Jackson Community Church

Summit, Spirit, Sky: connect to community and creation!

Adult

C3: COCKTAILS & CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS
 Fri, July 22 @ 5pm

By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Education & Faith Formation, HomeTagged ,

C3: COCKTAILS & CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS 

PARABLES set in the VINEYARD

MATTHEW 18:23-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant 
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
      And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’
     Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
      Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’  And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 
     So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

MATTHEW 20:1-16 — The Laborers in the Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.
     When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
     When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?
     They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
     He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
     When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager,‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’
     When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
      But he replied to one of them,‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”MATTHEW 21:28-31 —The Parable of the Two Sons
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said,‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 
     He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went.
    The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.”
    [Jesus asked] 31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?”
    They said, “The first.”

 MATTHEW 21:33-41,43-45 — The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went away.
    When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them in the same way.
    Then he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
    But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
    [Jesus asked] “Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
    They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” …
    “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits.

C3: COCKTAILS & CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS
 Fri, July 8 @ 5pm

By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Education & Faith Formation, HomeTagged , ,

C3: COCKTAILS & CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONS  k)

PARABLES about KINGDOM of GOD

Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears,[a] hear!”The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this[d] age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”Matthew 13: 24-30 – The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”Matthew 13: 31-32 – The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”Matthew 13: 33 – The Parable of the Yeast

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”Matthew 13: 44-50: Three Parables

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

January 8-9 2022

By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Advent & Christmas, Calendar, Home, WorshipTagged , , , , , , , , ,

SAT, Jan 8

  • Community Resource: JACKSON SKI TOURING
    Info and Trail report: https://www.jacksonxc.org/trail-report/
  • Community Resource: LIBRARY OPEN
    10am-2pm • Jackson Library
    Contact the library for additional help: 603.383.9731 or by email: staff@jacksonlibrary.org
  • MUSIC AROUND TOWN
    • Red Parka Pub: Rek-lis • 4-7pm
    • Shannon Door: Marty Quirk • 4-6pm
    • Wildcat Tavern: Jonathan Sarty • 6-9pm

SUN, Jan 9

  • INTERFAITH GATHERING
    8am • Old Red Library & Zoom
    Join us for poetry, prayer, and conversation.
  • Zoom link required.
  • WORSHIP
    10:30am • (zoom & in-person)
    • Music by Alan Labrie
      Message by Rev Gail Pomeroy Doktor
    • Zoom link required.
    • Service will also be live-streamed to website and Facebook (if technology supports this function on the day of event).
    • Afterward, recordings of worship service will be posted to Facebook, Vimeo.com channel & Youtube.com channel.
  • MUSIC AROUND TOWN
    • Red Parka Pub: Blue Sundays with Blue Steel Express • 5-8:30pm
    • Shovel Handle Pub: Scott Baer • 4:30-7:30pm
    • Shannon Door: SHeehan & Holden • 6-9pm
  • Community Resource: JACKSON SKI TOURING
    Info and Trail report: https://www.jacksonxc.org/trail-report/
    • Register now for Programs: 603-383-9355
    • Four week Sunday Programs: Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30
      • Intro Skate ($125/person, less $25 w/Season Pass)
        Learn to Skate in a progression of Friday sessions. A special rate for skate ski rentals is available. (Four 1.5 hour sessions)
      • Classic Gliding with Ease ($100/person, less $10 w/Season Pass)
        Ski further with less effort and more smiles! You may even start looking for more hills and corners because they are fun when you have the skills. (Four 1 hour sessions)

Reflections on being lost and being where you belong

By jacksonnhccPosted on Posted in Adult, Calendar, Weekly MeditationsTagged , , , , ,

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
— JRR Tolkien

Here every bird and fish knew its course. Every tree had its own place upon this earth. Only man had lost his way. ― Margaret Craven

We’re not lost. We’re just headed somewhere different.
― Emily X.R. Pan

We all seek for lost things within us. ― Toba Beta

Remember your name. Do not lose hope —what you seek will be found. ― Neil Gaiman

SONGS about BEING LOST and BEING WHERE YOU BELONG:

BLESSING — Jan Richardson

You hardly knew
how hungry you were
to be gathered in,
to receive the welcome
that invited you to enter
entirely…
Tentative steps
became settling in…
You began to breathe again…
You learned to sing.

But the deal with this blessing
is that it will not leave you alone,
will not let you linger…
this blessing
will ask you to leave,
not because it has tired of you
but because it desires for you
to become the sanctuary
that you have found…

I Want to Thank the Wind Blows — Alli Warren 
Sound of the rain so I knowthere’s constraintsound of  the trainso I know commercehas not come to a standstillnow they raise the barriernow they set it back in place What coats the bottomof  the surface of  the soundwhen the swifts come inwhen the clerks come homewho will bathe the childrenwho will bake the bread when the luff is tightwhen the mainsheetstarts the boat underway whatever you do don’tlet the tongue slipfrom its moorings what’s that song?love lift us up where we belong I ate the pilland the pill was real

I Belong Here —  Ray Gonzalez 
There is no act of forgiveness,only the redeeming light onthe shoulders dancing intall weeds, cigarettes goneand the girls slapping free. The tortilla cart burns againstthe wall because Jesus calledmy brother who was acquiredby whistling gangs of menunder the hanging arch. There can be no night withoutthe wind on shoulders exhaustedby games and messages my brotherlost between the darkness andthe bridge into Juarez, Mexico, where no crows caw becausethe buildings are torn andflashlights are narrow intheir beaming stumble,my thoughts the last oneson this side of the river, my sudden happiness hiddenin celestial light without beingappalled at what I see, my earsto the ground listening to weedsoverrun by boys who can’t spelland are waiting for me withoutknowing pilgrims are on the border. Whatever kills them spares methe journey to beg for purityamong unspoken Spanisheveryone fears in their greed.The group doesn’t know it iswhat the river stones teach,though I can’t speak of them because faith is prehistoric andmy brother is pursued by duststorms that erase his footprintsacross the back roads where heloses his language of need.

ON BEING LOST

Lost is a lovely place to find yourself. ― Michael Faudet

Maybe family were the people who came looking for you when you were lost. ― Vikki Wakefield

I’m not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I’m not sure that I want to wake up. ― Gayle Forman

In this world, it is too common for people to search for someone to lose themselves in. But I am already lost. I will look for someone to find myself in. ― C. JoyBell C

If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong. ― Masaru Emoto

Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost. ― Erol Ozan 

Getting lost is just another way of saying ‘going exploring. ― Justina Chen Headley

I realise now that I wanted to disappear. To get so lost that nobody ever found me. To go so far away that I’d never be able to make my way home again. ― Jessica Warman

I Think it is lost…..but nothing is ever lost nor can be lost .
The body sluggish, aged, cold, the ember left from earlier fires
shall duly flame again. ― Walt Whitman 

First I lost my heart. Then I lost my mind. ― Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Slowly, with many lost days, I come back to life. ― Suzanne Collins

Sometimes I feel like I don’t belong anywhere, & it’s gonna take so long for me to get to somewhere, Sometimes I feel so heavy hearted, but I can’t explain cuz I’m so guarded. But that’s a lonely road to travel, and a heavy load to bear. And it’s a long, long way to heaven but I gotta get there
Can you send an angel
Can you send me an angel…to guide me?
― Alicia Keys

APPLY WITHIN — Suzy Kassem 

You once told me
You wanted to find
Yourself in the world –
And I told you to
First apply within,
To discover the world
within you.

You once told me
You wanted to save
The world from all its wars –
And I told you to
First save yourself
From the world,
And all the wars
You put yourself
Through.

Scroll to top