BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20261023T125038UTC-5576wkI5Ok@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20261023T125038Z DESCRIPTION:We are a small church\, but big on Grace. We gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns\, hearing readings from the bibl e\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at th e Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to worship with us\, we would be honored b y your presence.\nIntroduction\nWho are the blessed ones of God? For Micah \, they are those who do justice\, love kindness\, and walk humbly with Go d. For Paul\, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cro ss. For Jesus\, they are the poor\, the meek\, the merciful\, the pure in heart\, the peacemakers\, those who mourn\, and those who hunger for right eousness. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this coun tercultural way of living and serving.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nHoly God\ , you confound the world’s wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice\, and pers everance in striving for peace\, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son\, Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\nAmen.\n  \nFirst Reading: Micah 6:1-8\nWith the mountains and the foundations of th e earth as the jury\, God brings a lawsuit against Israel. God has “wearie d” Israel with a long history of saving acts. God does not want or expect lavish sacrifices to attempt to earn divine favor. Rather God empowers the people to do justice\, to love loyalty to God\, and to walk shrewdly in G od’s service./p>\n \nPsalm: 15 Lord\, who may abide upon your holy hill? ( Ps. 15:1)/p>\n \nSecond Reading:  \n1 Corinthians 1:18-31\nAccording to th e world’s standards of power and might\, the message of the cross seems st upid and offensive. Yet this word reveals the paradoxical way God has chos en to work power and salvation through weakness\, rejection\, and sufferin g. Hence the message of the cross becomes true wisdom and power for believ ers.\n \nGospel:  \nMatthew 5:1-12\nJesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by naming those who are blessed in the reign of God.\n1  When Jesus saw the crowds\, he went up the mountain\, and after he sat down\, his disciples c ame to him.\n2  And he began to speak and taught them\, saying:  \n3  “Ble ssed are the poor in spirit\, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  \n4  “ Blessed are those who mourn\, for they will be comforted.  \n5  “Blessed a re the meek\, for they will inherit the earth.  \n6  “Blessed are those wh o hunger and thirst for righteousness\, for they will be filled.  \n7  “Bl essed are the merciful\, for they will receive mercy.  \n  8 “Blessed are the pure in heart\, for they will see God.  \n9  “Blessed are the peacemak ers\, for they will be called children of God.  \n10  “Blessed are those w ho are persecuted for the sake of righteousness\, for theirs is the kingdo m of heaven.  \n11  “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.\n12  Re joice and be glad\, for your reward is great in heaven\, for in the same w ay they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”\n \nAfter the Sermon \, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are invit ed to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confidenc e like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disil lusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. C ome to the table\, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will th at those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our bles sing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with disco mfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bl ess with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the environme nts that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us wi th tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and w ar so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with en ough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, pea ce\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need. \nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nG od be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthe mountains.org/events/event/626-canx-fourth-sunday-after-epiphany-lectionar y-3-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260201T160000Z DTEND:20260201T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Canx ** Fourth Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 3 -- Year A - Wor ship Service - 11:00 AM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/626-canx-fourth-sunday-a fter-epiphany-lectionary-3-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor- naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR