December 2019 Newsletter

The December newsletter is ready a little early due to the traveling this week. I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

Click on the link below to view the newsletter.

December 2019 Newsletter

Have a great day!
~ Carmen

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/24/19)

Following Worship Sunday Chili Lunch and Hanging of the Green. We will eat then decorate the church. Bring a desert to share if you would like to.

Scripture
2 Samuel 9:1-13 (ESV)

1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

Questions for Reflection
1.    If you had it within your power, whom would you elevate from "rags to riches" and why?
2.    What commitment did David remember when he was established in the kingship of Israel? (9:1)
3.    Where did David find Jonathan’s son living? (9:4-5)
4.    What attitude did Mephibosheth assume toward David when they met? (9:6)
5.    What promises did David make to Mephibosheth? (9:7)
6.    How did Mephibosheth expect to be treated by David? (9:8)
7.    What kind of treatment did Mephibosheth receive in David’s house? (9:11)
8.    How would another generation of Saul’s family continue in Israel? (9:12)
9.    Why did Mephibosheth live in Jerusalem from this time onward although his family’s lands were elsewhere? (9:13)
10. Why was it especially important to David to find the surviving members of Saul’s family?
11. Why did Mephibosheth have reason to be afraid of David?
12. What special provision did David make because of Mephibosheth’s disability?
13. Why is it important to carry through on promises made, even if the person to whom you made them is dead and gone?
14. Why is it a greater honor to ask someone to eat with you than simply to give him or her a meal?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/10/19)

• Sunday, November 10, 2019 - Thanksgiving Lunch! The church is providing Turkey please bring a side dish to share.
• Fall Food Drive has begun. Please bring food for our Food Bank each Sunday in November.
• Sunday, November 10, 2019 Roosevelt Service 6 PM  

Scripture
Luke 20:27-38 (ESV) 

There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, [28] and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. [30] And the second [31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."  [34] And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, [35] but those who are b considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36] for they cannot die anymore, because they are f equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. [38] Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him."  

Questions for Reflection
1.    What do you imagine happens to us after death?
2.    Why do you think there is so much confusion and controversy about the afterlife in our world today?
3.    How have your beliefs in the afterlife changed over the years?
4.    How did Luke describe the Sadducees? (20:27)
5.    Why did the Sadducees approach Jesus? (20:27)
6.    What was the main point of the lengthy story the Sadducees told Jesus? (20:28-33)
7.    How did Jesus respond to the Sadducees’ question? (20:34-35)
8.    What is the "age" to which Jesus referred? (20:35)
9.    Who is "considered worthy"? (20:35)
10. In the age to come, what did Jesus promise to those who take part in the resurrection of the dead? (20:36)
11. How did Jesus describe God? (20:37-38)
12. Why did Jesus describe God as "the God of the living"? (20:38)
13. Why should we believe in the resurrection of the dead?
14. What makes belief in the resurrection an important Christian belief?
15. How should the promise of eternal life affect your everyday actions?

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (11/3/19)

• Men’s Breakfast Saturday morning 8 AM, coffee will be on at 6:30 AM come and join us.
• Sunday November 3, 2019 We will have a brief Congregational meeting following worship to elect four people to serve on the nominating committee with the outgoing elders.
• These are the details of the services for George Stewart:  
• Memorial Service is at Christ of the Hills Presbyterian Church on Thursday November 7th at 1:00 PM. The Address is 635 Highway 46 East Ste. 203-204, Boerne, TX 78006. Pastor Pete Johnson will officiate.  Internment is on Saturday, November 9th at Mo Ranch outside of Hunt, Texas. At 1:00 we will meet up on Serenity Hill near the Chapel on the Hill for the service, Reverends Jim & Laurie Barker officiating. If weather is severe then we will have a service at the Mo-Ranch Chapel near Guest Lodge. If anyone wants to join us for lunch in the dining hall at 11:30 they will need to have a reservation (we need a head count). Let Jim know and he will call in our reservations. 325-215-9017.  All memorial gifts can be made to Christ of the Hills Presbyterian Church. 

Scripture for Sunday
Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV) 
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
   3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
   5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
   6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
   7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
   8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
   9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
   10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
   12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Questions for Reflection
1.    What are some ways people typically try to find happiness or fulfillment in life?
2.    What person (living or dead) do you respect most? Why?
3.    Who was Jesus addressing? (5:1-2)
4.    According to Jesus, what is the reward for those who are poor in spirit? (5:3)
5.    Why are those who mourn blessed? (5:4)
6.    What does God promise to those who are merciful? (5:7)
7.    According to this passage, who will see God? (5:8)
8.    What unexpected command is given to Christians who are insulted, hassled, and lied about? (5:11-12)
9.    What people in history have endured nasty persecution? (5:12)
10. How does it pay in the present to walk with God?
11. What do you think it means to be poor in spirit?
12. What are some examples of showing mercy?
13. How does society’s list of admirable virtues compare and contrast with these kingdom virtues?
14. Which of these promises means the most to you today? Why?