11 th Sunday after Pentecost~~ August 7-8, 2021
August 8, 2021
My dearest Hope Family-
~~~The book of Proverbs tells us in chapter 12: 25 “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” We all know the truth of that. Words have such impact in our lives! Words have the ability to soothe or harm, heal or hurt. It’s not a coincidence that Jesus often reminds us to watch our words and our tongues because of the damage they can inflict.
~~~For our Kindness Initiative, this week we are inviting everyone (in addition to collecting underwear and school supplies for our local kids), we are asking everyone at Hope to make an intentional decision to thank a cashier . If we are at the pharmacy or the grocery story or wherever we go, when we get to a cashier, let’s intentionally look them in the eye and thank them for their service to us. First of all, it helps us be mindful of gratitude which blesses us. Secondly, it can make the person doing their job feel appreciated and know that someone values them and their service-a blessing to them. Finally, you just might influence the person standing near you to do the same so that it can become a wave of gratitude flowing in our community. Everyone is blessed! And this isn’t just Pollyanna thinking-if all of at Hope take the opportunity to show kindness and gratitude in an intentional way in these next seven days, there’s that much more kindness flowing about to make a difference in Jesus’ name. God won’t waste our efforts and you may never know how important your kindness will be in the life of the person who gets it. Sometimes your kind word is the only kindness they receive that day-how powerful a thing that is-and God will use your efforts to plant seeds of hope and love as you go.
~~~So my friends-please join with me. This week, from Hope Lutheran Church, wherever you are and wherever you go, let’s thank the cashiers who help us in our daily life. BE the kindness you wish to see in the world! Share the good word of kindness and love that will make someone else’s heart glad!
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!
11 th Sunday after Pentecost~~ August 7-8, 2021
The Prayer of the Day Gracious God, your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Give us this bread always, that he may live in us and we in him, and that, strengthened by this food, we may live as his body in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Gospel : John 6:35, 41-51. After feeding more than five thousand people in the wilderness, Jesus teaches them regarding the true significance of this remarkable sign.35Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HOMILY :. Having lived his earliest years in Germany, my dad had a particular taste for German foods. One of his favorites was when I went to Kallis butcher shop in Port Charlotte and got him some special German breads- Sunflower Bread was his favorite- boasting different seeds and grains -lots of texture and rich flavor. It’s a stick to your ribs kind of bread-made with white flour, sunflower seeds, cracked wheat, oats, barley, millet, buckwheat, flax seed, soy grits, sesame seeds, water, malt, sea salt, and yeast. It reminds me of the words of Jesus today. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry…” Sunflower bread assures you that hunger won’t be back for a while.
~~~At a time in our world where some folks reject carbs, I have to ask – What is your usual bread of choice? In our culture, most popular and most often eaten bread in America is sliced white bread — that stuff of many air holes, squishy texture, consistent predictable color, and a flavor so bland it is hard to describe. It’s the perfect platform for peanut butter and jelly, and toasted, makes a good bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. One of the reasons we like it is precisely because it contributes so little to our experience of food. Tasteless, it doesn’t compete with other flavors. Of little texture, it is easy on the palate; we don’t have to work much to eat it. Predictable in its shape and color and size, sliced white bread is portion-controlled. Lacking in its own nutrients, vitamins are added for our good health. To top it all off, it has preservatives so that freshness is not so much a concern and the price is right.
~~~ “I am the bread of life” , Jesus said. Is Jesus like white bread? Perhaps some will think of pita bread, or brown bread, what we have come in contemporary times to associate with the Last Supper. Or is Jesus as the bread of life more like a communion wafer? Many a seminary professor has observed that it is easier to imagine the communion wafer as Christ than to imagine the wafer as bread.
~~~In today’s Gospel, Jesus says repeatedly that he is the Bread of life. A few weeks ago we read the story that has come to be known as the feeding of the five thousand, wherein many hungry people are fed on very little bread. The focus of that story is the miracle of the free meal, with little attention given to the bread itself and what it might signify. In the same way that the focus of the mass feeding has been on the miracle and not the food itself, so, too, with today’s proclamation that Jesus is the bread of life. We usually focus our attention on Jesus rather than on the bread. But how can we begin to understand what he was saying about himself until we look more closely at the bread?
~~~This passage from John’s Gospel is a lesson about abundance. It is difficult to associate plain white bread, the mass-produced kind, with abundance. It makes a good carrier for other flavors, but by itself, it doesn’t do much for us. Consider , instead, a sampling of breads from smaller bakeries, and the sorts of breads many of us make at home: Banana nut bread, pumpkin bread, Chocolate cherry bread, Ten-grain bread, Rye with caraway, cheddar cheese and jalapeno bread, Blue corn tortillas, Italian loaf, Naan, Pita French baguette, ricotta cheese and roasted garlic bread, rosemary olive oil bread, Hawaiian rolls, sourdough bread, sunflower bread..and so many more…every culture in the world has their own form of bread…every one. ~~~Our lives are not without texture and variety-even at the most boring of times we aren’t really white bread kind of folks. And to turn that around: When Jesus spoke of himself as bread, as the Bread of Life, is it possible that he was speaking of richness, of texture, of boldness and flavor as we live life in him? Filling and Fulfilling? That he was inviting us to a greater feast in our life of faith? ~~~Jesus’ ministry was built on the rich foundation of many stories of feeding and being fed. Jesus was well-acquainted with the Exodus story, and would have known the tradition that the Lord God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years with manna — bread — from heaven. It is in the wilderness of the desert as in the wilderness of our souls that we hunger. The Exodus theme is seen throughout John’s Gospel, setting up a tension between the manna given from heaven to feed the people in the wilderness and the Eucharistic bread that feeds us in the wilderness of our souls. Somewhere in the midst of that tension we find the bread of life: the Bread that brings life. ~~~If this vision of bread given us in John’s Gospel teaches us something about Jesus, maybe it is that Jesus is not simple, not plain, not squishy, not undemanding. Our Lord is many-textured, multifaceted, and complex in flavor. He calls us to love, to forgive, to encourage, and to get involved. He showed us how to welcome, to persist, and to stand firm. Our Lord was tender, he enjoyed meals with strangers and disciples, he rebuked the careless. and challenged leaders who misled the people. Jesus taught in the temple, raised the dead to life, challenged the complacent to care, wept over the death of a friend, and told stories. He drank wine at a wedding. He washed filthy feet. He prayed.
~~~When we hear Jesus proclaim, “I am the Bread of Life,” let us hear all of these things and more. And as we live our lives and live our faith, let us be rich in texture, of bold flavor, and nourishing to the world. No more boring white bread in our love of God, but abundant life, abundant living, abundant faith. Let our life of faith be like sunflower bread- full, abundant, a stick to your ribs, stick to your heart kind of faith- filling our hungry hearts and souls with what we need now and for the life to come. All because of Jesus, our Bread of life. delicious, satisfying, and always, always more than enough. 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.
For the church of Christ in all its diverse forms. For mission developers, new mission starts, and all communities of faith exploring new models of ministry for the sake of the gospel. For congregations facing difficult decisions about their future. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the health and well-being of creation. For shade trees that provide refuge from the hot summer sun. For lakes, rivers, and oceans contaminated by pollution and all who lack clean water. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those called to positions of authority in our legal system, we pray. For judges, lawyers, law clerks, and court employees who ensure the fair administration of justice.
For corrections officers and prison chaplains, that they would deal mercifully with those who are incarcerated. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all who cry out to you in their affliction. For exiles, refugees, and others who face long and difficult journeys, uncertain about the future. For all who mourn the death of a loved one. For all who are sick (especially). God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For this assembly gathered around your table, we pray. For those among us who bake bread and prepare the vessels for our communion celebration. For those who bring the food from this table to those who are homebound or hospitalized. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have been raised to eternal life, we give thanks. With (Dominic, name/s, and) all the saints we praise you for the bread of life that keeps us in your love forever. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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.
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.
ngs: Isaiah 61:7-11; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 1:46-55
The July thru September Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Altar Guild: Candy Ogden 2021 YTD Income $71,991.12
Usher: Alan Beicht 2020 YTD Income $80,341.93
Counters: Barb Johnson & Lorraine Maass 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:
Jan for healing
Pr. Marilyn for healing
Vanessa for healing
Richard and Rick Massey for healing and comfort
Bill for healing
Doreen Parkinson for healing
John for healing
Herb Sixbury for healing
Monica for healing and God’s presence
Cyndi and Fred for healing
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
KINDNESS KORNER Following along with Book Club suggestions, this week’s act of kindness will be to take that extra moment to thank a cashier.
CRAFT SHOW Linda Kraigenow will be selling her beautiful handmade jewelry at The Summer Bazaar on August 21, 2021 at the George Mullen Center Gym, 1602 Kramer Way, North Port, from 10:00 to 3:00. Please come out and support Linda. All proceeds are donated to Hope Lutheran Church.
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY. Unfortunately suspended for the time being.
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.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness is healing after surgery and could use prayers and good wishes from our Hope family. Her address is Laura Everill, Room 601, Ashton Creek, 4111 Park Place Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46845. Her email address is leverill@comcast.net.
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 will resume in the fall.
2021 HOPE LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Pastor Jennifer Schaefer 813.391.2027 hopeluthern1@comcast.net
President Jill Mead 941.350.5209 jillmead3059@gmail.com
V-P Linda Kraigenow 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
Fn’l Sec’y Lorraine Maass 540.419.5961 yar0227@ymail.com
Pr. Cheryll A-K 405.762.0564 cheryll.kaukis@gmail.com
Candy Ogden 217.899.7086 roncandyogden92@gmail.com
Donna Turner 941.276.4696 jag01@embarqmail.com
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