I will host a “Selah Sanctuary” immediately following worship on Sunday, November 16th to pause and prayerfully consider together, in community. We will share and listen to each other for about an hour.
I hope you were able to vote yesterday. It still matters.
Bob of GILA and campaign volunteers!
This Sunday, November 9th, as we approach Veterans’ Sunday, all veterans and active-duty personnel are welcome to wear your uniforms to worship. We will lift you in prayer and gratitude for the strength you bring to our church and our nation.
We will take a moment during “Welcome and Announcements” to ask the brave women and men who have served our country in the armed forces to stand so that we may thank you and celebrate the service you have given to protect the freedoms that we enjoy.
While the Veterans Day official holiday is Tuesday, November 11, 2025, please receive our gratitude for your service to our country!
We welcome Lay Readers, Dawn Revely and Carol Bellamy, this week. “A Moment for Stewardship” will be offered by Ron Dobson on the importance of pledging generously to Greenbelt Community Church as we enter Week 4 of our Stewardship Campaign.
The Greenbelt Community Church Choir, under the direction of Dr. Wei-Der Huang will lead us in congregational singing of hymns: “When Peace, Like A River” #438 NCH; “I Am Yours, O Lord” #455 NCH; and “A Balm in Gilead” #553 NCH.
I will preach a sermon, entitled “Whose Woman is This?” drawing on the lectionary reading of Luke 20:27-38 and a periscope from the Book of Ruth 2:1-12; as the eighth message in our series of “God, Self, and Neighbor”. This question is asked by both the Sadducees in Luke’s gospel and also by Boaz in the Book of Ruth, with very different intent. We will explore these differences.
Last Sunday, we celebrated with a beautiful liturgy of “Bread and Cup” as we commemorated All Saints Day with the “calling of our ancestors”, honoring living saints and even some beloved pets, while chiming the memories and their presence among us. Joining me as co-celebrant to serve at the Table was Diane Wogaman.
Our Communion Stewards and Lay Readers, Carla Crompton, Orville Burnett, Jo-anne Fournier and Anne Garrett, with Loriann Scheff providing support and planning, facilitated a welcoming, sacred experience at the Lord’s Supper. And for all of this, we give thanks and praise!
We continue our prayers for: Butch and Beth N.; Thyra P.; special prayers for Kenny P.; Rhonda; Christine S.; Marty F.; Ken C.; Gil L.; Anne G.; Jim T.; Gwen V.; Joyce P.; Larry V.; William and Phyllis S. and Sue N.
The thousands who have lost their federal employment; women and children who have been made homeless due to intimate partner violence. The starving people of Gaza who are returning to their war-torn homeland; All the young persons who have been made homeless due to gender identity and gender expression; We pray, O God, for our mental health warriors (those struggling and those helping). Prayers for our veterans who return from their service with no place to call home and no circle of love; For the formerly incarcerated experiencing re-entry obstacles and who cannot find work; For all people around the world dying of starvation and AIDs due to the closure of USAID; For the suffering people of Ukraine. We ask protection for all whose freedoms are being taken by the government; We pray for the healing of our nation and a reign of domestic peace and civility. We pray for the Seventh Day Adventist congregation that shares our space at Greenbelt Community Church. God, in your tender mercies, hear our prayer.
We are each holding vigil in a myriad of ways throughout this time of uncertainty. Each of you, GCC boards and committees are working diligently to maintain the faithful connection among us through this season. You are not alone in any of these increasingly dire circumstances.
On November 17th, Monday evening at 6:30pm, we will share a Social Supper of soup, salad and dessert, whether you are experiencing a difficult time or simply seeking connection. It’s free and open to the wider community!
See you on Sunday, in person or online.
Beloved,
Pastor Aubra
Leave a Reply