First Lutheran Church

Pentecost XXV

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Pete Randall

Introduction

Widows are visible everywhere in today’s readings. Jesus denounces those scribes who pray impressive prayers but devour widows’ houses. He commends the poor widow who in his view gave far more than the major donors. Jesus doesn’t see her simply as an object of compassion or charity. She, like the widow of Zarephath who shares her last bit of food with Elijah, does something of great importance.

All Saints Sunday

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Chris Newman

Introduction

Of all three years of the lectionary cycle, this year’s All Saints readings have the most tears. Isaiah and Revelation look forward to the day when God will wipe away all tears; in John’s gospel, Jesus weeps along with Mary and all the gathered mourners before he demonstrates his power over death. On All Saints Day we celebrate the victory won for all the faithful dead, but we grieve for our beloved dead as well, knowing that God honors our tears. We bring our grief to the table and find there a foretaste of Isaiah’s feast to come.

Reformation Sunday

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Jeanne Govoni

Lector: Dennis Govoni

Crucifer: Juliette Carlson

Acolyte: Matthew Carlson

Introduction

Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.

First Holy Communion & Pentecost XXII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Dawn Cafelle

Introduction

Today’s gospel starts with disciples obsessing over who will be closest to Jesus, leading to Jesus teaching his followers about God’s take on importance and power. Here Jesus makes it explicit that the reversal of values in God’s community is a direct challenge to the values of the dominant culture, where wielding power over others is what makes you great. When we pray “your kingdom come” we are praying for an end to tyranny and oppression. We pray this gathered around the cross, a sign of great shame transformed to be the sign of great honor and service. Our First Holy Communicants today are Keira and Mya Fitzgerald and Penny MacNevin. Congratulations!.

PET BLESSING & PENTECOST XXI

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Peter Randall

Introduction

The annual feast of St. Francis of Assisi is traditionally held on October 4. Francis is known on most church calendars as a “church reformer.” In the 13th century, Francis rebuilt the church in its outward form of mission to the outside world. Francis and his followers chose to live in nature rather than permanent physical structures. Francis embraced all of creation from birds to wolves to Brother Son to Sister Moon. Popular culture has embraced his countercultural identity in his association with Creation Theology and most closely identified him with popular blessings of animals and pet companions. Our relationship to creation and especially our pet companions point to our relationships with Jesus. It is no coincidence that Pope Francis I took the name of Francis on his consecration as Pontiff in 2013 given their shared humility and identity with the marginalized.

PENTECOST XX

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Sue Newberg

Introduction

Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’s law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us as well. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?

PENTECOST XVIII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Chris Newman

Introduction

Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.

PENTECOST XVIII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Bill Kiesel

Introduction

Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly..

PENTECOST XVII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend The Reverend Jill Wiley

Assisting Minister: Jeanne Govoni

Introduction

Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.

PENTECOST XVI

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend The Reverend Jill Wiley

Assisting Minister: Sue Newberg

Introduction

James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir..

PENTECOST XIV

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Sue Newberg

Introduction

Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I havespoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.

PENTECOST XIV

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Pete Randall

Introduction

In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John’s gospel for Peter’s confession of faith. “To whom can we go?” asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. “You have the words of eternal life.” In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel.

PENTECOST XIII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Bill Kiesel

Introduction

Wisdom prepares a feast, sets her table, and invites all to come and eat her bread and drink her wine. The first chapter of John’s gospel owes much to the biblical tradition that imagined Wisdom as existing before anything was created and having a role in the work of creation. Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24), today invites us to eat his flesh and drink his blood. John’s gospel includes no account of the institution of the Lord’s supper, but here we can’t help hearing Jesus’ words as an invitation to the meal of bread and wine we share.

PENTECOST XII

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Bill Kiesel

Introduction

Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this life Jesus gives us looks like, this life we live as those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. The whole purpose of life is giving yourself for the other.

PENTECOST XI

Officiants Today

Presiding: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Chris Newman

Introduction

Apparently not satisfied by Jesus’ feeding of thousands, some who were there press him for a sign of his power; perhaps it is daily manna they want. As always in John’s gospel when people want a sign, Jesus offers himself. He is the bread come from heaven to give life to the world. He calls us to come to him and believe in him, and through that relationship to know the one who sent him.