Wednesday Words for August 13, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
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Thought for the Day
Let all the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you.
Psalm 67:3
August 17 at 9:45 a.m. “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Teaching Sunday School, but were Afraid to Ask”. Members of our Education Team will answer your questions about schedule and curriculum. Please join them and become involved in Education.
September 7 is Rally Day and Education Fair. Watch for details of this special celebration as Bethany is W.I.R.E.D. for Outreach and Service. W.I.R.E.D. = worship, involvement, renewal, education, discipleship. Worship will be at 8:30 and 10:30.
Our new schedule starts on September 14, 8:00, 9:00, and 10:30 with Children’s Church, Sunday School and Adult Education at 9:00 a.m. Social Hour at 10:00.
Sunday at Bethany: There are many ways in which we try to determine who is “US” and who is “Them”. We do this as children, youth and adults. Who belongs and who doesn’t. Who is “in” and who is “out”.
We often determine who is “US” and who is “Them” based on race, color or religious affiliation. We decide on the basis of politics, economics or family of origin.
Our Readings from scripture this week remind us that these struggles are not new ones for the people of God. Who could be a follower of Jesus; who could be blessed by God; who could be part of the community of faith is evident from our lessons this week.
The answer comes that all people are embraced by God. God comes to break down barriers. God includes all peoples of the earth. God’s love and mercy embraces all and opens God’s community of faith to all through Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world.”
Yes, the power of evil in the world and within ourselves often causes us to want to set up barriers. Our fears and our pre-judgement of others does get in the way of our willingness to let others in.
We seek forgiveness and understanding while at the same time encouraging justice for those who are wronged or harmed by others.
We pray this week for children and youth who are murdered or who die from neglect. We pray for widows and orphans who need our help and assistance. We pray for those who are battered or abused. We pray for ourselves that we might be open to others as God has been open to us. We pray for opportunities to share the Good News of God’s inclusive love with those who may be alienated from God and his church.
Pastor Len
Lectionary 20
Proper 15
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
God of all peoples, your arms reach out to embrace all those who call upon you.
Teach us as disciples of your Son to love the world with compassion and constancy,
that your name may be known throughout the earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
The prophet calls upon Israel to do justice in view of God's imminent intervention to save. Righteousness and obedience define who belongs to the Israelite community—not race, nationality, or any other category.
Thus says the LORD:
Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant — 7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.
Second Reading Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
God has not rejected Israel. Rather, the call and gifts of God are irrevocable, so that while all have been disobedient, God has mercy upon all.
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 29for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
The Gospel Matthew 15: 10-28
Jesus teaches his disciples that true purity is a matter of the heart rather than outward religious observances. Almost immediately, this teaching is tested when a woman considered to be pagan and unclean approaches him for help.
10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." 15But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." 16Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
