Wednesday Words for August 27, 2014
From Interim Senior Pastor Len Hoffmann
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Thought for the Day
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers
Romans 12:9-12
Our new schedule starts on September 14, Holy Cross Day, 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.
September 7 is Rally Day and Education Fair. W.I.R.E.D. for Outreach and Service (Worship, Involvement, Renewal, Education, Discipleship). Worship will be at 8:30 and 10:30. From 9:30 to 10:30 Sunday School Registration, Parent Orientation, and Adult Education Fair. Tables will be available so you can sample and register for fall adult education opportunities. Different nights of the week and Sunday mornings.
Are you concerned about the managaement of your personal finances? Consider attending Financial Peace University (adults) begins on Wednesday, September 17 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.
Sunday at Bethany: It is Labor Day weekend and the official beginning of fall. This weekend we celebrate the work of our hands in service to family, community, nation and world.
Our readings remind us that God uses our abilities and gifts to further his kingdom We are called to offer our gifts to God’s service and God’s work in the world.
Included in this work is our calling to pray and advocate for peace and justice, as we pledge in our baptismal and affirmation rites. Our text from Romans this week encourages us to care for the saints (fellow believers) and also the strangers in our midst. We welcome all people including our enemies, for whom Paul states the following: “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We are not on our own ability able to do these acts of love and mercy on our own power, but because of the Spirit of Christ working in and through us individually and as a community of faith. We carry our labors of love and mercy, because we have received love, mercy and grace from our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Reflect on your God-given gifts this Labor Day weekend and pray that God may lead you to offer your gifts to the community of faith and to community at-large.
Pr. Len
Lectionary 22
Proper 17
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world.
Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading Jeremiah 15:15-20
Jeremiah's delight in the word of the Lord is contradicted by the heaviness of God's hand upon him and God's seeming unfaithfulness. God's tough love to Jeremiah says that if he repents, he will be allowed to continue in his strenuous ministry. Jeremiah is strengthened by the simple words: "I am with you."
15O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. 16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. 17I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, ike waters that fail.19Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. f you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. 20And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. 21I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
Second Reading Romans 12:9-21
Paul presents benchmarks for faithful relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Love is the unflagging standard of our behavior. When we encounter evil, we do not resort to its tactics but seek to overcome it with good. While Christians cannot control the actions and attitudes of others, we seek to live at peace with all people.
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Gospel Matthew 16:21-28
After Peter confesses that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (16:16), Jesus reveals the ultimate purpose of his ministry. These words prove hard to accept, even for a disciple whom Jesus has called a "rock."
21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." 23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
