BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260923T104606UTC-3697p0whiA@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260923T104606Z 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 to to days service.\nIn Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come\ , when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great b anquet\, those invited do not come\, so the invitation is extended to othe rs. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and ha rdship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. W ith great joy we feast at the table of the Lord\, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abun dant life of God.\n \nPrayer of the Day\nLord of the feast\, you have prep ared a table before all peoples and poured out your life with abundance. C all us again to your banquet. Strengthen us by what is honorable\, just\, and pure\, and transform us into a people of righteousness and peace\, thr ough Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\n \n \nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: I saiah 25:1-9\nAfter a hymn of praise acknowledging God as a shelter for th e poor\, the prophet portrays a wonderful victory banquet at which death—w hich in ancient Canaan was depicted as a monster swallowing up everyone—wi ll be swallowed up forever. The prophet urges celebration of this victory of salvation.\nPsalm: <23 You prepare a table before me\, and my cup is ru nning over. (Ps. 23:5)p>\n \nSecond Reading:  Philippians 4:1-9 T\nhough w riting from prison and facing an uncertain future\, Paul calls on the Phil ippians to rejoice and give thanks to God no matter what the circumstance. God’s peace is with us and binds together our hearts and minds in Jesus C hrist\, especially when things around us do not seem peaceful.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 22:1-14\nJesus tells a parable indicating that the blessings of God’s kingdom are available to all\, but the invitation is not to be taken lightly.\n1  Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables\, saying:\n2  “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet fo r his son.\n3  He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to th e wedding banquet\, but they would not come.\n4  Again he sent other slave s\, saying\, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look\, I have prepared my dinner\, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered\, and everything is ready\; come to the wedding banquet.’\n5  But they made light of it and went away\, one to his farm\, another to his business\,\n6  while the res t seized his slaves\, mistreated them\, and killed them.\n7  The king was enraged. He sent his troops\, destroyed those murderers\, and burned their city.\n8  Then he said to his slaves\, ‘The wedding is ready\, but those invited were not worthy.\n9  Go therefore into the main streets\, and invi te everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’\n10  Those slaves went out i nto the streets and gathered all whom they found\, both good and bad\, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.  \n11  “But when the king came in to see the guests\, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe\,\n12  and he said to him\, ‘Friend\, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless.\n13  Then the king said to the at tendants\, ‘Bind him hand and foot\, and throw him into the outer darkness \, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’\n14  For many are c alled\, but few are chosen.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been pre pared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to t he table like Peter\, with more 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/ 704-20th-sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-12-00-pm-s ervice-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20261011T150000Z DTEND:20261011T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:20th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service 11:00 am - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/704-20th-sunday-after-pe ntecost-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carr iker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR