​ 
 
September 24, 2023
18th Sunday after Pentecost
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of  fellowship.
· Next Sunday, Oct. 1 is World Communion Sunday.  We will join with brothers and sisters around the globe to come to the table to receive the gifts of Christ.
· Please sign up for our Fellowship lunch and activity following worship.  We will also be passing out the pledge envelopes for 2024.
· Beginning in October:  A Butterfly ministry in our basement.  You are invited to come help paint butterflies of grace to remind our hurting neighbors of God’s care and of our prayers.  Call Shirley Darsidan at 563-613-2850 for more information.
 
PRAYER REQUESTS 
· JoAnn Grimm at Fieldstone Rehab Center in DeWitt.
· Annette Conzett recovering after a fall.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
 PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP 
Like the Hebrew slaves who escaped from Egypt, we come to be led by our God.
The Lord went before them, a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.
 
When they were thirsty God provided water.
 
When they were hungry God sent both quail and manna.
 
Even when they complained, God held them close.
 
Let us come to give thanks to God for the many blessings poured into our lives and for God’s gracious presence leading us forward.  Amen
*GATHERING PRAYER 
God of Healing and Hope, Come to us this day and infuse us with your Spirit of Grace.  Allow us to grasp your amazing capacity for love that we might borrow a bit to shine it forth into the brokenness of our world.  Amen
 
*HYMN                               Come Sing to God                                                         #181                
                                        (You may be seated.)
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
God’s mercy is bigger than we can imagine. We are called to taste the sweetness of this grace by laying down our failings and our guilt.  Let us come to our God to confess our sins and be washed clean.
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Forgive us, Gracious Lord, for taking your abundance and blessings for granted.  Somehow we have gotten the idea that unless it feels like a miracle, it has nothing to do with you.  Today we acknowledge that everything pours from your hand.  Forgive us for putting our sense of justice above your call to generosity and grace poured out for all your people.  Forgive us for our complaints and demands when we have so much and others have so little.  Help us to live your kingdom of grace and generosity and to recognize your many blessings.  Amen.
 
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Christ understands our human experience because he lived it.  Yet in him was also the essence of God. He came to take our failings upon himself, to bear what we could not and to release us from our sins.  Know this day that in Christ we are God’s forgiven people.  Amen
 
SONG OF PRAISE  Gloria Patri  #579
PASSING THE PEACE 
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 
We come, O Lord, to seek the privilege of fully believing in Christ as our Lord and Savior. We come to be enabled to obey you and live your love into our world.  Let us hear your word that can fill the hole in our heart and mind.  Allow us to joyfully sing your praise in all that we do.  Amen.
 
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS     
Exodus 16: 2  - 15
2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.  11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
 
                                              Matthew 20: 1-16
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.  3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’  13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
 
SERMON       It’s Not Fair!
 
“It’s not fair!”  I think all parents hear that complaint on a semi regular basis.  It usually comes from the youngster who feels like they have gotten the short end of the stick.  Surprisingly, when they have the advantage, it seems totally fair.  They can find several reasons why it should be so.
In so many ways we never outgrow that need to receive equal (what we consider fair) treatment and opportunity.  If it feels off balance, with us on the bottom side, yelling and complaint is sure to be heard.
Both of our stories today have to do with receiving what we are owed.  We begin with those Hebrew run-away slaves.  God owes them what they need!  After all, they had food and drink and shelter in Egypt.  God is the one who pulled them away--God and Moses.  So God owed them.  In such a short time away they’re already idealizing their experiences in Egypt.  “We sat by the flesh pots and ate our fill,” they said.  Conveniently, they forgot about the harsh labor, the way their task masters even made them collect their own straw to make the bricks, but still insisted on the same number of bricks to be produced each day.  They forgot about not having a voice in what they would do or where they might go.  They had forgotten the abuses and humiliations of being a slave.  All they wanted was food, but instead of politely asking, instead of patiently waiting for God to provide, they complained, and argued about where was the best place to die!  God led them out for life, not for death!  God had provided everything they needed—that final awful plague upon the Egyptians while also saving them, his presence to lead them—pillar of cloud during the day and pillar of fire at night, a pathway through the sea that gave them an escape while their pursuers perished.  God gave them water in the desert.  Ok, at first it was undrinkable, but in a heartbeat, God turned it sweet and thirst quenching.
But instead of that they complained, “It’s not fair.  You took us away from the fleshpots in Egypt.  Now you have to give us food.”  If I were God, I’d be angry with all the complaining.   I’d scold or challenge them.  I might even hold off another day just to make a point.  But we really don’t see an angry God.  Rather God makes provisions for both bread and meat.  God frames his gift to his people with these words, “I’m going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather for that day.   In that way I will test them whether they will follow my instructions or not.”
God will give them what they need, and in the process God is working to train them to trust that each day he will give them that day their daily bread!  No storing up.  No hoarding.  Trust.
So quail descended upon the camp—and the people were able to capture them by hand—Miracle!  The next morning they awoke to find a fine layer of bread on the floor of the desert.  Miracle!  Well, maybe it was a miracle, but here’s the thing.  If we only give God credit for those things that are extraordinary and amazing, what about those everyday gifts that flow from God’s hands and offer such blessing and life for us all?  Things like the trip to the grocery store and being able to purchase what we need.  Things like a paycheck that provides for our family.  Things like a roof over our heads that keeps the rain away and keeps us comfortable.  Those are from God, as well.
Scholars tell us that in both of these instances there is reason to believe that it’s not outside our natural world.  Quail--It’s not uncommon for birds who migrate from the African continent to be blown across the Mediterranean and to be so exhausted from their journey that they can be caught by hand.   Manna-There is an insect, a type of plant lice that punctures the leaves of the tamarisk tree to consume the juice.  It then excretes a yellowish flake or ball.  It is rich in carbohydrates and sugar.  It congeals in the cold but disintegrates in the warmth of the day.  It is still gathered by natives in that region and they bake it into a bread.  They call it manna!
God provides.  That the big message, I think.  God provided for those ex-slaves and God provides for us.  We don’t collect our food from the desert floor.  We don’t catch our meat by hand (thank goodness!)  But God provides what we need.  God gives us the skills and training and opportunities to work.  God give us other means when we don’t have a job.  God provides, and our response is to be a people who recognize God’s amazing care and who spend less time thinking about why our neighbor has more, and more time making sure others have their basic needs met, too.
But what about when we look around and see others who don’t work nearly as hard as we do, but have so much more—more stuff, nicer stuff, more power, more leisure, more comfort, more fun!  It’s not fair!  Or what about those who receive equal to us, but they hardly break a sweat, while we have to work long and hard?
Jesus has a word for that.  In actuality, the parable presented this day is in response to Peter’s question and concern.  Jesus had just told the rich, young man to go and sell all that he had and come follow him.  Of course that wealthy person couldn’t do that.  Jesus replied that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. That shocked the disciples.  It was so contrary to their thinking.  Peter asks, “Look, we’ve left everything and followed you.  What then will we have?  The answer—they will have abundant brothers and sister, fathers and mothers, and even fields—100 fold.  And they will have eternal life.  Then the mysterious phrase, “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”  What does that mean?  So Jesus offers the parable of the laborers in the Vineyard.
All day long the owner sends workers out to tend his vines.  Some early in the morning with an agreed wage; others through the day—each group working fewer hours than the one previously sent out.  When it was quitting time they are lined up to be paid.  Do you notice that the last to arrive are the first to be paid?  Those from the morning are present to see, and when they notice that even these very last ones get a full day’s pay their minds begin racing.  Woo-eee!   They are going to get a bonus!  But not.  They get exactly the agreed upon price.  They get the same as those who worked only a couple hours!  It’s the standard wage.  It’s enough to purchase food and the necessities for one day.  The full day workers get to eat that night, and so do their families.  The partial day workers get to eat that night and so do their families.
Jesus is making a point about fairness.  God’s generosity rises above our sense of equitable justice.  God needs for all his people to have what they need.  There is no cosmic score card with goodies passed out in proportion to the work we do on God’s behalf.  We’ve all seen televangelists who live in luxurious mansions and fly to vacation spots in their private jet.  They say they’ve earned the good life by virtue of the souls they’ve saved.  It think God would frown on that.  It’ just not the way our God works.
Jesus also wants his disciples and us to know that God’s generosity extends to those people who perhaps led questionable lives.  We would probably call them sinners.  But at some point, perhaps even as they are approaching the end of their days, they discover God’s love in Jesus and dedicate the remainder of their days to Christ.  They, too, are welcomed into God’s grace, into eternal life, just like that person who was a life-long Christian.  Just like the Sunday School teacher, the elder, the worker for Christ’s church.  God provides what we need.  God’s generosity is bigger than our sense of equitable justice.
And that’s the good news for us, too.  Because, let’s be honest.  Don’t we blow it over and over again?  Don’t we make bargains with ourselves, justifying our actions that we know are contrary to God’s call?  Don’t we forget the pledge we made?  Don’t we turn aside from our brother or sister in need?  Of course we do.  It’s the nature of our human condition, but in God’s grace we are welcomed back.  We’re given what we need, the necessities for our day.  It might not be our preference, but these gifts fall from God’s goodness.  We’re welcomed back into God’s grace.  We’re given work in the kingdom that allows us to know that our lives have meaning and purpose.
Can you imagine the sad state of our world if God gave to each of us only what we have earned?  Those Hebrew slaves would never have made it out of the wilderness.  They’d be wandering there to this day because of their obtuse defiance of God.  We would be cold and hungry, sick and desperate because for every good and positive thing in our life, there are probably 3 or 4 ways that we fail our Lord.
It’s not fair.  That’s a child’s squabbling over who gets the last cookie. We the children of God are called to live God’s generosity and grace.  We’ve been called to share and reach out to those in need.  We’re called to tell the story of our faith and offer God’s love to those we meet.  We’re called to live within our faith community in ways that model love and care and grace.
God is here for us.   God provides for us.  God’s love is that which carries us forward.  Let us give thanks for these many blessings poured out upon us.  Amen.
 
*HYMN                         God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending                           #422                                          
                                             (you may be seated.)
PASTORAL PRAYER
​
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
 
*DOXOLOGY  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow  #592
 
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
 
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH    (From Matthew 7: 7-11)
 
We come to claim the words of our Lord and Savior.  For Jesus said,
 
“Ask and it will be given you;
Search and you will find;
Knock and the door will be opened for you.
For everyone who asks receives,
And everyone who searches finds,
And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Is there any among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?
Or if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake?
If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask?
 
   
 
*HYMN                                      Be Thou My Vision                                            #339                                                       
(You may be seated.)
 
 
Sending Forth
*CHARGE & BLESSING  
 
POSTLUDE
 
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

​September 17, 2023
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
·  Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
 
· We continue to receive your donations to assist the people of Lahaina, Maui, following the devastating fire.  Donations will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  Thank you for your generosity.
 
· Seeking 7 to 8 people who can each donate up to 3 ½ hours per month to host the Gathering Place.  Other hostesses from other congregations will also be present.  No need to know the games.  Your presence for set up, greeting, and fellowship are what is needed.  (If this project is to go, we need your help!) Please speak to Pastor Joyce.
 
· Please save the date for Oct. 1—World Communion Sunday, Fellowship lunch and activity following worship, Passing out the pledge envelopes. Sign up for RSVP at office door
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
 
JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems.
Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                        based on Psalm 23 & John 3
                                    
One:   Day by day, God leads us:
All:  to the deep, deep pools of peace,
to the green, lush lawns of grace.
One:  Day by day, Jesus calls us:
All:  to pour out ourselves in service,
to anoint the stranger with hope.
One:  Day by day, the Holy Spirit shows us:
All:  the community we could be,
the family we are called to become.
ALL:  As the family of God, let us worship God!
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
 
*HYMN         O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!  (vs 1-4)                           #533                 
                                             (You may be seated.)
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION 
Gentle Shepherd, You guide us in right paths and lead us in the ways of righteousness, but we have allowed our anger, our rage, our greed, and at times even hate, to direct our paths. We have overreacted, we have taken more than our share, we have been jealous of others that seem to have it all. Forgive us, God, for not following Your ways. Forgive us for not remembering that we are Your sheep, and You are our Shepherd. Forgive us when we have not listened for Your voice and instead have acted in the ways of the world. Guide us back to Your path, to loving You and loving our neighbors. In the name of Christ our Shepherd we pray.    Amen.
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
 
SONG OF PRAISE  Gloria Patri  #579
 
 
PASSING THE PEACE 
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Open our eyes that we may see, our ears that we may hear, and our hearts and minds that we may understand your precious Word read and proclaimed this day, most Holy God. Amen
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Psalm 23     
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
John 10: 1-16
10 “Very truly I tell you anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
SERMON                            The Lord is My Shepherd
 
*HYMN                                    My Shepherd Will Supply My Need                 #172
 
 
PASTORAL PRAYER
 
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
 
*DOXOLOGY                 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow  #592
 
 
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, we joyfully give to you a token of all of the gifts you so generously give.   We ask that you use these offerings, our time and talents and treasures, to be a blessing to those most in need in our church, our community and our world.   May our offerings bring glory to you and your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
 
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH    The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father, Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.
From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
 
  *HYMN                        What a Friend We Have in Jesus                                          #403                                                  
                                           (You may be seated.)
Sending Forth
 
*CHARGE & BLESSING  
 
POSTLUDE
 
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
 

 
September 10, 2023
15th Sunday after Pentecost
 
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
·  Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
 
· We continue to receive your donations to assist the people of Lahaina, Maui, following the devastating fire.  Donations will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  Thank you for your generosity.
 
· Ladies Lunch Bunch to gather at Yen Ching Restaurant at 11:30 AM on Sept. 13.  Please add our name to sign-up sheet.
 
· Session to meet following worship and fellowship time today.
 
· Seeking 7 to 8 people who can each donate up to 3 ½ hours per month to host the Gathering Place.  Other hostesses from other congregations will also be present.  No need to know the games.  Your presence for set up, greeting, and fellowship are what is needed.  (If this project is to go, we need your help!) Please speak to Pastor Joyce.
 
· Please save the date for Oct. 1—World Communion Sunday, Fellowship lunch and activity following worship, Passing out the pledge envelopes.
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
 
JoAnn Grimm who struggles with health problems.
Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
 
PRELUDE
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                      (Adapted from Psalm 149: 1-4)
 
Praise the Lord!
 
Let us sing to the Lord a new song.
 
For we are glad in our Maker.  We rejoice in our King.
 
Let us praise God’s name with dance, making melody to our Lord with tambourine and lyre.
 
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people.
The Almighty adorns the humble with victory.
 
So we come this day singing glory to our God.  Alleluia!  Amen!
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
O Lamb of God, As the blood of the lamb became salvation for those slaves who waited in Egypt, we come, recognizing that your precious blood was spilled to save us!  In awestruck wonder we come before you this day to offer our lives to you.  Sit with us and assure us again that you hold our todays and our tomorrows.  We need you, Lord.  Amen.
 
*HYMN                        Love Divine, All Loves Excelling                                             #376                 
                                             (You may be seated.)
 
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
Oh, how we need the grace and goodness of our God.  Again and again we blow it, but Christ is our path to restoration and new hope.  Let us come now and lay our broken selves before our Savior.   Please pray with me.
 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION 
Lord God.  We live in a world of “Me.”  So many voices nudge us to grow and succeed and accomplish as individuals.  Forgive us for taking that to heart and in the process discounting others whom we meet along the way.  Forgive us for not understanding that we have a responsibility to consider their needs as we work together and worship you.  Give us the courage to speak to that brother or sister who has hurt us.  Help us to speak gently and to listen well so that our relationships might be healed and restored within your love.  Amen.
 
Assurance of Pardon
“Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  This is the promise of our Christ.  He went to a cross for us that our sins might be forgiven.  Let us rejoice in his presence this day and claim the new life that floods out from the empty tomb. Amen.
 
 
SONG OF PRAISE Gloria Patri #579
 
 
PASSING THE PEACE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
 
 
INTERLUDE
 
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord God, as your word is spoken, may it seep into our hearts and minds.  May we be enabled to put on your armor of light that casts aside the works of darkness.  Fill us with your love and enable us to shine your healing and hope to our world that needs it so desperately.  Amen.
 
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS     
 
Romans 13: 8-14
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
 
 
                                              Matthew 18: 15-20
15 “If your brother or sister sins go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
 
 
SERMON                            Donning the Armor of Light
 
“Love one another.  Love your neighbor as yourself.”  With that as the imperative for our Christian faith, one might assume that Church is a place where harmony, cooperation, peace and connection reigns.  After all if everyone lives Jesus commandment, what could go wrong?  It’s important.  It’s what we all strive for.  It’s the way we publicize ourselves to the outside world, right?  But, sometimes things can get a little out of whack.  Enter Linda, a lovely person, a Christian lady who was a worker in First Presbyterian Church of Everytown, USA.  But here’s the thing.  Linda tends to get really stressed and frustrated when thing feel out of control.
 
 So when the ladies of the church were behind schedule in setting up for a major dinner they were hosting, and Paula, a new member dropped a couple plates, scattering shards across the kitchen floor, Linda reacted with some sharp words, “Great.  Just Great.  Now we have to clean up that mess!”  She wasn’t even speaking to Paula, but it was clear that she wasn’t happy.  Debbie piped in, “Cool it, Linda.”  And that was the end of it.  At least Linda and Debbie thought so.  Debbie was Linda’s best friend.  Everyone in the kitchen recognized this fact and that Linda sometimes blew off steam in these ways.  But Paula was new to the team.  In fact, Paula was new to the faith, and she was mortified with Linda’s words, AND in Debbie’s response.  Was that the way Christians acted?  Did she really want to be a part of that?  Weren’t they suppose to care for one another?  It bothered her enough that she considered leaving the church entirely. I wonder what Jesus would have said to these three women?  Would Linda and Debbie have been scolded? Sure, they reacted in ways that were less than sweet and kind, but they reacted in the moment and THEY understood one another.  What would Jesus say to Paula?  Was she somewhat naïve to think that sharp words and irritations with one another didn’t happen in a church?  Both of our scriptures for today deal with the way we treat one another. Paul’s words are for the way we deal with others, no matter where we find them.  Jesus seems to be speaking to people within our faith, with our brothers and sisters in the church family.  Both of these have the same general message.  “Take care of one another.”  Paul reminds us that to love our neighbor is the essence of living in accord with God’s law.  If we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we are going to take care not to steal or lie or abuse  or cheat them.  We are going to respect and assist these others because that’s the way we hope to be treated.  We’re going to take care with alcohol and other things that get in the way of our behavior.  Paul calls it putting on the armor of light.
I like that image.  It feels like a protective force field that works both ways.  It protects us AND it helps us to be protective of others, to care for others.  Paul says it allows us to live honorably, and that’s what we all want. Now both Linda and Debbie would argue that in their exchange that day, they WERE living honorably.  It’s just who they are, they would say. There’s no animosity.  Linda reacted to the stress of the situation, and Debbie responded to remind her friend to settle down and take care with her words.  OK, she did it rather forcefully, but she knew Linda would understand her intent.  But Paula didn’t.  She didn’t know these two.  She was new to this type of thing.  Perhaps she’d had some past experiences with verbal abuse and was really sensitive to the tone and words that were used.  What should Paula do? Jesus offers an answer.  I think Jesus understood that things happen.  Feelings get hurt.  People can be misunderstood.  We are going to step on one another’s toes at times, maybe not even being aware of it.  In other words, life happens—even in church—maybe especially in church since our expectations are higher in our faith community. Jesus suggests that Paul should go and talk to Linda.  Just the two of them.  That way Linda is not put on the spot and embarrassed in front of others.  Paula needs to take care with her words.  Two wrongs don’t make a right, after all.  She needs to use “I” language.  “I felt really embarrassed with your words.”  “I felt like I was being attacked.”  “I was hurt by what happened.”  To own up to what we are feeling without attacking the other person is the goal.
Then it would be Linda’s turn to apologize and perhaps share that she struggles with anxiety and was feeling really stressed.  She will want to own up to her mistake, to take responsibility for it, while at the same time helping Paula to understand that she didn’t mean it as a personal attack.  Linda might explain that Debbie was her best friend and was working to help her recognize the impact of her words in such times.  Hopefully hugs and new connections can come out of such a conversation.  That’s the way it should work.  But Jesus recognized that sometimes things don’t always go that smoothly.  What then?  Then he says that Paula should take someone with her to talk to Linda.  In that case, she would select people of good faith who are well respected and who can manage their own emotions and words.  These people have a job to do.  It’s to listen and make sure that both sides of the dispute are being fair.  They also make sure that both are hearing one another.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own perceptions that we can’t really hear the other.  And it that doesn’t work, if there continues to be an unresolved issue that is festering and a behavior continues to cause upset and division, then it needs to be addressed by the leadership of the church.  This is pretty rare because usually the first two things can work.  Perhaps the two are not best buddies, but at least they can have a basic understanding and be able to cooperate and be together.  Remember when Jesus says we are to love one another, he’s not talking about liking one another!  Loving our brother or sister means we seek their well-being.
We wish good things for them and are willing to put ourselves forward to make those good things happen. The types of things that might rise to the level of going before the leadership of the church are things like someone who is stealing money from the Sunday School offerings, or speaking to others being purposefully disrespectful.  Perhaps making inappropriate suggestions or bullying another.  These things don’t happen often, but when they do, it’s important for the well-being of the body of Christ that it be addressed, and if there is still no resolution after such a conversation with the leadership, that person might need to be disinvited to be a part of the church.
That’s hard to think about.  No one wants to be involved in such a conflict, but think about the damage if we don’t have some standards and expectations for how we treat one another.
I think one of the things these verses remind us about is that conflict CAN happen, even in our faith community. What makes us different than other organizations is the way we are to work through those matters.  The other thing that we might want to keep in mind is that Jesus told the disciples that if that worst case scenario does happen, they are to treat this other as a tax collector or a Gentile.  At first glance that means to turn our back on them.  But we want to remember that Jesus never turned his back on tax collectors OR Gentiles.  How many times in our Gospels does Jesus engage with both—always inviting them into the kingdom of God.  Therefore, our care remains with others.  We are still called to love them—to seek their well-being. That’s hard.  That’s making ourselves vulnerable. Finally, we see Jesus extending to the church the power formerly given to Peter, to bind or to loose the sins of another.  I think it’s important that we recognize that it is not given to us as individuals.  I don’t have that right.  You don’t have that right.  It’s given to us corporately, recognizing that we are all sinners and in our dealings with others we need to be much more on the side of grace and forgiveness.  That’s where God is, and that’s where we are called to be, as well.  So here’s the bottom line.  We are all going to blow it at times.  We are going to hurt another and we are going to be hurt by others.  We have a responsibility to seek resolution.  That might mean we pull together our courage to go and gently, humbly tell another that we are hurting by something they said or did.  Then we need to accept their apology instead of carrying a grudge.  It might mean that we need to set aside our ego to hear that we have hurt someone else.  Then we need to apologize and seek to make amends, hoping that they will offer to us grace and forgiveness.  It’s the way we build up the body of Christ.  It’s the way we can model healthy relationships for the rest of the world to observe.  When two or three are gathering in Christ’s name—even in the midst of conflict and hurt, Jesus is there, as well.  And that gives us hope, doesn’t it.  God’s grace IS that armor of light that surrounds us and lifts us.  So let’s love our neighbor.  Let’s recognize our own capacity to hurt, even when that’s not what we meant.  Let’s watch our words when we get stressed.  Let’s offer our prayers and our thanksgiving to God.  Let’s put on the armor of light.
Praise be to God.  Amen.
PASTORAL PRAYER
 
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD
 
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow #592
 
 
 
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN                                   I Come with Joy                                                        #507
                                             (you may be seated.)
 
 INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
 
Lord of Life, Author of new possibilities, Giver of all good gifts.  We gather this morning at your table seeking to feel your touch and to breathe in your spirit of life.
 
Be in our midst Holy God.
 
Be in our midst, O Lord, and remind us that it is only by your grace and goodness that we are here to be fed this day.
 
It is the power of your grace that enabled men and women through the ages to take up the tasks to which you called them.  These were people with real human sin and failings, people considered unworthy of your blessings.
 
Moses was guilty of murder, yet you called him to lead your people out of bondage.  Ruth was considered a foreigner, unsuited for the people of God, yet this woman became one of Jesus’ ancestors.  Saul persecuted you and arrested your servants, yet you gave to him the task of spreading the news of Jesus.  
 
Thank you Lord that you can use people who are flawed and broken—even us!
 
At this table we are united to receive your gift of life.
 
So as we take of this bread, your body broken, as we drink of the cup which offers forgiveness of sins, let us open wide our circle and invite our brothers and sisters to join us in this gift of new life. We praise you, O Lord.  Amen.
 
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
 
COMMUNION PRAYER.
 
 
*HYMN     Blest Be the Tie that Binds                     #438                                                   
                                           (You may be seated.) 
 
Sending Forth
 
*CHARGE & BLESSING
 
POSTLUDE
 
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.