2019-09-01Service

Grace and peace to you from God our father in the Lord Jesus Christ glad that y'all are here today. We know it would be kind of a smaller group today. So when we are coming right here everybody here if you need us to bring the elements to you and we will come to you do have a number of announcements first of all. Y'all know I was pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Odessa for 5 years, and let's just take a moment of silence.

a man I did talk to some friends there yesterday. They still haven't released any names. So people don't know exactly what all is going on in the newspaper this morning. They showed a picture of a man sitting outside a Medical Center Hospital a praying and I think I probably went to that hospital about a million times when I was out there and it's it's scary. Isn't it? What are we going to do with our world? We need to pray fervently about that has some happier topics fall Sunday school class started the new series of lessons today Presbyterian Women's Circle me Tuesday morning at 10. We're going to be doing this study.

Did you know it doesn't say Commandments in the Old Testament it calls them the 10 words. Is that awesome? Anyway, I will bring a little snack or two and we'll have plenty of stuff for everybody Munch Bunch me Thursday at 1 and also Grace bags not today. But next Sunday. Okay, kickoff is next Sunday. Now, this is the biggie. All of the Committees will have tables set up so that you can look at 1 today do what are these people involved in has a support this church and how can I help do that? That's going to be the really important part and then River in Helen Bailey is going to lead a study again. Like she did last year this year at Saint John Dominic crossan greatest prayer, but you know what that is, and she said she thought it would take 10 seconds. Now I know last year it was going to be eight sessions and it went like 16 or something. Anyway, it's a it's a great topic. It's a great leader. So come and join Helen not this Wednesday, but the next Wednesday and then finally Sanctuary choir is about to start singing again. We think we're going to hold off on robes for a while until they are hot those of you who attended George Krause service, not yesterday but a week ago, it was really quite something. So we did everything we could to honor and praise the Life of George pal.

A special Welcome to our visitors do we have today? I don't see any but we'll look for some okay in the passing of the peace. We reconcile ourselves with one another before we come to God as we share in the Peace of Christ. Let it be a true peace shared without any reservations the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Spanish or the peace with one another. Peace of Christ be with you peace of Christ be with you.

Let's enter our hearts on these words from the gospel of Matthew. Jesus said take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.

Good morning. Is John Wayne the Cults worship? God calls us to service.

God calls us to love the unknown.

We come to this time of worship.

Who is the same yesterday today and forever? Let us pray? Holy God, you alone are worthy of honor and praise open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us the wisdom to witness you presents and now people Transformers in love grow us and Faith call us to love with a full heart and to share your promises with all people MN.

God invites us to mutual love but to find that mutuality. We must release our need for honor and our desire for privilege and humility. Let us seek forgiveness trusting in the promise of God and Christ Jesus our lord please join me in the prayer of confession. Merciful God forgive us for we exalt ourselves and mock The Humble we choose to believe we are self-sufficient rather than trusting in your strength. Open us to your spirit that we might serve all people without regard to the outcome devoting ourselves to your honour alone. We pray in Jesus name.

And let all God's people say amen. God rejoices when we repent and return offering us finest weed and honey from The Rock to sustain us in new life for you have been reconciled to God and to one another with joy the labor of God service friends and believe live and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven

Please join me on the prayer of Illumination in which we ask God to open our minds and hearts to God's word and scripture and sermon today. Let us pray. God of wisdom open us to the work of your spirit that we may hear and Faithfully respond really work.

Well the children, please come down for the children sermon while the children are coming. Please pass down to Friendship pads. If you would like to receive the weekly word, please provide us with your email address. We don't have many children here today. So we have a few people who are young of heart. Please come and join us. Come on up here Dora stand up. We're going to stand around our right. Let's all stand around the table. Okay, so we have communion we believe that Jesus is not actually standing here. But that his spirit is with us. Okay. Just think Jesus is here in spirit and which place would Jesus be in if he was here physically? Probably right here the best place. Yeah. Yeah. Alright. Jesus is right here. Then who should get to be next to him and we'll put some plates out for a few. you should be right here and right here. Well of us, yeah. Okay, so where who should have these two places? Anyone about the smallest one? Come on around here Dora. I think the smallest went okay next smallest. I'm sure I'm taller than you are not I'm sure of it. I'm sure but you seem right here. All right. Now who's going to be? Okay, darling. Here's your place got a good shirt on there bud. I'm afraid you're going to be like.

One for you and one for you. And where do I go? over here

Okay. Okay. I'll go over there. I'll go over there. All right. What Jesus invites are the smallest in the humblest and those that people don't know very well and that's what are shamans about today how he invites people to Mayo pretty much eating a meal each of us. Especially the smallest would be invited to come and stand right by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

dear Lord Thank you for inviting us to the table as we share the meal you're having servants in this world. We all say. amen

are scripture reading today comes from the book of Hebrews chapter 13 from verse 1 to 8, then from there 15 and 16. and it says Let them know that the mutual love continue do not leave do not neglect to show Hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing you remember those who are in prison. So you were in prison with them those who are being tortured as though you yourselves or being tortured? Let marriage be held in Honor by all and let the marriage that the marriage bed be kept Under Fire for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have for he has said I will never leave you nor forsake you so we can say with confidence. The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me. Remember your leaders those who spoke the word of God to you consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Verse 15 through him then let us continually offer sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of lips that confess his name do not neglect to do good and to share what you have for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

That is an arrangement for flute and piano songs from The Gospel of Luke the 14th chapter verses 1 and then 7 through 14 listen for the word of the Lord. On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath they were watching him.

When you noticed how the gas chose the places of Honor he told him a parable when you were invited by someone to a wedding banquet Do not sit down at the place of honor in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host and the hose to invited both of you may come and say to you give this person your place and then in disgrace she would start to take the lowest place. Go and sit down at the lowest place so that when your host comes he may say to you friend move up higher, then you will be honored in the presence of it at the table Wiki for all who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. He said also to the one who had invited him. When you give a luncheon or dinner do not invite your friends or your brothers are your relatives are rich neighbors invite you in return and you would be repaid but when you give a banquet invite the poor the crippled the lame and the Blind and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous the word of the Lord.

Someone said and I think it's true that throughout the Gospel of Luke. Jesus is either going to email Adam meal are coming from a male. And today's Texas. Jesus was going to the house of the leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath and they the Pharisees were watching him closely while Jesus was also watching as the Guess Who were seated and he shares this Parable that he closes with these words for those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Jesus provides a set of guidelines to counter our tendency of assuming the best place to sit at a meal. And this text is all about sharing a meal. Everyone everyone is invited to the Lord's table the poor the crippled the lame and the blind. Now some of us might say that we are included in this group of Coeur d'Alene crippled the blind. Yes, it seems that Jesus is speaking of those who would not normally be invited to the meal. The table should be open to everyone. Jesus says even to those who are not like us. We are to show Hospitality to everyone or as our new mission statement says and you can see it right up here on your Bulletin.

To Welcome All serve our neighbor and grow in relationship with Jesus Christ.

So let's guess who might be coming to dinner with Jesus? fisherman disciples were fishermen Tax Collectors. Yeah, they were she was always in the disciples as well. How about people with Leprosy are diseases? Yeah, what about all those nasty Pharisees? Huh? Yeah. Yeah, he's in general I'd say and what even women like Mary and Martha, what do you make of that? I think this sounds like Divine Hospitality, doesn't it? A man on crutches hobbled over to a passerby and ask for some money. on The Pedestrian hand edema dollar bill with the Remar Cheer up, it would be much worse if you were blind. I know he responded when I was blind. I kept getting phony money.

Okay, I'm just helping will there so let's think of b**** about Jesus Hospitality. What was his viewpoint? In today's text Jesus challenges the seating arrangement and the guest list both those having lunch or dinner too and not usually invited. Shane Claiborne who is taking the gospel Beyond The Streets of Philadelphia to the slums of Calcutta in the war zones of Iraq describes how God reveals God's cell through the homeless. I saw one woman in a crowd he rides as she struggled to get a meal from one of the late night food van when we asked her if the store really worth the fight. She said oh, yes, but I don't eat them myself. I get them for a homeless lady an elderly woman around the corner from me. I saw a street cat get $20 panhandling outside of store and then immediately run inside just share it with his friends. We saw a homeless man lay a pack of cigarettes in the offering plate because it was all he had. I'm in a blind street musician who was viciously abused by some young guys who would mock her and curse her one night even sprayed Lysol in her eyes as a practical joke. As we held her that night one of us said there are a lot of bad folks in the world aren't there and she said but there are a lot of good ones too. And the bad ones make you the good ones even sweeter. We made a little girl who is homeless and asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up. I want to own a grocery store. She said we asked her why and she said so I can give out food to all the hungry people. Mother Teresa used to say in the poor we meet Jesus in his most distressing disguises. Now I knew what she meant wrote shame. Society today honors those who are independent take care of themselves. She stand on their own two feet and as we grow older we say we don't want to be dependent on our children. We want to be able to take care of ourselves. and yet that is not how Jesus and his disciples lived. And if we are honest with ourselves, we realize. We too are dependent. utterly dependent on God ancient brass we take comes from God. We are dependent on God for absolutely everything.

We don't want to admit that. Much less than even think about it, but it's true. It is true. in our families

we are dependent on each other. In our church families, we are dependent on each other. So we need to admit that are claims of Independence and of self-sufficiency of not needing a requiring help from others are just flat lies. We do need God. We do need other people in osun. We need a little help from our friends.

We live in a culture that Praises Independence and freedom yet Christ calls us to wives of interrelatedness and mutual dependency gospel teaches us to be responsible for other people. And gives us the courage to acknowledge our dependency upon God and one another Jesus brings people together.

Remember Jesus story about the sheep and the goats.

The determination of whether a person was a sheep or goat depended on only one thing. helping others I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed to me and on and on and on. And they said Lord. When did we do this? And he responds truly. I tell you just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family.

We all are in need. We cannot live a solitary self-sufficient independent life. We need God. We need each other. We all need a Little Help from My Friends. William willimon Methodist Bishop retired in this way. He was a pastor of a little church at the beginning of his ministry man came into him and said preacher. I want to tell you that if anybody comes through this town and comes to the church and ask for money for food you give that money and let me know. I'll pay the church back. I want to ask hungry. He said and that is the worst situation in the world. I swear to God that if I ever got my feet back on the ground and made any money, I would do what I could to make sure that nobody in this town would be hungry.

So I stand before you today to say that we share food from the food pantry. People need clothes. We direct them to Memorial Assistance Ministries. We planned a house a daycare center that provides loving for children right here in this church, and I hope it's really going to happen soon soon. There are programs that will help churches provide shelter for the homeless Family Promise. If you've ever heard of it where the homeless stay in each church. We did that in Odessa.

We have much. And we are called to give much. Jesus didn't worry about the damage to the building are the cost or the dirty bodies are the ragged clothes he cared for and loved the people. He was all about the people. You and me. We are the body of Christ. In this world and in this community and we are called to care for the people. Just as Jesus taught throughout the gospel. If we feed close care for the least of these we have done it for him. So I asked Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? It could be anyone could be everyone. Jesus what is fry? Loving and gracious God show us the way that you want us to go. Encourage us strengthen us. Help us to help others in your name. We pray we all saw a man.

Today as I said earlier will have one station if you'll come down the middle and receive the elements and then go back up the sides. If you prefer to receive the elements where you are Jonathan and I will bring them to you.

Beloved this is the choice for feast of the people of God, Jesus stands Among Us the Risen Lord.

Jesus said behold, I stand at the door and knock if those who hear my voice open the door, I will come in to them and eat with them on date with me. France this is the Lord's table. She invites all those who trust in him to come to his table and meat pies.

Prince the Lord be with you and also with you lift up your hearts.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Holy God, Holy One. Holy three before all that is God outside all that. We know you are God and after all finished you will be gone. You be on the galaxies and under the Seas you inside the leaves and pouring down the rain you opening the flowers and feeding the insects. You giving us your image and carrying us through the water. You holding us in the night your smile on Sarah and Abraham your hand with Moses and Miriam your words through Deborah and Isaiah. Holy God, Holy One. Only three. Holy God before you we remember your son Jesus Christ who lived Among Us his Incarnation. Holy his life with the humble. Holy his death Among The Wretched. Holy his resurrection ink promise Kingdom when we shall see him again. Holy God your wisdom our guide your Justice our strength Your Grace our past Reaper. Holy God, we beg for your spirit and lies in this bread awakened this body in 4 oz pour us out for each other transfigure our minds and ignite your church nourish the wife of the earth and make us while many United so broken if I can make us alive and so we cry Come Holy Spirit and so the church Shout Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, holy God. Holy one, who is our life our Mercy? I might our table our food. Our server are rainbow are our god of our Sovereign our water our wine are lidar treasure our tree our way our truth and a lie. Holy God, holy. Holy tree praise Now Praise tomorrow praise forever and we all say together with the confidence of the children of God. Let us pray the prayer that Jesus Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom, come on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our readers not into temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

We give you thanks that the Lord Jesus on the night before he died took bread and after giving thanks to you broke it.

And he gave it to his disciples saying this is my body given for you and remembrance of me.

In the same way. He took the cup saying the New Covenant shed for you for your forgiveness whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.

the gift of God for the people of God

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Call CEE.

Holy God, Holy One. Holy three. With this bread of life and cup of Salvation. You have United us with price making us one with all your people now send us forth in the power of your spirit that we may Proclaim your redeeming love to the world you forever in the Risen life of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Let us stay together.

Please join me in affirming our faith from 1st Corinthians chapter 15.

This is the good news, which we have received in which we stand and by which we are saved If We Hold It Fast that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures that he was buried that he was raised on the third day and then he appeared. Then to Peter and to the 12 and then too many faithful Witnesses We Believe.

Best Buy 1st and 11th

Nothing about your offering God. Give us God gives us more grace that we can never earn and sustains Us in ways. We cannot imagine where the spirit of generosity let us freely offer ourselves and our gifts to the world.

Let us pray God of Grace will give thanks for your faithfulness to us. We give thanks for your helping us rejoice in the knowledge of your unending Grace in the light of your mercy and confident in your love with dedicate this offerings and ourselves to you I meant

I need my key.

Warren I run

While I run this race before I go to work.

When I run this race.

while I run this race

We are running a race are we we are not alone and we are dependent on God and our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to lead us guide us and I would say even hold her hand as we run along. But remember you are never alone. You have this church family. You have your family. You have one another in Jesus Christ. We are loved and forgiven the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God communion of the Holy Spirit be with each of you now and forever.