"It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
"The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13:1-5

(The following link is by Roseanna M. White, a good article about serving/service to others - 11-14-2024)
"Christ came to serve. He tells His disciples not to seek to lord over others, but to be their servant. He invites us to do the same."
Who Have You Invited? - Roseanna M. White

From: One Year With Jesus, September 24

Matthew 19:13-15
     Then people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
     Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
 
     Jesus didn’t mean that heaven is only for children, but that people need child-like attitudes of trust in God. The receptiveness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders who let their education and sophistication stand in the way of the simple faith need to believe in Jesus.
     It was customary for a mother to bring her children to a rabbi for a blessing, and that is why these mothers gathered around Jesus. The disciples, however, thought the children were unworthy of the Master’s time—less important than whatever else He was doing. But Jesus welcomed them because little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter God’s Kingdom. It is important that we introduce our children to Jesus and that we ourselves approach Him with childlike attitudes of acceptance, faith, and trust.
 

​APPLE CIDER PRESS YOUTH RALLY - Home (acpyouthrally.org) 

​https://www.disasterreliefeffort.org/donate - With Hurricane Helene devastating a large portion of southeastern U.S., Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Inc. (CCDRE) is really ramping up and sending out truckloads of relief to area churches. The best way to help is sending money. Click and check it out.

(Exert from Bobby Valentine via Facebook, Restoration Community, 9/27/2024)
     Hallel HaGadol is Hebrew for "the great praise." Our reading concludes with the the explosion of thanksgiving for HESED. 
     The apostle Paul explicitly tells us to use the Book of Psalms in our worship to God so as to "discern the will of God" (Eph 5.17). They obviously are among those things that makes us wise unto salvation, instruct us in doctrine and equip us to every good work (Eph 5.18f; 2 Tim 3.15-17). The words "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" (as they are translated in most English Bibles) come straight out of the headings used in the Greek Septuagint of the Psalms. Paul literally tells the Ephesian church that one way we know the Holy Spirit is flowing in us is when we sing the Book of Psalms.
 . . . . .This morning's lection of Psalms 131-136, is full of the blessedness and gratitude of being counted by grace among the people of God. Images of Pilgrims longing - aching - to be included in the procession of worship in Zion.
          "Zion" evokes our hope. "Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the LORD" (134.2).
          We sing "psalms to his name for that is pleasing" to the Lord (135.3).
     Here in this place, and at this time, we are reminded of God's incredible love for his people, "Israel his treasured possession" (135.4). Such HESED issues not in condescension or arrogance but in gratitude on the part of the saints.
     When we see the word "Hesed" we are encountering one of the most important words in the entire Bible. It is an exceedingly difficult word to translate because its meaning is so deep and profound. Scholars have suggested: grace, mercy, steadfast love, unfailing love (NIV) unending commitment, even "hell will freeze over before I give you up." The very word is praised in the Hebrew Bible (cf. Pss 103, 107, etc).

Psalm 133 
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
Running down upon the beard,
As on Aaron’s beard,
The oil which ran down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For the Lord commanded the blessing there—life forever.

A Song of Ascents.
​Psalm 134 
Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
Who serve by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary
And bless the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 136:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His faithfulness is everlasting;
To Him who made the great lights,
For His faithfulness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day,
For His faithfulness is everlasting,
The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.


​

Were you alive on September 11, 2001? I was. I was 33 years old, owned my own fairly successful small business (a bakery). It was about 8:30 a.m. and I was just waiting for some bread to get done and take it out of the oven and getting ready to go onto the next thing needing doing. Just a normal Tuesday baking day. Then, a good friend came into the bakery, we exchanged greetings, and he said, "I've got bad news. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Towers in New York City. The towers have collapsed; people were seen jumping out of the windows. There was a plane flown into the Pentagon; another crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. All flights into or out of the U.S. have been grounded." Even now, 23 years later, I remember exactly how I felt. Shock. Horror. Clutching my stomach in nausea. Tears welling up. Oh, God. No. Why? Why?!

We always say, "Never Forget." But we so often do. Unless you yourself were physically impacted -- lost a close loved one, actually knew a person killed, personally knew someone who gave their life -- we forget. The loss is so overwhelming, so immense, so long-ago and. . .we forget. This is why we have memorials, physical mementos, solemn gatherings and tributes; it helps us to mourn and to remember and to, hopefully, come together and give peace and comfort to one another. Remember that our Father God has given us the avenue of prayer to talk to Him, to give us comfort and a release for anguish.

​On this day of remembrance remember to pray.

A Prayer for Hope 
From: 5 Prayers for America on 9/11 - 9/11 Anniversary (crosswalk.com)
A fifth prayer for America on 9/11 is a prayer for hope. Hope is something that we all need. Especially for major tragic events, such as the terrorist attacks on 9/11, we need a reason to have hope. We can always trust in Jesus because He is our hope.
There are terrible things that happen in the world, but they are not God’s fault. Terrible things happen in the world because of sin being in the world. Despite these bad things happening, God can work out bad things for His good (Romans 8:28).
Dear God, please give us hope during these times. There have been many devastating events to happen, and the anniversary of 9/11 reminds us of the terrible things that can happen. Please fill our hearts with hope and be our sturdy foundation. Our hope is found in You alone, Lord, and we know we can always trust You. Please give all people hope and give America the hope we need to continue on. We thank you always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

​Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not plead with me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you sleep, I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me, and worse, if anything but death separates me from you.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her about it.
So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.