Welcome — We Come

Seal Beach, CA 90740-5307 (562) 431-2503

Opening Announcements — Rev. Johan Dodge

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship!

Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact

with this growing community of faith. And so if you are joining us for

the first time, I say to you what I say every Sunday. You are welcome

here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of

God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

From you alone, Lord Jesus Christ, comes the authority to heal the

sick, cast out demons, welcome the outcast, and even raise the dead.

Therefore we are bold to seek your power and ready to claim your

grace.

Heal the sick.... [silence]

Touch with compassion all those who suffer; speak the word that will

make them whole.

Cast out demons.... [silence]

Banish the powers that oppress your people; bring peace to troubled

hearts and minds.

Welcome the outcast.... [silence]

Open the doors of your church to all; gather the lost and bring them

home.

Raise the dead.... [silence]

As you broke free from the grave, destroy the power of death forever.

Nothing is impossible for you, Christ Jesus. Let these signs of your

coming realm be manifest in our world today; for you are our Lord and

Savior. Amen.

Lord God, by your Spirit teach us to obey your voice and keep your covenant so that we may be a priestly kingdom, your holy people; in Jesus ‘name. Amen.

Genesis 18:1-15 ‘The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. *He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. “He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. “Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” °And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” “Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. °They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” *°Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. ‘Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. '?So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” '’The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ ‘4Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” ‘But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.” Matthew 9:35-10:23 35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. *°When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. °’Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; “Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. ‘These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, Sbut go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. °Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, ‘°no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. '*As you enter the house, greet it. ‘If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. ‘Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. '’Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; ‘8and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. ‘When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 2°for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. @7When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

How would you respond to the arrival of wandering messengers of

good news in your town or on your doorstep (Matt. 9:35—10:23)?

Would you welcome them or listen to their words? What does it mean

for the kingdom of heaven to “come near” (Matt. 10:7)?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Jeanette Williams

Jesus said: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore we ask the Lord to send us out as laborers for the harvest.

Let us offer the gifts of our lives to the Lord.

Good and holy God, for your steadfast love and faithfulness we give you thanks and bless your name. Let our whole lives become songs of gratitude, joy, and praise so that all the earth may know that we are your people and you are our God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God of all power and peace, as Jesus sent his disciples out to heal the sick, cast out demons, gather the lost, raise the dead, and proclaim the nearness of your realm, make us ready to go and share the good news we have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed Be the Tie that Binds Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.