A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel.

Gospel Lesson                                         Matthew 6:24-34

“No one can serve two masters, for a servant will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Abba feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will God not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Abba knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kin-dom of God and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Gospel Lesson                                        Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Choir                     This Is My Beloved Son                    Knut Nystedt

He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them,

and a voice from the cloud said: "This is my beloved Son, with whom

I am well pleased; hear ye him.

When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay.

Gospel Lesson Matthew 5:38-48, New Jerusalem Bible

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you: don’t use violence to resist evil! Instead, when someone hits you on the right cheek, turn the other one toward him. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of Abba in heaven; for God makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

“You must therefore set no bounds to your love, just as your heavenly Abba sets none.”

A sermon by Rev. Mitch Hay and Rev. Barb Lemmel

Gospel Lesson                                                         Matthew 5:21-24, 27-37

As you know, our ancestors were told, ‘You must not kill’, and ‘Whoever kills will be subject to judgment’. But I tell you: Those who are angry with a companion will be brought before a tribunal. And those who say to the companion, ‘You moron,’ will be subject to the sentence of the court. And whoever says, ‘You idiot,’ deserves the fires of Gehenna.

So, even if you happen to be offering your gift at the altar and recall that your friend has some claim against you, leave your gift there at the altar. First go and be reconciled with your friend, and only then return and offer your gift…

As you know, we once were told, ‘You are not to commit adultery.’ But I tell you: Those who leer at a woman and objectify her have already committed adultery with her in their hearts.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.

We were once told, ‘Whoever divorces his wife should give her a bill of divorce.’ But I tell you: Everyone who divorces his wife (except in the case of infidelity) makes her the victim of adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Again, as you know, our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break an oath,’ and ‘Oaths sworn in the name of God must be kept.’ But I tell you: Don’t swear at all.  Don’t invoke heaven, because it is God’s footstool, and don’t invoke Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the Evil One.”

A sermon by Rev. Mitchell Hay and Rev. Barbara Lemmel

Hebrew Scripture                                             Isaiah 58:6-10

Is not this the fast that I choose:

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

If you remove the yoke from among you,

Gospel Lesson                                                  Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Abba in heaven.

A sermon by Rev. Mitchell Hay and Rev. Barbara Lemmel

Gospel Lesson                                               Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain;

and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you

falsely on my account;

rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted

the prophets who were before you.”

A sermon by Rev. Barb Lemmel

Gospel Lesson                                                John 1:35-46

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’

He said to them, ‘Come and see.’

They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’

Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’

A sermon by Rev. We Chang

Gospel Lesson                                          Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John tried to dissuade Jesus, saying, I should be baptized by you, and yet you come to me!”

But Jesus replied, “Leave it this way for now. We must do this to completely fulfill God’s justice. So John reluctantly agreed.

Immediately after Jesus had been baptized and was coming up out of the water, the sky suddenly opened up and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and hovering over him. With that, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Own, my Beloved, on whom my favor rests.”

Hebrew Scripture                                   Lamentations 3:19-24

(TIB translators' note: "The Hebrew name of this book, 'ekah, is an expletive, a cry of anguish . . . A contemporary English equivalent might be to call the book 'Aaugh!' The first four chapters are acrostic poems: the first word of each stanza begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.")

Zayin

I remember my woes and wanderings—

The wormwood and the gall.

Those memories are so clear to me,

And they fill me with despair.

Yet it is because I remember all this

that I have hope.

Heth

YHWH’s favor is not exhausted,

Nor has God’s compassion failed.

They rise up anew each morning,

So great is God’s faithfulness.

“YHWH is all I have,” I cry.

“So I will wait in patience.”

A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay

Gospel Lesson                                                             John 1 

In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. 

Everything that was created received its life from the Word,  and its life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark,  and darkness has never put it out. The true light that shines on everyone  was coming into the world. The Word was in the world, but no one knew him,  though God had made the world with the Word. He came into his own world, but the nations  did not welcome him. Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him.  So he gavethem the right to bethe children of God. 

They were not God's children by nature  or because of any human desires. God’s own self made them children of God. 

The Word became a human being  and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son  of Abba God. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us.

A recorded reflection by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay

A sermon by Rev. Barb Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay.

Gospel Lesson                                                  Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a young woman named Mary; she was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. Upon arriving, the angel said to Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one! God is with you! Blessed are you among women!”

Mary was deeply troubled by these words and wondered what the angel’s greeting meant. The angel went on to say to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You’ll conceive and bear a son, and give him the name Jesus—‘Deliverance.’ His dignity will be great, and he will be called the Only Begotten of God. God will give Jesus the judgment seat of David, his ancestor, to rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will never end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never been with a man?”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you–hence the child to be born will be called the Holy One of God. Know too that Elizabeth, your kinswoman, has conceived a child in her old age; she who was thought to be barren is now in her sixth month. Nothing is impossible with God.”

Mary said, “I am the servant of God. Let it be done to me as you say.”

With that, the angel left her.

Gospel Lesson                                                Luke 1:46-55

Mary said:

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

who has looked with favor on me, a lowly servant girl.

From this day all generations will call me blessed.

The Mighty One has done great things for me:

holy the name of the Lord,

whose mercy is on the God-fearing

from generation to generation.

The arm of the Lord is filled with strength,

scattering the proudhearted.

God cast the mighty from their thrones,

lifting up the lowly.

God filled the hungry with good things,

sending the rich away empty.

God has come to the help of Israel,

the Lord's servant, remembering mercy,

the mercy promised to our ancestors

to Sarah and Abraham and their descendants forever.