BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260901T013306UTC-46505OMUTk@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260901T013306Z 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 to to days service\nIn today’s second reading Paul questions why we judge one an other\, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we do sin again st one another\, and Jesus’ challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times reveals God’s boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in wo rship and sign ourselves with the cross\, we are renewed in baptism to be signs of reconciliation in the world.\nPrayer of the Day\nO Lord God\, mer ciful judge\, you are the inexhaustible fountain of forgiveness. Replace o ur hearts of stone with hearts that love and adore you\, that we may delig ht in doing your will\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\n \nAm en.\n \nFirst Reading: Genesis 50:15-21\nAfter Jacob’s death the brothers of Joseph begged for forgiveness for the crime they had done against him. You intended to do me harm\, Joseph said\, but God used this as an opportu nity to do good and save many lives.\n \nPsalm: 103:[1-7] 8-13\n Lord\, yo u are full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8)\n \nSecond Reading:  Roman s 14:1-12\nThis Christian community has significant struggles with diversi ty. Here Paul helps us understand that despite different practices in wors hip and personal piety\, we do not judge one another. All Christians belon g to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for all of us and will judge each of u s.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 18:21-35\nWhen Peter asks about the limits of forg iveness\, Jesus responds with a parable that suggests human forgiveness sh ould mirror the unlimited mercy of God.\n21  Peter came and said to [Jesus \,] “Lord\, if my brother or sister sins against me\, how often should I f orgive? As many as seven times?”\n22  Jesus said to him\, “Not seven times \, but\, I tell you\, seventy-seven times.  \n23  “For this reason the kin gdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts wit h his slaves.\n24  When he began the reckoning\, one who owed him ten thou sand talents was brought to him\,\n25  and\, as he could not pay\, the lor d ordered him to be sold\, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made.\n26  So the slave fell on his knees b efore him\, saying\, ‘Have patience with me\, and I will pay you everythin g.’\n27  And out of pity for him\, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.\n28 But that same slave\, as he went out\, came upo n one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii\, and seizing hi m by the throat he said\, ‘Pay what you owe.’\n29  Then his fellow slave f ell down and pleaded with him\, ‘Have patience with me\, and I will pay yo u.’\n30  But he refused\; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.\n31  When his fellow slaves saw what had happened\, th ey were greatly distressed\, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32  Then his lord summoned him and said to him\, ‘Yo u wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.\n 33  Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave\, as I had mercy on you?’\n34  And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt.\n35  So my heavenly Father will also do to ever y one of you\, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your hear t.”\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 reques ted and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, wit h 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 an d 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 u s and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessi ng for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superfic ial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland i n our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and explo ration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom and pea ce.\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 into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a dif ference 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.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be you r hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and foreve r. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/700-16th-sunday-afte r-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260913T150000Z DTEND:20260913T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:16th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/700-16th-sunday-afte r-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR