BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T124337UTC-8615UbsxTm@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T124337Z DESCRIPTION: \nWe gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hym ns\, hearing readings from the bible\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to liv e. All are invited to join us at the Lord's table to be fed by his heavenl y food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to wors hip with us\, we would be honored by your presence.\nIntroduction\nGod doe s not promise that the path of the disciple will be easy. Jeremiah feels t he pain of rejection from those who do not want to hear what he has to say . Jesus declares that his words may bring stark division. Even so\, we nee d not be afraid for God accounts for each hair on our heads. Though we may experience rejection\, frustration\, division\, and death\, God’s grace a nd love make us a new creation each day. Marked with the cross and filled with holy food\, we are sent from worship to witness to Christ in the worl d.\nPrayer of the Day\nTeach us\, good Lord God\, to serve you as you dese rve\, to give and not to count the cost\, to fight and not to heed the wou nds\, to toil and not to seek for rest\, to labor and not to ask for rewar d\, except that of knowing that we do your will\, through Jesus Christ\, o ur Savior and Lord.\nAmen.\nFirst Reading: \nJeremiah 20:7-13 Jeremiah acc uses God of forcing him into a ministry that brings him only contempt and persecution. Yet Jeremiah is confident that God will be a strong protector against his enemies and commits his life into God’s hands.\nPsalm: 69:7-1 0 [11-15] 16-18\nAnswer me\, O Lord\, for your love is kind. (Ps. 69:16)\n Second Reading:  \nRomans 6:1b-11 In baptism we were incorporated into the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. We have been made new in Chri st through his death and resurrection to live freed from sin.\nGospel:  Ma tthew 10:24-39\nJesus warns his disciples that their ministry in his name will meet with opposition. However\, he assures them that they need not fe ar for the truth will come to light. Life is found in Christ. [Jesus said to the twelve:]\n24  “A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave abov e the master\;\n25  it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher a nd the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul\, how much more will they malign those of his household!  \n26   “So have no fear of them\, for nothing is covered up that will not be unco vered and nothing secret that will not become known. \n27  What I say to y ou in the dark\, tell in the light\, and what you hear whispered\, proclai m from the housetops.\n28  Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul\; rather\, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body i n hell.\n29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them wi ll fall to the ground apart from your Father.\n30  And even the hairs of y our head are all counted.\n31  So do not be afraid\; you are of more value than many sparrows.  \n32  “Everyone\, therefore\, who acknowledges me be fore others\, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven\,\n33  bu t whoever denies me before others\, I also will deny before my Father in h eaven.  \n34  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth\; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.  \n35  For I have come to set a man against his father\,  and a daughter against her mother\,  and a da ughter-in-law against her mother-in-law\,  \n36  and one’s foes will be me mbers of one’s own household.\n37  “Whoever loves father or mother more th an me is not worthy of me\, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me\,\n38  and whoever does not take up the cross and fol low me is not worthy of me.\n39  Those who find their life will lose it\, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”\n \nAfter the Ser mon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Ta ble of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are in vited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm th an resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of Go d’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confid ence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, di sillusioned 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.\nBlessing for the day (Our b lessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with di scomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so th at we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the enviro nments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger an d war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk w ith them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd 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 nee d.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\; \nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redee mer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://www.messi ahofthemountains.org/events/event/655-4th-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-wo rship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260621T150000Z DTEND:20260621T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:4th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 P M Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/655-4th-sunday-after -pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR