Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
12 October 2014

THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
284, 250, 274, 361, 560, 559, 566, 130.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Exodus 32: 1-14;
'God's people worship a golden calf.' (GNB)

When the people saw that Moses had not come down from the mountain but was staying there a long time, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, 'We do not know what has happened to this man Moses, who led us out of Egypt; so make us a god to lead us'.
Aaron said to them, 'Take off the gold earrings which your wives, your sons, and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me'. So all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the earrings, melted them, poured the gold into a mould, and made a gold bull-calf. The people said, 'Israel, this is our god, who led us out of Egypt!'
There Aaron built an altar in front of the gold bull and announced, 'Tomorrow there will be a festival to honour the Lord'. Early the next morning they brought some animals to burn as sacrifices and others to eat as fellowship offerings. The people sat down to a feast, which turned into an orgy of drinking and sex.
The Lord said to Moses, 'Hurry and go back down, because your people, whom you led out of Egypt, have sinned and rejected me.
They have already left the way that I commanded them to follow; they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold and have worshipped it and offered sacrifices to it.
They are saying that this is their god, who led them out of Egypt. I know how stubborn these people are.
Now, don't try to stop me. I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you and your descendants into a great nation'.
But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said, 'Lord, why should you be so angry with your people, whom you rescued from Egypt with great might and power?
Why should the Egyptians be able to say that you led your people out of Egypt, planning to kill them in the mountains and destroy them completely? Stop being angry; change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember the solemn promise you made to them to give them as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and to give their descendants all that land you promised would be their possession forever'.
So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.


SECOND BIBLE READING:

Philippians 4: 1-9;
'Rejoice in the Lord always.' (NIV)

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal partner, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.

GOSPEL READING:

Matthew 22: 1-14;
'The parable of the wedding feast' (GNB)

Jesus again used parables in talking to the people. 'The kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come.
So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: "My feast is ready now; my bullocks and prize calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!" But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business; one went to his farm, another to his store, while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them.
The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burnt down their city. Then he called his servants and said to them, "My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it.
Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find".
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.
The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?" The king asked him.
But the man said nothing. Then the king told the servants, "Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth." And Jesus concluded, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

EXODUS 32: 1-14

There is a common misunderstanding among many people that somehow the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are two different deities. The reasoning is based on a perspective that the O.T. is all about wars, judgment and God's vengeance, while the N.T. is all about the love of God revealed in Jesus. The fact is that the Old

Testament is filled with great examples of the love and compassion of God.
These verses from Exodus are one of these.

MATTHEW 22:1-14:

God never forces people into his kingdom. He graciously invites. When people like the Jewish nation as such, characterised as those first invited to the wedding banquet, refuse and reject God's call to come into his spiritual kingdom, he turns to others. However, because salvation, like the wedding banquet, is an accomplished fact, absolutely free, available simply for the taking, God expects all who have come always to be 'clothed' with the wedding garment of faith. Not thus to be prepared means rejection of God's loving offer, and therefore in turn invites ultimate rejection by him. We therefore need always to live in and by his word of life.

Bible readings for Sunday 19th October 2014:
Exodus 33: 12-23, 1 Thess.1: 1-10, Matthew 22: 15-22.

Important - Young Adults In Transition - 2015:

Jemima Juers , LCA Young Adult Tertiary Co-ordinator is seeking voluntary notification of any secondary students who will be entering higher education (university etc)
next year so that personal contact may be made.
If parents of such young people within the congregation, with their consent are willing to make this known, would they kindly contact Wayne Schulz c/o of the church
office - email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone to the church office 03 52 782443 by Wednesday of next week, this would be most appreciated.
this will then be passed onto Jemima.

LCA enews:
Another reminder that the latest LCA enews is now available to access via its web page. A hard copy has also be placed on the notice board near kitchen for those members interested.

Priebbenow Families:
May God, with His mighty presence, comfort Cynthia and the Priebbenow families as they mourn the recent passing of Pastor Arthur (Pastor Lester's uncle).

1. This week in the Lord's Service - 12th -19th October:
Tuesday - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
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. District Pastor's Conference:
We are indeed blessed for all those willing persons who helped out, especially those 'Our Redeemer' ladies who provided the catering last week, which was much appreciated and contributed to the
success of the Pastor's Conference.

3. District Convention - Offering:
As mentioned last Sunday, any member who may wish to contribute to the congregational donation made at the District Convention, Werribee, may do so by placing a donation in an envelope
marked "District Convention" on the offering plate or place in the offering bowl provided in the front foyer.

Coming up for your diary:
Tuesday 21st October - Kaffeestunde
Sunday 26th October - Longest Lutheran Lunch at Araluen Camp, Angelsea. Flyers/registration forms available from the church front foyer.
There will also be a public divine service here at 'Our Redeemer' on that Sunday.
Thursday 30th October 2.30 pm - Reformation mid - week worship service (with Holy Communion),
followed by fellowship afternoon tea. All welcome to come along!
Sunday 9th November - Nominations Committee
Sunday 23rd November - 2015 Elections meeting