Items for the week of Sunday, September 27th

This past Sunday, September 27^th, was the 18^th Sunday after Pentecost

We heard the following scripture readings, introduction, and prayer of the day during the Sunday morning worship service:

Introduction

Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and shared cup, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.

Prayer of the Day

God of love, giver of life, you know our frailties and failings. Give us your grace to overcome them, keep us from those things that harm us, and guide us in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 The fairness of God’s way
Psalm 25:1-9 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love. (Ps. 25:6)
Philippians 2:1-13 Christ humbled to the point of death on a cross
Matthew 21:23-32 A parable of doing God’s will

The Message

If you would like a transcript of the message, please let the office know.

Devotion for the Week

Marching Orders

Members of the string quartet look around at each other, nod, and begin tuning up to play. The basketball team huddles around the coach as she draws up the play on a dry-erase board. The volunteer teams go over their assignments one last time before heading off to their positions for the charity run. In each instance, before beginning their mission, the group takes a moment to get on the same page, to get their marching orders. In our lives as disciples of Christ, that moment is baptism.

Our marching orders, our mission guidelines, are marked on our hearts in baptism. The good news of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in Jesus Christ that is poured over us spills out in our lives, and we are called to be agents of restoration: to bind up the brokenhearted, to care for all people and all creation. Just as the coach draws up the play or someone makes a list of the things that need to get done, we are imbued with a way of life in baptism’s waters. Our motivation for this way of life is the love that has also been shown to us in Jesus: the love that feeds us each week as we gather around our Savior’s table.

Even if we are sometimes reluctant, like the son in Jesus’ parable who initially says he will not go to the vineyard but eventually goes, we are motivated to carry out the work to which God has called us because of the baptismal grace we have received. And whenever we pause to collect ourselves—whether it’s tuning up before the performance, getting the play in the huddle, or just taking a deep breath before beginning the next item on the to-do list—we think of baptism, when our marching orders and our motivations are indelibly marked on us by Jesus.