Prayer
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Scripture
Acts 12:1-19 New Living Translation
James Is Killed and Peter Is Imprisoned
1 About that time King Herod Agrippa[a] began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.[b]) 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison
6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders[c] had planned to do to me!”
12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.
18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
Sermon – “What Happens When the People of God Sincerely Prays”
Weekly Prayer Request
Sue Barger
The Bell Family
The Jackson Family
A.J. Pitts
* If you would like to add someone to the weekly prayer list please reply or send an email to tuxedo.park@sbcglobal.net.
At noon, every day this week, we as a church family will be engaging in corporate prayer. The following is a list of what we are praying for each day of this week:
Monday: Our Community
Tuesday: Each Other
Wednesday: Our Church
Thursday: Family
Friday: Health & Strength
Announcements
Bread & Word: (Food Pantry and Clothing Center) will be open this Thursday, September 28, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m., and on the following Thursdays: 10/12/23, 10/26/23, 11/9/23, 11/30/23, 12/14/23 and 12/28/23.
Community Harvest Fest: will be on Saturday, October 14, 2023 @ 12:00 p.m. There will be free food, games, live music, vendors and more. Please invite someone.
Fellowship Calendar
The following is a list of our monthly fellowship events:
- Community Harvest Fest: On Saturday, October 14, 2023 @ 12:00 p.m.
- Thanksgiving w/ the Smiths: On Sunday, November 19, 2023.
- Christmas Eve Luncheon: On Sunday, December 24, 2023.
* If you have any input or questions about our monthly fellowship events, please see Mrs. Linda Sutton.
Clothing Center
The Clothing Center is seeking donations for any of the items listed below. Gently used items are acceptable. Bolded items are sorely needed.
Laundry Detergent
Men’s Boxer Shorts (size: L and 2X)
Men’s Short Sleeved T-Shirts (size: XL-5X)
Men’s Sneakers (size: 9-12)
Men’s Crew (full length) Socks
Men’s Jeans (waist size 32-38)
Men’s Jeans (waist size 30-32)
Women’s Tennis Shoes (Sizes: 8-9 ½)
Women’s Crew (full length) Socks
Weekly Ministry Highlight
A group of parishioners attending the Indians baseball game on Friday, September 22, 2023.
