Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 20 September 20, 2009

Lessons for Proper 20 (Lutheran Service Book)

Jeremiah 11:18–20 ~ When God showed Jeremiah the plots against him, he trusted completely in the Lord.
Psalm 54 (antiphon: v. 4)
James 3:13—4:10 ~ The wisdom of God has no place for selfishness, but fills us with grace and peace.
Mark 9:30–37 ~ Jesus showed the disciples that the greatness of life is measured by the depth of its service.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: Where is the Honor in Being Chosen?
Usually being chosen first is a sign of honor and respect. Jeremiah was chosen to be God’s prophet in a tough time. Even his family plotted against him. James explained that once God has chosen us, we must choose lives of peace, mercy, and service. Jesus showed us what it means to be chosen: He is the first to give his life in service. We have also been chosen for service in God’s family. What a risk -- and what an honor!

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord God, by choosing me through the water of Baptism and the Word of Your Grace, You have laid some difficult choices before me. Give me vision to see those choices clearly and strength to carry them out willingly so that with humility and joy, I may serve others as I serve You. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has called us to lives of service and has provided us with goods and skills to help others. When we follow Jesus’ example we give ourselves in service.

OFFERING PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You have truly said that life is measured best
When every opportunity that puts us to the test
Is met with grace to welcome little ones by word and deed,
And willing hearts to use Your gifts to ease another’s need. Amen

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: It is because of our selfish ambition that we quarrel about who is the greatest and justify our desires with unspiritual, demonic wisdom. It was because of that attitude on the part of leaders in Jesus’ day and those attitudes in our own hearts today, that Jesus made Himself servant of all, and let Himself be delivered into the hands of men. It is through His sacrificial service that Jesus has rescued us from our own greed and handed us over to God’s grace and mercy, that we may live it out in our service to the poor and burdened of this world.

Prayer Request

We want to remember our brother in Christ Kevin who had a bit of a health scare on Sunday. He did not have a heart attack but a firm diagnosis is still to come. Please remember him in your prayers.

This Week at Mt. Olive

Good afternoon, fellow redeemed!

This Gospel for today from Mark 9 is a great lesson for us as Christians. Like the father of the demon-possessed boy, unbelief lies always close at hand for us and for all God's people. We may hold up our faith as a standard, but the truth is one small instance can bring on the darkness of unbelief in a split second. As the father of the child confessed his faith, as well as his weakness of unbelief, he was really revealing to Mark's readers, to us, where his trust was located. You see, the casting out of the demon from the boy wasn't dependent on the man's faith; it was done solely by the Lord Christ. There was nothing in the man at all, for it was in the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that the demon-possessed boy would receive his deliverance. Jesus' words to the disciples at the end of the text, that this kind only come out by prayer, sheds light on the puny trust these disciples had in their Master. In His words, Jesus calls all to believe that He alone is able to bring about deliverance from sin, death, and even the devil.

Many of you are no doubt wondering about my condition. I'm at home and I'm tired. During the communion liturgy at early service this morning, I endured pains going up the left side of my chest and through my left shoulder. The pain was sufficient so that I could not take a deep breath in order to project as I usually do. After a while of this, I finally finished the prayer and the service. Many of you were gathered at Mary's office as I was wheeled into the ambulance and taken to the hospital. The good news that there is no indication of a heart attack. This was confirmed by EKG, blood enzyme tests, and a chest x-ray. The not so definite news is that this doesn't rule out any heart disease. My instructions are to call my doctor and undergo a stress test (again) to rule out the heart (again).

My thanks to Pastor Childs, Sean, Mike Johnson, Mike Shumway, Kim, Dawn, and a whole host of others whose names escape me. I praise God for your concern and for your help in making sure God's gifts were still given to His people this morning.

I do have a question, though: If anyone could give me an update on the progress in Bible Class I'd really appreciate it.

On Rally Day of this year, a list was provided of all Sunday School teachers and their respective levels. I know it's been a few weeks and you probably don't have that list handy. What I do encourage is this: Please remember the Sunday School teachers at Mt. Olive, by name if possible, as they assist in the ministry of the Word. And, please remember the young hearts that receive their teaching, that they may be open to the Holy Spirit's working through the Word these teachers bring.

Wednesday evening will involve two important activities. One is choir at Mt. Olive. The other is the opening rally for Cub Scout Pack 278 at Club Estates Elementary.

The MOSH, that's Mt. Olive Sr. High youth, bowling event went as scheduled. My thanks to Liz Childs and Emily Jirovec in making sure this event happened. I'm still waiting on the play by play of the bowling. I wonder if anyone broke 200? 100? Did anyone ask for the bumpers?

Last week, I gave out a couple of raido programs online that I've come to know and love. Two more email services bring Christ-centered devotions to my inbox each weekday. One is The Meyer Minute, written and produced by Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and speaker for Mt. Olive's 50th anniversary. You can read these devotions or subscribe at daleameyer.com. The second devotional email I get on weekdays comes from Pastor Scott Murray of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. It's called the Memorial Moment. It's a bit longer, containing a Scripture passage, a devotional thought, and a writing from one of the Church Fathers. You can subscribe at http://www.mlchouston.org/memorialmomentssignup.html.

Please remember in prayer:
The Sunday School at Mt. Olive
The Church Council, meeting tomorrow night, that they would continue to delight in God's Will
The Church throughout the world as she proclaims the Word of Christ
The baptized, that they may hold securely to their Lord Jesus
Those who serve in the armed forces of our nation, especially Michael Baker (Iraq), Edwin Rodriguez (Afghanistan), Andrew Epley (preparing to deploy to Iraq), and Richard Rhode (North Carolina).
The President, Congress, our governor, and all magistrates, that they would be guided in the ways of justice and truth

God bless!
PKJ

This Week at Mt. Olive
Monday, September 14
Church Council, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 16
8:30 a.m. School Chapel
9:30 a.m. Bible Class (Mystical Experiences begins this week)
6:30 p.m. Choir

Sunday, September 20
No Confirmation Class, as I have a prior commitment.

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 19 September 13, 2009

Lessons for Proper 19 (Lutheran Service Book)

Isaiah 50:4–10 ~ The Lord’s servant had an encouraging word to speak, but was met with reviling ridicule.
Psalm 116:1–9 (antiphon: v. 5)
James 3:1–12 ~ The words we speak, whether good or bad, have great power to help or harm others.
Mark 9:14–29 ~ With a sharp word, Jesus rebuked an evil spirit, and it released a boy who had been deaf.

GATHERING THE TEXTS: What’s on the Tip of Your Tongue?
Isaiah spoke for the Lord’s servant who brought a new word of encouragement every morning, but was met each day by opposition and ridicule from those who would not listen. Jesus demonstrated to the disciples that even a deaf spirit hears and obeys the word spoken by the Son of Man. St. James pointed out that our tongues, although they are only a small part of the body, can drive us to destruction or lead us in giving praise to God.

PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord Jesus, let me hear Your powerful word to heal and strengthen me. Give me an encouraging word to bless my friends and neighbors. Let me speak words of praise to glorify Your name that all may know Your gift of love and mercy. Amen.

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: Words at our command can help or harm our neighbors, just as we can use the material blessings God has put at our disposal either to bless or to oppress.

OFFERING PRAYER: Lord, Your Word made flesh brought teachings we should heed!
In these gifts flesh out our words with loving deeds. Amen.

CONVICTION AND COMFORT: We often subscribe to the idea that “words can never hurt me.” Although we have all known hurt enough from things others have said, we still think the careless, and at times malicious, use of words is no big deal! When recognize that we have failed to speak healing words to the hurt and disconsolate, God’s Word in Christ is a mighty power to redeem us from the bondage of our own sentence of destruction.

Winkel Tomorrow

Brothers,
I want to remind you that our circuit winkel with circuit 28 will be held tomorrow at St. Paul-Raymondville. I have one more spot in my car if anyone would like to ride along. I will leave from Kingsville at 7:30 A.M.

This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

It wasn't the text of sermon this morning, but the text from Mark 7 about about the Syro-Phonecian woman and her demon-possessed daughter continues to be one of my favorites. In this text, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals the great love and mercy of God. The woman is a Gentile, and she knows God's choosing of Israel. Yet, her trust isn't in arguing a loophole or her own worthiness for Jesus' attention. Rather, her trust is in the overflowing mercy of God. The great lesson of the text really informs our prayer life. How many times have we gone to our Lord, seeking something puny. Yet, what's the testament of Scripture: My cup overflows! God's answer to our prayers is overflowing, providing more than we could even think to ask or ever deserve. Why? It's all for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you haven't noticed, we're doing the Children's Message again. I'm following a basic outline of the Lord's Prayer right now, both in the school chapel services and the Children's messages. This week's text was the first petition, Hallowed be Thy name. This coming Sunday, the text for the Children's Message will be the second petition, Thy Kingdom come. To prepare your children, and maybe yourself, take a look at the second petition and explanation in the Lord's Prayer.

You may have also noticed a slight change in the worship liturgy. We'll continue that change, plus a bit more in the communion liturgy, until the end of the Church Year.

Tuesday night, the Lutheran Women's Missionary League meeting schedule picks up again. The LWML, as it's known, meets at Mt. Olive at 6:30 p.m. As a side note, each year the LWML in the U. S. contribues millions of dollars to missions both here and abroad.

This coming Sunday, September 13, the Adult Bible Class begins a new series on the Muslim faith. It's an A/V series and will combine a video and discussion each week.

Jr. Confirmation kicks off again this week, beginning Sunday at 12:30 p.m. I'll be using a curriculum this year that employs both an online component and class participation, along with Bible study and study of the hymnal.

Saturday, September 12, will be the second of a post-high school group just formed this year (we still need to come up with a name). We'll meet at 6 p.m. at the church and go from there!

Sunday, September 13, the Sr. Youth (MOSH) will meet for bowling! Watch for a time change, as we'll need to arrange a time that works with the bowling alley schedule. A blast later this week will also give some cost figures.

"I was listening to a radio program earlier..." You've probably heard me say that either in a meeting or in Bible Class or even in worship. There are two primary programs I listen to, and both have free downloads. One is called Issues, Etc. This program is hosted by Rev. Todd Wilken and comes from Collinsville, IL. This is a confessional Lutheran program that addressed many of the currents in church and society with a Lutheran response. It can be heard (or downloaded to your MP3 player) at issuesetc.org.

The second program is called The Whitehorse Inn. This program tends to be a bit more broad, but does include a well-known Lutheran apologist on its regular panel. It comes from the Los Angeles area, addressing many of the currents in church and society from a conservative Christian point of view. This program can be heard or downloaded at whitehorseinn.org.

I will be out of the office on Tuesday for this month's Circuit Conference.

One last note: I try to keep current with email addresses, but I don't always succeed. If you know of someone who is not on the list, please feel free to forward the message. Then, please give me a reply with the address I need to include.

Prayer Needs:
Elvira Michalk, hospitalized
Kathy Jennings, undergoing a back treatment this week
All the baptized, that they may confess their faith in the Triune God boldly
All pastors, as they get back to the task of instructing young people
The President, the Congress, and all our nation's leaders, that they may govern with wisdom and integrity
The Church throughout the world, that our Lord would keep His people from the evil one
The whole Church, as we pray together, "Come quicly, Lord Jesus!"

God bless!
PKJ

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday:
Church Office and School are closed
7 p.m. Girl Scout Troop Meeting

Tuesday:
6:30 p.m. Lutheran Women's Missionary League

Wednesday:
8:30 a.m. School Chapel
9:30 a.m. Bible Class
6:30 p.m. Choir (watch for any special announcements - depending on how Kathy's feeling after her treatment)

Thursday:
6:30 p.m. School Night of Scouting for Pack 278

Saturday:
6 p.m. Young Adult Bible Class

Looking Ahead:
Sunday:
8 a.m. Divine Service
9:15 a.m. Sunday School (invite your neighbors!)
and Bible Class
10:30 a.m. Divine Service
12:30 p.m. Confirmation Instruction
TBA MOSH (Sr. Youth)

The Family Altar

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:3-7

The new school year is back in full swing and if your schedule is anything like ours, it seems as if there are more things to do than there are hours in the day. Knowing how tired so many of us are and how hectic our schedules are, I hesitate to add anything else. But I will. Daily time spent together as a family in God’s Word.

When I think about the families of St. Paul’s, I rejoice. So many fine parents and wonderful children! So many of you who are regular in worship on Sundays! Such a large percentage of folks who attend Bible class and Sunday School and small group bible studies! How thankful to God I am for your commitment to God’s Word!

And yet I also know that there is only a small percentage of folks in our congregation, especially among the young families with children, who make it a regular practice to have devotions in the home with the entire family.

Dear friends in Christ, believe me when I say that I am sympathetic with your busy schedules—I am! But I also want what is best for you and your families. With the apostle Paul I want to be able to rejoice in the knowledge that faith in Jesus Christ is being passed on from generation to generation in your family.

Family devotions are vital in this regard. It is so very important that our children see that faith in Jesus is not just something for Sunday morning, not just something that is verbalized in the words of the liturgy, but something that sustains us from day to day, influences every moment of our lives, and forms the basis for so much of our conversation as a family.

The easiest way to get started is to have a Bible and a devotional book sitting on the kitchen table so that after breakfast or after supper the family can join together and hear God’s Word; commit their cares and concerns into his mighty, loving hands; and rejoice that the crucified and resurrected and ascended Jesus is present with us in our homes—forgiving us and renewing us in his love day by day.

I am praying that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, family devotions would become more and more a part of the lives of the people of God at St. Paul—that the Good News of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the sins of the world would be a daily source of comfort and hope and peace for your family!