February 17, 2021
A Note From Pastor Dave
We continue with Luke’s sermon on the plain this week.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
In a world of much alienation, blaming, resenting, and hating, these verses invite us to a different way. This different way is a reflection of God’s heart, and a way to discovering God’s heart. Because God is kind and loving to the ungrateful and unloving. These verses present practical challenges for applying to our lives, but these verses hold up for us a model and an ideal: a redeeming love that does not perpetuate hurt and isolation but seeks to forge a different way.
I hope you’ll join us in worship this Sunday at 9:30am, either online or in person.
Peace,
Pastor Dave
Sunday Worship
We are worshipping in two ways: In-person in the sanctuary and over Zoom, Sundays at 9:30am with precautions in place. The service will also be posted to the website by Monday morning as well.
Note concerning precautions: We continue to worship in person and over Zoom. Meetings and gatherings continue in person and over Zoom as well. However, during this time of heightened COVID spread, we continue our spaced seating, and encourage us all to maintain spacing as much as possible. If you are not feeling 100% we invite you to wear a mask or participate over Zoom. Over the next couple months of heightened concern and uncertainty, we invite us all to be extra-cautious with each other’s health.
Online Giving
You can now give online! Providence Presbyterian Church has partnered with the Presbyterian Foundation to offer a convenient, safe and secure way for our community to give online. Visit our giving page on our website for information on how to donate to Providence electronically.
This Sunday:
Collection for the Parker Task Force: Thank you for your continued support of the Parker Task Force! Our next collection for the Task Force is this Sunday February 20th, 2022. They currently have a big need for crackers and soup. If you plan to make a gift card or cash donation, please keep it separate from the food donations. Questions? Please contact Steve Heald or the church office.
Upcoming Sundays:
Short Congregational Meeting: There will be a very brief Congregational Meeting on Sunday February 27, 2022. The meeting will be held at the end of the worship service and the sole purpose will be for the congregation to elect Stephen Boulter to the office of Deacon.
Missions/Church Life: Ways to volunteer at church and in our community:
We are looking for greeters and ushers! We are thankful for those who regularly serve as greeters and ushers, however we are in need of more help in these capacities.
- As Greeters, we would like you to stand near the door to greet and welcome people as they come to worship. Greeters also help visitors by directing them to our Hospitality Table where they can get information about our church and provide us with their contact information. Greeters no longer need to take attendance so they can focus on greeting and welcoming.
- As Ushers, you assist with lighting the candles, making sure everyone has a bulletin or communion elements, keep an eye towards the door for any late arrivals, and help collect and count the offering. Because Ushers are involved in the handling of money, we ask for Ushers to have a background check.
If you are willing to help in either of these capacities, see the sign-up sheet in the narthex, or contact Chris Hudson or the church office.
Upcoming Events & Announcements:
Ash Wednesday Service: Providence’s Ash Wednesday service will be Wednesday March 2nd at 7pm in the sanctuary. Join us as we enter the season of Lent, affirming our dependence on our Lord, and our openness to our Lord’s leading and provision along the way. All are welcome.
Restaurant Week @ Providence: Denver’s Restaurant week is back and will be March 11-20, 2022 and Providence wants you to join us for a night out! This year you can sign up for a price point that you would like to pay ($25, $35 or $45) and then a restaurant will be picked in the price range you selected and reservations will be made for the group to attend together. Sign-up sheets can be found on the white board in the Narthex. If you would like to participate this year and have a restaurant you’d like to visit or just have questions about this event, please contact Steve Heald or the church office.
Ruminations: We will gather on Tuesday, March 1st, 2022 at 7pm to look at our scriptures for Lent. We will read, discuss, consider themes as well as connections with poetry and art. Come be a part of the conversation as we prepare for the Lenten season! The worship committee will be helping to support and participate in our Ruminations gatherings this year. I look forward to our journey together!
Women’s Support Group: The women’s support group will meet on the second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Providence Fellowship Hall at 3:30pm. The next meeting is February 24th, 2022. Questions? Contact the church office, Bonnie or Dee.
PPC Book Club: Our book club will meet Thursday February 17th, 2022 at 2:00 at church and on ZOOM. The book we are reading is The Shell Collector, by Nancy Naigle. Everyone is welcome.
Adult Education: Providence’s Adult Sunday School class is every Sunday following the church service. The class will start approximately 15 minutes after the church service in the sanctuary. Bring your Bibles and questions with you Please join us as we always have a great discussion and a lot of fun. Everyone is welcome.
Men’s Breakfast: The men’s breakfast will meet on March 17th at 7:30am at Bread & Butter (formerly the Egg & U). Come join us for a meal and fellowship. Questions? Contact Steve Heald or the church office.
Flowers for the Sanctuary: The flowers and refreshments this Sunday will be provided by Lea Marot in loving memory of her late husband Jim Marot 1939-2010. We like to have fresh flower arrangements to adorn our communion table for seasonal and special occasions. If you would like to donate flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one, there is a sign-up sheet on the wall above the table in the narthex (to the left of Pastor David’s office door). After the service for which you provide flowers, you are encouraged to take them home for your further enjoyment.
Coffee and Conversation: Coffee and Conversation meets weekly on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 10am. We connect, reflect on Sunday’s sermon and scriptures with observations and questions, and close in prayer. It is a chance to get to know each other more, to grow together, and to linger longer with the scriptures. Come join us!
King Soopers Fundraiser: Our Kings Soopers fundraiser earned $328 for Providence in the 4th quarter! Thank you to the 34 families that are continuing to support the church in this way. It’s now easier than ever to support Providence Presbyterian Church! Simply register your King Soopers/City Market loyalty rewards cards. Here’s how to sign up:
- Login to your King Soopers or City Market account (or create an account) at www.kingsoopers.com or www.citymarket.com.
- Click on Savings & Rewards, then King Soopers Community Rewards, then Enroll Now.
- Search for Providence Presbyterian Church or enter our organization number YJ207 and click Enroll.
Your King Soopers/City Market loyalty card will be linked to Providence and you’ll be helping us every time you shop! Please feel free to contact the church office if you have any questions.
Prayers
This week at Providence please keep the following people in your prayers:
Jim and Judy Nash, Laurie Schmidt, Paul White, Betty Holum, Phyllis Christensen, Pat Schwartz, Renee Mastriona, Lea Marot, Evan & Janell Totten, Donna Hoyt, Jacqueline Murphy, Kris Fairbanks, Sharyn Horvath, Kay Norden, Cindy Stelzer, Robert McCown, Betty Lutz, Vanessa Pierce, Tom & Cindy Roth, Deanna, Vicki, Mark and Terry. We would also ask you to keep those suffering from COVID-19 in your prayers. Thank you for your prayers.
Phone: 720-851-6881
MidWeek Update Deadline:
NOON on Tuesday
ppcmwu@providencepcusa.org
Hearing Loop is available in our Sanctuary
MidWeek Scripture Reflection
Genesis 45:1-15
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Luke 6:27-38
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
