BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260923T104350UTC-705394ZDCG@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260923T104350Z 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 today’s first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus t o accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus\, he te lls them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs t o God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God\, w e offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the wo rld.\n \nPrayer of the Day\nSovereign God\, raise your throne in our heart s. Created by you\, let us live in your image\; created for you\, let us a ct for your glory\; redeemed by you\, let us give you what is yours\, thro ugh Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord.\nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: Isaiah 4 5:1-7\nThe prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the Lord has anointed to end Israel’s exile. The Lord makes this choice so th at the whole world will recognize this Lord as the only God. Persia had a god of light and a god of darkness\; the Lord claims sovereignty over both light and darkness.\nPsalm: 96:1-9 [10-13]\nAscribe to the Lord honor and power. (Ps. 96:7)\n \nSecond Reading:  1 Thessalonians 1:1-10\nMost likel y this letter is the first written by Paul. Paul gives pastoral encouragem ent and reassurances to new Christians living in an antagonistic environme nt. Their commitment of faith\, love\, and hope makes them a model for oth er new Christian communities.\n \nGospel:  Matthew 22:15-22\nAfter Jesus b egins teaching in the temple\, religious leaders try to trap him with ques tions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyran t like Caesar.\n15  The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in wh at he said.\n16  So they sent their disciples to him\, along with the Hero dians\, saying\, “Teacher\, we know that you are sincere\, and teach the w ay of God in accordance with truth\, and show deference to no one\, for yo u do not regard people with partiality.\n17  Tell us\, then\, what you thi nk. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”\n18  But Jesus\, aware of their malice\, said\, “Why are you putting me to the test\, you hypocrite s?\n19  Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denariu s.\n20  Then he said to them\, “Whose head is this and whose title?”\n21   They answered\, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them\, “Give therefore to Caes ar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”\n22  When they heard this\, they were amazed\, and they left him and went awa y.\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 request ed and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with more enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and t he 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 ta ble like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, fa ithful 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 Franciscan Prayer)\nMay G od bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficia l leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and explora tion 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\, re jection\, 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 ma y God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a diffe rence in this world\, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and al l others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of G od Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/705-21th-sunday-after-pent ecost-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carrik er DTSTART:20261018T150000Z DTEND:20261018T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:21th Sunday after Pentecost -- Year A - Worship Service 11:00 am - 12:00 PM Service -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/705-21th-sunday-after-pe ntecost-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carr iker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR