3rd Sunday after Pentecost - Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker

We gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns, hearing readings from the bible, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at the Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food, There are no strangers in God’s house, and if you choose to worship with us, we would be honored by your presence.

Introduction

Moses tells the Israelites that they are called to be a priestly kingdom and a holy people. Jesus sends out the disciples as laborers into the harvest. In baptism we too are anointed for ministry, sharing God’s compassion with our needy world. From the Lord’s table we go forth to proclaim the good news, to heal the sick, and to share our bread with the hungry.

Prayer of the Day

God of compassion, you have opened the way for us and brought us to yourself. Pour your love into our hearts, that, overflowing with joy, we may freely share the blessings of your realm and faithfully proclaim the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

First Reading: 

Exodus 19:2-8a At Sinai God assured Israel, “You shall be my treasured possession,” and commissioned them to serve as mediating priests for the nations. The people commit themselves completely to God’s will.

Psalm: 100

We are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture. (Ps. 100:3)

Second Reading:  

Romans 5:1-8 We are no longer God’s enemies but have peace with God because we were brought into a right relationship with God through Christ’s death.

Gospel:  Matthew 9:35—10:8 [9-23]

The mission of Jesus’ followers is to continue the mission of Jesus himself. Here, he instructs his first disciples as to how they might proclaim the gospel through their words and deeds.

35  Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  

10:1  Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

2  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John;

3  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus;

4  Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.  

5  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town,

6  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7  As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

8  Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

[9  Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 

10  no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for laborers deserve their food.

11  Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.

12  As you enter the house, greet it.

13  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

15  Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.  

16  “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

17  Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues,

18  and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles.

19  When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time,

20  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21  Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

22  and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

23  When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”]

After the Sermon, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha, hosting and leading with confidence like Mary, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene, faithful till the end. Come to the table, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.

Blessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)

May God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.

May god bless with anger at injustice, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice, peace, hope and love to all children, the poor and all others in any need.

God be your comfort, your strength;

God be your hope and support;

God be your light and your way; and the blessing of God Creator, Redeemer and Giver of Life, remain with you now and forever.