August 14th 2022 Bulletin

 

WELCOME, HYMN: This Is My Father’s World………………Red 824

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS, GREETING , KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE: Oh Sing to The Lord………………….….Red 822

PRAYER: O God, judge eternal, you love justice and hate oppression, and you call us to share your zeal for truth. Give us courage to take our stand with all victims of bloodshed and greed, and, following your servants and prophets, to look to the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

Jeremiah 23:23-29 Because Jeremiah preaches the unpopular message of God's judgment, he suffers rejection. Today's reading speaks of the mistaken notion that God sees only what is happening in the temple. Rather, Jeremiah points out, God's distance allows for a panoramic view of all the universe, including the lies and deceptions of false prophets. Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed!" How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back--those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Hebrews 11:29--12:2 The author of Hebrews presents us with a long list of biblical heroes whose exemplary faith enabled them to face the trials of life. In addition to this "cloud of witnesses," we have Jesus, the perfect model of faithful endurance.  By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

HYMN: Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me……………………………..Red 755

Luke 12:49-56  Today's gospel contains harsh words concerning the purifying and potentially divisive effects of God's call. People who follow the way of Christ often encounter hostility and rejection, even from those they love. [Jesus said:] "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

SERMON              We thank Mary Ann Bowman for preaching today.

HYMN: Blest Are They…………………………………..….Red 728

APOSTLES’ CREED

OFFERING, PRAYERS, LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. May you be

rooted and grounded in his love. Amen.  Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

HYMN: God Be With You Till We Meet Again  Red 536