Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • Amos 8:1-12
  • Psalm 52
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Genesis 18:1-10a
  • Psalm 15
• Second reading
  • Colossians 1:15-28
• Gospel
  • Luke 10:38-42

The gospel from Luke:
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Notes:
A short essay on the artistic and spiritual meaning of this artwork is available from The Visual Commentary on Scripture,   https://thevcs.org/jesus-visits-martha-and-mary/sibling-harmony.

Sermon
After conducting a memorial service the day before, Pastor Stevensen feels that the church is reaching out but people are not listening. Only at funerals, the bereaved families are interested in religion. There is a book about a mountain climber who was killed and a survivor just wanted someone to sit beside him. Pastor has two motivations for a funeral sermon. One is that the family has requested it. The other is that the family may follow with worship. To convince people to value prayer one can interest them with some history. The mother of the deceased, one of our members, Raymonde, wanted to know why her daughter had died and not her. Where is God? The epistle to the Galatians begins with doubt and question but ends with compassion. The hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness has an answer…………….

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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • Amos 7:7-17
  • Psalm 82
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Deuteronomy 30:9-14
  • Psalm 25:1-10
• Second reading
  • Colossians 1:1-14
• Gospel
  • Luke 10:25-37

The gospel from Luke:
A lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Sermon
Pastor Stevensen began his sermon on the Good Samaritan with a story about a Chicago lawyer outside on a city sidewalk having a heart attack. A black woman hails a cab, got him into it, and handed the driver some cash, thereby saving the lawyer’s life. The honor that anyone would feel toward the woman is an indication of the power of this week’s parable. A priest went by and a Levite went by. There is no surprise there. The surprise is that the man who stopped was not even an Israelite, but a Samaritan. The Israelites and the Samaritans were once one people but now the Samaritans were despised. The Samaritan is the hero of the story. Is that it? The New Testament is about Jesus Christ. We want to be good Samaritans, but are we? Does the Samaritan represent Jesus? Jesus may heal the man but pay the price. As Gregory the Great once wrote, the more one reads the scriptures the more one understands their meaning. As the victim in the parable, we could become stuck on the road. If we think about it, it may be Jesus who is the Good Samaritan.

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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 2 Kings 5:1-14
  • Psalm 30
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Isaiah 66:10-14
  • Psalm 66:1-9
• Second reading
  • Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
• Gospel
  • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

The gospel from Luke:
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Sermon
At a seminar, candidates for the ministry were each asked to write a sermon for the 4th of July Sunday. Such a sermon would have to do with freedom. So what is freedom’s relation to the Christian message? A University of Oklahoma professor wrote that freedom is unique to the Greek culture. The New Testament is the junction of two rivers coming from: Jerusalem and Athens. It was important to Paul. So freedom from what? We are given eternal life. We are not enslaved to sickness or death. Freedom means nothing controls you. The end of Paul’s letter to the Galatians has a fitting end. We are given freedom from sin and so are free. We do not enslave ourselves to vices. In Luke, Jesus sends out seventy disciples and tells them that the Kingdom of God, meaning Himself, is near. They come back saying that even demons submit to them. He Satan fall from Heaven. The seventy were an advanced guard that brought the idea of freedom. Satan’s grip was broken…….

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Third Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEE K

• First reading and Psalm
  • 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
  • Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
  • Psalm 16
• Second reading
  • Galatians 5:1, 13-25
• Gospel
  • Luke 9:51-62

The gospel from Luke:
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.

When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them.

Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Sermon
Pastor Stevensen told us that after being puzzled about our lectionary this week he now sees it in a new light. In the gospel reading Jesus comes on his final journey. The timing is the key to understanding. The Bible tells of many journeys. Here Jesus treads on a path of vulnerability. He calls on his disciples to follow his values and set aside those of society. Jesus sends a messenger ahead for lodging, but the people do not accept him. Jesus is a Jew and Jews are not welcomed by Samaritans. The disciples ask if fire should be called down upon them from heaven, just as in the Old Testament Elisha who preceded Elijah had called down fire to destroy Baal, but Jesus rebuked them. The Samaritans reject Jesus. The Jews will reject Jesus. Jesus asks the disciples to set it aside. It is a glimpse ahead. One person they meet says “I will go wherever you go” Jesus says “A fox has holes …. but he himself has no where to lay his head.” The story looks ahead. Will people like what they say? They are to forgive and tell God’s News……….

Second Sunday after Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
  • Psalm 42 and 43
• Alternate First reading and Psalm
  • Isaiah 65:1-9
  • Psalm 22:19-28
• Second reading
  • Galatians 3:23-29
• Gospel
  • Luke 8:26-39

The gospel from Luke:
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”– for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission, Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed.

Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

*Notes: The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ project took nearly ten years to complete. When it was done, it chronicled the entire life of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament in a series of 350 watercolors. To research the project Tissot traveled to Egypt, Syria, and Palestine in 1886–87, and again in 1890.

Sermon
Pastor Stevensen this Sunday admitted that the gospel reading this week can present some difficulty. A student class was once asked if they believe in angels. Most hands went up. When asked if they believe in demons, no hands went up, but neither would they say why. A modern view is that this reading has to do with animal cruelty. But this was not the case in Jesus’ time. So what is the benefit of the reading? Jesus had reason to go there. He was the undisputed master. He drove out demons. What is the purpose of this and the other miracles? It showed that God was present in Jesus. The miracles were like an afterthought. Jesus was God as man. The demons could not help themselves. Jesus parks them in the pigs. The proclamation goes forth in spite of the demons, in spite of evil. Is it not like the world today? Does it not depict 2022? The afflicted man was sent home to spread the news. Pastor continues in his sermon to tell us we are to go out into the world and do the same.

Trinity Sunday

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
  • Psalm 8
• Second reading
  • Romans 5:1-5
• Gospel
  • John 16:12-15

The gospel from John:
Jesus said “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.

Sermon:
Today is Trinity Sunday. It is different, in that it is the only Sunday celebrating church doctrine. We prefer to hear stories. Pastor Stevensen’s purpose this morning is for us to read the text carefully and stay close to the Bible. It is a story that has three characters: Father. Son and Holy Spirit. To understand who characters are it helps to study their backgrounds. The Father is God. There is no dispute. The Son is Jesus, Emanuel, the Word made flesh, God among us. The third character is the Spirit of truth, the advocate. The Nicene Creed names three characters to be persons, not three gods, but rather one essence, one substance. There are not three gods. Christianity includes the Old Testament which declares the Lord as one. One God, who is trustworthy and works on our behalf.

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Day of Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
• Psalm
  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Second reading
  • Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
• Gospel
  • John 14:8-17, (25-27)?

The second reading from Acts:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

l were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The gospel from John:
Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Sermon:
Today is Pentecost. The red of our vestments represents fire. On the day of Pentecost there were winds and tongues of fire from the heavens, Pentecost is the one of three holy days in our church calendar. Why is Pentecost so important? It was the beginng of the church. At that time Christians left Jerusalem and spread throughout the known world. The disciple Thomas went as far as India. Our gospel reading mentions some of the far away places. Why should we care? It points to the expansion of the power of God. In Acts we read how Peter, Paul and others spread the Word. Many others would do that for years after. They did that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How does one understand what is written in Acts? It consists of narration, the adventures of Peter and Paul, and the meaning of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Stevensen talks about the speeches by Peter written down in Acts. He continues on about how the Holy Spirit works on us ……..

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 16:16-34
• Psalm
  • Psalm 97
• Second reading
  • Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
• Gospel
  • John 17:20-26

The gospel from John:
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

*”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” provided symbolism for the early church as appears on this 3rd-4th century sarcophagus now in the Louvre in Paris. The monogram of Christ stands at the center, with the alpha to the left and the omega to the right. Surrounding it are the vines and branches, furthering the message of life in Christ. Fittingly, the stone burial container is decorated with a strong theological statement of life beginning with faith in Christ and ending with eternal life through him.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 16:9-15
• Psalm
  • Psalm 67
• Second reading
  • Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
• Gospel
  • John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

The gospel from John 14:
Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 11:1-18
• Psalm
  • Psalm 148
• Second reading
  • Revelation 21:1-6
• Gospel
  • John 13:31-35

The gospel from John:
Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Notes:
“Sculpture by Noël Bonardi on the Col de Verghio. The statue marks the border of the French Departments Haut-Corse and Corse-du-Sud. A plaque at the bottom of the sculpture reads: “Tenitevi Caru – Comme je vous ai aimés, aimez-vous aussi les uns les autres”, which translates into English: “Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Sermon
The Gospel readings have been from John since Easter and have to do with the Resurrection and what then to do. Many church leaders today turn to John. What do verses 31-32 of John 13 mean. Jesus said “now the son of Man has been glorified”, From Webster, glory means 1. splendor, 2. praise, 3. distinction, or 4. the happiness of heaven. Glorify means to 1. praise or 2. honor or raise in honor. He was glorified in the Resurrection. Now what is there to do. He will be back. We should be good stewards. Peter reached out to the world and his travels are described in Acts, chapters 9-15. He took great risks but learned the God desires fellowship. Pastor Stevensen continues on to conclude that God desires fellowhip with all people.

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