Welcome

The psalmist reminds us that God’s name is majestic in all the earth (see Psalm 8:9, NRSV). With love for God and for one another, let us approach the throne of grace from which all blessings flow. Welcome, friends!

Preparation for Worship

Give us a willing spirit, dear Lord, a spirit willing to worship and serve you wholeheartedly.

Prayer Ventures

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are” (Romans 12:14-16). Paul seems to have written this for us today. Ask God to help us live by these words, which denounce vengeance, arrogance, indifference to neighbors and divisive conflict. Encourage us to be humble, forgiving, empathetic and to love our adversaries and those who are different from us.

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering yet finds in God’s words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ words about suffering, Jesus tells the disciples they will find their lives in losing them. Such sacrificial love is described by Paul when he urges us to associate with the lowly and not repay evil with evil. In worship we gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world.

A Quote From Fr. Richard Rohr

You are created in the image of God from the very beginning. This is the basis for God’s justice: Since everyone is made in the image of God, then we need to recognize, honor, and respect the image of God in everyone.
No exceptions.