day spiritual journey that will change your life leading up to the first evening of Gladstone Camp Meeting. Here is what to do: |
