Wed. Message

March 19, 2025

 

The Price Has Already Been Paid

 

"Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

• Isaiah 55:1

 

We live in a world that operates on transaction.  Everything has a price.  If something seems free, we’re conditioned to ask, “What’s the catch?”

 

But Isaiah speaks of a different economy—God’s economy of grace.  In God’s abundance, the invitation is simple: Come; eat; drink.  No money required.  No proof of worthiness needed.  Just come.

 

Yet, we hesitate.  Our culture tells us that if we receive something for free, we must be taking advantage.  But the kingdom of God is not built on scarcity, competition, or merit—it is built on love.  And in love, there is no cost too high, no gift too extravagant.

 

Jesus shows us this truth.  His grace is free, but not because it is cheap.  As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us, grace cost God everything.  And yet, it is given to us freely.  No transaction, no hidden fees—just the relentless, unearned, unbreakable love of God.

 

The world may tell us there’s no such thing as a free lunch.  But in the kingdom of God, there is.  It is a table set for all, where the only requirement is hunger.  And once we have eaten, we are called to invite others—without counting the cost.

 

Prayer

God of abundance, you invite us to the table without price, to feast on your love and drink deeply of your grace.  Help us to receive your gifts with open hands, and to share them freely with others, without judgment, without hesitation, just as you have given them to us.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Coffee, March 23, 2025: Dawn Engel

The sign-up sheet to serve coffee on Sunday morning is now located upstairs on the bulletin board in the back of the narthex.  Please sign up to serve.

 

Please join us upstairs before church and downstairs in the Fellowship Hall following the worship service on Sunday mornings for coffee and treats, everyone is always welcome.

  Bible Study, the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month at 3 PM with Pastor Dustin, everyone is always welcome to

  join us.

 

Every Wednesday through April 9, 2025, our church will host the Ecumenical Wednesday noon worship service, and lunches.  These events are sponsored by the Watertown Ministerial Association. 

Many of the churches in town participate, this year First Congregational UCC will host the noon service and

lunch, at ; 121 1st Ave. SE, Watertown SD.  You are always welcome to come join us.

April 2nd, will be the Wednesday that First Congregational Church is scheduled to do the worship service, 

Pastor Dustin will be the worship leader that Wednesday.

 

Easter Plants forms; if you would like to give a donation to the Flower Fund for Easter Sunday flowers, you may use the form that is in the back of the church.  You can put your check in the

donation plate, please note in the memo line it is for the flower fund. Donations should be in by

Sunday, April 13, 2025.  

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                        Money Counters:                         

             March 23 – Sue Pearson

             March 30 – Wayne Johnson

             April   06 – Rose Moehring

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We delivered Meals on Wheels last week, March 10-14, in beautiful weather. Many thanks to our dedicated team who delivered meals all over town: Glenn Robel, Kelley Anderson, Jan & Don Goldhorn, Susan Aamold. Cyndy & Dan Voight, Sue & Alan Pearson, Rosanne Dyce-Anderson & Rose Moehring, Pat &  Frank Kitterman, and Mitzi Heath & Cheri Larson. We deliver again in the third week in May.

 

The next Church Council meeting will be Monday, April 7, 6:00 PM