Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

31 August 2014

THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
161,458,336,797,900,459.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Exodus 3:1-15; 'The call of Moses' (GNB)

One day while Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led the flock across the desert and came to Sinai, the holy mountain. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a flame coming from the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but that it was not burning up.
'This is strange', he thought. 'Why isn't the bush burning up? I will go closer and see'.
When the Lord saw that Moses was coming closer, he called to him from the middle of the bush and said, 'Moses! Moses!'
He answered, 'Yes, here I am'.
God said, 'Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob'. So Moses covered his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Then the Lord said, 'I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers.
I know all about their sufferings, and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians and to bring them out of Egypt to a fertile and spacious land, one which is rich and fertile and in which the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites now live.
I have indeed heard the cry of my people, and I see how the Egyptians are oppressing them. Now I am sending you to the king of Egypt so that you can lead my people out of his country'.
But Moses said to God, 'I am nobody. How can I go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?'
God answered, 'I will be with you, and when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain. That will be the proof that I have sent you'.
But Moses replied, 'When I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your ancestors sent me to you", they will ask me,
"What is his name?" So what can I tell them?'
God said, 'I am who I am. You must tell them: "The one who is called I AM has sent me to you". Tell the Israelites that I, the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have sent you to them. This is my name forever; this is what all future generations are to call me'.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

Romans 12: 9-21; 'Living in love' (GNB)

Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christian brothers and sisters, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
Ask God to bless those who persecute you – yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.
Do not think of yourselves as wise.
If someone has done you wrong, do not repay with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.
Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, 'I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord'. Instead, as the scripture says: 'If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame'. Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

GOSPEL READING:

Matthew 16: 21-28;
'Jesus speaks about his death and discipleship' (GNB)

From that time on, Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, 'I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law.
I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life'. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'God forbid it, Lord!' he said. 'That must never happen to you!'
Jesus turned around and said to Peter, 'Get away from me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from man'.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.
For if you want to save your own life, your will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.
Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give to regain your life'.
For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds.
I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Son of Man come as King."

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

EXODUS 3: 1-15:
The flaming bush, meant firstly to engage Moses' attention, was the means by which the angel of the Lord, in this instance God himself, manifested himself to Moses.
The flame which did not consume the bush but was energised from within itself, as in other Old Testament references, denoted the presence of God himself. God outlines to Moses what he will do to alleviate the sufferings of his people and rescue them. In this way future events would fall into place to confirm to Moses that what God had said in his word is the covenant working of his hand. Moses' self-deprecation and reluctance shows that his former impulsiveness has been replaced by humility.
The name revealed by God could not, of course, explain his full nature and being, but it does indicate his transcendence above all things and his covenant faithfulness with his people.


ROMANS 12: 9-21:
An inescapable outcome of being saved by faith alone is God's new creation of the inward and outward life of the Christian. In today's selection from Romans 12, St Paul continues the long list of practical examples of this outcome. All of these activities give expression to the 'law of love'.
In other words, our love to one another is to be related to the love of God which lies behind the wonderful 'mercies' he has directed towards us (Rom 12:1).

Bible readings for Sunday 7th September 2014:
Exodus 12: 1-14, Romans 13: 8-124, Matthew 18: 15-20.

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 31st August-7th September:
Wednesday - 11.00 am at the church - Study on 'How We Got The Bible.'
All most welcome to come along!
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time. 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service – (Non Holy- Communion). Also Sunday School.

2. Well being Coordinator:
St John's Lutheran School is seeking a Well being Coordinator to commence from the beginning of term 4 this year. If interested, please see notice
board near kitchen for further information.
Applications close Friday 5th September 2014.

3. Christian Life Weeks - Tandara:
Another reminder of the remaining 2014 CLW camps for Youth 13 to 18 years at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap - 22nd to 26th
September and 29th September to 3rd October.
For those interested, parents / campers letters and registration forms are available from the front foyer.

Coming up for your diary:
Wednesday 10th September - Evening Bible study at the Manse - finger food meal at 6.30 pm, followed by short study on 'How We Got The Bible'.
All welcome to come along!
Thursday 11th September - 10.30 am - Ladies F.G.
Sunday 14th September - (A/W) - Noms. Committee
Tuesday 16th September -12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Sunday 28th September - Fellowship evening at 'Our Redeemer' - 5.30 pm (soup/rolls) - Meal by gold coin if you would like to make a donation!
- 6.00 pm - movie - 'Heaven is for Real'.
All welcome to come along!
Tuesday 7th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Friday 10th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 14th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Thursday 30th October - 2.30 pm - Reformation mid - week worship service (with Holy Communion), followed by fellowship afternoon tea.
All welcome to come along!