November 10 saw eighteen people join Rev. Dr. Karen Medland for worship as she continued her two-part series on the book of Ruth (3:1-5; 4:13 -17) entitling her message “The Beginning of a Dynasty.” Naomi helps Ruth find a new husband as she gleans Boaz’ fields for food. Boaz and Ruth’s son is named Obed who became the father of Jesse who became the father of David. Ruth is the only non-Jewish female listed in the Gospel according to Matthew’s genealogy. This remains important since character and relationship are more important to God than any human rules. Karen asked us to consider in light of Ruth’s story who we include or exclude. How do we answer this question?
Then on November 17th, twenty-three people welcomed Julia back who entitled her message “Stay in Your Lane” and read the passage of scripture Hebrews 12:1-4. She introduced a new word for us: Dumfungled which is a Scottish word meaning “to be mentally and physically worn out.” Have we ever felt dumfungled? I know I have which causes me to get out of my lane. However, with our being Christ’s light in the world today we can experience love, peace, and contemplation as we do not focus on the numerous negative things happening in the world today. Hebrews 12:1-2a (NRSV) says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” What changes for us in this race set before us if we believe that the “so great a cloud of witnesses” are those people who are around us at the present time? For me this was a different interpretation of this verse which will continue to enable me to stay in my lane as I run the race. What are we doing on this race at the present time?
Thanks to Marie Wedderburn for her summary,