In Charles Dickens' classic book, A Tale of Two Cities, he opens with these memorable words: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...."

I always think about that line when I begin reading the book of Ruth. 

Even though Ruth is, as one scholar put it, a literary masterpiece that "features thematic reversals as it moves from famine to fullness, barrenness to fruitfulness, isolation to community, death to life," it still begins with tragedy. It begins in "the worst of times." 

Which begs the question, "Where is God in the worst of times?"

Join us this Sunday as we begin our 5-week study in the much beloved book of Ruth that teaches us about the lives of ordinary people like us, the hidden providence of God, and the mysterious ways he works all things together for our God and the glory of our Lord Jesus. 

As Tim Mackie of the Bible Project put it, "These seemingly mundane ordinary events of this story are woven into God’s grand story of redemption for the whole world, and so the book of Ruth invites us to consider how God might be at work of the very mundane ordinary events of our lives as well."

We hope to see you this Sunday at 10am at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Here’s a copy of the worship folder.

See you then,

Pastor John