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."
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