Thursday, May 16, 2024
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Regarding Ruling Elders: Living Responsibly in the Personal, Family, Vocational, Political, Cultural and Social Relationships of Life
Bible Stories for Kids - David and Goliath
On Thursdays, Pastor Rudiger reads a story to the children who attend the Dancer’s Studio Performing Arts Christian Preschool in Clarion, Pennsylvania. On May 16, he shared with the children the story of David and Goliath. Below is a recording of their time together.
Bible Readings for May 16, 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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Of Kings & Covenants: A Study of 1 & 2 Samuel (“O My Son Absalom” - 2 Samuel 18:9–20:26)
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The Sligo Presbyterian Church Wednesday Morning Bible Study is continuing its study of the Old Testament by looking at how God led David from watching a flock to leading a nation. Below is an outline for the series.
- Session 1 - 1 Samuel 1:1–4:1
- Session 2 - 1 Samuel 4:2–7:17
- Session 3 - 1 Samuel 8:1–10:27
- Session 4 - 1 Samuel 11:1–12:25
- Session 5 - 1 Samuel 13:1–15:35
- Session 6 - 1 Samuel 16:1–17:58
- Session 7 - 1 Samuel 18:1–20:42
- Session 8 - 1 Samuel 21:1–23:29
- Session 9 - 1 Samuel 24:1–26:25
- Session 10 - 1 Samuel 27:1–29:11
- Session 11 - 1 Samuel 30:1–31:13
- Session 12 - 2 Samuel 1:1–3:21
- Session 13 - 2 Samuel 3:22–5:10
- Session 14 - 2 Samuel 5:11–8:18
- Session 15 - 2 Samuel 9:1–11:27
- Session 16 - 2 Samuel 12:1–14:33
- Session 17 - 2 Samuel 15:1–18:8
- Session 18 - 2 Samuel 18:9–20:26
- Session 19 - 2 Samuel 21:1–24:25
During our eighteenth session, we discussed David dealing with the death of his son Absalom and other problems within the kingdom, 2 Samuel 18:9–20:26. Below is a recording of our discussion and the text from 2 Samuel.
2 Samuel 18:9–20:26 [New Revised Standard Version]
All the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and saved us from the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land because of Absalom. But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house? The talk of all Israel has come to the king. You are my kin, you are my bone and my flesh; why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me, and more, if you are not the commander of my army from now on, in place of Joab.’” Amasa swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.” So the king came back to the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him over the Jordan.
Mephibosheth grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety. When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, ‘Saddle a donkey for me, so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. For all my father’s house were doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?” The king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely.”
Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side.” But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? Today I am eighty years old; can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king recompense me with such a reward? Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you.” The king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” Then all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king crossed over; the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home.
The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; all the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way. Then all the people of Israel came to the king, and said to him, “Why have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words of the people of Israel.
Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself.” So Amasa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time that had been appointed him. David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities for himself, and escape from us.” Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. When they were at the large stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a soldier’s garment and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; as he went forward it fell out. Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab’s hand; Joab struck him in the belly so that his entrails poured out on the ground, and he died. He did not strike a second blow. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri. And one of Joab’s men took his stand by Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.” Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him. Once he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
Now Joab was in command of all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was also David’s priest.
Bible Readings for May 15, 2024
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Today in the Mission Yearbook - Presbyterian pastor preaches on a proverbial prototype
The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, May 12, 2024
Although we all know that Easter is about Jesus Christ being raised from the dead, we may not be quite as clear about the meaning and significance of this pivotal event in human history. For that reason, for five Sundays in the months of April and May, we’ll consider this question: Why Is the Resurrection of Jesus Important? During this series, we’ll consider the following topic:
- April 7 - The Resurrection Provides Validation
- April 21 - The Resurrection Was Physical
- April 28 - The Resurrection Offers Hope
- May 5 - The Resurrection Is Good News
- May 12 - The Resurrection Anticipated the Holy Spirit
We finished this series on Sunday when we looked how the resurrection of Jesus Christ anticipated the Holy Spirit. The video of the service, a recording of the sermon and the bulletin are below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDST)
Sunday's Sermon - Why Is the Resurrection of Jesus Important? (The Resurrection Anticipated the Holy Spirit)
- April 7 - The Resurrection Provides Validation
- April 21 - The Resurrection Was Physical
- April 28 - The Resurrection Offers Hope
- May 5 - The Resurrection Is Good News
- May 12 - The Resurrection Anticipated the Holy Spirit
We finished this series on Sunday when we looked how the resurrection of Jesus Christ anticipated the Holy Spirit. A recording and the text of the sermon are below. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDST)
Now, of course, today is Mother’s Day. I mean, that’s why the Gallagher girls offered that wonderful special number, When God Made Me Your Mother, and then we listened to Emma White describe that special relationship between mothers and daughters. And that’s why the Deacons will give a flower to the women, because in one way or another, motherhood sort of ties us all together. In fact, that’s why Debbie isn’t here this morning. You see, yesterday was graduation day at WVU and tomorrow she’s scheduled to lead some tours around the campus; therefore, Maggie wasn’t able to come up here. And so the one whom God made her mother and with whom she fights every now and then, well, mom went down to daughter. I mean, that’s what mothers do, isn’t it?
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And this morning, on not only Mother’s Day but the one Sunday a year that comes between the ascension, Jesus’s return to heaven, and Pentecost, we’re going to wrap this series up by spending a little time talking about how the resurrection and ascension actually anticipates the Holy Spirit. And do that, we’re going to look at two things. First, we’re going to look at three passages of scripture that really point to what happened, you know, the relationship between the resurrection and ascension with the coming of the Spirit. And then second, we’re going to spend a little time talking about how we can respond, in other words, what we might want to do for God given what God has done for us. Now, that’s the plan.
For example, just listen to what John wrote in his gospel as Jesus was right in the middle of his last conversation with his closest friends;
Jesus said to his disciples:
If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you.
I won’t leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. In a little while the people of this world won’t be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. Then you will know I am one with the Father. You will know you are one with me, and I am one with you. If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.
Jesus replied:
If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. But anyone who doesn’t love me, won’t obey me. What they have heard me say doesn’t really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.
I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. [John 14:15-25, CEV]
Now that’s what John wrote.
And according to Luke, from his Book of Acts,
For 40 days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom. While he was still with them, he said:
Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said to them, “You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky.
Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way you have seen him go.” [Acts 1:3-11, CEV]
Now, that’s what Luke said.
And finally, just listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans:
You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you. People who don’t have the Spirit of Christ in them don’t belong to him. But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God’s Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit. [Romans 8:5-11, CEV]
Now that’s what Paul said.
And I’ll tell you, when we take all three passages together, I think it’s pretty clear that, in a meaningful way, the third person of the Trinity wasn’t really going to shape the lives of the disciples until after Jesus had been resurrected and returned to the Father, marking the end of his ministry here on earth. But since Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has come upon us. Now according to these three passages, I think that’s what happened.
For example, we have to decide if we’re going to listen to what Jesus promised his disciples according to John. In other words, we’re going to have to decide if we’re going to listen to Jesus when he told us that he sent the Holy Spirit to help us do what he commanded us to do. And what did he command us to do? Just listen:
But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. [John 13:34-35, CEV]
You see, we have to decide if we’re going to listen to what Jesus said according to John.
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Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world. [Matthew 28:19-20, CEV]
You see, we have to decide if we’re going to move like we were told to move in Acts.
And finally, we’re going to have to decide if we’re going to change in the way Paul envisioned in his letter to the Romans. I mean, since Jesus was raised from the dead and since the Spirit is in us and since we know exactly how God wants us to live and exactly how God wants us to treat one another and exactly how God wants us to relate to him, we really need to determine whether or not we’re going to do what Paul wrote about when he said, again to the Romans:
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You see, whether it’s listening or moving or changing, I think we all face a decision. I mean, since Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven and as a result, the Holy Spirit has come upon us, now we really have to decide what we’re going to do about it.
And I’ll tell you, I believe that really brings us back to Mother’s Day and in particular, what I said about my mom. You see, although I didn’t recognize it when she was doing it, whether because I was in Louisiana or Montana or Indiana or whether she’d entered immortality, so much of what she did prepared me for life when she wasn’t around. And you know, that’s really what the resurrected Jesus did for his disciples and has done for us. I mean, since Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has come upon us, something we’ll talk about next week on Pentecost. And since Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven and as a result, the Holy Spirit has come upon us, now we really have to decide what we’re going to do about it. And for those two reasons, I believe I’m safe in saying that, along with providing validation and being physical, offering hope and being good news, the resurrection of Jesus really does anticipate the Holy Spirit.
Funeral Sermon - A Sense of Peace
Below is a recording and the text of the message offered during the funeral of Ella Henry, Saturday, May 11.
But you know, I hope that’s not the case for us this morning, because I believe we have every reason to leave this service with a sense of peace. In other words, although we’re going to miss Ella, I really believe that we can feel a sense of comfort, a sense of tranquility, a genuine sense of peace as we leave here and go on with the rest of our lives. And let me tell you why.
First, I think we can feel peace just knowing that Ella lived a good, long life. Now, before I say anything else, I’m going to be straight with y’all; I’ve only been around here for just short of three years. And so, I’m not going to pretend that I knew her well. But y’all did. I mean, y’all know how strong she was and how hard she worked and how dedicated she was to her God and to her church and to her family. For example, it takes real strength to deal with the passing of two husbands and two sons and a step-son, along with parents and siblings. Man, it takes strength to deal with that kind of grief. And I think everybody here knows how hard she worked. My gosh, she ran a farm before women were supposed to do that kind of stuff, and she did it while also raising a family, for crying out loud. In fact, when I talked with the family yesterday afternoon, I think y’all called her an overcomer, because, when faced with a challenge, she didn’t make a lot of excuses, did she? Instead she took care of it, even if that meant doing payroll after the kids were in bed. Man, she knew how to work. And as to her dedication, my goodness, I think she did just about everything that could be done around the church. And within her family, let me ask you, how many mothers would have their kids line up and drink carrot and celery juice from a “Juicenator,” because it was good for them? And how many chicken farmers who made their money selling eggs, how many would respond to a son who broke a whole mess of their income with just three simple words: Clean it up? And how many people would care so much for all her children, that she made everyone feel like family and it didn’t matter whether they were step brothers or half-sisters or even in-laws and out-laws? For Ella, everybody belonged. And as I remember, when I visited her in the apartment, their pictures were probably somewhere in her living room. Now that, my friends, is dedication. You see, I believe I’m safe in saying that Ella really did live a good life. And that’s the first reason I think, we can feel peace.
And second, I hope y’all believe that Ella also has a wonderful future, a future that’s grounded in the promises of God and the love of Jesus Christ. I mean, just think about what Isaiah saw, a time when those who have gone before us “will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint.” And of course from John, that wonderful vision he had of our future, in a new heaven and a new earth, a place where God will wipe away all tears from our eyes and where there will be no death and no sorrow and no crying and no pain. You see, that’s our future, a new world, a recreated world. And I’ll tell you, Ella is going to be there, and personally, I hope she’s making some of the stuff y’all talked about yesterday, you know, like the orange cookies and the loaves of bread and the buns and the rolls. And who knows, she just might be baking all that stuff in an avocado kitchen with a Formica table. But you better be careful; she just might hand you a pair of scissors so you can cut that hardtack candy. You see, she’s going to be there with her mom and dad and with Virgil and Gene, Douglas and Robert and Marty, who died one year to the day Ella passed, and of course, all the other family members to whom she had to say good-bye; I’m telling you, they’re all going to be there with her just the way it’s supposed to be. In other words, the time is coming when we’re going to see Ella again, and it won’t be on Mayfield or in Water Run. Instead, we’ll all be together in a new and glorious world, one where there’s no pain and no passing. You see, that’s our future. That’s our hope. And that’s the second reason I think we can feel peace.
You know, after some funerals, families struggle for years with all kinds of questions and emotions and maybe even guilt, and I’m talking about a whole bunch of questions that I’m not sure anyone can answer and emotions that are jumbled and confused and guilt, man, guilt that can almost take over a person’s life. But you know, I don’t think that should be the case for us, as we leave here this morning, because I believe that we can feel a sense peace as we think about Ella, and I’m talking about the peace that comes from knowing that she lived a good life and that the day is coming when we’re going to be with her again. You see, I think knowing these things offers a genuine sense of peace.
Bible Readings for May 14, 2024
Monday, May 13, 2024
Today in the Mission Yearbook - Columbia Theological Seminary awarded Climate Science in Theological Education grant
Bible Readings for May 13, 2024
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Today in the Mission Yearbook - Mother's Day
Witness, Share and Evangelize: Today in the Mission Yearbook - Mother's Day: Later we will understand May 12, 2024 Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, dates to the late 1850s as a day to learn to cook better and ...
Study, Learn and Grow: Bible Readings for May 12, 2024
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Bible Readings for May 11, 2024
Friday, May 10, 2024
Prayer Requests to be shared during Sunday’s service
On Sunday, May 12, Sligo Presbyterian Church will lift to God the following needs:
- Arnold Bowser
- Barb Smith's niece
- Barbara Yarchuk
- Betty Milanovich
- Betty Phillips
- Betty Terwint
- Bob Shook
- Bob Varner
- Bruce Bowman
- Bus Clark
- Butch
- Carol Carr
- Cass' Neice
- Charles Truitt
- Chris Sibert
- Colin Harzell
- Corbin
- Dan Kemp
- David Glatt
- Debbie Flick
- Donnie Wirt Sr.
- Duane Quinn
- Elaine Lerch
- Elaine Shadiow
- Elizabeth
- Francis Maines
- Gabe
- Haylee
- Jeanne & Bill Dicken and Family
- Jerry Shook
- Jim Mahle
- Jim Mason
- Joe Amato
- Lana Todd
- Lisa
- Lori Myers
- Margie Henry
- Mark Dell
- Mary Foringer
- Mason Martin
- Maxine Hartle
- Michael Curran
- Mike Hiles
- Patty Divins
- Patty Selle
- Peg Watkins
- Randy Frampton
- Reoerta Fetterman
- Rick Shadiow
- Robb Summerville
- Ron & Shelly Haines
- Ron Lerch
- Rose
- Ruth Hellams
- Tadd French
- Tamlynn
- Ted Saylors
- The Family of Dan, Abigale & Dawnell Dooyema
- The Family of Ella Henry
- Uncle Harvey
- Velma Stewart
- Wes Summerville
- Zach Schieberl
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