September 15, 2024
“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ~ Luke 10:27 (NLT) ~
A MODERN-DAY GOOD SAMARITAN
Shortly before Thanksgiving of 2007, recently widowed DawnAlice Tomko, from Rimrock over in the Verde Valley, and her 9-year-old son, Christopher, spent a few days camping together in our Arizona desert, a few miles north of the Mexican border.
As they were driving home Thanksgiving Day, Dawn lost control of her van and ran off a cliff into a 300-foot ravine. She was pinned inside the van and died shortly afterward. Christopher, dazed and disoriented, crawled out to seek help.
He was later found wandering in the night a few hours later by Manuel Jesus Cordova Soberanes, a 26-year-old bricklayer who had just entered the country illegally. Two days earlier Manuel had left his home in Mexico, trekking through theArizona desert on his way to Tucson, his intended destination.
Neither spoke the other’s language, but Manuel saw that Christopher couldn’t be left alone. He was cut and bruised and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt suitable for a ride in the car but not for a cold night alone in the desert.After being led to the mangled van, where Manuel determined that the mother had not survived, he made a choice to stay with the boy until help arrived. He gave Christopher his sweater, fed him cookies and chocolate, and built a fire to keep them warm. Together they waited through the night. While Christopher slept, Manuel stoked the fire and kept watch.
Fourteen hours later a group of hunters found the pair and called the US Border Patrol. Christopher was flown to a hospital in Tucson; Manuel was arrested and sent back to Mexico.
Authorities acknowledge that Manuel’s actions probably saved Christopher’s life.And though he knew he would be taken into custody when they arrived, Manuel never considered abandoning the young boy. “I am the father of four children,” he later said. “I never could have left him. Never. For that I stayed. I felt frustrated and sad because I couldn’t do anything for his mother.And I didn’t know how to console the boy, so I just sat next to him.”
I’ll save the discussion on illegal immigration for another day. For now, we can learn a lesson from this modern-day Good Samaritan.
Manuel’s story is similar to the one Jesus told when an expert in the law the Jewish religion came to Jesus one day with some questions about righteous living. In his Gospel account, Luke says...
“The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” ~ Luke 10:29 (NLT) ~
Jesus then told the story of the Good Samaritan. You know it. You’ve heard it your whole life in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and in countless sermons. It’s found in Luke 10:30-37. Jesus concluded by saying...
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?”
~ Luke 10:36 (NLT) ~
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
May God give each of us an opportunity today to go and do the same, in his name.
Blessings on your week. Don’t be surprised when “Good Samaritan” opportunities turn up for you in the most unusual and inopportune moments. Nevertheless, don’t let that keep you from loving your neighbor as yourself. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday in worship as we continue the second half of IMMERSE: BEGINNINGS. This Sunday I will share ACrash Course on Living the Disciple’s Life.
Pastor Terrell
P.S. Don’t forget, we will be collecting sleeping bags for the next three Sundays. Set Free Ministries will be giving them away to the homeless here in the Quad-Cities in October. Boxes will be by the front doors as you enter to worship.
ScheduleforSunday,September15,2024:
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM Room #201
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM Room #202
Prayer Room open @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens @ 10:15 AM KID CITY
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ (K-6th) dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek:
Tuesday@ 10:00 AM IMMERSE: Beginnings Men in Room #202
Women in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday@ 6:20 PM Choir Rehearsal in Room #203 @ 6:30 PM Youth Group in Fellowship Hall
Thursday@ 6:00 PM IMMERSE: Beginnings in Fellowship Hall
Christmas is Coming
That means it’s time to think about CHOIR! If you are interested in being a part of our choir, rehearsals will begin thisweekon Wednesday, September 18, 2024 @ 6:20 PM in the Choir Room #203. (off the back Church Office hallway)
SEPTEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
Wednesday, 9/18: Choir Rehearsals begin @ 6:20 PM in Choir Room #203 Friday/Saturday, 9/20-21: Arise AZ Women’s Conference in Sedona, AZ Saturday, 9/21:
Training includes complimentary lunch!
Women’s Fall Potluck Brunch
Date: September 28, 2024
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Cost: $5 per person
Location: Fellowship Hall
Tickets on Sale in Foyer on Sundays
Good News Club Training, Calvary Prescott @ 9 AM Sunday, 9/22: Quarterly Business Meeting following Morning Worship Saturday, 9/28: Youth Group Trip leaves church @ 9 AM Saturday, 9/28: Women’s Fall Brunch Potluck in FH @ 9:30 AM Sunday, 9/29:
FAMILY WORSHIP DAY - Kid City closed Hymn Sing in Worship Center @ 6:00 PM
Youth Group Trip! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2024
LEAVE CHURCH 9:00 AM RETURN TO CHURCH AT 3:00 PM CANYON COASTER ADVENTURE PARK IN WILLIAMS, AZ
BRING: MONEY FOR RIDES AND FOR EATING LUNCH OUT AND YOUR PARENT PERMISSION FORM
Gospel Conversations
Since 2021 Total : 49,291
IF YOU NEED HELP OR ASSISTANCE Deacon of the Week: Paul Marshall 928-999-2109 with
COASTER $20/per ride TUBING $10/1 ride; $20/3 rides; $25/5 rides
On Sunday mornings, ADULTS, please go to KID CITY to drop off your preschoolers for Preschool Worship (Beginning @ 10:15AM) AND sign in your elementary-aged kids for Kidz4Christ Worship. (dismissed during worship time)
Morning Worship at a Glance
“10,000 Reasons” (Bless the Lord) “All Hail King Jesus” “I Am Resolved”
Welcome & Offertory Prayer “My Savior, My God” “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” “Ancient Words” WHO YOU SAY WEARE BEGINNINGS
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713 PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
Advancing the Kingdom of God one heart at a time.
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Immersing Our Lives in God’s Word A Crash Course on Living a Disciple’s Life Deuteronomy 11:18-21
“Footsteps of Jesus” Kidz4Christ dismissed
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO RECEIVE CURRENT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
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