7 th Sunday after Pentecost~~July 10-11, 2021
July 11, 2021
My dearest Hope Family-
As the Dalai Lama said: “If you think you’re too small to make a difference-try sleeping with a mosquito in the room.” How true is that??? Wise words from a wise man who reminds us that we are never too small and our acts are never too small to make a huge difference in the world in Jesus’ name. One small act of kindness can cause countless ripple effects as the person who received kindness from you is touched and then turns around and pays it forward to someone else. Just as easily as ugliness and hate can spread, so too can love and kindness-and their impact is completely positive, completely life-changing in the best of ways as we do God’s work with our hands!
Our book club shared these insights this week:
Intentionally include people with disabilities in activities
One small act can lead to bigger things-each act is important
Thank the media for “good news” stories
Mentoring like with Boys and Girls Clubs, participate in Secret Santa, etc.
CASA/Guardian ad leitem program-host training here with LIRS or LSS?
Foster kids mentoring
Little Free Library cabinet set-up on patio
changing “I have to” to “I get to” perspective/language/attitude
Flower to shut-ins/hospice from events
Gratitude journal-BE KIND TO YOURSELF!
When contacting Myakka Elementary, adopt a specific class to help
Host after-school or vacation programs?
Check into Family Promise program in Venice t see bout partnering
Ask “Jesus Loves You” rep to speak and include us in programming where we can help
Check into being a WIC (Women, Infant Children) distribution site
Keep updated help list for those who come needing support
Of special note-in being kind in the world, please include yourself! A gratitude journal, learning to set boundaries and say “No” as you need to taking time to nourish and refill your energies and your spirit – all of those times you are kind to yourself give you renewed energy to bring kindness and love to the world in Jesus name. You are a precious child of God – treat yourself like one! When we do Gods work with our hands in ways big or small, it blesses the world and us. That’s God’s overflowing grace!!!
My love is with each of you and my prayers are for you
~~~ Pr. Jen Schaefer+
7 th Sunday after Pentecost~~July 10-11, 2021
The Prayer of the Day
O God, from you come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Gospel : Mark 6:14-29. As Jesus and his disciples begin to attract attention, Mark recalls the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Like John, Jesus and his disciples will also suffer at the hands of those opposed to the gospel of salvation.
14King Herod heard of [the disciples’ preaching,] 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 gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
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 gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HOMILY :. Fairytales and happy endings play a significant role in shaping us and our expectations about life. We are inundated from birth by themes and images of the way life “should” play out by the storylines provided us in fictional accounts – in books and in film, in everything from Disney movies to Hollywood blockbusters to popular television and online series. We love keeping up with the weddings, vacations, births, and highlights of the lives of celebrities and the famous. We’re enchanted by tales of the underdog who get their happy endings. Somewhere in all of this, we formulate a vision for what our own lives should look like.
~~~But real life rarely resembles fairytales and there is never any guarantee of a happy ending. The Bible isn’t much for fairytales either- the story in the sixth chapter of Mark’s Gospel is about a royal family that no one envies. King Herod’s second wife, Queen Herodias, is portrayed as a conniving and vengeful woman, filled with hatred and the desire for revenge. She ultimately ropes her young daughter into a murder plot against God’s chosen, John the Baptist. This story reads more like a horror story than a fairytale, as we read about the presentation of John’s head on a platter at her request. We see that King Herod would rather commit murder than appear to be a fool in front of his guests. And John the Baptist’s life itself seems rather tragic; John lived a challenging life, was imprisoned unjustly, and then killed horribly and unexpectedly. And yet, Jesus said of him, “Among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.” There are no fairytale endings in the Bible, even for God’s chosen servants.
~~~But real life rarely resembles fairytales and there is never any guarantee of a happy ending. The Bible isn’t much for fairytales either- the story in the sixth chapter of Mark’s Gospel is about a royal family that no one envies. King Herod’s second wife, Queen Herodias, is portrayed as a conniving and vengeful woman, filled with hatred and the desire for revenge. She ultimately ropes her young daughter into a murder plot against God’s chosen, John the Baptist. This story reads more like a horror story than a fairytale, as we read about the presentation of John’s head on a platter at her request. We see that King Herod would rather commit murder than appear to be a fool in front of his guests. And John the Baptist’s life itself seems rather tragic; John lived a challenging life, was imprisoned unjustly, and then killed horribly and unexpectedly. And yet, Jesus said of him, “Among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.” There are no fairytale endings in the Bible, even for God’s chosen servants.
~~~Still, we humans cling so strongly to images of what we think life should be and look like. We still expect happy, fairytale endings and are often perplexed when our lives hand us something very different. Memories are often sanitized and made much more sweet and perfect than they actually were. There is now a paid service called “Fake a Vacation” in which people can actually send snapshots of themselves to a company that will edit the photos into fake (but fabulous) vacation spots so the client can share the images on social media sites. This may sound extreme, but it’s not too far off from the way our lives are edited on social media and the outside world , even in our memories, to fit happy narratives, How weird is that???? ~~~Life doesn’t have to be less than a fairytale to disappoint us, either. If your life is not going the way you expected or hoped it would or even if it has veered far from the way you’d imagined it, you’re not alone. Perhaps you’ve been sidelined by an injury or illness, a death, a loss, a divorce or broken relationship, or maybe something distressing has happened to your children or someone you love. You may be filled with a sense of disillusionment, anger, grief, heartache, sorrow, or confusion. You may wonder, “Why?” “What went wrong?” or think “It’s not supposed to be like this”
~~~There are people who can teach us a different way to approach life, however – people whose lives look nothing like a fairytale – people whose lives are not in any way conventional, but who find deep joy and purpose. You probably know someone who has suffered great loss and whose life did not play out as they had hoped, but still, they find joy and a deeper purpose despite it all. Often, these people have found meaning beyond the expected storylines of their culture and are people of faith. John the Baptist is just one example among many from the Bible, along with the many saints and faithful who offer different scripts – alternatives to the lives prescribed by Hollywood, Disney, social media, or even our cultural traditions. This script is God’s script, and it follows God’s purpose and calling on our lives instead.
~~~There are people who can teach us a different way to approach life, however – people whose lives look nothing like a fairytale – people whose lives are not in any way conventional, but who find deep joy and purpose. You probably know someone who has suffered great loss and whose life did not play out as they had hoped, but still, they find joy and a deeper purpose despite it all. Often, these people have found meaning beyond the expected storylines of their culture and are people of faith. John the Baptist is just one example among many from the Bible, along with the many saints and faithful who offer different scripts – alternatives to the lives prescribed by Hollywood, Disney, social media, or even our cultural traditions. This script is God’s script, and it follows God’s purpose and calling on our lives instead.
~~~As people of faith who follow Jesus, this is exactly where our deepest hopes and dreams are to be rooted, in what St. Paul describes in Ephesians as the “glorious grace that [God] freely bestowed on us.” Scripture reminds us that no matter what twists and turns we face in life, no matter what trials or disappointments we suffer, they do not compare to the “inheritance” that God has for us. Paul writes, “having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,” we are “blessed…with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” and “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit…the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people . ~~~When our lives find their meanings and purposes – not in human storylines, but in God’s storyline – the God who called John the Baptist, the prophets, the saints, and each of us to a life of faith, then we can start to see our lives very differently and adjust to new expectations. We can throw away the scripts and storylines someone handed to us or that we embraced long ago and realize that our lives find their deepest meaning and purpose in something much bigger and greater than ourselves and our individual storylines. And as we root ourselves more deeply in God and God’s Word, we begin to see that our lives have the potential to impact others with the love of God in a much deeper way than we ever imagined. We know ourselves to be called in our Baptism, to be led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christs love with all people. ~~~John the Baptist’s was a hero of the faith who paved the way for Jesus and helped bring salvation and the Good News of God to countless generations after him and whose witness still inspires us. Like all the saints, we have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have been called and redeemed by God, and we have been given God’s glorious grace to live lives full of meaning and purpose, filled and fulfilled by none other than our Creator. ~~~Maya Angelou once said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Few of us will live fairytale lives. But we have a choice about how we will ultimately define our lives when we follow God’s storyline, and the grace, joy, and purpose it brings. Thanks be to God! Amen
Prayers of Intercession
Let us come before the triune God in prayer. A brief silence.
Holy parent, you welcome your people into one family and gather all things to yourself. Bestow your grace upon your beloved church, lavish your wisdom upon us, and redeem us from our faults, that by our witness all might praise your glory. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Awesome Creator, you steadfastly tend to the smallest of seeds and the mightiest of sycamore trees. Spring up green growth from the earth, nourish the growth of fruit, grain, and other crops, and bless the work of farmers and laborers. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of the oppressed, turn the ears of those who are in power to the voices of prophets in our own day. Protect those who speak difficult truths when it is risky to do so. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of strength, you are near to those who endure difficulty. Comfort all who are survivors of violence, guard the refugee and the immigrant, and protect all those who are victims of prejudice and discrimination. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of love, we pray for this holy house and all those who worship here. We pray especially for those whose efforts behind the scenes often go unnoticed; for those who maintain our property and building, for our Administrative Assistant Fran, our altar guild and ushers, and for all of our volunteers. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We thank you, God, for the saints, martyrs, and prophets who have died in the faith ( especially Benedict of Nursia). We remember those in this community who have recently died ( especially). United with them as God’s children, assure us that we are yours forever. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace. 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.
Next Week’s Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
The July thru September Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS FINANCIAL INFO
Altar Guild: Delores Hall & Gail Zahs Income thru June $64,615
Usher: Alan Beicht Expenses thru June $73,061 Counters: Expenses more than Income $ 8,446
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:
Peggy for healing
Joy for healing
Dylan for safety in settling in
Eileen & Harold for comfort
John for healing
Mike Litsky for healing
Bobby & Ginger Toomire for healing
Bill for healing
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
Marirose for a healthy pregnancy
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
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG KAUKIS, son of Pr Cheryll and Karl Kaukis and brother of Nicholas, will take place at Hope on Tuesday, July 20 beginning at 11am with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to join us in presence and in prayer.
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS continue!. Between 5:30 and 6:00 PM we will provide some light snacks but feel free to bring your own food. At 6:00 PM the games begin. All are welcome and bring some friends. The more the merrier.
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.
HOPE BOOK CLUB The book Human Kind by Brad Aronson will be discussed on Wednesdays between 10:00-11:00AM in the Fellowship Hall to produce ideas and strategies to implement more kindness in our world.
KIWANIS SHOES FOR KIDS PROJECT runs through July 25, 2021. Please consider dropping off shoes or making a monetary donation and we will purchase the shoes for you.-
CRAFT SALE Linda Kraigenow will be selling her gorgeous homemade gemstone jewelry at the North Port Craft Fair on July 17, 2021 between 10:00 and 3:00 at the George Mullen Center Gymnasium, 1602 Kramer Way, North Port, FL. Linda generously donates all proceeds to support Hope Lutheran Church.
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 on God sightings every Monday at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
HOPES AND DREAMS FOR HOPE – If you have a suggestion for a Hope or Dream for Hope Lutheran Church, Pastor Jen and your council would love to hear it. Please feel free to place any Hope or Dream in the mailbox in the hallway leading to the Fellowship Hall. All requests will be kept confidential, and you will receive a timely response.
2021 HOPE LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Pastor Jennifer Schaefer 813.391.202 hopeluthern1@comcast.net
President Jill Mead 941.350.5209 jillmead3059@gmail.com
V. P. 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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