PENTECOST Season - June, July, August 2021
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Late Summer Theme: "Feasting on the Love of God"Gathering with family and friends around a table creates a precious experience. Whether the meal is “taco Tuesday” or a wedding banquet, we connect love with the people and the food. In this series we gather at the invitation of Jesus who loves hungry people. Jesus takes what we bring, blesses it, and feeds us with his own life in order to transform the world with grace and love. These 5 Sundays are the last series for our pastors to preach. The texts from John 6 and Ephesians 3-6 give them the chance to reflect on the ministry we have shared for over 12 years. We will remember some of our favorite meals together! They will commend us for our ongoing mission of hospitality, inclusion, and radical grace. We will bless and send each other: “Be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:19)
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Weekly Worship Focus
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July 25 - Pentecost 9B - “Anticipating a Feast”
Today we anticipate an unexpected feast. Hungry people gather around the one they hope will meet their needs. Who would you put on that guest list? Let’s all get ready to say grace! (2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-18; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21) August 1 - Pentecost 10B “Preparing to Share Love” How do you prepare for dinner guests? Perhaps you decide who's invited and then plan a menu. Duties get shared in the household: shopping, cleaning, food prep. At WLLC the people and the pastors are called to share the duties to create an authentic welcome for all people. As Jesus offers himself, we offer ourselves with all our gifts and ministries. (Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35) August 8 - Pentecost 11B - “You Are Welcome!” “Knock, knock.” They’re here! We throw open the door with joy - our guests have arrived! Let’s shape our time together with kindness, tender hearts, forgiveness, and love. In this we imitate Christ “who loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” No matter what they bring to the table, all our guests need love. (1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25--5:2; John 6:35, 41-51) |
August 15 - Pentecost 12B - “Pass the Living Bread, Please!”
The meal is ready; come to the table! Whether you’re getting in line for the buffet or finding your seat, the call to dinner is wonderful! It’s a time to celebrate the people around us and the gifts of God’s good earth that produce a meal we can share. “Do not get drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit,” Paul advises. That filling enables us to see the feast present in the tiny bite and sip of communion with Christ, the Living Bread from heaven. (Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58) August 22 - Pentecost 13B - “Savoring the ‘Sweet Swap’” Many meals are graced with a sweet dessert at the end. How many of us look forward to that most of all?! The sweetness we celebrate in our faith is the grace poured out by Christ giving over his life for ours and for the whole world. In him we savor the fullness of God’s love that will linger long after we leave the table. (Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69) August 29th - Pentecost 14B - “Cleaning Up and Giving Thanks” After the party, what is left to do? We clean-up and get ready for the daily life that follows. Thank you notes go out to all who contributed: planners, cooks, servers, clean-up crew, participants, entertainers. As our hearts have connected, may we continue to serve each other generosity and understanding. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23) |
Early Summer Theme: "In Christ We Speak God's Truth"
We enter a season of “Mission Moments” in worship! Each Sunday’s message will include a story or testimony from our shared “spirit of faith” that flows from the psalmist: “I believed, and so I spoke”! These moments might touch on courageous stewardship, or the church’s involvement in Pride month, or the justice work in the community. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead raises up our witness to God’s truth at work in the world. Sharing these stories brings us together into the living presence of God. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, at it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:13-15; Ps. 116:10)
We enter a season of “Mission Moments” in worship! Each Sunday’s message will include a story or testimony from our shared “spirit of faith” that flows from the psalmist: “I believed, and so I spoke”! These moments might touch on courageous stewardship, or the church’s involvement in Pride month, or the justice work in the community. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead raises up our witness to God’s truth at work in the world. Sharing these stories brings us together into the living presence of God. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, at it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:13-15; Ps. 116:10)
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June 6 - Pentecost 2B “Standing Strong in Christ”
A house divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus speaks to this when he is accused of being outside the faith. He defines his family as all who do “the will of God”. How we act and speak makes a difference! We can stand strong with all who are committed to God’s love and grace in the world. (Genesis 3:8-15; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 4:13--5:1; Mark 3:20-35) June 13 - Pentecost 3B “Small AND Mighty in Christ!” In Christ there is “a new creation” - that has nothing to do with size or quantity to be fully alive in the kin-dom of God! From the tiniest seed of truth or love a spacious home for the multitude of God’s creatures can grow. Let’s tell stories that start, “The kin-dom of God is like…”! (Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [11-13] 14-17; Mark 4:26-34) June 20 - Pentecost 4B “Riding out the Storms of Life with Christ” When has your life been swamped by a storm raging around you? What difference does it make to call on Jesus? Stories of faith in the face of storms help us discover power greater than all we fear - the power of genuine love, truthful speech, and God’s word alive in Christ. (Job 38:1-11; Psalm 107:1-3; 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41) June 27 - Pentecost 5B “With Christ, Generosity Flows” Rivers flow with no regard to human-designated boundaries; so, too, with Christ’s generosity. Today we witness the generous flow of healing power. In Mark’s gospel Jesus breaks down barriers. We dare to touch Jesus in our “uncleanness” and to live as a community that defines no one as an outsider. (Lamentations 3:22-33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43) |
July 4 - Pentecost 6B “The Power of Christ in Us”
Jesus does great deeds of power and entrusts that power to followers - like us! When we are sent to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable and dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the “between”: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent. (Ezekiel 2:1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13) July 11 - Pentecost 7B “Compelled to Proclaim Truth in Christ” The prophet Amos and John the Baptist suffered for speaking truth to power. All the prophets killed through the ages are alive in Jesus; this is hope for the oppressed. We are called to witness to justice in company with them, and to proclaim God’s saving love. (Amos 7:7-15; Psalm 85:8-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29) July 18 - Pentecost 8B “In Christ We Dwell in Peace” Jesus welcomes the words and work of disciples; he also cares for their health and wellbeing. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need we shouldn’t think of ourselves at all; but Jesus also honors the caregivers’ need. We are sent from Christ’s table to care for others and for ourselves. (Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56) |
Telling Your Faith Story - Resources
Members and participants of WLLC are being brought into the summer worship services again. The 2020 stories can be found on the "Telling Your Faith Story" page of this website. There you also will find helpful videos and other resources to go deeper into your own story of faith. The best way to tell that story - start a conversation! Through listening and deeply knowing your own story you will be able to provide a witness to Christ. Our actions also tell the story - as Christ was moved compassionately to help, advocate for, heal, and encourage others, he continues that work through you and the church!
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Reduced to Love
WLLC's oldest member - Ruth Hopp - describes how she knows God loves her. Her life is reduced to loving God and loving others. How do you know that God loves you? Tell that story! |
Sowing Seeds of Faith
The family of Daryl Sieker, an architect who used his creativity to shape WLLC and many lives, shares about the witness of his life, work, and great faith. |