Worship Notes for Pentecost 4, 2015

Thursday after Pentecost 3

June 18, 2015

The Lord be with you.

This coming Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. In the northern hemisphere it is also the first day of summer. In the United States it is Fathers’ Day. We will remember our fathers in our prayers.

For our liturgy Sunday we will use Matins (219). With Matins we use the appointed Psalm for the Day instead of the Introit. Our lessons will be Job 38:1–11, 2 Corinthians 6:1–13, Mark 4:35–41 and Psalm 124 (antiphon verse 8). Our opening hymn will be “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun” (LSB 868). Our sermon hymn will be “When Peace, like a River” (LSB 763). Our closing hymn will be “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” (LSB 924). The sermon text will be the antiphon from our Psalm, Psalm 124:8. The sermon is titled “Life’s Weather.” Last week we considered how nature figures into proclaiming God’s message, especially plant life. This coming Sunday we continue to consider the nature images in the Bible, but we will focus on weather.

Below is a video of our sermon hymn, “When Peace, like a River” (LSB 763). This also happens to be the hymn we will consider at the next WBF.

What follows is a synopsis of Sunday’s lessons, provided by the synod, then the lessons and finally some additional notes.

The Word of Christ Bestows Peace on His Creation through His Forgiveness of Sins

In his anguish and affliction, Job must be reminded that, as a finite creature, he is in no position to question the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Job’s “words without knowledge” are unable to penetrate the wisdom of the Lord (Job 38:1–2). For the Lord has “prescribed limits” and “set bars and doors,” so that “here shall your proud waves be stayed” (Job 38:9–11). That’s how He humbles us unto repentance. But also by His powerful Word He calms the “great windstorm” and the waves “breaking into the boat.” He does not permit the chaos of this fallen world to overwhelm us or bring us to despair. By the Word of His Gospel, He speaks “Peace” to us, which bestows the “great calm” of His New Creation (Mark 4:37–39). Therefore, do not be afraid, and do not receive this grace of God in vain. “Now is the favorable time,” and “now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:1–2).

Psalm 124 (8) A Song of Ascents, of David

^124:1      If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—

                        let Israel now say—

²           if it had not been the Lord who was on our side

                        when people rose up against us,

³           then they would have swallowed us up alive,

                        when their anger was kindled against us;

⁴           then the flood would have swept us away,

                        the torrent would have gone over us;

⁵           then over us would have gone

                        the raging waters.

⁶           Blessed be the Lord,

                        who has not given us

                        as prey to their teeth!

⁷           We have escaped like a bird

                        from the snare of the fowlers;

            the snare is broken,

                        and we have escaped!

⁸           Our help is in the name of the Lord,

                        who made heaven and earth.

Job 38:1–11

^38:1        Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

²           “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

³           Dress for action like a man;

                        I will question you, and you make it known to me.

⁴           “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

                        Tell me, if you have understanding.

⁵           Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

                        Or who stretched the line upon it?

⁶           On what were its bases sunk,

                        or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷           when the morning stars sang together

                        and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸           “Or who shut in the sea with doors

                        when it burst out from the womb,

⁹           when I made clouds its garment

                        and thick darkness its swaddling band,

¹⁰          and prescribed limits for it

                        and set bars and doors,

¹¹          and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

                        and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

2 Corinthians 6:1–13

^6:1         Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says,

            “In a favorable time I listened to you,

                        and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; ⁷by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

¹¹          We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. ¹³In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Mark 4:35–41

³⁵          On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Some Additional Notes

• The Church Council will meet following Sunday’s worship service.

• Sunday is Fathers’ Day in the USA. While a dad may not need recognition for what he does, I expect he will appreciate it.

• The Women’s Bible Fellowship will meet Wednesday, 6:30 pm. We will consider the story and theology behind the hymn “When Peace Like A River.” Got to love those nature metaphors.

• Information for the July newsletter is due Sunday.

• We will again be gathering school supplies for the children of Jesse Boyd Elementary School. More information will be found in the July newsletter. This is an excellent way we reach out and touch people with the love of Jesus Christ.

·         Our Sunday morning Bible hour begins at 9:00 am. We continue our examination of the biblical teachings concerning Vocation.

• Walking our neighborhoods and meeting our neighbors is going well. We have already reached for first two goals. Remember to record your miles each week on the bulletin board in the hallway. Our collective goal - 2,015 miles in 2015.

• Remember, we have pledged to pray for our neighbors. You can get a list of your 100 your closest neighbors from pray4everyhome.com. If you have no internet access, speak with Rachel Swain or Kitty Rickert and they will sign you up and get you a list.

• Don’t forget to check out the other posts on our blog that have been made this past week.  

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Rickert