The Table of Hospitality – 10 September 2023

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Scripture:  Romans 13: 8-14   Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code…finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can’t go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love. 

Matthew  18:15-20   “…when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.” 

 Jesus often confounded those for whom acceptance was conditional — those who required specific laws be followed “or else.” The litmus test for Jesus was simply love. He chose time and again to seek out the intention of someone’s heart — to gather together and engage in conversation as a way of moving toward right relationship. What happens when we seek to “do no wrong” to our neighbor, moving beyond boundaries into reciprocal understanding?


The Table of Hospitality Worship Service — 3 September 2023

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14th Sunday After Pentecost   Proper 17 (22)     3 September 2023

Sermon title: “The Table of Hospitality”

 Scriptures:

Romans 12: 9-21 Love from the center of who you are. . . . Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. 

Matthew 16: 21-28    “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.” 

Synopsis:  Last month, when we celebrated Communion, remembering the gifts of bread and cup as living witness to God’s boundless generosity.  This month, we focus on the celebration of the Eucharist as an expression of God’s hospitality that expands our definition of community.  God’s Hospitality and generosity are closely linked, but they are not the same.  Jesus’ lesson at the last supper was clear: the meal of the kin-dom of God is for ALL. Saints, strangers, those who persecute and betray you, those who are joyful and those who weep. This is a time to consider how we are to extend hospitality to those we might ordinarily want to avoid or exclude.  The author of the epistle letter to the Romans reminds us and invites us to do as Jesus did — “do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.” In the words of Jesus, “take up your cross and follow me.” This requires that we follow God’s way in offering a good meal at God’s table for all of God’s guests.

Word and Deed as Witness Worship Service — 27 August 2023

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Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost  Proper 16 (21)       27 August 2023

Sermon title: “Word and Deed as Witness.” 

Scriptures:  Matthew 16:13-20 and Romans 12:1-8

Synopsis:  In Matthew Jesus asks the disciples who they say he is. We are invited to tell people who we experience and know Jesus to be. Romans tells us to sacrifice our bodies and to do what we are gifted to do.

Unity as Witness Worship Service — 20 August 2023

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Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost  Proper 15 (20)   20 August 2023

Sermon title: “Unity as Witness.” 

Scriptures: Psalm 133 and Romans 11:29-32

Synopsis:  Psalm 133 says, “how good and pleasant it is when siblings dwell together in unity.” In Romans, Paul says God wants to have mercy on all who disobedient, which is everyone. We are united in disobedience and the mercy of God, if nothing else!

Fear and Faith as Witness Worship Service — 13 August 2023

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Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost  Proper 14 (19)  13 August 2023

Sermon:  “Fear and Faith as Witness”

Scriptures: Matthew 14:22-33 and Romans 10:5-15

Synopsis: In Matthew, Peter gets out of the boat, gets afraid, begins to sink and Jesus saves him; others proclaim faith after seeing this. Peter’s fear leads to a cry of faith (Lord, save me!), and the salvation Peter receives acts as witness to the others.  The passage from Romans teaches how the word of faith is in your mouth and in your heart, and that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.