Second Sunday after Pentecost
For Meditation and Reflection:
“So, the Church is not to be understood primarily as a means to the end of transforming society. This would be to trample over the uniqueness and infinite worth to God of the Christian community. Besides, the amazing and profound fact is that the Church most transforms society when it is itself growing and being perfected in the love of Christ. In fact, when the Church is taken merely as a means to transform society, very little is accomplished. For in that case the uniqueness of the Church is denied and we enter the battle on the same terms as secular and godless forces. We assume the battle for right and justice can be won by force, by technique, by doing. It can’t. These very clearly are not the weapons of Christian warfare (Ephesians 6:10-20). Truly Christian transformation of culture comes through Christlike (and hence sacrificial) love, community and being. But this by no means cancels out the responsibility to do, to act, to walk in the words of God. Rather, the being and the doing go together. The being is fundamental, but the doing is the natural result.”
– Howard A. Snyder, The Community of the King
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer (Pastor)
Call to Worship
Pastor: Trust in the Lord and do good.
People: May the Lord give strength to the people!
Pastor: O taste and see that the Lord is good!
People: God is our refuge and strength!
Opening Hymn: God of Grace and God of Glory #436
Prayer for Illumination (Pastor)
Today’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
Sermon “Modern Disciple Making” Mike Lyle