BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260830T042324UTC-0158VZb6WJ@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260830T042324Z 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.\n \nIntroduction\nThe prophet Jeremiah speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering yet finds in God’s words the delight of his heart. When Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ w ords about suffering\, Jesus tells the disciples they will find their live s in losing them. Such sacrificial love is described by Paul when he urges us to associate with the lowly and not repay evil with evil. In worship w e gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world.\nPrayer of the Day\nO God\, we thank you for your Son\, w ho chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example\, point us to the path of obedience\, and give us strength to fol low your commands\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\n \nAmen. \n \nFirst Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21\nJeremiah’s delight in the word of t he Lord is contradicted by the heaviness of God’s hand upon him and God’s seeming unfaithfulness. God’s tough love to Jeremiah says that if he repen ts\, he will be allowed to continue in his strenuous ministry. Jeremiah is strengthened by the simple words\, “I am with you.”\n \nPsalm: 26:1-8\nYo ur love is before my eyes\; I have walked faithfully with you. (Ps. 26:3) \n \nSecond Reading:  Romans 12:9-21\nPaul presents benchmarks for faithfu l relationships with Christians and non-Christians. Love is the unflagging standard of our behavior. When we encounter evil\, we do not resort to it s tactics but seek to overcome it with good. While Christians cannot contr ol the actions and attitudes of others\, we seek to live at peace with all people.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 16:21-28\nAfter Peter confesses that Jesus i s “the Messiah\, the Son of the living God” (16:16)\, Jesus reveals the ul timate purpose of his ministry. These words prove hard to accept\, even fo r a disciple whom Jesus has called a “rock.”\n21  From that time on\, [aft er Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah\,] Jesus began to show his d isciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the h ands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.\n22  And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him \, saying\, “God forbid it\, Lord! This must never happen to you.”\n23  Bu t he turned and said to Peter\, “Get behind me\, Satan! You are a hindranc e to me\, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”  \n24  Then Jesus told his disciples\, “If any wish to come after me\, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.\n25  For those who want to save their life will lose it\, and those who lose t heir life for my sake will find it.\n26  For what will it profit them if t hey gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?  \n27  “For the Son of Man is to come with his ang els in the glory of his Father\, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.\n28  Truly I tell you\, there are some standing here who wi ll not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” \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 invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and th e priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and l eading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the tab le like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, fai thful till the end. Come to the table\, because it is God who invites us a nd 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 Franciscan Prayer)\nMay Go d 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 o ur world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and explorat ion and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace. \nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rej ection\, hunger and war 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 enough foolishness to believe that we can make a differ ence in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. T o bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your h ope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of Go d Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/698-14th-sunday-after-pente cost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260830T150000Z DTEND:20260830T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:14th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/698-14th-sunday-after-pe ntecost-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR