Does Everything Really Happen for a Purpose?
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America Remembers
20th Anniversary of the 911 Attack
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Does Everything Really Happen for a Purpose?



Dear Friends,


During these challenging times, I've noticed many people coping with it by saying
"Everything happens for a purpose." It's a common expression and is most often used by people with religious backgrounds. Whatever happens, you can explain them away by saying there's a purpose to it.

This weekend America commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the attack on 9/11. As some of you might know. that on 9/11 twenty years ago, I was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to on the TV show called "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Mahrer. I had already had my flight booked on American Flight 77 that would later be crashed into the Pentagon.

I do feel the spiritual protection that took place that day and have accepted it as a way to live a purposeful life. When people hear the story they often say "everything happens for a purpose." Or you were clearly saved for a purpose.

But it does raise the question, what about those who didn't live? What about those who died? What about the Fox News contributor whom the show booked instead of me who was on that flight? What about so many who died that day?

What about the war in Afghanistan? What about a child who gets cancer? What about accidents? What about a lot of things.

If it is true that everything happens for a purpose, then what's God's purpose in bad things that happen?

This Sunday we'll discuss the role of God's purpose. our purpose as we remember 9/11. Please join me as we explore this challenging topic Sunday at 5 pm in our discussion.

See you soon on zoom,

Rev. Rich Tafel

SUNDAY SERVICES
September 12th at 5 pm
Sunday Services begin again on September 12th at 5 PM EST. Please mark your calendars. Here's the new Zoom sign-on to be used every week.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87156235899?pwd=d3ZCNnk5aEFUcFR4RmYyb3k0a0UwQT09

Meeting ID: 871 5623 5899
Passcode: 301750
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,87156235899# US (Washington DC)
ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
October 5, 2021
We had hoped to hold our annual board meeting in September, however, our bylaws call for it to be held in October. So, we've moved the date to October 5th from 4 PM to 6 PM EST on zoom and in person. During this meeting, we will share the church budget for 2021 and get a state of the church report. We'll also be seeking feedback on ways we can be a better community. This is open to all members who have contributed in the previous year.
SUNDAY SERVICES
September 12th at 5 pm
Here's the new Zoom sign-on:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87156235899?pwd=d3ZCNnk5aEFUcFR4RmYyb3k0a0UwQT09
Sunday Service Order

Light a Candle
Open the Word
Greetings and Check-In
Take a Deep Breath


Invocation
Lord, we come before you today and we thank You for all the blessings that You have given us. Many times our lives are so full of busywork that we neglect our relationship with You, for that we are sorry. We know that You never neglect us, for if You did our very lives would cease to be. Continue to pull us to Yourself, guide us in our journey, and hold us close in Your bosom until the day we come home to be with You forever. Be with us now as we gather in Your name, may we feel your presence among us. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.
Amen.

Confession
O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times, O God when we fail to recognize you in the daily-ness of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade our own wisdom.

Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom.



Scripture Readings

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”



Swedenborg Insights:
Divine providence works in this invisible, unfathomable way in order to allow us the freedom to ascribe events to either providence or chance. It would be dangerous for providence to act in a visible, fathomable way because our eyes and minds might lead us to believe that events are providential, but afterward, we might change our minds. (Secrets of Heaven §5508:2)


SERMON

Offering
Please give generously to our ministry
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Community Prayer with Lord's Prayer
(congregation responds, "Lord hear our prayer.")

Benediction
Now may the peace that passes all understanding be with you all this day and forevermore.
AMEN

Discussion with Q&A

"How to
Heal Our Divides"
The book "How to Heal Our Divides: A Practical Guide" has been published with a short chapter by Rev. Tafel offering a strategy for the future of the church. This chapter focuses on our church's effort to teach spiritual entrepreneurship.

We are planning a book party this fall to celebrate. I purchased a few copies, so if you want one just send me your address and make a donation to the church.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Heal-Our-Divides-Practical/dp/B0948LPPFS
SERMONS

You can see past sermons here:
https://holycitydc.org/category/sermon/

You can now watch past sermons here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0eIuRvg7zOeXcXwsMct29w
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