Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church of Bedford Indiana.

Established 1819

Spiritual Formation Class:  9:30 a.m.

Worship:  10:30 a.m.

    Welcome in God’s name!  Wherever you are on life’s journey, whether you are filled with faith or bursting with doubt, a disciple of Jesus or visiting church for the very first time, there is a place for you here.  You are a beloved child of God and you are welcome here.

Please join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday morning.  You are also welcome to come at 9:30 for a Spiritual Formation Opportunity in the church library.
And if you can't come, watch our livestream!:  www.youtube.com/@churchoffice336 

Friday Email, October 9, 2026

"When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But the owner of the vineyard replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious  because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Matthew 20.-9-16

To the Saints engaged in God's mission in the world through the Bedford First Presbyterian Church, greetings;

These vses come at the end of the Parable that's traditionally known as "The Laborers in the Vineyard" (Matthew 20.1-16). However, it's as much about the landowner, as it is the workers. The landowner is portrayed as seeking out workers to work in his vineyard. Perhaps it's the pruning season or harvesting season because he is diligent in his search, he "went out" "early in the morning...about nine...about noon and about three o'clock" and finally "about five o'clock". As the story shows, the latter worked only for one hour, and they were paid a denarius, considered a worker's daily wage which would allow them to purchase food for their family at the end of the day, as was everyone else who had worked. Those who had been hired "early in the morning" are the last to be paid and they assume there will be a bonus for them. When they grumble, the landowner reminds them that they had agreed to the wage of denarius for a day's work.

It's one of the most infuriating parables that Jesus told, and it was as infuriating when he first told it as it is today, as evidenced by the response of those first hired. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, Matthew has shared with us, and having left Galilee, is now near the door of Jerusalem as the story finds him teaching in Judea. Matthew 19 is a chapter of Jesus teaching his disciples and it ends with him sharing "But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first", words similar (albeit inverted) to the conclusion of the parable above. Biblical scholars refer to this as "bracketing", and advise the reader to note not only the brackets but what is found between them.

The parable has been interpreted a number of ways through the years, that the workers hired initially are the Jews, and those hired at five pm are the Gentiles. Perhaps, but this leads us away from the focus on the landowner which, if not primary, is not inconsequential, for as I suggested above, it is the landowner who embodies the lesson. It's not a stretch to infer that the landowner is God and that the vineyard is the people of God (an image from the prophet Isaiah). God desires that the people of God bear good fruit and invites them into the process of tending the grapes. And even more importantly, the parable says in a very direct way that God treats everyone equally, and that we are not to be "envious" because God is "generous". Perhaps maddening, but true, according to Jesus.

Questions to ponder: Have you ever worked out of a hiring hall or a place where persons seeking work (whether for a day or longer) would gather? Are there places in Bedford where such persons gather seeking to be employed? Do you have compassion for the workers who bore "the burden of the day and the scorching heat?" Who is someone in your life who treated you equally, perhaps even surprisingly?

THIS WEEK AT BFPC AND BEYOND

     Sunday, October 11

          Faith Formation, 9.30am, Library

          Worship, 10.30am, Sanctuary

               In person or online at www.youtube.com/officechurch336

          Fellowship following Worship, Fellowship Hall

     Tuesday, October 13

          Session Meeting, 5.30pm, Library

     Sunday, October 18

          Faith Formation, 9.30am, Library

          Worship, 10.30am, Sanctuary

               In person or online at www.youtube.com/officechurch336

          Fellowship following Worship, Fellowship Hall

We continue the focus on Stewardship in October with the theme of "Stewardship For God's Sake." This week's reflection will be on compassion.

Thank you to those who provided bread for World Communion Sunday last week: Julie Ingham, Peggy Julian, Susan Scherschel, and Gary Hunter, and to Erin Howard and Mary Hardesty for preparing the communion elements.

The Session will meet on Tuesday of this week at 5.30pm in the Library. Session meetings are open to everyone. The only exception would be if the Session voted to move into executive session.

Timm desires to offer home communion as well as other home visits. Please contact him. Thank You!

Timm's contact info: timm.high27@gmail.com; 814.873.1910; 812 24th Street

Prayer to Engender Trust

   God our strength, give us the humility to trust in your loving care, and the patience to be faithful in seeking your way, that we may come to share in the inheritance of your saints; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

     --From the Book of Common Worship (PCUSA), p962

May this holiday weekend, whether your focus is on Indigenous Persons Day or Columbus Day, find you grateful for your own heritage, mindful of those whose work and sacrifices made life for us possible.

Blessings and Be Well...

Timm

Contact Information      First Presbyterian Church of Bedford,   1504 L Street, Bedford, IN 47421

 Phone: 812-275-5853

 YouTube Livestream:  www.youtube.com/@officechurch336 

Email: office@bedfordpresby.org

 Clerks of Session:  Betsey Makximenko, vbat62@comcast.net

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FirstPresbyBedford/  Be sure to like us!