BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T140607UTC-9330icf9kp@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T140607Z 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.\n \nIntroduction\nThe welcome of baptism is for all God’s children. This baptismal gift sets us free from the power of sin and death. In today’s gospel\, Christ promises that the disciple who gives a cup of cold water to the little ones serves Christ himself. From worship we are sent on our baptismal mission: to serv e the little ones of this world and to be a sign of God’s merciful welcome .\nPrayer of the Day\nO God\, you direct our lives by your grace\, and you r words of justice and mercy reshape the world. Mold us into a people who welcome your word and serve one another\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savio r and Lord.\nAmen.\nFirst Reading: \nJeremiah 28:5-9 Through a symbolic ac tion Jeremiah insisted that Judah and all the surrounding nations should s ubmit to the king of Babylon (Jer. 27). Hananiah contradicted the word of Jeremiah\, who in reply insisted that Hananiah’s rosy prediction should no t be believed until it came true. God confirmed the word of Jeremiah and s entenced the false prophet Hananiah to death (vv. 16-17).\nPsalm: 89:1-4\, 15-18\nYour love\, O Lord\, forever will I sing. (Ps. 89:1)\nSecond Readi ng:  \nRomans 6:12-23 Sin is an enslaving power which motivates us to live self-serving\, disobedient lives. Sin’s final payoff is death. We\, howev er\, have been set free from sin’s slavery to live obediently under God’s grace\, whose end is the free gift of eternal life.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 1 0:40-42\nWhen Jesus sends his disciples out as missionaries\, he warns the m of persecution and hardships they will face. He also promises to reward any who aid his followers and support their ministry. [Jesus said to the t welve:]\n40  “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me\, and whoever welcomes me w elcomes the one who sent me.\n41  Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name o f a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward\, and whoever welcomes a right eous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of t he righteous\,\n42  and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of t hese little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you\, none of thes e will lose their reward.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be o ffered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepa red 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 l ike 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.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, h alf truths and superficial leaderships so that 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 environments that we may work for ju stice\, freedom and peace.\nMay 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 i nto 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 othe rs claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all c hildren\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your wa y\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/eve nt/656-5th-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service- pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260628T150000Z DTEND:20260628T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:5th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/656-5th-sunday-after -pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR