always reforming Oct 27,2019

LOOKING AHEAD  to worship on Sunday, October 27

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 Our focus on “Living Lutheran” culminates in our celebration of the Reformation!   

╬  Semper Reformanda

Reformation Sunday is always a threshold moment for us, as we stand in the light of our tradition and look ahead into the promise of coming days.  It is a time for remembrance and a time for prophecy, as well.  From the vantage of the present, we give thanks to God for the long and often arduous road that has led us to this day.  And we give thanks to God for shining light on the path ahead, in uncertain times.  One thing is certain:  change!  It has attended the journey at every turn thus far and is a continual calling as we go forward … Semper Reformanda! … always reforming!”

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

We go forward together, always becoming the people God is calling us to be!

- Pr. Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org

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

Oh God, our help in ages past; our hope for years to come.  Give us strength and courage to embrace the opportunities of new days.  You, who have walked the road with us in times past, lead us forward in the way of your Christ.  Amen.

READINGS --------------------------- 

First Reading:  Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Psalm 105: 1-10

1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered,

6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,


Second Reading:  Romans 3:19-28

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.  21 But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.  27 Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Gospel:  John 8:31-36

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"  34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Living In Grace Oct 20,2019

worship on Sunday, October 20



 As we continue in our focus on “Living Lutheran” in this season of Reformation, we celebrate the gift of God’s unconditional love that we experience …   

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╬  Living In Grace

 The story of God’s grace in Scripture was a life-transforming revelation for Martin Luther.  In our own lives and in the lives of people everywhere, the Gospel proclamation of God’s unconditional love and claim of us all as daughters and sons is an invitation to live freely as the people we were created to be.  “Grace alone” becomes a foundation stone of Christian faith, testifying to God’s goodness, and God’s promise fulfilled in us.

 Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  


Free, unfettered, unmerited … abundant GRACE!  What wondrous love is this, O my soul!







- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org


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

Creating God, you create us in your image, you fill us with your Spirit and bless us with your abiding love as a gift of grace.  Help us to simply receive your love and live as your children, in your grace, daily.  Amen.


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

First Reading: Deuteronomy 8:17-18



17Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth."18But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.



Psalm 96:1-9



1 O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.



Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5



1Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.4I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.



Gospel: Luke 19:1-10



1He entered Jericho and was passing through it.2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today."6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.7All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner."8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."9Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Christ Alone Oct 13, 2019

Worship on Sunday, October 13

 We continue in the Season of Reformation to center ourselves in foundational elements of our theology … in this gathering:  “Christ Alone,” the invitation literally to live our lives “In Christ.”

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╬  Living In Christ

He is Messiah, the anointed one; Deliverer, Redeemer; Prince of Peace, King of Kings.  These are central pronouncements of our faith, received as sedition by worldly powers.  “Jesus is Lord” is the proclamation that true authority for the life of believers resides in Christ, the One who reveals the very heart of God.  He is the One God’s sends to shape our way of being in the world.  In the words of the old Gospel hymn: “Give me Jesus, give me Jesus!  You can have all this world, just give me Jesus!”

 Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.

As the old hymn says, Christ is made our sure foundation!

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ------------------------------
Creating God, in Christ is your fullness revealed.  We give you thanks for the gift of God-self – divinity in humanity – a gift of grace and truth and light for our lives.  Amen.

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

First Reading:  Daniel 7:13-14
13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him.  14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 118:19-26
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Second Reading:  Colossians 1:9-23
9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

Gospel:  John 1:1-5,10-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.  10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.  14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Living the Word Oct 6, 2019

Worship on Sunday, October 6

In the Season of Reformation, we center ourselves in the traditions that give shape and meaning to our spiritual lives, beginning with the centrality of Scripture …

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╬  Living the Word

As followers of Christ, we are “people of the book.” The Bible contains the word of God writ large in scripture, the written source of our beliefs and practices.  It is God-inspired with explicit and implicit teachings on our identity and calling as the people of God.  We proclaim scripture as authoritative in our lives, over against other forms of presumed authority.  In reality, it is so much more.  Scripture is our story, the story of people reaching toward God even as God reaches toward us, to know and be known. 

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  

Our theological and liturgical traditions are a gift to a world that searching for meaning and understanding.  Let’s celebrate and proclaim together! 

- Pr. Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org

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

Creating God, you are everywhere and always awakening us to your reality.  Thank you for the gift of Scripture, wherein your nature and truth are revealed, to guide our lives and to enlighten the world. Help us to grow deeper in its teachings and wisdom.  Amen.

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

First Reading:  2 Chronicles 34:29-33

29 Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 31 The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin pledge themselves to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel, and made all who were in Israel worship the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord the God of their ancestors.

Psalm 40:1-8

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

4 Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods.

5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.

6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear.  Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7 Then I said, "Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Second Reading:  2 Timothy 3:10-17

10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Gospel:  Luke 24:44-48

44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.