West Tokyo Union Church is looking forward to welcoming everyone back to services from September 6th at 11:00 AM. We will be celebrating the Singing Communion together with Gene Witt cantoring and Kazuko Sacon playing the organ. Pastor Teresa will be preaching from Psalm 146 with the theme of “Justice begins with Praise.†Any questions please email wtucrev@gmail.com any time.
Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. 4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. 5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!
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Adult Sunday School and Multigenerational Sunday School classes will resume on Sunday, September 13th from 9:30am. Blessing of the backpacks and briefs will occur. Worship begins at 11am. Fellowship time after service.
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Encouragement from the lectionary texts for August 30th, the last Sunday of August – http://www.textweek.com/yearb/properb17.htm
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
wisdom from the texts for this week – Be the first fruits of God’s generosity toward others. Stay away from excess and impurity. Actively do the word. Restrain the tongue. Make sure the weak and vulnerable are protected.
Old Testament
Song of Solomon 2:8-13 or Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Roman Catholic reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
United Methodist reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13,
Psaltar
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 or Psalm 15
Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 15:2-5
Episcopal reading (RCL): Psalm 45:1-2, 7-10 or Psalm 15
United Methodist reading: Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 or Psalm 72,
Epistle
James 1:17-27
Roman Catholic reading: James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
Gospel
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23