My Yoke is Easy

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..

Help us to trust your Word and accept your invitation to find rest in

you. We pray for your church in all of its forms, that we may learn how

to follow Jesus by giving rest to the weary in lives of service that are

gentle and humble of heart.

Compassionate God, you are good to all.

We pray for the earth and all you have created and love, that all things

may come back into the ecological balance that you first intended and

all your works shall give thanks to you.

Compassionate God, you are good to all.

We pray for all people, their nations and leaders, that when the

burdens of war, poverty, and hunger are too much to bear, we may do

our part to offer rest and peace.

Compassionate God, you are good to all.

We pray for all those who suffer violence in the streets and in their

homes, that they might find safety and healing. We pray for those who

are sick, those suffering mental illness, and those who struggle with

moral dilemmas; uphold them and grant them peace.

Compassionate God, you are good to all.

Gracious and merciful God, creator of heaven and earth, we join our

voices with all that you have made in blessing you and giving thanks

to you, who, with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, show compassion

and goodness to all. Amen.

Comforting God, by your Holy Spirit lift the burdens from our souls through the reading of your Word for us, that we may learn how easy it is to live in a loving relationship with you. Amen.

Romans 7:15-25a ¹⁵| do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³ but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin. Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 16“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ¹⁷ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; ¹⁹ the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 25At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

What misplaced burdens are you carrying? Where might God be

offering you a more well-fitted yoke? Where are your expectations of

God and the church unmet? Where do you sense God moving in

hidden ways?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING -— Phyllis Spencer

Siblings, God is faithful and gracious to us, upholds us, and raises us

up. Let us show our thanksgiving by giving generously to support

ministries that ease burdens and give rest to those in need.

Compassionate God, we ask that you bless and multiply these gifts, that they may be used to proclaim the glory of your kingdom and make known to all people the power of your saving acts. Amen.

May the God who feels compassion for all lead you to find the yoke that is easy and the burden that is light. Grow to know love in your life and the peace that comes from living with a gentle and humble heart so that you may offer rest for those who are weary and heavy laden. 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.