Items for the week of Sunday, September 6th

This past Sunday, September 6^th, was the 15^th Sunday after Pentecost

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

Introduction

Conflict is a part of relationships and life in community. Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are often used in situations having to do with church discipline. The prophet Ezekiel tells of warning the wicked to turn from their ways, and Paul reminds us that love is the fulfilling of the law. We gather in the name of Christ, assured that he is present among us with gifts of peace and reconciliation.

Prayer of Day

O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Ezekiel 33:7-11 The prophet’s responsibility to warn the people
Psalm 119:33-40 I desire the path of your commandments. (Ps. 119:35)
Romans 13:8-14 Live honorably as in the day
Matthew 18:15-20 Reconciliation in the community of faith

The Message

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

Devotion for the Week

Community is Complicated

Navigating life with other humans is not always easy. We who call ourselves the church likely know this all too well. Perhaps you’ve witnessed church council meetings gone awry, frustrating conversations about the budget, or intense disagreements over worship styles. Maybe your faith community has had to navigate conflicting visions for mission and outreach, welcome and hospitality, or diversity and justice. Maybe the generational or political divides in your community feel like rifts too big to cross. As the church, we are called to wrestle with difficult questions about faith and life, but at times, even with the best of intentions, we leave one another feeling hurt, overlooked, or misunderstood.

Jesus knew a thing or two about life in community. He knew what it was like to be betrayed by the ones he loved. He shared meals with people of different backgrounds, people whose identities at times put them at odds with one another. Even his disciples never quite seemed to be on the same page! Yet Jesus knew that despite the complexity of these situations, faith is best practiced in community. Accompanying one another, sharing one another’s burdens, encouraging one another, forgiving one another, and holding each other accountable are vital to the Christian life.

Therefore, managing conflict is not something to be taken lightly. Disagreements are not to be just swept under the rug, ignored until the next issue emerges. We are instead called to embrace truth-telling, courage, accountability, and compassion in our dealings with one another. The work of conflict resolution is not easy or glamorous. In fact, it can be awkward and downright painful. But it is holy work. And by God’s grace, it can be an invitation to build a community that more truly reflects God’s love poured out for the whole world.