Sunday's Message - I BELIEVE in...and the life everlasting. Amen.

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - I BELIEVE in...and the life eve...: During the sermon series  I Believe: Exploring the Apostle's Creed , the congregation of Sligo Presbyterian Church is using  The Apostle...

Bible Readings for October 31, 2025

Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Lamentations 4:1–5:22; Hebrews 2:1-18; Psalm 103:1-22; and Proverbs 26:23. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.

---

Lamentations 4-5:22 (Contemporary English Version)

Lamentations 4

The Punishment of Jerusalem

The Prophet Speaks:

 ¹The purest gold is ruined   and has lost its shine;
   jewels from the temple
   lie scattered in the streets.
    ²These are Zion's people,
   worth more than purest gold;
   yet they are counted worthless
   like dishes of clay.
    ³Even jackals ^a] nurse their young, but my people are like ostriches
   that abandon their own.
    ⁴Babies are so thirsty
   that their tongues
   are stuck
   to the roof of the mouth.
   Children go begging for food,
   but no one gives them any.
    ⁵All who ate expensive foods
   lie starving in the streets;
   those who grew up in luxury
   now sit on trash heaps.
    ⁶My nation was punished worse
   than the people of Sodom,
   whose city was destroyed
   in a flash
   without the help
   of human hands. ^b] 7The leaders of Jerusalem
   were purer than snow
   and whiter than milk;
   their bodies were healthy
   and glowed like jewels. ^c] 8Now they are blacker than tar,
   and no one recognizes them;
   their skin clings to their bones
   and is drier than firewood.
    ⁹Being killed with a sword
   is better
   than slowly
   starving to death.
    ¹⁰Life in the city is so bad
   that loving mothers
   have boiled
   and eaten their own children.
    ¹¹The LORD was so fiercely angry
   that he burned the city of Zion
   to the ground.
    ¹²Not a king on this earth
   or the people of any nation
   believed enemies could break
   through her gates.
    ¹³Jerusalem was punished because
   her prophets and her priests
   had sinned and caused the death
   of innocent victims.
    ¹⁴Yes, her prophets and priests
   were covered with blood;
   no one would come near them,
   as they wandered
   from street to street.
    ¹⁵Instead, everyone shouted,
   "Go away! Don't touch us!
   You're filthy and unfit
   to belong to God's people!"
   So they had to leave
   and become refugees.
   But foreign nations told them,
   "You can't stay here!" ^d] 16The LORD is the one
   who sent them scattering,
   and he has forgotten them.
   No respect or kindness
   will be shown
   to the priests or leaders.
    ¹⁷Our eyes became weary,
   hopelessly looking
   for help
   from a nation ^e] that could not save us.
    ¹⁸Enemies hunted us down
   on every public street.
   Our time was up;
   our doom was near.
    ¹⁹They swooped down faster
   than eagles from the sky.
   They hunted for us in the hills
   and set traps to catch us
   out in the desert.
    ²⁰The LORD's chosen leader ^f] was our hope for survival!
   We thought he would keep us safe
   somewhere among the nations,
   but even he was caught
   in one of their traps.
    ²¹You people of Edom
   can celebrate now!
   But your time will come
   to suffer
   and stagger
   around naked.
    ²²The people of Zion
   have paid for their sins,
   and the Lord will soon
   let them return home.
   But, people of Edom,
   you will be punished,
   and your sins exposed.
   

Lamentations 5

A Prayer for Mercy

The People of Jerusalem Pray: ^g]

 ¹Our LORD, don't forget   how we have suffered
   and been disgraced.
    ²Foreigners and strangers
   have taken our land
   and our homes.
    ³We are like children
   whose mothers are widows.
    ⁴The water we drink
   and the wood we burn
   cost far too much.
    ⁵We are terribly mistreated; ^h] we are worn out
   and can find no rest.
    ⁶We had to surrender
   to ^i] Egypt and Assyria because we were hungry.
    ⁷Our ancestors sinned,
   but they are dead,
   and we are left to pay
   for their sins.
    ⁸Slaves are now our rulers,
   and there is no one
   to set us free.
    ⁹We are in danger
   from brutal desert tribes;
   we must risk our lives
   just to bring in our crops. ^j] 10Our skin is scorched
   from fever and hunger.
    ¹¹On Zion and everywhere in Judah
   our wives and daughters
   are being raped.
    ¹²Our rulers are strung up
   by their arms,
   and our nation's advisors
   are treated shamefully.
    ¹³Young men are forced
   to do the work of slaves;
   boys must carry
   heavy loads of wood.
    ¹⁴Our leaders are not allowed
   to decide cases in court,
   and young people
   no longer play music.
    ¹⁵Our hearts are sad;
   instead of dancing,
   we mourn.
    ¹⁶Zion's glory has disappeared!
   And we are doomed
   because of our sins.
    ¹⁷We feel sick all over
   and can't even see straight;
    ¹⁸our city is in ruins,
   overrun by wild dogs.
    ¹⁹You will rule forever, LORD!
   You are King for all time.
    ²⁰Why have you forgotten us
   for so long?
    ²¹Bring us back to you!
   Give us a fresh start.
    ²²Or do you despise us so much
   that you don't want us? 

Footnotes:

1. Lamentations 4:3 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller.
2. Lamentations 4:6 hands: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 6.
3. Lamentations 4:7 jewels: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 7.
4. Lamentations 4:15 here: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 15.
5. Lamentations 4:17 nation: Egypt, a former ally of Judah.
6. Lamentations 4:20 chosen leader: Probably Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, taken away to Babylonia in 586 B.C.
7. Lamentations 5:1 (5.1 The People of Jerusalem Pray: Or "The Prophet Prays.")
8. Lamentations 5:5 We. . . mistreated: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
9. Lamentations 5:6 surrender to: Or "make treaties with."
10. Lamentations 5:9 crops: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 9.

---

Hebrews 2:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)

Hebrews 2

This Great Way of Being Saved

 ¹We must give our full attention to what we were told, so that we won't drift away. ²The message spoken by angels proved to be true, and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved. ³So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. ⁴God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to.   

The One Who Leads Us To Be Saved

 ⁵We know that God did not put the future world under the power of angels. ⁶Somewhere in the Scriptures someone says to God,   "What makes you care
   about us humans?
   Why are you concerned
   for weaklings such as we?
    ⁷You made us lower
   than the angels
   for a while.
   Yet you have crowned us
   with glory and honor. ^a] 8And you have put everything
   under our power!"
   God has put everything under our power and has not left anything out of our power. But we still don't see it all under our power. ⁹What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. Because of God's wonderful kindness, Jesus died for everyone. And now that Jesus has suffered and died, he is crowned with glory and honor!
    ¹⁰Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God's children to be saved and to share in his glory. ¹¹Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. ¹²He even said to God,
   "I will tell them your name
   and sing your praises
   when they come together
   to worship."
    ¹³He also said,
   "I will trust God."
   Then he said,
   "Here I am with the children
   God has given me."
    ¹⁴We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. ¹⁵But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying. ¹⁶Jesus clearly did not come to help angels, but he did come to help Abraham's descendants. ¹⁷He had to be one of us, so that he could serve God as our merciful and faithful high priest and sacrifice himself for the forgiveness of our sins. ¹⁸And now that Jesus has suffered and was tempted, he can help anyone else who is tempted. 

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 2:7 and honor: Some manuscripts add "and you have placed us in charge of all you created."

---

Psalm 103:1-22 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 103

(By David.)

The LORD's Wonderful Love

 ¹With all my heart   I praise the LORD,
   and with all that I am
   I praise his holy name!
    ²With all my heart
   I praise the LORD!
   I will never forget
   how kind he has been.
    ³The LORD forgives our sins,
   heals us when we are sick,
    ⁴and protects us from death.
   His kindness and love
   are a crown on our heads.
    ⁵Each day that we live, ^a] he provides for our needs
   and gives us the strength
   of a young eagle.
    ⁶For all who are mistreated,
   the LORD brings justice.
    ⁷He taught his Law to Moses
   and showed all Israel
   what he could do.
    ⁸The LORD is merciful!
   He is kind and patient,
   and his love never fails.
    ⁹The LORD won't always be angry
   and point out our sins;
    ¹⁰he doesn't punish us
   as our sins deserve.
    ¹¹How great is God's love for all
   who worship him?
   Greater than the distance
   between heaven and earth!
    ¹²How far has the LORD taken
   our sins from us?
   Farther than the distance
   from east to west!
    ¹³Just as parents are kind
   to their children,
   the LORD is kind
   to all who worship him,
    ¹⁴because he knows
   we are made of dust.
    ¹⁵We humans are like grass
   or wild flowers
   that quickly bloom.
    ¹⁶But a scorching wind blows,
   and they quickly wither
   to be forever forgotten.
    ¹⁷The LORD is always kind
   to those who worship him,
   and he keeps his promises
   to their descendants
    ¹⁸who faithfully obey him.
    ¹⁹God has set up his kingdom
   in heaven,
   and he rules
   the whole creation.
    ²⁰All of you mighty angels,
   who obey God's commands,
   come and praise your LORD!
    ²¹All of you thousands
   who serve and obey God,
   come and praise your LORD!
    ²²All of God's creation
   and all that he rules,
   come and praise your LORD!
   With all my heart
   I praise the LORD!
  

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 103:5 Each. . . live: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

---

Proverbs 26:23 (Contemporary English Version)

²³Hiding hateful thoughts
   behind smooth ^a] talk is like coating a clay pot
   with a cheap glaze. 

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 26:23 smooth: One ancient translation; Hebrew " hateful."

---

Thought for the Day

 

“Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 - Contemporary English Version) Christians have no reason to assume that they can live lives without temptations or suffering. Following Jesus Christ has never been easy or popular. And yet, knowing that our destinies are in God's loving hands just might give us the hope and strength to persevere.

---

Quote for the Day

Scottish-born Australian writer, preacher, and social reformer, Catherine Helen Spence wrote, "Nothing is insignificant in the history of a young community, and - above all - nothing seems impossible."

---

A Joke for Today

A dying man gathered his Lawyer, Doctor and Clergyman at his bed side and handed each of them an envelop containing $25,000 in cash. He made them each promise that after his death and during his repose, they would place the three envelops in his coffin. He told them that he wanted to have enough money to enjoy the next life.

A week later the man died. At the Wake, the Lawyer and Doctor and Clergyman, each concealed an envelop in the coffin and bid their old client and friend farewell. By chance, these three met several months later. Soon the Clergyman, feeling guilty, blurted out a confession saying that there was only $10,000 in the envelop he placed in the coffin. He felt, rather than waste all the money, he would send it to a Mission in South America. He asked for their forgiveness.

The Doctor, moved by the gentle Clergyman's sincerity, confessed that he too had kept some of the money for a worthy medical charity. The envelop, he admitted, had only $8000 in it. He said, he too could not bring himself to waste the money so frivolously when it could be used to benefit others.

By this time the Lawyer was seething with self-righteous outrage. He expressed his deep disappointment in the felonious behavior of two of his oldest and most trusted friends. I am the only one who kept his promise to our dying friend. I want you both to know that the envelop I placed in the coffin contained the full amount. Indeed, my envelope contained my personal check for the entire $25,000.

---

A Prayer Request

As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.

That we approach our differences with both faith and commonsense.

Daily Lectionary Readings for October 30, 2025

Daily Lectionary Readings (Two-Year Cycle)

Daily Lectionary Readings for October 30, 2025 By Daily Lectionary Readings, Thursday, October 30, 2025 12:00 AM Morning Psalm 116 1   I love the LORD, because he has heard           my voice and my supplications. 2   Because he inclined his ear to me,           therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3   The snares of death encompassed me;           the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;           I suffered distress and anguish. 4   Then I called on the name of the LORD:           “O LORD, I pray, save my life!” 5   Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;           our God is merciful. 6   The LORD protects the simple;           when I was brought low, he saved me. 7   Return, O my soul, to your rest,           for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8   For you have delivered my soul from death,           my eyes from tears,           my feet from stumbling. 9   I walk before the LORD           in the land of the living. 10  I kept my faith, even when I said,           “I am greatly afflicted”; 11  I said in my consternation,           “Everyone is a liar.” 12  What shall I return to the LORD           for all his bounty to me? 13   I will lift up the cup of salvation           and call on the name of the LORD, 14  I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people. 15  Precious in the sight of the LORD           is the death of his faithful ones. 16  O LORD, I am your servant;           I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.           You have loosed my bonds. 17  I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice           and call on the name of the LORD. 18  I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people, 19  in the courts of the house of the LORD,           in your midst, O Jerusalem.      Praise the LORD! Morning Psalm 147:12-20 12  Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!           Praise your God, O Zion! 13  For he strengthens the bars of your gates;           he blesses your children within you. 14  He grants peace within your borders;           he fills you with the finest of wheat. 15  He sends out his command to the earth;           his word runs swiftly. 16  He gives snow like wool;           he scatters frost like ashes. 17  He hurls down hail like crumbs —           who can stand before his cold? 18  He sends out his word, and melts them;           he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 19  He declares his word to Jacob,           his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20  He has not dealt thus with any other nation;           they do not know his ordinances.      Praise the Lord! First Reading Nehemiah 1:1-11 1The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They replied, “The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.’ 10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!” At the time, I was cupbearer to the king. Or alternate First Reading Lamentations 2:16-22 16  All your enemies           open their mouths against you;      they hiss, they gnash their teeth,           they cry: “We have devoured her!      Ah, this is the day we longed for;           at last we have seen it!” 17  The LORD has done what he purposed,           he has carried out his threat;      as he ordained long ago,           he has demolished without pity;      he has made the enemy rejoice over you,           and exalted the might of your foes. 18  Cry aloud to the Lord!           O wall of daughter Zion!      Let tears stream down like a torrent           day and night!      Give yourself no rest,           your eyes no respite! 19  Arise, cry out in the night,           at the beginning of the watches!      Pour out your heart like water           before the presence of the Lord!      Lift your hands to him           for the lives of your children,      who faint for hunger           at the head of every street. 20  Look, O LORD, and consider!           To whom have you done this?      Should women eat their offspring,           the children they have borne?      Should priest and prophet be killed           in the sanctuary of the Lord? 21  The young and the old are lying           on the ground in the streets;      my young women and my young men           have fallen by the sword;      in the day of your anger you have killed them,           slaughtering without mercy. 22  You invited my enemies from all around           as if for a day of festival;      and on the day of the anger of the LORD           no one escaped or survived;      those whom I bore and reared           my enemy has destroyed. Second Reading Revelation 5:11-6:11 5:11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice,      “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered      to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might           and honor and glory and blessing!” 13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,      “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb      be blessing and honor and glory and might      forever and ever!" 14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. 6:1Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” 2I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer. 3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!” 4And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword. 5When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, 6and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” 7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!” 8I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth. 9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; 10they cried out with a loud voice, “Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?” 11They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed. Gospel Reading Matthew 13:18-23 18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Evening Psalm 26 1   Vindicate me, O LORD,           for I have walked in my integrity,           and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2   Prove me, O LORD, and try me;           test my heart and mind. 3   For your steadfast love is before my eyes,           and I walk in faithfulness to you. 4   I do not sit with the worthless,           nor do I consort with hypocrites; 5   I hate the company of evildoers,           and will not sit with the wicked. 6   I wash my hands in innocence,           and go around your altar, O LORD, 7   singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,           and telling all your wondrous deeds. 8   O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell,           and the place where your glory abides. 9   Do not sweep me away with sinners,           nor my life with the bloodthirsty, 10  those in whose hands are evil devices,           and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11  But as for me, I walk in my integrity;           redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12  My foot stands on level ground;           in the great congregation I will bless the LORD. Evening Psalm 130 1   Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 2       Lord, hear my voice!      Let your ears be attentive           to the voice of my supplications! 3   If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,           Lord, who could stand? 4   But there is forgiveness with you,           so that you may be revered. 5   I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,           and in his word I hope; 6   my soul waits for the Lord           more than those who watch for the morning,           more than those who watch for the morning. 7   O Israel, hope in the LORD!           For with the LORD there is steadfast love,           and with him is great power to redeem. 8   It is he who will redeem Israel           from all its iniquities. Read more »

Interim Unified Agency, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202