Welcome

With warm hearts and hands, we welcome all who have come to worship the Lord. May this be a time of encouragement and inspiration for us all.

Preparation for Worship

Enable us, O Lord, to approach you with pure hearts and proper praise. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Prayer Ventures

Give thanks for Jesus’ parables — simple, illustrative stories that reveal God’s word, demonstrate how to be a faithful disciple, and explain what it means to love and serve our neighbors in need. Ask God to be gracious, forgiving and patient, especially when we are puzzled, doubtful, defensive and full of questions.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew narrates one of Jesus’ controversial parables in which Jesus says that the reign of God is like that of a landowner who pays his workers the same wage no matter what time of day they began to work. When God changes God’s mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Martin Luther wrote, in the presence of God’s mercy we are all beggars.

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.