Lenny Skutnick, a retired employee of the Congressional Budget office, was headed down the road in Washington DC January 13, 1982, when history encountered this man to save the life of of Priscilla Tirado.
It was a cold snowy day and the Potomac was deep in ice but as he stopped, got out of his car, and goes down to the Bank of the Potomac River he finds a crowd that has gathered there. Out on the wing of plane and frozen waters is a lady escaping from the crash of Florida flight 90. The plane had tried to take off from the Washington DC airport skimming across the 14th Street bridge because it had ice on the wings landing the plane in the Potomac River, breaking up and almost everybody died. But, Priscilla Tirado would not die that day.
Trying to get to the bank of the river all she heard were voices of so many people yelling at her, "Come on lady you can do it...you know it...just grab that rope you can do it...come on lady." Lenny Skutnik sees from the river bank that Priscilla is too weak to reach for the line dangling from the helicopter. He says to himself, "Oh my goodness this lady is dying." So he takes his boots off, dives in, never taking a life saving course and not equipped for this moment, he grabs her around the neck, practically strangling the poor woman getting her to the bank where an ambulance takes them both off for the emergency care that saves both of their lives.
Two weeks later Ronald Reagan says,"I want Lenny Skutnik in the gallery because I wanna say something about him when I give the State of the Union Address." In fact, even today when the president is preparing his state of the Union address, he'll say, "who's the Lenny Skutnik this year?" President Obama, Presidents Bush, Trump, they all ask, "who's the Lenny Skutnick this year?" The first time this reference is used, is the man himself in flesh and blood from the gallery of the House Chamber. President Reagan says, "Ladies and gentlemen, a few weeks ago, you saw this man dive into the Potomac River to rescue someone without thinking of his own concern. He's a real hero. He's up there tonight, an American hero."
That night, he may not have looked or felt like an American hero, but he was asked later why he jumped in when no one else was willing to do so. He responded, "the Lord looked down on that group of people and said I love Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe and, Lenny, your Moe. Go!" Now, I believe the Lord spoke that day to a lot of people and one guy heard and one guy obeyed. That's why we get together, and we want to listen, and we want to obey, and one of the greatest ways to do that is by opening up His Word and saying how is Jesus speaking to us today? It's hearing the Word and learning to respond when asked, "What's the Holy Spirit saying to you, and what are you going to do about it?" He may speak in the red letter and He may speak in the black letters but one way or another He is speaking to us. Let's listen and let's do something about it. You may feel like you are not equipped for service today. But, there's going to be many times in your life when you are not equipped but you need to serve anyway.
So, here are opportunities this week to put the message we heard Sunday into practice. Jesus asks and says to His modern day disciples,
"Do You Love Me?
Then, feed my sheep and care for my lambs."
Opportunities to feed sheep and care for lambs
***Operation Christmas Child***
We are preparing Shoeboxes for distribution this month. Ardra Sharpless is the facilitator and she can be reached at 240-321-3299 or ardrasharpless@hotmail.com. The schedule includes:
Tuesday, Nov 8 - 9:00am-3:00pm
Wednesday, Nov 9 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Friday, Nov 11 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Sunday, Nov 13 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday, Nov 16 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Thursday, Nov 17 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Friday, Nov 18 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Saturday,Nov 19 - 9:00am-3:00pm
Additional dates and opportunities may be needed so reach out to Ardra to learn if the team may be working beyond this schedule.
***Thanksgiving Dinner Wednesday, November 16 at 6pm***
Thanksgiving Dinner is next week. We hope you are planning to join us as we reflect on God's goodness to us in the past year. We need several volunteers to help:
set up the fellowship hall before the meal,
clean up afterwards,
deliver meals to shut ins,
prepare additional food to ensure we have plenty for our shut-ins.
If you are able to help in one of the ways just mentioned, please call the church office at 301-334-2400 this week. It takes a team to succeed!
***Senior Needing a Ride to Church***
We have a senior making a request to attend church with us, but is unable to manage driving herself. Would you consider communicating with one of our seniors and providing transportation to and from church events? Please reach out to us via email, messenger or by calling the church office at 301-334-2400 to let us know if you might be able to feed and care for sheep providing transportation.
***Prayer***
Maybe you physically are unable to assist in one of these areas, but you can feed sheep and care for lambs by praying. Can we count on you to pray for the ministry of our church to one another, our community and the world?
Would you reassure us you are praying for these upcoming opportunities to be Jesus with skin on by calling, emailing or letting us know in person?
Would you commit to being part of our prayer chain?
Would you consider joining us Sundays to pray at 10:15am?
Maybe you would encourage someone to allow us to pray for them? Reach out to our prayer chain by phone, email or at our website at oaklandnaz.com/pray.
***Giving 10x10x80***
Thank you for your faithful giving to Oakland Church of the Nazarene. A third quarter report is available in the lobby and available at this link. If you are not already giving financially, we encourage you to prayerfully seek God's desire to give through your life and join us in becoming 10x10x80 Disciples. We encourage you to live a lifestyle giving 10% of your income to God through the local church, saving 10% for your future, and living in contentment from 80% of your income. Partner with us in a lifestyle of giving to promote a financially healthy outlook for the future of our church, our faith community and your future caring for sheep and lambs.