BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260922T143223UTC-0421cUZPt4@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260922T143223Z 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\nLight shines in the darkness for the uprig ht\, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of i njustice and share our bread with the hungry\, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount\, Jesus\, the l ight of the world\, calls his followers to let the light of their good wor ks shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shin e with the light of Christ.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nLord God\, with endl ess mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do\, and give us the grace and power to do them\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\nAmen.\n \nFirst Readi ng: Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12]\nShortly after the return of Israel from exile in Babylon\, the people were troubled by the ineffectiveness of their fast s. God reminds them that outward observance is no substitute for genuine f asting that results in acts of justice\, such as feeding the hungry\, shel tering the homeless\, and clothing the naked./p>\n \nPsalm: 112:1-9 [10] L ight shines in the darkness for the upright. (Ps. 112:4)/p>\n \nSecond Rea ding:  \n1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]\nThough people such as the Corinthia ns are enamored with human philosophy and wisdom\, Paul continuously prese nts God’s hidden wisdom which is Jesus Christ crucified. True spiritual ma turity involves judging ourselves and others in light of God’s revelation in the cross.\n \nGospel:  \nMatthew 5:13-20\nIn the Sermon on the Mount\, Jesus encourages his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world\, doing good works and keeping God’s commandments. [Jesus sai d:]\n13  “You are the salt of the earth\, but if salt has lost its taste\, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  \n14  “You are the light of the wo rld. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.\n15  People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket\; rather\, they put it on the lampstan d\, and it gives light to all in the house. \n16  In the same way\, let yo ur light shine before others\, so that they may see your good works and gi ve glory to your Father in heaven.  \n17  “Do not think that I have come t o abolish the Law or the Prophets\; I have come not to abolish but to fulf ill.\n18  For truly I tell you\, until heaven and earth pass away\, not on e letter\, not one stroke of a letter\, will pass from the law until all i s accomplished.\n19  Therefore\, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven\, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\n20  For I tell you\, unless your righteo usness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees\, you will never enter th e kingdom of heaven.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offere d. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared a s Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the tabl e 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 M artha\, hosting and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and g rief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franc iscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half t ruths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, op pression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice \, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who s uffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into h ope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what others cl aim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all childr en\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your stre ngth\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; a nd the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/627-fi fth-sunday-after-epiphany-lectionary-3-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-ser vice-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260208T160000Z DTEND:20260208T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Fifth Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 3 -- Year A - Worship Serv ice - 11:00 AM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/627-fifth-sunday-after-e piphany-lectionary-3-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi- carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR