Season After Pentecost
The Conversion of St. Paul, 1866, Gustave Dore, Private Collection / Peter Save Yourselves, 1642, Charles Poërson, Notre-Dame, Paris, France / Jesus Baptism San Marco Monastery Fra Angelico 1436-1445, Florence, Italy / Marriage at Cana, 1303-5, Giotto, Scrovegni Chapel, Prado, Italy / Three Angels visit Abraham, Marc Chagall, Paris, France, 1931, Genesis 18
June 14th Worship Service
We move forward day-by-day using faith. I can verify that “Life is what happens when we were planning something else.” Where I am today, I could never have imagined 57 years ago when I graduated from high school. These last 57 years have been an adventure, and most of it totally unexpected.
It was the same for Abram when God told him to leave his father’s house in Haran and move to the land the Lord was going to show him. It was by faith that Abram packed up his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and followed God to Canaan.
Along with a promised land Abram was also promised that he would be the father of great nations and that through his offspring the earth will be blessed. This was a unique promise because when they left Haran Abram was about 75 years old, and Sari was about 65. Fairly old to start this kind of adventure, but they had God’s promises. And Abram finally did have children, Ishmael from his mistress Hagar when he was 86, and his son Isaac by his wife Sari when he was 100 and Sari was 90. Ishmael eventually became the father of the Arabian nations, while Issac was the founder of the Jewish/Christian nations.
We see the same levels of faith in Matthew 9. Jesus is in the house of Matthew, the tax collector, when an official comes into the house, kneels down and says, “My daughter has died. Please come and lay hands on her that she may come back to life.” As they are walking to the official’s house a woman, who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years, approaches Jesu from behind. She believes that if she can just touch him, she will be healed. She touches the edge of his cloak, and Jesus turns to her. “Cheer up my daughter,” he said, “Your faith has made you well.” Coming the officials house they go inside, chase out the flute players and the professional mourners, and Jesus takes the hand of the daughter and she gets up.
It is faith which keeps us going. Faith that we have a God who works in our lives, and the lives of those around us. Faith that there is a plan for each of us, and a path, if we chose to follow it, that is there ready for us to follow.
Join us of our June 14th Worship Service.
Illustration: Upper Right: Jesus heals woman with hemorrhage, 12th-13th century, Cathedral of Assumption, Mosaic, Monreale, Sicily / Lower Left: Abraham and Three Angels, 1966, Marc Chagall, Saint Paul de Vence, France
June 14th Worship Service
Gathering Music: Praise Team
“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
Announcements: Chris Buchanan
Call to Worship: Pastor Bob Ramos
Hymns: Praise Team
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
“Trust in God”
Congregational Prayers: Pastor Ron
Scripture: Gordon Whitcomb
Luke 14:25-35
Message: Pastor Ron
“The Agony and the Ecstasy of Being a Disciple”
Communion: Pastor Ron / Pastor Bob / Rod Thompson
Dedication of our Tithes and Offerings: Diana Leon
Doxology: Praise Team
Closing Hymn: Praise Team
“Send Me”
Blessing: Pastor Ron
Ron Urzua, Pastor
Bob Ramos and Rob Schleef, Commissioned Lay Pastors
Music Director: Aleeya Flores
Accompanist: Donna Nelson / James Gomez / Lucinda Anderson / Deane Terry