BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260901T013400UTC-7258EvRT6x@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260901T013400Z 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\nJesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say rev eals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair\, while God offers repentance and n ew life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility\, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and s hared cup\, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.\n \nPrayer of the Day\nGod of love\, giver of life\, you know our frailties and fail ings. Give us your grace to overcome them\, keep us from those things that harm us\, and guide us in the way of salvation\, through Jesus Christ\, o ur Savior and Lord.\n \nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4\, 25-32\nE zekiel challenges those who think they cannot change because of what their parents were and did\, or who think they cannot reverse their own previou s behavior. God insistently invites people to turn and live.\n \nPsalm: 25 :1-9\nRemember\, O Lord\, your compassion and love. (Ps. 25:6)\n \nSecond Reading:  Philippians 2:1-13\nAs part of a call for harmony rather than se lf-seeking\, Paul uses a very early Christian hymn that extols the selfles sness of Christ in his obedient death on the cross. Christ’s selfless pers pective is to be the essential perspective we share as the foundation for Christian accord.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 21:23-32\nAfter driving the moneych angers out of the temple (21:12)\, Jesus begins teaching there. His author ity is questioned by the religious leaders\, who are supposed to be in cha rge of the temple.\n23  When [Jesus] entered the temple\, the chief priest s and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said\, “ By what authority are you doing these things\, and who gave you this autho rity?”\n24  Jesus said to them\, “I will also ask you one question\; if yo u tell me the answer\, then I will also tell you by what authority I do th ese things.\n25  Did the baptism of John come from heaven\, or was it of h uman origin?” And they argued with one another\, “If we say\, ‘From heaven \,’ he will say to us\, ‘Why\, then\, did you not believe him?’\n26  But i f we say\, ‘Of human origin\,’ we are afraid of the crowd\, for all regard John as a prophet.”\n27  So they answered Jesus\, “We do not know.” And h e said to them\, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing the se things.  \n28  “What do you think? A man had two sons\; he went to the first and said\, ‘Son\, go and work in the vineyard today.’\n29  He answer ed\, ‘I will not\,’ but later he changed his mind and went.\n30  The fathe r went to the second and said the same\, and he answered\, ‘I go\, sir\,’ but he did not go.\n31  Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said\, “The first.” Jesus said to them\, “Truly I tell you\, the tax coll ectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. \n32  For John came to you in the way of righteousness\, and you did not b elieve him\, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him\, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.”\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 an d now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m or e enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the p riorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and lead ing with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithf ul 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 b less us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial le aderships 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 justice\, freedom and peace.\nM ay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, reject ion\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to hel p them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may Go d bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a differenc e in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To b ring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all ot hers in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God C reator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. htt ps://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/702-18th-sunday-after-pent ecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260920T150000Z DTEND:20260920T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:18th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/702-18th-sunday-afte r-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR