BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260809T002740UTC-1532Crelv8@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260809T002740Z DESCRIPTION: \nWe gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hym ns\, hearing readings from the bible\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to liv e. All are invited to join us at the Lord's table to be fed by his heavenl y food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to wors hip with us\, we would be honored by your presence.\nIntroduction to today s service:Elijah finds the presence of God not in earthquake\, wind\, or f ire\, but in the sound of sheer silence. When the disciples face a great s torm on the sea\, they cry out with fear. Jesus says: “Take heart\, it is I\; do not be afraid.” Amid the storms of life\, we gather to seek the cal m presence of Christ that soothes our fears. In comforting words of script ure and in the refreshing bread and cup of the eucharist\, God grants us p eace and sends us forth to be a sign of God’s presence to others.   \n \n  \nPrayer of the Day\nO God our defender\, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair\, deliver your sons and daughters from fear\, and preserve us in the faith of your Son\, Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\n \nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: \n1 King s 19:9-18 The Lord speaks to Elijah on Mount Horeb\n \nPsalm: \nPsalm 85:8 -13 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying. (Ps. 85:8)\n \nSecond Re ading:  \nRomans 10:5-15 A right relationship with God is not something we achieve by heroic efforts. It is a gift received in the proclamation whos e content is Jesus Christ. This proclaimed word creates our faith in the L ord Jesus Christ. Hence Christian proclamation is an indispensable compone nt of God’s saving actions.\n \nGospel:  \nMatthew 14:22-33\nMatthew’s gos pel typically portrays Jesus’ disciples as people of “little faith\,” who fail despite their best intentions. In this story\, Matthew shows how Jesu s comes to the disciples when they are in trouble and sustains them in the ir time of fear and doubt.\n22  [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee\,] while he dism issed the crowds.\n23  And after he had dismissed the crowds\, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came\, he was there alone\, \n24  but by this time the boat\, battered by the waves\, was far from the land\, for the wind was against them.\n25  And early in the morning he ca me walking toward them on the sea.\n26  But when the disciples saw him wal king on the sea\, they were terrified\, saying\, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.\n27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said\, “T ake heart\, it is I\; do not be afraid.”  \n28  Peter answered him\, “Lord \, if it is you\, command me to come to you on the water.”\n29  He said\, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat\, started walking on the water\, and came toward Jesus.\n30  But when he noticed the strong wind\, he became fr ightened\, and\, beginning to sink\, he cried out\, “Lord\, save me!”\n31  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him\, saying to him\, “ You of little faith\, why did you doubt?”\n32  When they got into the boat \, the wind ceased.\n33  And those in the boat worshiped him\, saying\, “T ruly you are the Son of God.” \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prep ared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to th e 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 confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious an d 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 shoul d meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort 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 bless with anger at injustic e\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for j ustice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach ou t with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believ e that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what oth ers claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, you r strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your w ay\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/ 679-11th-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pa stor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260809T150000Z DTEND:20260809T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY: 11th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/679-11th-sunday-after-pe ntecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR