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/@officechurch336 

Friday Email, October 23, 2026

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22.34-40

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

When reading and interpreting Holy Scripture (for we interpret it every time we read it with the Holy Spirit's assistance), it's important to be aware of context. The immediate context for this text and the texts that surround it is the Temple in Jerusalem, where the religious leaders of Jesus' day could and would be found. It's the week that began with what we call Palm Sunday, a week that will end with a crucifixion, awaiting Jesus' resurrection. Once again, Jesus is found engaging those who are committed to interpreting the Jewish faith tradition to their fellow Jews, of whom Jesus is one. And, at the same time, the question of Jesus' authority is also part of the context. He could be described as the hick from Nazareth by his questioners, given how he does not have the external qualifications that it is assumed that Pharisees, Sadducees, and Priests have.

These texts in Matthew are based in the additional context of testing, for Matthew does not present the religious authorities in anything close to a neutral light. Mark, from whom Matthew borrowed the framework for his Gospel, as well as Luke share this teaching, but in different ways, while Matthew frames it as the religious authorities testing Jesus as to the authority he embodies and where it comes from. Time after time, Jesus makes it clear that his authority comes from God, which, of course, only frustrates the religious officials further, because he challenges them to reconsider their points of view.

The Jewish tradition had 613 laws that were codified, 248 stated positively and 365 prohibitions. While that may seem like a lot, my guess is that most every governmental body in the United States has more. A pharisee, representative of all pharisees--persons well taught in Scripture and in elocution, is portrayed as asking Jesus (referring to him in a honoring was as "Teacher"), "Which commandment in the law is the greatest?" It's a bit like asking who your favorite child/grandchild is, right? Jesus responds with words that are very familiar from Deuteronomy, the statement known as the Shema, an affirmation shared both upon awakening and before sleeping by faithful Jews: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind...this is the greatest and first commandment." . And then he adds another quote from the Bible, this time from Leviticus: ""And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" And then he adds, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (a Jewish way of speaking of God's word found in the Hebrew Bible).

The underpinning, the foundation of every one of the 613 laws, Jesus says, is love: love of God, and love of neighbor as yourself. When one loves, Jesus says, one fulfills God's law. The law can be summarized in 28 words, much easier to remember than 613 laws...thanks be to God.

Questions to ponder: What questions in your life do you find easy to answer, and which are more difficult? If someone were to ask you what your center is--what's most important or what is the greatest for you--how would you answer, what would you say? What is a question you have always wanted to ask Jesus, as the Pharisee is seen doing in this text?

THIS WEEK AT BFPC AND BEYOND

   Sunday, October 25

          Spiritual Formation, 9.30am, Library

          Worship, 10.30am, Sanctuary

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

          Fellowship following Worship, Fellowship Hall

   Saturday, October 31

          DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS, CLOCKS 'FALL BACK' ONE HOUR

   Sunday, November 1

          Spiritual Formation, 9.30am, Library

          Worship, 10.30am, Sanctuary, including Communion

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

          Fellowship following Worship, Fellowship Hall

We conclude the focus on Stewardship this Sunday reflecting on how "'Life, Not Death', is Stewardship For God's Sake."

Next Sunday, November 1st, is All Saints Day. In addition to the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, we will also read a Necrology during the service, remembering the members and friends who have been united with God in their resurrection.

If you know of someone who is or has been in the hospital, please share it with Timm. Thank You!

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

November worship will conclude Ordinary Time, or Sundays after Pentecost, for the first four Sundays, followed by the first Sunday of Advent on November 29th. Opportunities for Spiritual Formation during Advent leading into Christmas will be forthcoming soon.

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are still available in the Fellowship Hall to be prepared ahead of the collection week of November 16-23.

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

Prayer for Healing         Psalm 102.1-2

   Hear my prayer, O Lord;

   let my cry come to you.

   Do not hide your face from me

   in the day of my distress.

   Incline your ear to me;

   answer me speedily in the day when I call.

May this last week of October this year find you doing the best you can in all you do with all you have, given God's help, amidst the challenges and comforts that come your way.

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!