26th SUNDAY after pentecost
Rev. Sean Kang, Pastor
9:00 am Worship
Message: "Three Kinds of Gratitude"
rev 11/20/2021
november 21 st, 2021
Sunday at 9 am
Worship Services at Rehobeth are now in-person and zoom.
Use the Lectionary readings as preparation for your worship.
Sermons are fashioned to help us become better equipped
to live on earth
November 21st, 2021 27th Sunday after Pentecost
- 2 Samuel 23:1-7 and Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18) •
- Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 and Psalm 93 •
- Revelation 1:4b-8 •
- John 18:33-37
Thanksgiving Day, November 25th
November 21, 2021 / Announcements
WELCOME TO WORSHIP.
- If visiting, be sure to register & include your email
- We are seeking two volunteers to read the scripture lessons.
- Feel free to use our Prayer Book to record prayer concerns.
EVENTS
- District Conference: Nov. 21st (Sun) 3:00pm by Zoom
- Wednesday Bible Study: Every Wednesday 7:30pm by Zoom
- Wednesday Rehobeth Council Meeting (Zoom): 6:00 pm
- Check websites for updates.
- Sharing & Fellowship after worship.
PRAYER CONCERNS
- Pray for our Collaborative Parish
- Pray for each other’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
- Our Mission as disciples of Christ to encourage discipleship
- Pray for those traveling and those working away from home
- Pray for faith and courage to walk the Way of Christ
CELEBRATIONS
-Jim & Rae celebrate their 56th Wedding Anniversary today
Bishop: Rev. Sharma D. Lewis
District Superintendent: Rev. Victor Gomez
Pastor: Rev. Sean Kang
Website: www.rehobethchurch.org
- Send Articles to the website manager: james@nenningers.org
Pastor’s email: kanghyunsik@gmail.com
“Three Kinds of Gratitude”
Luke 17:11-19 / November 21, 2021 / Thanksgiving Sunday
On the way, Jesus met ten lepers. Lepers usually lived in groups designated by the authorities and had to move together in groups when moving. If people approached them without knowing it, they had to shout, ‘we’re unclean, we’re unclean’ in order to keep people from approaching them. How miserable their lives were?
However, in today’s text, we see behaviors that are different from those of lepers in general. As Jesus and his disciples were passing by, the lepers who should have shouted not to come near them called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us! Perhaps they too had heard rumors that a man named Jesus had mystical powers of healing. When the man whom they had heard rumors of passed by them, they broke the rules they had to follow and shouted for him look over them.
When Jesus saw them, he told them to go and show themselves to the priests right away. This was a bit strange. The reason they would go to the priests to show themselves, was to receive confirmation when they were cleansed. If the priest did not confirm and declare cleanliness, even if they were actually healed, they could not return to a normal life. When Jesus said to go to the priest and show themselves, even though they were not yet healed, he was presupposing that they were already healed.
The lepers were bewildered, but as Jesus had directed them, they went to the priest. But something amazing happened. On the way their leprosy was cleansed. They would have been so amazed, as they would not have been able to believe what had happened to them. They would have jumped and screamed in delight. They would have been happy enough to lose their temper. However, only one out of ten came back to Jesus and gave thanks. What happened to the rest of them? Let’s take a look.
Selfish Gratitude
Recovering from leprosy was like dying and coming back to life. We can fully predict how good they must have felt. But if you think about it, ironically, we often fail in gratitude when something we longed for has come true. Because we are so overwhelmed by the good results that we lose sight of the One who allowed them. At this time, we usually fail to take care of others, and we overstate our selfish gratitude.
The scene of selfish gratitude is often seen in sporting events. After winning a game, some players kneel and offer a prayer giving thanks to God. Of course, they would be happy to have won and they could thank God, but what about the opposing team? Even among the players of the opposing team or the cheering fans, there must be believers. Are they forsaken by God? When the good results given to us are not good for others, we need to be considerate of others and refrain from selfish gratitude.
These are examples of selfish gratitude; thank God I am alive, while a neighbor died due to the Covid-19; thank God my home wasn’t destroyed, while the tornado destroyed all the houses in a town; thank God for letting me miss the plane, while the plane crashed in an accident and all passengers died. Of course, we naturally feel grateful when something like that happens, but we need to be careful when expressing gratitude in this case. Rather than expressing gratitude to others, we should quietly confess our gratitude to God only and think about what we can do for our neighbors who are in trouble.
There is a person who is now in prison for committing corruption as a close aide to the former president of South Korea. It is known that she was grateful for blessings given to her by God and made many thanksgiving offerings to her church. Also, she testified in several churches that she prayed to become a great person, and God had made her a great one. However, while extorting money from some large companies and habitually not paying small subcontractors, she was a con artist who committed numerous illegalities. What should we think of her thanksgiving?
How different would our gratitude be from those examples? Giving thanks for winning the competition with others, giving thanks for not dying even though others died, giving thanks for eating delicious food that others can’t eat, giving thanks for being successful, regardless of others… Are these kinds of gratitude really okay? We need to reflect on our gratitude. Our gratitude needs to mature more. We need to learn to be grateful while being considerate of those who do not enjoy what we enjoy.
Proudful Gratitude
Let’s consider a slightly different aspect now. Among the nine who did not give thanks to Jesus, there must have been some who thought, ‘I received this blessing because I deserved it.’ If you look at the text, Jesus did not come by himself, but because of their earnest shouting, Jesus came to them. If they hadn't shouted so hard, they wouldn't have achieved that. The results they achieved were due to their hard work and efforts. We are so egocentric that it is easy to think that even with such small efforts, ‘this is because of my efforts and merits.’
We don’t feel grateful for what we are paying for. We rather take it for granted. But when it is given freely without paying a price, we feel grateful. However, modern people hate to be given things for free, and they tend to think that it is wrong to be indebted to or to be helped by others. So they like to keep track of what is given and taken. But the less free ‘give and take,’ the harder the world is. Because there isn't much room for gratitude.
The hallmark of the age when gratitude has disappeared is that people do not depend on each other and do not want to be helped. When people receive a favor from someone, they repay the favor as if they were paying off a debt, and then liquidate their gratitude. So there is no room for grace and gratitude to remain in people's lives and souls. All that remains is the gratitude that has been paid off and the gratitude that has been earned proudly with efforts and merits.
We often take what we enjoy for granted, but in reality nothing is taken for granted. Think about my family, children, friend, job, possessions, knowledge, talent, and health. Are these really things to take for granted? There is nothing that can be said to have been achieved by my own effort alone. We have made only a very small contribution to enjoy this. Where did my breath, health, life come from? There is nothing more arrogant than taking things for granted. A heart that takes for granted never knows gratitude.
We have to put aside the habit of repaying favors and liquidating our gratitude. No matter how hard we work, we cannot repay God’s grace. No matter how powerful we are, we cannot live a day without God’s hand. We should not take anything we enjoy for granted, but we should be able to recognize the mysterious hand of grace that is constantly poured out on every moment of our lives.
True Gratitude
Let’s focus on the person who came back and gave thanks to Jesus. What made him give true thanksgiving? He must also have been overjoyed for his wondrous healing. But he was not captivated by what was given to him, he could look at the giver of the gift. He didn’t forget the One who gave behind that gift. That was the reason he came back and knelt down in front of Jesus.
True gratitude begins with looking at the ‘gift giver’ without being blinded by the joy of receiving the gift. Looking at the ‘gift giver’ rather than the ‘gift’ is the starting point of true gratitude. But we should go one step further and be able to ask this question. ‘Why does God give me grace?’ When we suffer, we complain to God, ‘why me? why are you giving me this kind of suffering?’ But when we receive grace and enjoy blessings, we don't seem to ask, ‘why me? why are you giving me this kind of grace?’
Just as suffering is not due to our faults, so grace and blessing are not due to what we deserve. God makes us examine our lives through suffering, but through grace and blessing, God often entrusts us with something to do. Therefore, when there is something to be thankful for, don't just enjoy it for granted. Just as we meditate on the meaning of suffering, we should also meditate on the meaning of blessing and grace.
Only one out of ten who received the wonderful grace and gift of recovering from leprosy showed genuine gratitude. This means that few people practice true gratitude. Jesus said to the nine lepers who were scattered because of selfish or proud gratitude, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” But he said to the one leper who fell at Jesus’ feet and gave his sincere gratitude, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Wrap Up
A person of true gratitude is not caught up in the joy of being blessed when others still have not been blessed, but rather thinking about what he/she can do for those who have not been blessed. A person of true gratitude is someone who can think of the grace of God, who has given him/her health and ability to work hard, even if it is the result of his/her hard work. A person of true gratitude is one who does not take everything for granted, but meditates on the mystery of the amazing grace as to why God blesses him/her.
Looking back over the past year, God has blessed us all with blessings and grace in various ways. If you really believe that God has been gracious to you, let’s give thanks. Instead of fixing your eyes on the gift you received, look at the One who gave you that gift, and think deeply about why He is giving you such blessings and grace. And let's become children of true gratitude who know how to use the blessings and graces given to us for the Kingdom of God.
A Quiet Meditation in a Special Cemetery
Take a Break
The Pandemic of 2020 leaves us with with much to think about; the deaths of so many people, worldwide and in our country. How do we incorporate this major catastrophe into our psyches and lives?
Making frequent spaces in our "busy" lives helps us to "catch our breath" and to rearrange what is important to us. We've learned life is fragile. We've learned what is precious. We've learned to pay attention to the brevity of our own existence.
What a better place than to visit a cemetery near us to meditate and contemplate our own existence.
Memorial Day is coming. Grass needs mowed. Iris are blooming. Spring is bursting forth all around us. Bees 'a humming, birds 'a chirping,and humans are breathing again without masks! We have arrived ... we are home!
We have much for which to be grateful. Each day let us commit to give thanks, to be mindful of our breath in prayer, to pray for one another, and continue our walk in the Light. It's time to discipline ourselves with acts of compassion to everyone as we remember our ancestors for whom we've come.
Rehobeth Cemetery Welcomes You!!
While you are alive! that is! Phew! You thought I made a mistake. Nope, but ... Our own spot will come soon enough. But for now take time to connect your past to the present as your live, appreciating the now.
These Old Oaks, were here before we were born. The Mountain range in the distance eons before that. The land on which we stand has seen many cultures and is sacred ground. All cultures, all ground, all humanity is sacred.
And life goes continues
NOVEMBER 2021
OUR CONFERENCE.
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship with us every Sunday Morning, 9 AM
CONTACTS:
PASTOR: Rev Sean Kang hyunsikkang@vaumc.org
WEBSITE NEWS and notices james@nenningers.ne
Sunday WORSHIP at 9 am - Zoom and in-person
Communion
Saturday Morning Work Projects
Conference on Zoom
Conference on Zoom
Saturday Morning Work Projects
Conference on Zoom
Saturday Morning Work Projects
Saturday Morning Work Projects
Saturday Morning Work Projects
Our Pastor
Meet Our Pastor, Rev. Sean Kang
Rev. Sean Kang graduated from the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul and became an ordained minister from the Eastern Conference of the Korean Methodist Church. He served as an Associate Pastor in a Methodist Church in Seoul, then moved to Canada in 2000, where he studied Spiritual Theology and Spiritual Direction at the University of Toronto. While studying there, he began a new church for college students and young adults and served there for five years.
Rev. Kang accepted an invitation by the Korean United Methodist Church of Greater Washington and moved to Virginia in 2006; where he served as an Associate Pastor for seven years. In the spring of 2013, he started a new church in Ashburn, Virginia, and spent six years as it's Leading Pastor. Rev. Kang is very interested in Contemplative Spirituality and Spiritual Formation. In this context, his pastoral focus is geared toward spiritual sermons, spiritual exercises, and prayer practices.
We look forward to Rev. Kang's ministry with us ... as our journey continues.
Home Worship for Rehobeth & Bethel
Rehobeth UMC and .....
Rehobeth United Methodist, 14085 Rehobeth Church Road, Lovettsville Join us on Zoom for worship and fellowship.
..... Bethel UMC
Join us on zoom, Sunday's at 9:00 am. If you miss the service, you can find them on the website.
Your offerings may be sent to respective Churches.
OUR COOPERATIVE Parish
Ashburn Korean UMC
Ashburn Korean United Methodist Church
43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147
Rehobeth UMC
Rehobeth United Methodist Church
14095 Rehobeth Church Road, Lovettsville, VA 20180
Bethel UMC
Meet Our Local Clergy
Lovettsville Ministers' meet monthly
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
(Standing) Rev Andreas Armstrong, Zion & Bethel Lutheran Church; Rev Mark Jagoe, Hillsboro & Ebenezer UMC
(Sitting) Rev. James D Nenninger, Retired UMC; Rev. Tiffany Towberman, Zion Lutheran; Rev. Stephen King, Mt. Olivet & Mt. Pleasant UMC;
Rev. Krista Vingelis, New Jerusalem Lutheran; Rev. David Douthett, Catoctin Presbyterian, Waterford; Rev. Roland England, Christian Community at St. Paul's, UCC;
(Absent) Rev. Sean Kang, Rehobeth UMC
*Thanks to Sandy, Tiffany's mom for taking the picture)
About Our Facilities -- lot's to do
Current Projects on Docket
2019 CEMETERY & CHURCH PROPERTY UPKEEP
- ON GOING Mowing & Trimming
- COMPLETED Fire Inspection – Passed 4/26/18
- COMPLETED Termite Inspection: Passed 4/20/18
- COMPLETED Replace Sub-floor in vestibule 8/22/18
- IN PROCESS Repairing Lentil, complete main entrance
- IN PROCESS Refinish Sanctuary Door & add Landing
- COMPLETED A complete cemetery grounds renovation
- COMPLETED Beautify church lawn edging
- Paint Outside Trim (postponed)
- Upgrade A/V system, 2019
- Water Testing
- Furnace & Oil Tank Plans
- Storage Shed, re-shingle or replace
- Replace Carpet
- Pew cushions
- Upright Cemetery Headstones
- Repair Broken Stained Glass Window
Future Projects (To be scheduled)
D - Air Conditioning
R - Pointing of bricks
E - Belfry Lighting
A - Storm windows
M - Belfry Inspection & Greasing Bell
S
REHOBETH CEMETERY is a major MISSION of our Church, requiring much work, expense, and upkeep. Our intent is to maintain our cemetery that honors the many Methodist's and others who gave of their resources to support our Church. We do honor to ourselves to honor our history and those who have graced us with this facility. Thanks be to God.
THANK YOU TRUSTEES ...
Rehobeth is fortunate to have a very active team of Trustees. If you are interested in joining our Team, we are interested in you !!!
- Jeremy Nenninger, Chairman
- David Thompson, Financial Sec
_ Jim Nenninger, Ret'd UMC Clergy
- Scott Brock
.......................................... , (sign on the dotted line)
our story
Welcome
Welcome! For the past 225 years Rehobeth United Methodist Church has been a place where people could come to learn, be in community and grow as people of God. Even as the world has changed and we have changed, we are still committed to being a community that reaches out to our neighbors and our world so that all can know the love of God. We hope you will join us and make yourself at home here as we sincerely welcome you to Rehobeth United Methodist Church.
Location
Rehobeth UMC is located at 14085 Rehobeth Church Road, Lovettsville VA 20180. The pastor is the Rev. Sean Hyunsik Kang. The Pastor's email is hyunsikkang@vaumc.org; and cell phone: 703-336-3679. Our website is www.rehobethchurch.org Sunday worship is at 9 am and a Scripture - Prayer Class (Contemplative Dialogue) Meeting at 9:50 am. The Class is open to everyone.
Directions
On Rt. 7 go to the exit for Rt. 287; at the underpass, turn left and go north 6.2 mi on Rt. 287 (Berlin Turnpike) toward Purcellville and Lovettsville. Turn right onto Rickard Road and go 0.4 mi east. Take the 1st right onto Rehobeth Church Road; the turn is 0.2 mi on the left.