THIS WEEK

Sunday, September the 28th – Rev. Dr. Timothy McKenzie will preach from Philippians 2 on “Sharing the Mind of Christ, Together.” After the worship service will be a robust fellowship time. Those who come at 10:30 AM are welcome to help set up the chairs and the sanctuary = )

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:30AM

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:30AM

WORSHIP:  11:00 AM

FELLOWSHIP TIME (after the service – all are invited)
********************************************************************
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Any questions, please contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com, or Julie Rogers for HS; Amy Harbaugh and Steve Bennett for Upper ES and Lower MS, grades 4-7; and Carrie Bennett for Lower ES, grades K-3.
LITTLE KIDS during worship – after the children`s message you may go with Sammie who has prepared a fun lesson about The Tower of Babel.
YOUTH FRIDAYS  One Friday a month, ES & MS will meet for learning and fellowship. Times and locations will vary depending on the event.  Dates: September 26th, October 17th, November 14th and December 5th.
HS YOUTH @Rogers` home on Sunday, October 12th. Movie Night: God’s Not Dead and Bruce Almighty. Also discussion of first 25 pages of Do Hard Things. All are welcome!
NEXT MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – September 28th in Cafeteria, 9:30-10:30 am.
NEXT ADULT Sunday School – Sunday September 28th in the upper room (above the sanctuary) from 9:30-10:30 am.  Rev. Christian Zebley will facilitate the discussion this week.
***
Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Time

Fri. September 26th        Youth Friday meeting (ES, MS)
Sun. September 28th      Rev. Dr. Timothy McKenzie, Multigenerational Sunday School in cafeteria – God`s Gifts to Us – food (con`t), Adult Sunday School in the Upper Room
Sun. October 5th             Pastor Teresa, Communion, Steering Committee meeting
Sun. October 12th           Pastor Teresa, Multigenerational Sunday School, Adult Sunday at the Sacks, HS Movie Night: God’s Not Dead and Bruce Almighty plus discussion of Do Hard Things
Fri. October 16th            Youth Friday meeting (ES, MS)
Sun. October 19th          Rev. Christian Zebley, Communion and Healing Prayers
***
MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!! This fall again we will have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 in the  cafeteria the second and fourth Sundays of the month. September`s remaining and October`s dates are 9/28, 10/12 and 10/26. Who is welcome? All ages. We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more.
The Sacks will host the Adult Sunday School, also at 9:30 am in their living room. The method for looking at the texts for the service is called the, “Swedish Bible study method,” interacting with the text through our own life experiences. Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary. Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy! From time to time, Adult Sunday School will be held in the Upper Room, on the 2nd floor above the Sanctuary. All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )
***
WTUC  Announcements:
*Any questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime.
*Please enjoy and refer our website https://wtuc.net/ and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others.  Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee.
*If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, please contact Gene Witt ewitt@asij.ac.jp
*If interested in joining the WTUC Prayer Chain, let Pastor Teresa or Prayer Chain Coordinator, Kayo Ozawa, know of your interest. Please submit prayers to wtucrev@gmail.com or Kayo Ozawa.
*Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or on the list on the white board for next year. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!
*Each week we will be setting up the chairs for worship and preparing the sanctuary, anyone around at 10:30am is invited to be involved in the fun = )  Each week we will also return our sanctuary to it`s classroom style after the fellowship time.
*Interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.  We will be having a membership class in October for all interested.
***
for consideration for this week`s message –
Philippians 2:1-13New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly

September 21, 2014     Worship 11:00 AM

Pastor:  Rev. Teresa Thompson Sherrill     wtucrev@gmail.com

THIS WEEK

Sunday, September the 21st – Rev. Dr. Jim Sack will preach from Exodus 16 and Psalm 105 bringing us, “God is Not Fair.”  Communion will be served.  After the worship service will be a robust fellowship time. Those who come at 10:30 AM are welcome to help set up the chairs and the sanctuary = )

WORSHIP  11:00 AM

FELLOWSHIP TIME (after the service – all are invited)

********************************************************************                                                        CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Any questions, please contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com, or Julie Rogers for HS; Amy Harbaugh and Steve Bennett for Upper ES and Lower MS, grades 4-7; and Carrie Bennett for Lower ES, grades K-3.

LITTLE KIDS during worship – after the children`s message you may go with Oliver who has prepared a fun lesson about The Flood and the Rainbow.

YOUTH FRIDAYS  One Friday a month, ES & MS will meet for learning and fellowship.  Times and locations will vary depending on the event.  Dates: September 26th, October 17th, November 14th and December 5th.

HS YOUTH are invited to the Rogers` home on Sunday, September 21st at 5pm.  Goals/plans for the year and yummy food await.  All are welcome!

NEXT MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – September 28th in Cafeteria, 9:30-10:30 am.

NEXT ADULT Sunday School – Sunday September 28th in the upper room (above the sanctuary) from 9:30-10:30 am.

***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!This fall again we will have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 in the  cafeteria the second and fourth Sundays of the month. September`s remaining and October`s dates are 9/28, 10/12 and 10/26. Who is welcome? All ages. We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more. 

The Sacks will host the Adult Sunday School, also at 9:30 am in their living room. The method for looking at the texts for the service is called the, “Swedish Bible study method,” interacting with the text through our own life experiences. Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary. Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy! From time to time, Adult Sunday School will be held in the Upper Room, on the 2nd floor above the Sanctuary. All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )  

***

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Time

Sun. September 21st   Rev. Dr. Jim Sack, Communion, HS meeting at Rogers from 5pm

Fri. September 26th    Youth Friday meeting (ES, MS) 

Sun. September 28th  Rev. Dr. Timothy McKenzie, Multigenerational Sunday School, Adult Sunday School in the Upper Room

Sun. October 5th          Pastor Teresa, Communion

Sun. October 12th        Pastor Teresa, Multigenerational Sunday School, Adult Sunday at the Sacks

Fri. October 16th          Youth Friday meeting (ES, MS) 

Sun. October 19th        Rev. Christian Zebley, Communion and Healing Prayers

***

WTUC  Announcements:

  *Any questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime.

  *Please enjoy and refer our website https://wtuc.net/ and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others.  Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee.   

  *If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, please contact Gene Witt ewitt@asij.ac.jp

  *If interested in joining the WTUC Prayer Chain, let Pastor Teresa or Prayer Chain Coordinator, Kayo Ozawa, know of your interest. Please submit prayers to wtucrev@gmail.com or Kayo Ozawa.

  *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or on the list on the white board for next year. We appreciate your contributions to our community life! 

  *Each week we will be setting up the chairs for worship and preparing the sanctuary, anyone around at 10:30am is invited to be involved in the fun = )  Each week we will also return our sanctuary to it`s classroom style after the fellowship time.

  *Interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.  We will be having a membership class in October for all interested.

***

Exodus 16:2-15 

2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’” 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”[a] For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Psalm 105:1-11

1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,

    make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;

    tell of all his wonderful works.

3 Glory in his holy name;

    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Seek the Lord and his strength;

    seek his presence continually.

5 Remember the wonderful works he has done,

    his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered,

6 O offspring of his servant Abraham,[a]

    children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord our God;

    his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He is mindful of his covenant forever,

    of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,

    his sworn promise to Isaac,

10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

    as your portion for an inheritance.”

THIS WEEK

Sunday, September the 14th -  From 9:30 AM will be Adult Sunday School in the Sack`s living room, looking together at Genesis 50 “Swedish Bible study method” style in preparation for the worship service. In the cafeteria from 9:30 AM will be Multigenerational Sunday School. This year we will be enjoying a series called, God Gives Good Gifts. The first gift we will be looking at will be … FOOD! Our story comes from 1 Kings 17:8-16, one of the stories of Elijah.
At the 11AM worship service, Pastor Teresa will preach from Genesis 50, “God Intended it for Good.” During the worship service, we will have a “Blessings of backpacks, computer bags, calendars and briefs” – everyone bring your tool of choice for a blessing. After the worship service will be a fellowship time. Those who come at 10:30 AM are welcome to help set up the chairs and the sanctuary = )

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL  9:30 AM
MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 AM

WORSHIP  11:00 AM

FELLOWSHIP TIME (after the service – all are invited)
********************************************************************
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com with any questions.
LITTLE KIDS during worship – after the children`s message you may go with Sara Hoskins who has prepared a fun lesson
Blessings of backpacks, computer bags, daytime’s and briefs during the September 14 service
HS YOUTH are invited to the Rogers` home on Sunday, September 21st at 5 p.m.  Goals/plans for the year and yummy food await.  All are welcome!
MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – September 14th and 28th in Cafeteria from 9:30-10:30 am
ADULT Sunday School – Sunday September 14th and 28th at the Sack`s from 9:30-10:30 am
***
MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!This fall again we will have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 in the cafeteria the second and fourth Sundays of the month. September`s dates  are 9/14 and 9/28. Who is welcome? All ages. We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more.
The Sacks will host the Adult Sunday School, also at 9:30 am in their living room. The method for looking at the texts for the service is called the, “Swedish Bible study method,” interacting with the text through our own life experiences. Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary. Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy! All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )
***
Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

September 14th – Back to School blessing, Multigenerational Sunday School and Adult Sunday School begin, Pastor Teresa preaching

September 21st -  Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, Communion
***
WTUC  Announcements:

*Any questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime.
*Please enjoy and refer our website and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others.  Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee.  https://wtuc.net/
*If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, please contact Gene Witt ewitt@asij.ac.jp
*If interested in joining the WTUC Prayer Chain, let Pastor Teresa or Prayer Chain Coordinator, Kayo Ozawa, know of your interest. Please submit prayers to wtucrev@gmail.com or Kayo Ozawa.
*Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or on the list on the white board for next year. We appreciate your contributions to our community life!
*Each week we will be setting up the chairs for worship and preparing the sanctuary, anyone around at 10:30am is invited to be involved in the fun = )  Each week we will also return our sanctuary to it`s classroom style after the fellowship time.
*Interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.  We will be having a membership class in October for all interested.
***
Genesis 50:15-21 The Message (MSG)

14-15 After burying his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph’s brothers talked among themselves: “What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?”
16-17 So they sent Joseph a message, “Before his death, your father gave this command: Tell Joseph, ‘Forgive your brothers’ sin—all that wrongdoing. They did treat you very badly.’ Will you do it? Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God?”
When Joseph received their message, he wept.
18 Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, “We’ll be your slaves.”
19-21 Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.

Why God Made Dogs

This past summer, one of the members of our congregation at WTUC passed away. He was an unusual member, but he ran to church every Sunday and waited outside in the courtyard next to his water bowl until the service was over. Snack time often spilled over into the courtyard and Bjorn was always there to opportunistically clean up any leftover treats. He knew the value of a vigorous post-prandial roll in the grass and he was often joined by the children of WTUC in his antics. He was our before and after church greeter. He would have wanted to greet everyone one last time, but he died at Lake Nojiri in August and was laid to rest next to the Ingulsrud cabin. This post is dedicated to Bjorn.

Spell “God” backwards and you get “dog.” While this may just be a coincidence in the English language, it reminds me of how much a dog can teach us about God. Without becoming too far-fetched with this analogy, take a moment to sit and stay and chew on it for a while.

I’m thinking about our extremely enthusiastic Golden Retriever.  Keep in mind that the very word, “enthusiastic,” has God right in the middle. The “-thu-“ or “theo” part of enthusiastic, means God. To be full of God means to be enthusiastic. Bjorn must have been full to the brim.

What Bjorn was most enthusiastic about was welcoming people. His best days were when he could welcome lots and lots of people. He absolutely loved Sundays. He was our best greeter. He was also our hairiest greeter and he did drool on folks occasionally, but he was always enthusiastically welcoming. How very appropriate for church. God welcomes one and all to the Christian community. We should follow Bjorn’s example; but perhaps with less drool.

Bjorn loved to share everything and he loved to deliver gifts; that’s what retrievers do. God loves a generous giver, so I’m sure that God loves Golden Retrievers. Bjorn shared anything that he could find on the floor. He would pick up items and he would bring them with wagging tail as welcoming gifts to anyone who came to our door. He shared slippers and balls and cans and wrappers and socks… and underwear. Among other things, Bjorn taught us the importance of using the laundry basket.

Although Bjorn may not have been a very smart dog, he was emotionally intelligent. He knew when someone needed comfort and company. When I was sick, he would climb into bed next to me and put his nose near my face. Apparently dog breath has healing qualities because this treatment always helped. He didn’t mind at all having someone crying into his fur. Dog hair is very good at absorbing tears. Our God is heaven invites us to come to him for comfort and he will wipe away all of our tears. God is very good at absorbing tears too.

So although Bjorn is no longer with us, the memories of this dog keep pointing me back to God, and I am very thankful that we were blessed with Bjorn for so many years. We will miss having him as part of our congregation.

With love and faithfulness,

Ruth

West Tokyo Union Church Weekly

September 7, 2014     Worship 11:00 AM

Pastor:  Rev. Teresa Thompson Sherrill     wtucrev@gmail.com

THIS WEEK

Sunday, September the 7th -  Welcome back to worship services at WTUC – we are looking forward to seeing each and every one of you – and new friends too!  At the 11am worship service, Pastor Teresa will preach from Psalm 148, with a sermon titled, “Beginning and Ending with Praise”.  We will have Singing Communion.  After the worship service will be a fellowship time.  This Sunday is the first worship of the 2014-15 church year, and we are anticipating a robust church year!  Those who come at 10:30 are welcome to help set up the chairs and the sanctuary = )

WORSHIP  11:00 AM

FELLOWSHIP TIME (after the service – all are invited)

********************************************************************

Upcoming Preaching Ministry and Community Events

September 7th  -  Pastor Teresa, Worship Services resume, Singing Communion

September 15th – Back to School blessing, Multigenerational Sunday School and Adult Sunday School begin, Pastor Teresa preaching

September 22nd -  Rev. Dr. Jim Sack preaching, Communion                                                                                                             

***

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CORNER (we value your prayers & involvement in this vital ministry)  Please contact Pastor Teresa at wtucrev@gmail.com with any questions. Keep watch for the fall schedule of Sunday School activities.                   

Little Kids (1-6) Please remain in worship and enjoy the books and coloring in the cabinet

Blessings of backpacks next week, September 14th – bring your backpack and computer bags for a blessing!

HS YOUTH HS youth are invited to the Rogers` home on Sunday, September 21st at 5 p.m.  Goals/plans for the year and yummy food await.  All are welcome!

NEXT MULTI GENERATIONAL Sunday School – Sunday September 14th in Cafeteria from 9:30-10:30 am

NEXT ADULT Sunday School – Sunday September 14th at the Sack`s from 9:30-10:30 am

 ***

MULTIGENERATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL!! This fall again we will have Multigenerational Sunday School from 9:30 in the cafeteria the second and fourth Sundays of the month. September`s dates are 9/14 and 9/28. Who is welcome? All ages. We will be creating, discussing, playing games, acting out bible stories and more. The Sacks will host the Adult Sunday School, also at 9:30 am in their living room. Their home is right across the Lutheran Campus from our sanctuary. Best coffee in town = ) Come and enjoy! All are welcome. Need more information, contact wtucrev@gmail.com any time = )

***

WTUC  Announcements

*Any questions or concerns?  Feel free to email wtucrev@gmail.com anytime.

*Please enjoy and refer our website and FB page (West Tokyo Union Church) to others.  Please make any suggestions for additions to the Pastor Teresa and/or Steering Committee.  https://wtuc.net/  

*If you’d like to be added to the WTUC church email list, please contact Gene Witt ewitt@asij.ac.jp

*If interested in joining the WTUC Prayer Chain, let Pastor Teresa or Prayer Chain Coordinator, Kayo Ozawa, know of your interest. Please submit prayers to wtucrev@gmail.com or Kayo Ozawa.

 *Sign up for snacks for fellowship time with Ann or on the list on the white board for next year. We appreciate your contributions to our community life! 

Each week we will be setting up the chairs for worship and preparing the sanctuary, anyone around at 10:30am is invited to be involved in the fun = )  Each week we will also return our sanctuary to it`s classroom style after the fellowship time.

*Interested in baptism or membership, please contact Pastor Teresa.  We will be having a membership class in October for all interested.

***

This week`s sermon text – Psalm 148

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights above.

2 Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

3 Praise him, sun and moon;

    praise him, all you shining stars.

4 Praise him, you highest heavens

    and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for at his command they were created,

6 and he established them for ever and ever—

    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,

    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

    stormy winds that do his bidding,

9 you mountains and all hills,

    fruit trees and all cedars,

10 wild animals and all cattle,

    small creatures and flying birds,

11 kings of the earth and all nations,

    you princes and all rulers on earth,

12 young men and women,

    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for his name alone is exalted;

    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b]

    the praise of all his faithful servants,

    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

***

from Saint Francis of Assisi

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.

No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and You give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;

in the heavens You have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which You give Your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Water;

she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You;

through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace, for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing Your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve Him with great humility.