August 2nd Worship Service

The August 2nd Old Testament reading from the Revised Common Lectionary starts with Genesis 32:22-31, the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel/God, surviving and being renamed Israel.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Jacob.  He is the second son of Isaac and Rebecca, Esau was the first born, immediately followed by Jacob who was holding on to Esau’s ankle. Jacob was a trickster/con man.  While Esau was a hunter, who Isaac favored, Jacob was the planner.  Jacob bought Esau’s inheritance from him for a bowl of portage.  He and Rebecca tricked Issac’s into giving Jacob Esau’s First Born Blessing.  Esau was out to kill Jacob because of everything he had conned Esau and Issac out of.  With Rebecca’s guidance Jacob escaped Esau’s rage and left their home in Southern Canaan, and traveled about 600 miles to live with Laban, Rebeccas’ brother, in Haran.  Jacob worked for Laban for about 20 years and in the process feel in love with his daughter Rachel.  The agreement was if he worked for Laban for seven years he would be allowed to marry Rachel, but on the day of the wedding Laban switched Rachel for the older daughter Leah, because the oldest should be married first.  Jacob worked another 7 years and finally got to marry Rachel.  

Jacob worked for Laban for nearly 20 years.  In the process he grew very wealthy with possessions of livestock, servants and goods.  This began to cause conflicts and tensions with Laban’s sons.  At the same time Jacob received a commandment from God that he was to return to Canaan, and his family, and assume the inheritance he had received from his father Issac, and grandfather Abraham, that they would be Patriarch’s of a great nation  .

Jacob followed God’s commandment, but there were still the issues he faced with his brother Esau.  Jacob prayed to God about his issues with Esau, and he sent gifts ahead to Esau asking for his forgiveness.  In response he heard that Esau was traveling toward Jacob, with what seemed like an army to meet Jacob. 

When Jacob and company arrived at the River Jabbok Jacob sent some of party, including his wives and children across the river, so that if Esau came upon then, at least they would be spared. That night a spirit, or angel, or perhaps God wrested with Jacob.  By dawn neither had prevailed.  Jacob held on to the being, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. The being told Jacob he had wrestled with God and had prevailed. The being gave Jacob his blessing, renamed him Israel, and tapped his hip giving Jacob a limp which lasted for the rest of his life.

Later Jacob meet his brother Esau, and it was a happy reunion.  Jacob went on to settle in Canaan where he had 12 son from his two wives and two concubines.   These 12 sons would become the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel.  Esau in turn also became the founders of a great nation, the Edomites and supporting tribes such as the Amalekites. 

Even though Jacob was self absorbed using tricks and cons to  enrich himself, he still had a spiritual connection.  Jacob’s connection to God goes back to when he was still in Rebecca’s womb.  During her pregnancy Rebecca was experiencing great pain, and reached out to God asking what was going on.  God told her there were two nations battling in her womb, and the older child would serve the younger child.

When Jacob was running away from Esau, when he overnighted in Luz (renamed Bethel) he dreamed of a ladder connected to heaven.  At the top God was sending down angels to deal with issues on the earth, while other angels were climbing up returning from the work they had done on earth.  

In his wrestling at the Jabbok River there were several things happening . Jacob had already turned to God asking for help with his relationship with Esau, in his humility recognizing that only God could provide the changes he needed to survive. In the encounter with the angel God was testing Jacob to determine if he still had the determination, fortitude and strength to carry on the legacy which had been passed down to him.  That he refused to give up and surrender proved to God that he had the necessary strength.  Resulting in God’s blessing.  The broken/sprained hip from God was a reminder, moving Jacob from self reliance on his own abilities and now he needs to turn to God to move forward.

Join us for our August 2nd Worship Service.

Jacob Wrestles with the Angel, 1963 / Jacob’s Vision of the Ladder to Heaven, 1973 / Marc Cagall, Marc Cagall Museum, Nice, France

July 26th Praise Team

Musicians: Donna and James.

Praise Team: Pastor Bob, Lucinda, Lea, Susan, Nancy, Rod, Rich, Larry, and Aleeya

August 2nd Worship Service

Gathering Music: Praise Team

“Holy, Holy, Holy”

Announcements: Chris Buchanan

Call to Worship: Pastor Ron Urzua

Songs of Praise: Praise Team

“What A Beautiful Name”

“Open the Eyes of My Heart”

Congregational Prayers: Lydia Estrada

Scripture: Susan Elder

Luke 19:1-10

Message: Pastor Ron

“Grace That Changes the Heart”

Communion: Pastor Ron / Pastor Bob / Larry

Dedication of our Tithes and Offerings: Lucinda Anderson

Doxology: Praise Team

Closing Song: Praise Team

“Grace Greater Than Our Sin”

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