Monday, February 20, 2017

February 26 Lifting the Veil

WORSHIP this Sunday, February 26, the last Sunday after Epiphany …

We complete our focus on Seeking God with a celebration of the Transfiguration! 

╬ Lifting the Veil

“And all of us, with unveiled faces …"  - 2 Corinthians 3:18

The Transfiguration is a pivotal experience in the lives of Jesus’ disciples, as it is in our own lives and faith journey.  It profoundly captures the deeper meanings of the season of Epiphany – the revealing, the “making-known” of God.  The Gospels describe a mystical, mountaintop experience in which certain of Jesus’ followers see him transfigured.  In the story, Jesus’ appearance changes dramatically, he looks different to them.  In reality, a veil is lifted from their understanding and they see him in a new light.  It is an invitation to awaken to the true reality of Christ as the one promised by the prophets, the One in whom God is re-creating the world.  It is an invitation to them – and to us – to be transformed by that revealed identity. 


The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.  PLEASE NOTE: I have chosen to use more traditional Transfiguration First and Second Readings.  This will not affect the wonderful song selections you have for the day!

Blessings and peace to you all,

- Pastor Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------------------------------------

Almighty God, the light of your truth shines from the mountaintop into our hearts.  Transfigure us in the love of your Son, and illumine the world with your image, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

READINGS ----------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  Exodus 34:29-35

29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34 but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Psalm 99

1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. 14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.  4 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

Gospel:  Matthew 17:1-9

17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Posted by at

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

February 19 Seeking God in Others

WORSHIP on Sunday, February 19, the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany …

We continue in our focus on Seeking God with all our hearts. 

╬ Seeking God in Others

“You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers once yourselves."  - Deuteronomy 10:19

Jesus says the full measure of the “law and the prophets” – the “bible” of his time – is summed up in a single commandment:  to love; to love others as we would be loved ourselves.  This can be challenging within our own cultural enclaves, our national and religious identity groups, our communities, even our families.  But God’s commandment extends beyond our comfortable spheres, to engage the “other,” the stranger, with that same love.  And yet, we may find that when we look into the face of the stranger, with integrity and humility, it is God we find looking back.

The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.  PLEASE NOTE: I have made substitution in the text for the Second Reading.

Blessings and peace to you all,

- Pastor Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------------------------------------

God of all life and all creation, it is your face we seek.  Reveal yourself to us in the faces of our beloved.  Reveal yourself to us in the faces of strangers. And may it be your face that the world sees shining forth from us.  Amen.

READINGS ---------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 10:17-22

17 The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, 18 who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. 19 You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall revere the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen. 22 Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.

Psalm:  A Responsive Reading from Job 29:11-17

11 When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved;
12 because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger.
17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 2:13-22

13 Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Gospel:  Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'

Posted by at

Friday, February 3, 2017

February 12 Seeking God in Creation

LOOKING FORWARD TO WORSHIP on Sunday, February 12, the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany …

We continue in our focus on Seeking God with all our hearts. 

╬ Seeking God in Creation

“Creation is the primary and most perfect revelation of the Divine."  - Thomas Aquinas

When Thomas Aquinas wrote this in his Summa Theologica – the grand “summary” of his faith – he touched the very heart of our belief as it relates to the natural world.  All creation is infused with the presence of the Creator.  The Psalmist affirms, “The heavens show forth the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”  (Psalm 19:1)  The original testament of God is the creation itself.  Scripture mirrors restored relationship between humanity and God with restored natural harmony.  In nature, we experience God’s ongoing creative work and here our call to join in that work. 

The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.

The glory of God is all around us, as surely as it is within!

Blessings, to all,

- Pastor Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org


The following links will work after Sunday Feb 12th, 2017
PRAYER OF THE DAY -----------------------------------------------

Creator, source and ground of all being, we give thanks for the wonder, the beauty and the mystery of the natural world.  Help us to find our true place in it, and therein find our true selves in you.  Reveal yourself in the glory of your creation.  Amen.

READINGS ------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  Genesis 1:26-31

26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."  27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." 29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Psalm 145:1-9

1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

Second Reading:  Romans 8:18-24

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Gospel:  Matthew 6:25-33

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Posted by at

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

February 5 Seeking God in Word and Sacrament

Sunday, February 5, the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany …

We continue in our focus on Seeking God with all our hearts. 

╬ Seeking God in Word and Sacrament

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  (Psalm 119:105)

The Psalmist expresses for us the central truth about God’s Word.  This “word” is the “logos” – the full expression or revelation of God – in all the ways it comes to us:  spoken by God in creation, writ large in Scripture; incarnate in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.  We gather in worship seeking presence with God in the Word and in the sacraments of our liturgy:  celebrations of God’s grace in our baptism and the fellowship of God’s table.  Here God forms us as people of faith, people of Word and Sacrament, and sends us in mission for the sake of the world.  Here we come to know our true selves “en theos,” in God.

The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.

One of the greatest blessings in life is celebrating God’s goodness with you in the Great Gathering!

- Pastor Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org


PRAYER OF THE DAY -----------------------------

God of life, we seek you at the center of our gathering here.  Speak to us in your Word.  Refresh us in remembrance of your grace in baptism.  Restore us and renew us in the blessing of your table.  Come to us in worship that we may find ourselves in you.  Amen.

READINGS -------------------------------------------

First Reading:  Isaiah 56:1-8

6 Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 2 Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil. 3 Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely separate me from his people"; and do not let the eunuch say, "I am just a dry tree." 4 For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.  6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant — 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.8 Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Psalm 27:1-5

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh — my adversaries and foes — they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

Second Reading:  Revelation 19:6-10

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunder peals, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; 8 to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" —  for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.  9 And the angel said to me, "Write this:  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God." 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Gospel:  John 14:18-24

18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.”
Posted by at

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Seeking God in Silence

Worship on January 29, the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany …

We continue in our focus on Seeking God with all our hearts. 

╬ Seeking God in Silence

“My soul waits in silence for God alone.  All my hope is from him.”  (Psalm 62:5)  The Psalmist gives voice to a deep abiding truth.  Seeking God has active, kinetic aspects.  But one of the most powerful ways to seek and experience presence with God is to become still, within and without.  Christian faith and spiritual traditions of every kind share in common an emphasis on contemplative, meditative practices of seeking God in silence.  Perhaps the shortest route to God in a noisy, jangled world, is to become still, centered and silent.
The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.

May you and I find places of deep, attentive silence in the midst of life.  For we may well find that God is most abundantly present and available there.


- Pastor Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------------------------------------

God of all creation, help us to rest ourselves in you.  In the complexity and busy-ness, the challenges and noise of daily life, help us to know peace and grow still, that we might find you in silence.  Amen.

READINGS ------------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  1 Kings 19:9-13

9 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."  11 He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 1:17-23

17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened and you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel:  Mark 1:35-39

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Posted by at

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Seeking God in prayer

Worship on Sunday, January 22 …

As we continue in our series, “Seeking God, we turn our attention to Seeking God in prayer!

╬ Seeking God in prayer.

One constant that rises from the pages of both Hebrew testament and Christian witness is God’s call to prayer.  Individually and communally, in times of danger and despair, in times of joyful celebration, at the top of our lungs and in the intimacy of silence – God invites and encourages us to pray. Paul understands this as a “constant” spiritual discipline: “Pray without ceasing,” he says, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)  This gift of deep communion with God is there for all who will seek God in prayer.

The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.

To abide in God’s love is to abide in prayer!


Blessings to all,

- Pastor Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY -----------------------------------------------

Gracious God, in this season of Epiphany light call is into prayer.  Give us the faith and the courage to open our hearts and minds to you  in this communion of spirit.  May we find you  when we seek you in prayer. Amen.

READINGS ------------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  1 Kings 8:27-30

27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! 28 Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

Psalm:  A Litany of Psalm Verses on Prayer (141, 42, 16, 66)

I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you.

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

Second Reading:  James 5:13-18

13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

Gospel:  Matthew 6:1-6

1 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  2 "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  5 "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


Posted by at

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Seeking God in daily life

Looking ahead to Sunday, January 15 … we begin to explore our Epiphany theme of “Seeking God.” 


 ╬ Seeking God in daily life.

The astounding truth is that the God of the universe, the God of all life and all creation, wants nothing more than an intimate relationship of love with each one of us, moment by moment, throughout our days.  Yet how easily can this connection of ultimate love can be lost among the cares and complexities of our daily lives.  God does not insist, or demand or assert.  Rather the abiding promise is that if we will seek God in daily living, God will be found!


 The Prayer of the Day and Readings are below.


It is a blessing to experience this Epiphany revelation of God’s presence with you!

- Pastor Brad Highum

 bhighum@abidinglove.org


PRAYER OF THE DAY -----------------------------------------------

God of life and all creation, we hold to your promise of presence.  The object of all our longing is you.  With the whole of our being – with all our heart – we seek you on the path of daily life.  God of grace, draw near.   Amen.

READINGS ------------------------------------------------------------

First Reading:  Exodus 16:1-7

16 The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."  4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days." 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord.

Responsive Reading from Proverbs - 8:22,30-35

22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.
30 Then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.
32 "And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life

Second Reading:  Acts 17:21-28

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.  22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23 For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26 From one ancestor God made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27 and that they would seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him, and find him — though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28 For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'

Gospel:  Luke 11:1-4

11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.  3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.  And do not bring us to the time of trial."
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)