Sermon for 12/15/2024
Pastor Jerry leFeber
Pastor Jerry leFeber
Reverend Carrie Wolfe
1st Sunday of Advent
Pastor Shawn Hannon
Christ the King Sunday
Reverend Carrie Wolfe
26th Sunday after Pentecost
Pastor Jerry leFeber
25th Sunday after Pentecost
Reverend Carrie Wolfe
At St. John’s, we come together every Wednesday evening at 6 o’clock to join in prayer.
First, we have a mini-bible class of next Sunday’s Gospel reading. Then we have a variety of issues we lift up to the Lord. This list can change from week to week. Everyone is welcome! Bring your own concerns and we’ll pray together. God is listening!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
He is the maker of heaven and earth
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
John 15:1-17
[Jesus said:] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
Lord Almighty: order our days and our deeds with your peace.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Thanksgivings
Sick in body & mind; the homebound & all caregivers
Pandemic/natural disasters
Grieving
Families/ the young/ Majengo
Leaders/ Churches
Those who travel
Prayer cards
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight;
Give your angels charge over those who sleep tonight;
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ; Rest your weary ones;
Bless your dying ones; Soothe your suffering ones;
Shield your joyous ones;
And all for your love’s sake.
Amen!
“We do not come to God as strangers pleading for special favors, but as those He calls His children”
Father, we thank You for all Your answers – the “no” answers, the “not yet” answers, and the “yes” answers, because we know that You know best!
Lord, hear too the other prayers of our hearts – the prayers not mentioned aloud – the prayers that are deep inside us. Hear our prayers for healing – for peace – for forgiveness – for quiet – for grace upon grace…
All these things we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.