10 th Sunday after Pentecost~July 31-August 1, 2021
August 2, 2021
My dearest Hope Family-
I Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing.” There sure is a need for that in our world, isn’t there? Encouraging each other and building each other up? The Bible always speaks truth to today and this is an important word shared with us now.
In watching some of the Capital police and Metropolitan DC police officers talk about their experiences on Jan 6 when insurrectionists stormed the Capital and tried to thwart the democratic process of certifying the election, my heart grieved for what those officers went through-the physical and emotional battering they suffered as they tried to do their job to protect our elected officials inside the building as well as the rest of the staff who work there. I wept as they wept and kept wondering how we have gotten to this point as a nation.
Our call through Jesus is clear – we are to love one another. Love one another. It is as simple and complex as that-to love one another. That isn’t always easy or simple or clear but it is our calling-to be kind and loving to each other even if we don’t agree on anything. We are to encourage one another and build each other up-with love and care, compassion and mercy. Again, Jesus doesn’t preface his call to love by saying anything about the fact that we need to agree or live or look or believe like one another. He simply says love one another.
Our Kindness Initiative at Hope has begun in a simple way-we are starting some of the things on our list including having a bin in the narthex for underwear and school supplies for our local students. We will also have a weekly kindness suggestion in the bulletin that invites us all to do something in Jesus’ name as a faith community in our daily lives. We can also pray for one another to be emboldened in our kindness as we seek ways to encourage and build each other up. We can say and act and think kindness with and for one another-that encourages and builds up those who receive it. And you know, just like an infection spreads easily, so too do kindness and love-when we feel encouraged and built up in our lives, it is easier to go out to do the same for others. So my brothers and sisters, let it flow! Let’s encourage each other, build each other up with prayer and loving words and actions, so that the kindness can multiply in our community and we can reverse the trend of hatred, ugliness, and mean-spiritedness that is a cancer on our country.
Please know how I value and appreciate each of you-you encourage and build me up daily. Please pray for me as I pray for you! In love, ~~~ Pr. Jen Schaefer+
Please be advised – due to a rise of Covid infection in our community and country, masks will be required for everyone entering our building beginning Monday, August 2 until further notice. Thanks for complying to this directive! Be safe!
10 th Sunday after Pentecost~July 31-August 1, 2021
The Prayer of the Day O God, eternal goodness, immeasurable love, you place your gifts before us; we eat and are satisfied. Fill us and this world in all its need with the life that comes only from you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Gospel : John 6:24-35. Glory to you O Lord! Many of the five thousand people Jesus fed in the wilderness continued to follow him throughout the countryside. Jesus challenges them to consider the real nature of their quest.
24When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were [beside the sea,] they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HOMILY : As I look out over our country today, I see that we are in search of food in a wilderness of our own as well. People in our world are either desperate for food, hungry each night and hoping for relief, or else we have all the food that we can eat with leftovers, yet our lives are curiously unfilled, or unfulfilled. Could it be that Jesus’ words to those chasing him across the sea those many years ago still have truth today? “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.“ ~~~Our culture, especially in the wealthy west, has a hard time hearing those words. It flies in the face of most of the things that we have treasured. Aren’t we supposed to be building wealth? It is what we are taught. ~~~Growing up, we played a game called “The Game of Life.”- know it? It wasn’t about life really, but life as we were told it ought to be. You had choices along the way: go to college or not, get married, have a career (with the highest salary being the best). There were pitfalls and shortcuts to “retirement” which was the finish line. But the goal was not to finish first. Rather the goal was to finish with the most. Whoever had the biggest stack of cash at the end was the winner. But in real life having the most or least doesn’t really matter, does it? We all die someday, physical death in this world, and having stuff doesn’t matter one bit when that time comes. And many do not catch on until it is too late. He who dies with the most toys wins?? Nope. ~~~You would think that with so many people “winning” the world’s game of life we would be a culture that is more satisfied than most as a whole, since we have more than most as a culture. Yet our hunger persists. The more we have, the hungrier we become, and the less satisfied we are. ~~~The manna lessons from the wilderness were important for the people of Israel. They learned that Yahweh would give them the things they needed. They also learned not to hoard their bread and to share it with those who could not gather for themselves. It was the bread that Yahweh gave them as they were learning how to be the servant people they were called to be. In John’s Gospel, the chasers of Jesus remembered the manna, but not the lessons of the manna. So Jesus begins to teach them again about what the true bread from heaven does. And he makes a bold move. He says, “I AM the bread of life.” He identifies himself with Yahweh, the great I AM. He identifies Yahweh as the bread of life for the world. The question is how? How is Jesus the bread of life? How does Jesus satisfy hunger and thirst? How does Jesus provide life for the world.
~~~One analogy, suggested by Walt Wangerin Jr. in his book, Ragman and Other Cries of Faith, is found in a particular species of Spider. While most spiders leave their eggs in a sac and wander off, one species does not leave them to chance, but stays to protect them and find food for them. Like all spiders, when this one eats, she injects her poison and digestive juices into her prey and the victim becomes her stomach as she sucks out the life and the food from the bodies empty shell. Except when there are no victims. When there is no food for the little spiders, the mother of this species will inject her poison into her own body and give her babies one last meal, herself. She dies and gives them life.
~~~Against such a backdrop, Wangerin sees in the Christ of the Cross one who gives himself for the life of all. When we feast at Christ’s table, it is his own life poured out for us that becomes our bread. It is in the giving of himself that Jesus is most alive, even as he dies. And those of us who follow Jesus learn the simple truth from his Living Word: we are only filled full when we empty ourselves. Jesus is the bread of life not for what he puts into our stomachs, but rather for how he teaches us to live, really LIVE – a life of giving in his name. In the meal of communion he is shaping us into his body and preparing us to give ourselves in the same way as he gives himself. Those who have dared to follow this radical way find life in more vivid color, find purpose and meaning beyond “winning” the game of life.
~~~The hunger that Jesus satisfies for purpose and meaning beyond ourselves, awakens in us other hungers, for peace, justice, loving kindness, and a humble walk with our God. No matter how often we feast at God’s table, these hungers never leave us. When we come to his altar, we are offering ourselves into the service of the one who gives himself as food for us. We are allowing our lives to be reshaped by Christ into his own body for the world. We become bread like his bread. We receive the Body of Christ so that we might BECOME the Body of Christ for the sake of the world. And all of this not by getting something, but by giving everything as Christ has given to us- as we seek to follow our purpose to be led by the Spirit as we serve God and share Christ’s love with all. It’s doing God’s work with our hands- loving, kindness-filled acts that show our love for God by loving others. Brothers and sisters-Come hungry for life. Leave hungry to give life, full of Jesus, the bread of life. Amen.
~~~Against such a backdrop, Wangerin sees in the Christ of the Cross one who gives himself for the life of all. When we feast at Christ’s table, it is his own life poured out for us that becomes our bread. It is in the giving of himself that Jesus is most alive, even as he dies. And those of us who follow Jesus learn the simple truth from his Living Word: we are only filled full when we empty ourselves. Jesus is the bread of life not for what he puts into our stomachs, but rather for how he teaches us to live, really LIVE – a life of giving in his name. In the meal of communion he is shaping us into his body and preparing us to give ourselves in the same way as he gives himself. Those who have dared to follow this radical way find life in more vivid color, find purpose and meaning beyond “winning” the game of life.
~~~The hunger that Jesus satisfies for purpose and meaning beyond ourselves, awakens in us other hungers, for peace, justice, loving kindness, and a humble walk with our God. No matter how often we feast at God’s table, these hungers never leave us. When we come to his altar, we are offering ourselves into the service of the one who gives himself as food for us. We are allowing our lives to be reshaped by Christ into his own body for the world. We become bread like his bread. We receive the Body of Christ so that we might BECOME the Body of Christ for the sake of the world. And all of this not by getting something, but by giving everything as Christ has given to us- as we seek to follow our purpose to be led by the Spirit as we serve God and share Christ’s love with all. It’s doing God’s work with our hands- loving, kindness-filled acts that show our love for God by loving others. Brothers and sisters-Come hungry for life. Leave hungry to give life, full of Jesus, the bread of life. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence.
You call your church to be the body of Christ. Awaken all the baptized to the gifts you provide for carrying out the work of ministry. Where the church is divided, knit us together and restore the unity of the faith. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You command the clouds above and cause the wind to blow in the heavens. Watch over deserts and wilderness places. Regenerate rainforests, defend species at risk of extinction, and strengthen the work of conservation organizations (especially). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You summon leaders to respond to the needs of your people. Instill those who govern with patience when confronted with grievances and perseverance in seeking what promotes the well-being of the community. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You draw near to those who cry out for help. Feed those who are hungry, reassure those who are despairing, and accompany those who are imprisoned. Rain down the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You receive all who come seeking a sign of grace. Make this congregation a place of hospitality for those accustomed to rejection. To those who have felt excluded here or elsewhere, prepare us to welcome them in the name of Christ. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
You provide food that endures for eternal life. Sustain us each day with the bread of life until we are gathered with (name/s and) all the saints and feast together at your heavenly banquet. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray as you taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
The blessing of the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, surround and sustain us, keep us from harm, and fill us with courage. Amen.
Let us go out into the world in peace, sharing the Good News of Jesus and his love, as together we are led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all! Thanks be to God!
HOPE HAPPENINGS
We welcome all who worship with us today. Please complete one of the visitor cards at our guest table. If you would like to make Hope your church home, please speak to Pastor Jen. Everyone is welcome at Hope Lutheran Church.
Next Week’s Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51
The July thru September Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS
Altar Guild: Delores Hall & Gail Zahs
Usher: Karl Kaukis
Counters: Paster Cheryll AK & Karl Kaukis
PRAYER LIST
Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation. Please continue to hold in prayer:
Vanessa for healing
Richard Massey for healing
Bill for healing
Doreen Parkinson for healing
John for healing
Mike Litsky for healing
Ginger Toomire and family for comfort at the death of Bobby Herb Sixbury for healing
Neil Lohmeyer for healing
Pastor Tom Barbret for healing
Al Bucharelli for healing
Kim for healing
Monica for healing and God’s presence
Cyndi and Fred for healing
Ian for sure and strong presence of God’s healing grace
Doris Puerner for healing
Helen for healing after surgery
Dawn Seibert for healing
Carol for healing, hope, and God’s will.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, for healing.
John Greene, Millie’s husband, for strength and healing & healing for all their family
Cheryl Burke who is in need of healing
Larry and Barbara Brady, as they focus on healing.
NEW AT HOPE
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY . suspended until further notice due to Covid infection rate.
HOPE LOVE PANTRY is looking for a volunteer to restock the pantry on Thursday mornings during office hours which is 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. If you can assist, please contact Linda Kraigenow.
SAVE THE DATE – Hope Lutheran Bazaar scheduled for December 4, 2021.If you know of any vendors that would like to rent space, please contact Fran Kostrowsky.
HOPE LOVE PANTRY – The pantry could use tuna, crackers, pastas, tomato sauce, peanut butter, shampoo, boxed milk (dollar tree has best price), juices and canned fruits. Thank you for your continued support and donations. This is our opportunity to serve God and share Christ’s love with all.
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY is taking a scheduled pause until the Fall when we will begin a new study on the Bible-and overview course.
2021 HOPE LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Pastor Jennifer Schaefer 813.391.2027 hopeluthern1@comcast.net
President Jill Mead 941.350.5209 jillmead3059@gmail.com
V Pr Linda Kraignow 941.623.9188 lindak41549@gmail.com
Sec’y Roberta Balint 941.830.2381 roberta.in.paradise@gmail.com
Treasurer Karl Kaukis 405.334.1511 karl@kaukis.com
Fin’l Sec’y Lorraine Maass 540.419.5961 yar0227@ymail.com
Pr Cheryll A- K 405.762.0564 cheryll.kaukis@gmail.com
Fran Kostrowsky 813.316.5295 fkostrowsky@gmail.com
Candy Ogden 217.899.7086 roncandyogden92@gmail.com
Donna Turner 941.276.4696 jag01@embarqmail.com
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