Worship February 16, 2025 – With Guest Preacher, Rev. Asher Dean

Bio –  Rev. Asher Dean
My full name is Asher Dean. I am from Pakistan. In Pakistan I worked with Presbyterian Church from 2002 till 2013. In 2013 I came to USA. I have three daughters. And I am a third generation from my father side who is in church ministry. In Santa Fe Presbytery I work as a Pulpit Supply pastor. But for living I work in a nursing home as a care taker.

Bulletin of February 16, 2025 — MEDITATION: Sometimes it is the right thing to do to put down all that you are doing and immediately – tend to the most important thing. We can’t do it all time. Clothes need to be washed, the trash has to be taken out… but there are moments when a singular opportunity arises, and that moment may never reconstitute itself again. Do we have the vision for eternity? Are we willing to go without an important thing for the most important thing? Let’s come before our creator today asking for the courage and the wisdom to do the thing that we ought to do, even at the expense of other things.

Scripture: Psalm 14; John 6: 1-21

Psalm 14

Denunciation of Godlessness

To the leader. Of David.
Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’
   They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
   there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
   to see if there are any who are wise,
   who seek after God.

They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
   there is no one who does good,
   no, not one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
   who eat up my people as they eat bread,
   and do not call upon the Lord?

There they shall be in great terror,
   for God is with the company of the righteous.
You would confound the plans of the poor,
   but the Lord is their refuge.

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
   When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

John 6: 1-21

Feeding the Five Thousand

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.  A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, ‘This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.’

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on the Water

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.