Thursday
after Pentecost 5
Commemoration
of Cyril of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor
June 27,
2013
The Lord be
with you
This coming
Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. We will be using Matins for our
liturgy (page 219). With this service we use the appointed Psalm for the day
instead of the introit, with is Psalm 16 (antiphon verse 11). The other appointed
lessons are: 1 Kings 19:9b-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; and Luke 9:51-62. The
sermon is titled “Christian Freedom and the text is Galatians 5:1.
A quick peek
ahead reveals that the USA will be celebrating Independence Day Thursday, July
4. We will not have a special service on Thursday, however we do not wish to
take the blessings of the Lord that he has granted us through our country for
granted. We will, therefore, reflect our gratitude with our opening and closing
hymns (“Before, You Lord, We Bow,” LSB 966, and “God Bless Our Native
Land,” LSB 965). Our sermon hymn will be “Rise, Shine, You People,” LSB
825.
Below is the
Lutheran Warbler singing “God Bless Our Native Land,” our closing hymn.
While we
remember our nation, or specific aspects of our national life, every Sunday,
this Sunday our nation will receive a little extra attention in our prayers due
to our approaching birthday. We will also remember the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Paraguay and their President, Rev. Norberto Gerke. We will remember
the persecuted believers in Mauritania in West Africa. We will remember George
and Shary Frahm, our missionaries in Cambodia. They specifically ask for
prayers as they learn the Khmer language; that members of the Church would
consider how they might be involved in God’s mission in Cambodia; for the
Angels Dormitory—that it would be a successful ministry; that they would have
courage and creativity and that the dormitory would serve as a model for
similar ministries in the future; that their family, children, grandchildren
and friends would accept and celebrate the sacrifices they’ve made to serve in
Cambodia. We will continue to remember the churches in our denomination. This
week we lift up before our Lord Christ, Trinity & Unity, Norfolk, VA;
Redeemer, Portsmouth, VA; and Incarnate Word, Sumter, SC. We will continue to
remember all those who have been misled by our cultures advocacy of sexual
immorality and abortion. We ask, not only that the Lord turn our country
around, but also that he bring healing to the lives damaged by our current
culture. We also remember the modern slave trade and ask God to bless all efforts
pleasing in his sight to end this sinful practice.
In our
Sunday morning Bible study we begin our second read through of the Gospel of
Luke. Those present last week gave a new title for the book, one which
reflects the overall theme of the book. This week we will begin our second read through the book, keeping our major theme in mind, and titling smaller sections (but still
more than one chapter). Everyone is welcome to join us as we begin this second
read through and provide your own section titles. In discussing the titles of
our choice and why we like them, we are discussing the themes of Luke. Bible
study (reading) begins at 9:00 am.
Preview of
Lessons
1 Kings
19:9b-21
Elijah was a
great “non-writing” prophet in the Old Testament. By “non-writing” I do not
mean illiterate, but that he authored no book in the Bible. His story is found
in 1 Kings and Sunday’s reading is part of his story. Leading up to this
account is Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal, in which God proved
himself to be real and Baal proved to be nothing. Queen Jezebel, who worshiped the
idol Baal, determined to kill Elijah and sent him word to that effect. In fear,
Elijah ran for his life, and went into hiding. Coming to Mt Horeb (another name
for Mt Sinai), Elijah takes up residence in a cave. While there, the Lord spoke
to Elijah and sends him on his next mission, anointing the next generation of
leaders. Things you might notice in this reading including that Elijah was
afraid and complaining. Even the great “saints” are sinners and struggle. Note that Elijah’s fear came right after a great victory. Next, the
appearance of the Word of the Lord to Elijah came is an unexpected and apparently
insignificant way. So, today, many look for the Lord in mighty works, but he
still comes to us in his Word. We want fire from the sky, earthquakes, and the
like. He chooses Word and Sacraments to make himself known. One last
observation. The ministry is the Lord’s, not Elijah’s. The ministry goes on,
even after we are gone. Elijah is instructed to pass the torch. We too should
pass the torch to subsequent generations.
Galatians
5:1, 13-25
We continue
with our trip through Galatians. Paul speaks of Christian Freedom. This will be
the focus of Sunday’s sermon.
Luke
9:51-62
These two
paragraphs stand in tension. In verses 51-56 a Samaritan village refuses to
receive Jesus because he is headed to Jerusalem. While James and John want to
call fire down on them, Jesus “rebukes” them, and they move on. Here Jesus
deals kindly with those who reject him. In verses 57-62, various people are
either called by Jesus to follow him, or they offer to follow him. In each case,
the Lord ups the ante. The unifying theme seems to be Jesus dealing with people
where they are, and calling them to a deeper realization of who he is and what
it means to follow him.
Christ’s Messengers Proclaim His
Kingdom
(Summary from LC-MS)
When the
prophet Elijah became discouraged and despaired of his life, “the word of the
LORD came to him” (1 Kings 19:9b) and stood him “on the mount before the LORD”
(1 Kings 19:11). The Lord made Himself known to the prophet — not in the
impressive power of gale force winds, nor in an earthquake, nor in the
fire, but in “the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). Today God reveals
Himself to us through the frail preaching of the Gospel. The Son of Man sends “messengers
ahead of Him ... to make preparations for Him” (Luke 9:52). Putting their hand
to that plow of preaching, they “go and proclaim the kingdom of God,” and they
do not look back (Luke 9:60, 62). What they preach is not the power of the Law
with its “yoke of slavery,” but the power of God unto salvation through the
Gospel of forgiveness, by which “Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1).
Tidbits
- Our third summer Vespers service in our series “Breaking the Rules” will be this coming Wednesday, July 3, at 7:00 pm. The message is titled, “Our Muddled Minds.”
- Remember, we are all on “Walkabout” all summer long. So, keep walking in your neighborhood, and beyond. When you see someone, say hello. If you don’t know them, introduce yourself. It is that simple.
- Pastor and Kitty will be going to California for a week, leaving July 4. The main point of the visit is to see Pastor’s mother, who turns 93 this year.
- The July Newsletter should be available in print Sunday. I still have some articles to write. I’m a bit behind schedule because I was down in Charleston helping Good Shepherd with the preliminary steps of a pastoral vacancy as they prepare for the departure of Pastor Sandeno. I’m guessing the newsletter will not be posted on the blog until sometime Saturday.
Well, I pray
we will see you Sunday.
Blessings in
Christ,
Pastor John
Rickert
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