All are welcome to join us for church on Sunday mornings at 10 am.  Sunday school for children runs at the same time as the service.  Please join us for coffee after the service.  This week there are discussion around Remit 3.  Come and find out more.

Here are a few words from Rev. Marlene about the service on Sunday.

Marlene’s Rev. Notes:

“She sent for Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you…’” Judges4:6

Deborah was a multi talented woman, during a time when women were often overlooked in the Old Testament. But it would have been impossible to overlook Deborah! As a military leader, poet, prophet and judge, she used her talents to inspire Israel during a dark time.

Deborah won her fame leading a desperate nation to victory. With Israel under the tyranny of a foreign ruler, she ordered Barak to lead a revolt. He refused to go unless Deborah went with him. Under her leadership, Israel’s ten thousand troops defeated a much better-equipped enemy. This triumph led to forty years of peace for Israel.

Deborah and Barak in a miniature 13^th Century Psalter of St. Louis

Deborah excelled in many areas of life. She was a mother, and a wife. Her wisdom was considered so great, that people brought their disputes to her as she sat under a large palm tree, the Palm of Deborah. As a prophet, she had the ability to understand God’s message, and relay it with clarity and power. Deborah was also an accomplished poet as Judges 5: 2-31 demonstrates. “The Song of Deborah” was sung as a duet by Barak and Deborah. It is a 12^th. Century victory hymn, composed shortly after the Israelite conquest of Sisera at Taanach; and it is one of the oldest and most expressive poems in the Bible.

As we examine the life of Deborah, in what areas could we develop our talents to accomplish God’s work at Sherwood Park United Church?