Sunday, June 23, 2019

The Way of Peace June 23, 2019

Worship on Sunday, June 23 …

 As we enter into the time of Pentecost, we explore what it means to be peacemakers in God’s world! 

╬ The Way of Peace!   The Way of Jesus is a way of peace.  Jesus’ living ministry is a study in intentional, non-violent transformation of people, of culture, of the world.  Peace is a gift from God – the great Shalom … everything ordered according to the good and gracious will of God.  We are called, and we are blessed, to be peacemakers!  In this Extra-Ordinary time, the people of God are called forth as the Body of Christ, following the One who “guides our steps in the way of peace.”

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

 Blessings to you all in this Extra-Ordinary time!

 - Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

 PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------
God of peace, bless us to be peacemakers.  Make peaceweaving our way of being, that your great Shalom might prevail in all the world.  Amen.

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

 First Reading:  Exodus 20:1-17
20 Then God spoke all these words:  2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.  4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.  7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.  8 remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.  12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.  13 You shall not murder.  14 You shall not commit adultery.  15 You shall not steal.  16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

 Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.

 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.

 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

 7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

 9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"

 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

 11 May the Lord give strength to his people!  May the Lord bless his people with peace!

 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:  John 14:23-31
23 "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.  25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.
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