BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T140607UTC-4205rJtBo5@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.\nIntroduction\nAs Solo mon prays for wisdom\, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reig n of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home\, yeast that penetrates an d expands\, a treasured pearl\, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign\, the great surprise is that God’s grace f inds us first!\nPrayer of the Day\nBeloved and sovereign God\, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of just ice and mercy. By your Spirit\, give us your wisdom\, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\nAmen.\nFirs t Reading: \n1 Kings 3:5-12 Because Solomon did not ask for long life\, ri ches\, or the defeat of his enemies\, God gave him what he asked for: wisd om to govern the people well.\nPsalm: 119:129-136 When your word is opened \, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)\n \nSecond Reading:  \n Romans 8:26-39 These words celebrate the depth of God’s actions for us. Th rough Christ’s death for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us\ , we are fused to God’s love poured out in Jesus Christ. Nothing\, not eve n death itself\, is able to separate us from such incredible divine love. \nGospel:  Matthew 13:31-33\, 44-52\nThroughout Matthew’s gospel\, Jesus a nd his disciples proclaim the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is nea r!” Here\, Jesus offers several brief parables that explore the implicatio ns of this announcement for people’s lives.\n31  [Jesus] put before [the c rowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field\;\n32  it is the smallest of all the seeds\, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a t ree\, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”   \n33  He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast t hat a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”  \n44  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field\, which a man found and reburied\; then in his joy he goes and sell s all that he has and buys that field.  \n45  “Again\, the kingdom of heav en is like a merchant in search of fine pearls\;\n46  on finding one pearl of great value\, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.  \n47  “ Again\, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea a nd caught fish of every kind\;\n48  when it was full\, they drew it ashore \, sat down\, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.\n49  So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate t he evil from the righteous\n50  and throw them into the furnace of fire\, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  \n51  “Have you unders tood all this?” They answered\, “Yes.”\n52  And he said to them\, “Therefo re every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”\n \nAfter 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 P eter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disapp ointed 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. Co me to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Ma gdalene\, 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 her e.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Pr ayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths an d superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our h eartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freed om and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer fr om pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands a nd hearts to help them\, walk with 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 cann ot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\n God be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the b lessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/660-9th-su nday-after-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi- carriker DTSTART:20260726T150000Z DTEND:20260726T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:9th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM S ervice -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/660-9th-sunday-after -pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR