Dear Friends,
Many of us are planting gardens this spring with plans of harvesting fruits and vegetables in the summer and fall. The metaphor of the vine and the branches is one that we understand. Remember to keep praying, worshiping, reading your Bible and loving others to remain connect to Jesus.
If you would like a home visit, conversation, or home communion, please call me at 573-437-2779 (church).
- The Dorcas and St. Peter’s will be serving lunch and cookies at the Blood Drive at Immaculate Conception Church on Thursday, May 9 from 12-6. Volunteers and donations of cookies are needed for this event.
- Owensville High School Graduates will be recognized during worship on Sunday, May 12th.
- The Scenic Regional Library is sponsoring a grave cleaning event in the St. Peter’s Cemetery on Saturday, June 8. Register at the library.
Blessings,
Pastor Stephanie DeLong
Scripture: Acts 8:26-40 • Psalm 22:25-31 • 1 John 4:7-21 • John 15:1-8
Sermon: Much Fruit
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” John 15:4, The Message, Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
We are called to live in Jesus as Jesus lives in us. A concept which Jesus illustrates with a farming metaphor. A branch cannot bear grapes unless it is attached to the vine. We cannot bear spiritual fruit unless we live in Jesus.
Most of us have done some gardening. So, we understand what Jesus means. If a branch of a plant breaks off from the main vine, it just withers and dies. Bearing fruit would be a complete impossibility. This applies to fruit bearing plants other than grape vines. Tomato branches that break off wither and die. In the past I’ve grown zucchini, melons and more. Part of gardening was to go in and pull out the dead branches that had shriveled up and died.
When the branch breaks off from the main branch it fails to receive the nourishment that it needs. Water and nutrients cannot flow into the branch. Any fruit that may have been growing shrivels up with the rest of the vine.
When we become separated from the love of God, we are no longer attached to God’s nurturing love and strength. We will begin to wither and die on the inside. Spiritual fruit that has begun to grow within us cannot be sustained. We may find ourselves being pulled away and discarded.
But we are not without hope. Jesus does offer redemption. Sometimes branches that have begun to break off can be tied back onto the main branch. Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. When we feel ourselves slipping away from God’s love then it is time to pray, study and worship. We need to rebuild our relationship with God through Jesus.
Lately I have been rearranging the files on my laptop. Some of these files are being transferred onto thumb drives to be shared with those who will need them after I leave. For example, the Owensville Rosebud Ministerial Alliance records that I have been keeping since 2017 will need to be shared with other Pastors who are a part of the Ministerial Alliance.
While transferring the files, I have been thinking about how they are all connected and stored. Each file in a folder that has been labeled. On my computer I have folders such as Sermons, Bulletins, Stewardship and Ministerial Alliance. These folders have subfolders too. The Ministerial Alliance subfolders include Correspondence, Finances, Assistance and more.
When moving the files around, I was worried that I might accidentally move one of the important Excel workbooks to the wrong location or worse delete it. The file might be completely removed from its source then important financial records and bookkeeping would be permanently lost. Then I remember that the recycle bin in Windows allows files to wait just in case the user wishes to restore them. I should be able to retrieve and restore any lost files until I choose to empty the recycle bin.
God is like this. When we are disconnected from the main document section of our computer or when our branch becomes broken off from the vine, there is a chance that we may be restored. Jesus offers us the opportunity for loving redemption. When we feel like we are in the recycle bin of life, we may reach out to Jesus and pray for reconnection. Fellowship and worship, with other Christians, helps to heal our wounds and nurture our souls. Lovingly reconnected with Jesus, we will be restored to new life and bear much fruit. Let us all bear a great deal of fruit.
Prayer: Loving God, when I am feeling withered and worn help me to pray and reconnect with the loving vine of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer list: All who have been on our list for a while, Mark’ s brother Billy, Tyra, Freya, Vicki B., Barb Z., Jesse, Tammy. Jennifer, Richard, Tamara, John, Dixon’s daughter, Ashlely and Cody, Garth, Linda, Tessa, Carl, Kimbra, Liz’s father, Dannie, Lathe, Marilyn, Kris, Lee Ann, Bob, Diane, Linda, Keetha, Carly, Mia (Good news, she is healing.), Brenda, David, Dave, Jeff, Bill & Kathleen, Bill with cancer, Nancy and Pat, Son-in-law of friends for Diann K., baby Claire. Janet, Karen, Karen N. Edie, Judy, and Tom. If you know of anyone who would like a prayer shawl, please let us know.
Prayers for Judy Balluff’s family at the passing of her sister-in-law.
