Author Archives: stjohn

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
  • Psalm 48
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Ezekiel 2:1-5
  • Psalm 123
• Second reading
  • 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
• Gospel
  • Mark 6:1-13

The gospel reading from Mark:
Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.

If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

*Pilgrim with Staff. 
Waymarking sign comprising an image of a pilgrim with a Celtic tonsure, tunic and staff and a directional arrow in yellow inset with a cross of arcs in yellow, used in Ireland to denote a Pilgrim Path developed by the Heritage Council. The pilgrim image based on an image on a stone at pilgrimage site in County Cork. The cross of arcs is one of the main symbols of pilgimage in Ireland.

Sermon
Freedom is Pastor Stevensen’s sermon topic this Independence Day. He has read a book and taken a course that cover the concept of freedom, which was introduced by the Greeks. The New Testament, written originally in Greek, is full of examples of freedom. In Jerusalem was written the Old Testament and Jesus instructs his disciples from it. Pastor explains how Christianity has woven the two together and urges us to reflect on this fourth of July the freedom granted us by our God

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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
  • Psalm 130
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24 or Lamentations 3:22-33
  • Psalm 30
• Second reading
  • 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
• Gospel
  • Mark 5:21-43

The gospel reading from Mark
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live. So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?'”He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further? “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
  • Psalm 9:9-20
  or
  • 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 18:10-16
  • Psalm 133
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Job 38:1-11
  • Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
• Second reading
  • 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
• Gospel
  • Mark 4:35-41

The gospel reading from Mark:

Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and the sea obey him?”

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Sermon
Pastor Stevensen told about a certain German writer, after mid-life introduction to Christianity and reading the New Testament, wrote that Mark is not a history or biography, but more like a classic tragedy, until Jesus is resurrected. Today we read that Jesus was asleep and when awakened he rebuked the wind. In the Old Testament Jonah is also asleep and in Job there are the forces of nature created by God. But in today’s gospel lesson it is Jesus who ceases the storm. The miracles of Jesus have opened eyes. Mark’s gospel may be short and unpolished but it must be taken seriously.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13
  • Psalm 20
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Ezekiel 17:22-24
  • Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
• Second reading
  • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
• Gospel
  • Mark 4:26-34

Gospel reading from Mark:
Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come. “He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

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Second Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)
  • Psalm 138
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Genesis 3:8-15
  • Psalm 130
• Second reading
  • 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
• Gospel
  • Mark 3:20-35

Mark 3:20-35
The crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”

And Jesus called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”– for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Trinity Sunday

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • Isaiah 6:1-8
  • Psalm 29
• Second reading
  • Romans 8:12-17
• Gospel
  • John 3:1-17

Gospel reading from John
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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Day of Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Psalm
  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Second reading
  • Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
• Gospel
  • John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

The Gospel from John:
Jesus said “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me, about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
• Psalm
  • Psalm 1
• Second reading
  • 1 John 5:9-13
• Gospel
  • John 17:6-19

OR IF ASCENSION IS OBSERVED:

• First reading
  • Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
• Psalm
  • Psalm 1
• Second reading
  • 1 John 5:9-13
• Gospel
  • John 17:6-19

Gospel Reading from John

Sixth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 10:44-48
• Psalm
  • Psalm 98
• Second reading
  • 1 John 5:1-6
• Gospel
  • John 15:9-17

The gospel reading from John:
Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 8:26-40
• Psalm
  • Psalm 22:25-31
• Second reading
  • 1 John 4:7-21
• Gospel
  • John 15:1-8

Jesus said “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.