Sunday, July 28, 2019

Language of Belief, July 28, 2019

Worship on Sunday, July 28 … “Faith, hope and love abide!”


We delve into our focus on the Language of Belief, engaging the word “Faith!”
╬ Faith that Works

 “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)  It is the cry of the heart that seeks to be faithful in a world too often faithless.  We seek a faith that is genuine, that honors the God in whom we have our being, but that goes with us supporting us in the changing fortunes of life.  We look to the One God sends for the example of a faith that works. 

 Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  

It is a great blessing to worship with you all!

 - Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

  PRAYER OF THE DAY ------------------
God of life, teach us the deeper meanings of faith.  Guide as we seek to grow in a faith that works in the shifting currents and fortunes of life. Help us to rely on your goodness and wisdom, to have faith in you, beyond our own understandings.  Amen.

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

 First Reading:  Deuteronomy 32:48-52

 48 On that very day the Lord addressed Moses as follows: 49 "Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession; 50 you shall die there on the mountain that you ascend and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin; 51 because both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Although you may view the land from a distance, you shall not enter it — the land that I am giving to the Israelites."

 Psalm 78:1-8
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children;
6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their faith in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

 Second Reading:  James 2:14-26
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.  18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

 Gospel:  Matthew 8:5-13

 5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." 7 And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." 8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you according to your faith." And the servant was healed in that hour.
Posted by at

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Language of Belief 7-21-2019

Worship on Sunday, July 21 … “Faith, hope and love abide!”



We begin a new series, focusing on the language we use as people of faith! 
╬ A Language of Belief Too often, we speak in a coded language, all our own.  The Christian vernacular is opaque to many who look in from outside the traditions of the church.  What is “gospel?”  What do we mean by “salvation” and what does it mean to be “righteous,” “redeemed?”  What is the Kingdom of God, and just where is it to be found?  Let’s unpack some of our language of belief, for our own understanding and for the sake of a world open to hearing.

  Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

 I will be back this Sunday and looking very much forward to worshiping with you all!

 Blessings to you,
- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

  PRAYER OF THE DAY -----------------------
God of life and all creation, teach us the language of your truth.  By the power of your Spirit, instill in us a language of belief that we may speak meaningfully to the wider world of your grace, your goodness and love.  Amen.

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

 First Reading:  Genesis 11:1-9

 11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. 6 And the Lord said, "Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another's speech." 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

 Psalm 119:125-135
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know your decrees.

 126 It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.

 127 Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.

 128 Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; I hate every false way.

 129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

 131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.

 132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.

 133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.

 134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

 135 Make your face shine upon your servant.

 Second Reading:  Acts 2:1-9
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

 Gospel:  Mark 1:1-11,14
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; 3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"  4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."  Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Posted by at

Monday, July 15, 2019

Mercy as the Way of Christ


Worship on Sunday, July 14 …



We awaken to mercy as the Way of Christ, to be embraced by all who would follow him!
╬ Mercy!   The way of Jesus is a way of mercy. The cry for mercy caused Jesus to stand still, and motivated him to respond to the outcasts whom society attempted to silence. As followers of Jesus in the way of mercy, we are called not only to respond to the needs of others, but to be motivated by a new kind of vision, one that recognizes all people as worthy of compassion, love, dignity and hope.

 Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.

 Julia Miller will preach at both services.
Reggie Kikta, a Synodically Authorized Minister will preside in Communion.

Blessings to you all in Pentecost worship!
- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

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

 God of life, in the face of harshness and disregard, teach us the way of your Christ, the way of mercy and empathy, caring and self-giving love.  Bless us to bless your world with mercy.  Amen.

READINGS --------------------------------------------
First Reading:  Micah 6:1-8

 6 Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.  2 Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.  3 "O my people, what have I done to you?  In what have I wearied you? Answer me!  4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.  5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord."  6 "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"  8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 Psalm 86:1-13
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

 2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you.  You are my God;

 3 be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long.

 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.

 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.

 7 In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.

 8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

 9 All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

 Second Reading:  1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 Gospel:  Matthew 20:29-34
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" 31 The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!" 32 Jesus stood still and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" 33 They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him
Posted by at

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Restorative Justice July 7, 2019

Worship on Sunday, July 7 …

We deepen our focus on justice as the Way of Christ as we embraced the power of Restorative Justice! 
Pr. Tim Anderson will preach and preside in Communion at both services.
╬ Restorative Justice!   Retributive or punitive justice has come to characterize much of our legal process today.  But there is another understanding of justice that is rooted in the Christian calling to reconciliation and redemption.  "Repairing the harm done by crime - beyond what happens in the courtroom" is a good working definition of restorative justice. The term and its various practices are Biblical, and they're not just for soothing the pain caused by crime. Restorative practices help us move forward in our day-to-day life together. They help communities and families stay together, individuals to heal, and allow for the light of hope to flourish even in the darkest of circumstances.

  Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 
PLEASE NOTE:
We have three Readings today, two from Hebrew Testament along with Gospel (no Psalm).

  
Blessings to you all in Pentecost worship!

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

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

God of life, in the midst of a broken world, teach us the ways of your Christ, ways of healing, reconciling and redeeming.  Bless us to be peacemakers even in the face of violence and tragedy.  Amen.

READINGS ---------------------------------------
First Reading:  Leviticus 6:1-7
6  The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 When any of you sin and commit a trespass against the Lord by deceiving a neighbor in a matter of a deposit or a pledge, or by robbery, or if you have defrauded a neighbor, 3 or have found something lost and lied about it — if you swear falsely regarding any of the various things that one may do and sin thereby — 4 when you have sinned and realize your guilt, and would restore what you took by robbery or by fraud or the deposit that was committed to you, or the lost thing that you found, 5 or anything else about which you have sworn falsely, you shall repay the principal amount and shall add one-fifth to it. You shall pay it to its owner when you realize your guilt. 6 And you shall bring to the priest, as your guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. 7 The priest shall make atonement on your behalf before the Lord, and you shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and incur guilt thereby.

Second Reading:  Jeremiah 8:18-22
18 My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.  19 Hark, the cry of my poor people

 from far and wide in the land:  "Is the Lord not in Zion?  Is her King not in her?"  ("Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?")  20 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." 21 For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.  22 Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there?  Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?

Gospel:  Matthew 18:15-20
15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)