Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church of Bedford Indiana.

Established 1819

     The First Presbyterian Church of Bedford is a community of believers in Jesus Christ who seek to know God's will through worship, scripture, and prayer, and who feel called to share God's love through community and global ministry.  We are committed to providing a caring, welcoming and inclusive environment to fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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, June 5, 2026

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection station, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and lean what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners."

Matthew 9.10-13

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

In the midst of Jesus' travels teaching and healing, he encountered opposition from numerous groups for his interpretation of God's Law and whom he chose to spend time with. The text that comes after this (9.14-17) is a reflection of the former, as disciples of John (the Baptist) question Jesus as to why his disciples do not wash their hands before they eat, as is a practice within the Law. This text is an example of the criticism Jesus faced regarding who he spent time with and how he spent the time, in this case, eating with sinners.

Jesus encounters Matthew (known as Levi in the other Gospels) sitting at a tax collection station. Matthew was among those who worked to collect taxes on behalf of Rome and were generally despised by their fellow Jews. Jesus uses the same call format that he had used with Andrew, Peter, James, and John: "Follow me", which resulted in the same response, as Jesus is then pictured at dinner with Matthew, other tax collectors, and "sinners". "Sinners" is thought to be a euphemism for prostitutes. Some assume that it is Matthew's house, others Peter's, in either case the guest list was so big that it is imagined that the dinner expanded outside of the house so that it was visible to the public.

Some Pharisees notice this and question Jesus' disciples why their "teacher eats with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus overhears the question and answers it by saying, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." This statement is challenging because it implies that tax collectors and sinners (and presumably others as well) are "sick." The next phrase helps with understanding: Jesus goes on to say "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" In doing so, Jesus quotes a prophet that would have been known to the Pharisees, who sought to uphold God's Word, in this case what we know as Hosea 6.6 (Hosea speaking for God): "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

A serious reading of Matthew finds the author not picturing Jesus eating with Pharisees (something common in the other Gospels) nor encouraging his disciples to engage with the Samaritans. What Matthew does picture is Jesus engaging with others who are outside of the blessing of the Pharisees and other leaders in the Jewish tradition, thus challenging them as to their interpretation and understanding of God. This text does that for the Pharisees, the next text does that with John the Baptist's disciples, and what will conclude our reading of Matthew on Sunday is what is called a "sandwich" story, in which one story begins, another is inserted, and both provide commentary on the other: the raising from the dead of a daughter of "a leader" (presumably of a synagogue) and his affirmation of the faith of a woman who had been suffering with a flow of blood for twelve years who had reached out to him for healing.

Questions to ponder: When have your personal practices raised eyebrows/were experienced as inappropriate by others?  Who do you experience the most opposition in your life from? What has been the most diverse company of persons you have eaten with?

I look forward to further discerning Jesus' teaching and practice in these stories with you on Sunday morning!

THIS WEEK AT FPC AND BEYOND:

   Sunday, June 7

          Spiritual Formation at 9.30am in the library

          Worship at 10.30am including Celebration Of Holy Communion

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

          Catered Luncheon courtesy of  Marge Lee and the Lee Family at 10.30am, Fellowship  

            Hall

   Tuesday, June 9

          Session Meeting, 5.30pm, Library

   Saturday, June 13

          Women of the Church, Fellowship Hall

   Sunday, June 14

          Lee Hutchison 101st Birthday Celebration following worship

Please come and enjoy the catered lunch following worship today in the Fellowship Hall, a gift of Marge Lee and the Lee Family!

An early Sunday morning worship opportunity will begin on July 5th at 8.45am in the Library. This service will be a half-hour in length, will not be a duplicate of the 10.30am service, and the worship services will last through August.

Thank You, Again, for your submission of congregational choice hymns!

The Session encourages you to continue to share your thoughts regarding ideas of what the Holy Spirit is calling us to engage during 2026. Take advantage of speaking to an Elder on Session or Timm, or writing your thoughts on the easel in the Fellowship Hall.

Birthday Celebrations this month will include Lee Hutchison on June 14th, and the April-May-June Birthdays on June 21st.

Thank you to the members and friends of this faith community who supported the Makximenko Family this week in the wake of Vic's death by attending viewing hours, participating in the funeral service, providing food for the meal, or by supporting Betsey, Alex, and Tessa in other ways.

The Mission and Vision and Welcome Statements Discernment Team is proposing three statements for your consideration and feedback. Here are the three statements and there will be an insert in Sunday's bulletin for you to make comments as well. Thank You, in advance, for your contribution to the process initiated by the Holy Spirit!

Revised Proposed Vision Statement:

   First Presbyterian Church of Bedford will grow as a revitalized Community of Faith  

   where individuals and families thrive while experiencing the Love of God as disciples'

   of Jesus Christ.

Proposed Mission Statement:

   To know and be known by God through worship, prayer, and study of scripture, and

   to embody Christ's inclusive love through our discipleship and support of God's

   mission in the world.

Proposed Welcome Statement:

   Welcome in God's name! Wherever you are on life's journey whether filled with faith

   or dealing with doubt, a lifelong Presbyterian 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.

From the Mailbag: "Listening to your Sunday streaming is my favorite way to reflect on my week. Thank You for continuing to serve those you don't even know!

     This note was received along with a kind donation for the church's budget this week from a  

     grateful out of state online worship participant!

Timm's contact info: timm.high27@gmail.com; 814-873-1910; 812 24th Street. Look soon for an invitation to an open house at 812 24th Street near the end of June!

One sign of a healthy faith community is the support of one another when life brings grief and joy. We are reminded by Paul in his letter to the Church at Rome: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep" (Romans 12.15). Grief and Joy are a part of life, not apart from life, and we, as a community of faith, are called by God in the person of Jesus through the passion and purpose of the Holy Spirit to comfort those who are experiencing sorrow and rejoice with those experiencing joy. I am grateful for your commitment to engage in both with each other.

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!