Turn the World Around

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 is said 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.

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Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Holy God, yours is the justice that calls power to account. Yours is the love that calls us to go beyond our minds. Lead us in the truth of your way and set us free to rejoice with all our might. May we be your hands and feet to bring all things into harmony through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Abba of all, who sends the Holy Spirit to guide us in our praying, open our senses to your creation and our hearts to the needs of others.

Grant us hope and imagination to see your vision of the kin-dom when weapons will be crushed by peace, stomachs will be filled by abundant harvests generously shared, and thirsts quenched by pure rain falling from clean skies; diseases will be healed, minds made clear, and bodies made new, so that all things reveal your love for your creation. Give wisdom to all leaders and people to resist the earthly powers of fear and violence that destroy our common life. In the face of injustice, oppression, and brutal power, strengthen our wavering wills to stand firm in your love.

Stir up in us the power to care for young creation, not as resources to be exploited, but as a precious gift to be held in trust as a revelation of your faithfulness. Inspire your church to share Christ’s love beyond the safety of its walls, and fill us with an infectious joy for sharing your gospel as we welcome your rule in our lives.

Bring healing and wholeness to all who are haunted by broken relationships, abuse, illness, or terror and trauma of any kind; restoring us in your peace.

Eternal God, in Christ you gather all things up in heaven and on earth; enfold all those who will be born this day and all those who will die into the joy of your never-ending realm of peace, for our hope is set on Christ as we live to follow his way. Amen. Amen.

Spirit of the living God, seal in us your Word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, so that we can faithfully follow and joyfully serve in your name. Amen.

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹²so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

¹⁴King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” ¹⁷For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. ²¹But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. ²²When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” ²³And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” ²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” ²⁵Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.²⁷Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.²⁹When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

The Epistle lesson this week speaks of us as God’s beloved calling back to Jesus calling God Abba — Daddy. In contrast, the Gospel reveals how difficult it is to speak the word of love into the world that is driven by hate. Where do you experience your self as God’s beloved? How can you deepen your experience of God’s love and how can we speak God’s love into the world such that it encourages others rather than causes them to fall back into hate?

The Lord gives what is good and makes a pathway for generosity to follow. Let us walk in the loving kindness of God as show to us through the birth of and teachings of Jesus as we bring our gifts to God.

Thank you O Lord, for filling us with every spiritual grace that we might be a blessings for others. We offer these gifts as the means of increasing your love. May they bring blessing to others and praise your glorious name. Amen.

May the love of God, the power of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit dwell richly in you forever. Amen.