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September 2007 |
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It used to be the “hard sayings” of Jesus were safely tucked away at the end of the Church year - so tucked away that most years, depending on the date of Easter, preachers never had to touch them. Then, all of that was changed and they were moved up. Starting this month, we will be wrestling with the hard sayings of our Lord. Sayings, teachings, parables, etc., about money, what “the end” will look like, how we live justly with our neighbor, who that neighbor is, and so on… In reality, these are the deepest places of faith. Not just how we dress for Easter, but how we live our faith in Christ, each and every minute of each and every day. It will be helpful if you’ll read the lessons before each Sunday. Let the Spirit speak to you in and through them, and you’ll begin to experience the living Word working on you in powerful ways. Hard sayings? Yes. But, if you’re willing, they will change your life. See you in Church!
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SUNDAY September 2nd Being a Misfit (14th Sunday after Pentecost) |
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(Readings: Proverbs 25:6-7; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16;
Luke 14:1, 7-14)
From across the room I see someone wave. Do I know them? I must.
I wave back only to find they were waving at someone behind me. I
feel like melting away from embarrassment. How does Jesus want us
to greet each other? Who do we invite to the party? You are
invited! |
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SUNDAY September 9th Anything You Love Brings You to Your Knees (15th Sunday after Pentecost) |
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(Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1;
Luke 14:25-33)
To love, I mean to really love means a full commitment. True love
doesn’t mean never having to say “I’m sorry” it means sticking
through the toughest times and asking for forgiveness along the
way. True love means sacrifice. What does true love look like?
Look to the cross and you’ll see. |
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SUNDAY September 16th Party Time (16th Sunday after Pentecost/Rally Day) |
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(Readings: Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10;
Luke 15:1-10)
In the Gospel reading for today Jesus tells a series of parables
with the sequence of, “Lost-Found-Party!” But is this the
responsible thing to do? And are we called to be responsible, or
faithful? |
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SUNDAY September 23rd Hard Sayings (17th Sunday after Pentecost) |
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(Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113;
Luke 16:1-13)
We now move into the “hard sayings” of Jesus. Teachings about
money, how to live together, what is important (and not...), what
the end looks like...hard sayings to hear for they aren’t always
comforting or easy on the ears. But, these, too, are the Word of
Life. Come and listen. |
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SUNDAY September 30th Rich Man, Poor Man (18th Sunday after Pentecost) |
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(Readings: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31) You’ve seen the saying: The one who dies with the most toys wins. That might not be how God sees things… |
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