17th Sunday after Pentecost … Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 at 10am
Come as you are! Everyone welcome … In-person or on Zoom.
R E A D I N G S
🔆 Psalm 98 🔆 1 Timothy 1:12-17 🔆 Luke 15:1-10
S E R M O N
“Mustard Seed Faith and the Gaza Offering: Don’t Worry About Increased faith, Just Get Going” The Reverend Dr. Max Lynn
M U S I C
PRELUDE … Etude pour Piano No. 1, Manuel Ponce (1886-1948) MEXICO
INTROIT … Ipharadisi, SOUTH AFRICA
HYMN … Dance and Sing, SCOTLAND
ANTHEM … Sara Shriste NEPAL
DANCE … Way Back Home Shaun Maynard
HYMN … They Will Know We are Christians UNITED STATES
OFFERTORY … Owora. J.H. Kwabena Nketia (1921-2019) GHANA
SANCTUS … Santo, ARGENTINA
ANTHEM … Jesus Christ, Our Living Lord. HUNGARY
HYMN … In Christ There is No East or West, UNITED STATES
POSTLUDE … Improviso, Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920) BRAZIL
Join us for Coffee Hour immediately after the service.
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S – – – – – – –
Calendar Notes
Oct 5 – SJ World Communion Sunday
Oct 5 – SJ Sunday Forum: Ancient Prophet Habakkuk, Part 2
Oct 12 – SJ Sunday Forum: Promised Land and Chosen People, Part 1
Oct 13 – Indigenous People’s Day
Oct 19 – SJ Pet Blessing Sunday
Oct 20 – Diwali, festival of lights
Oct 25 – SJ Halloween Party / Haunted House, 6:30pm to 8pm
Oct 26 – SJ Song of Songs (on Reformation Sunday)
Oct 26 – SJ Sunday Forum: Promised Land and Chosen People, Part 2
Nov 2 – Daylight Saving time ends – Clocks fall back 1 hour
Nov 2 – SJ Dia de Los Muertos Sunday
Upcoming Sunday Forums
Take a break after worship for 5-10 minutes, then come back for a conversation:
October 5
Where is God in the Hurt? The Prophet Habakkuk, An Ancient Voice Speaks Today: Habakkuk wrote about suffering when his people were threatened on all sides by oppression, violence, and erasure. Invite a friend, and let’s accompany each other in reading and reflection about a rarely preached prophet with relevance today. The Sunday Forum will include a short lecture and then interactive group application led by St. John’s Intern and SFTS MDIV candidate, Elizabeth Conway.
October 12
Promised Land and Chosen People: Rabbi Jonathan Seidel from Aquarian Minyan will share with us how he and his congregation understand biblical texts which speak or reference ideas commonly associated with the notion of God promising a certain land to a particular “Chosen People.”
October 26
Elizabeth Conway will lead a continuation of our discussion of Promised Land and Chosen People.
St John’s Offering to help with Food and School for Palestinian Children
Dear Pastor Max,I hope this email finds you well and in good spirits. I wanted to share with you a glimpse of the ministry we’ve been carrying out here in Arish among Palestinian refugee families whose lives have been torn apart by the ongoing war. Many of the women we serve are widows or separated from their husbands (some men couldn’t cross the borders to Egypt), carrying the heavy burden of raising children alone, while navigating grief, poverty, and an uncertain future.Kindly find attached some photos that witness the change we’re trying to bring to their lives, as by God’s grace, we’ve been able to walk alongside over 400 families, many of whom had never met Christians before, offering both practical support and the hope of Christ. Together, we’ve provided food, clothing, medicines, formula, diapers, blankets, fans, and even joyful sports days for their children. What began with fear and hesitation has slowly turned into trust, friendship, and spiritual openness.
Yet, one of the deepest wounds we see is the loss of education. Hundreds of children have been out of school for over a year. Their futures feel stolen. That’s why we are dreaming and praying about opening a school for 250 refugee children, following the Gaza curriculum. Education is not just a basic right; it’s a seed of hope. Among these little ones may rise future scientists, leaders, and peacemakers.
The local authorities have already offered us eight classrooms in a government building. With support, we hope to equip them with desks, whiteboards, laptops, projectors, and provide salaries for teachers. We long to give these children not only knowledge, but dignity, stability, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
We would be deeply grateful if you would prayerfully consider walking with us in this new chapter. With warm regards and hope in Christ, Blessings,
– Rev. Samuel Adel, The Chairman of the Pastoral, Outreach, & Mission Council (POMC)
Download the Palestinian -Egyptian School Budget
Download the Palestinian-Egyptian photos