The Gospel lesson from last week focused on the Rich Fool, a parable that focused on building wealth here on earth but failing to build wealth with God.

Prayer is one of the most important and central Christian practices. And the Lord's Prayer is one of the oldest and most well-known of Christian prayers. Last week in worship we're taking a look at the Lord's Prayer as Jesus teaches it in Luke 11:1-13. Through this prayer, Jesus encourages us to be persistent in prayer. We must keep at it. And we can keep at it because our God keeps at it with us.

Last Sunday's sermon focused on the story of Martha, who becomes irritated with her sister Mary for spending time with Jesus instead of helping around the house (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus responds that Mary has chosen the better part, sitting at his feet. How might we see, in these two sisters, the diverse nature of Christian discipleship? And who do you most relate to, Mary or Martha, in your own discipleship?

The sermon centers around one of Jesus' most familiar and loved parables. In Luke 10:25-37 a man walks up to Jesus and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. In response, Jesus tells the story of the Samaritan who showed active mercy for a man in desperate need. As with all of Jesus' parables, it's meaning is open to interpretation and invites questions. Who, in our day would be the two passing by? Who would be the one who stopped? And who would be the person in the ditch? And where do we see this "Good Samaritan" story lived out in our world today?

Only Luke (10:1-20) tells the story of the sending of the 70, and it's there that we see how Jesus refuses to work alone. Jesus enlists ordinary women and men like you and me. He calls us, instructs us, and gives us what we need to do his work in the world.

In Luke 9:51-62, a text that speaks of the stark demands of discipleship. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, when he walks into a Samaritan village and encounters rejection, a clear sign of the ominous fate that awaits him in Jerusalem. The way of discipleship can be hard, dangerous, and full of suffering. But despite all that, God gives us what we need to follow Jesus.

Have you ever felt, or known someone who felt alone? Isolated? In need of healing? Tormented by a force outside of your control? If so, this story of the Gerasene man is for you. The good news is that Jesus has power to heal and to save, and the power to control that which is out of our control.

Rev. Linda Powers (with her companion, Beta) provided our sermon, The Trinity - Covering All the Bases. During Discovery Time she helped the children understand the image used to illustrate our cover.

On Pentecost Sunday we celebrated the gift of the Holy Spirit descending in a mighty rush of wind and flame. That Spirit inspired the church's proclamation of Christ's rising, and empowered its mission and ministry in the world. Pentecost invites us to consider the mysterious on-going work of God in our churches, in our lives, and in the world.

Ascension Day, the fortieth day after Easter, marks the day on which Jesus went to the Mount of Olives with his disciples and ascended to heaven before their eyes. Just before his ascension, he called his followers "witnesses" and predicted that they would take his good news throughout the world. Though we still wait for his return, we continue to be witnesses to the reality and the fact of Jesus' reign. We continue proclaiming the good news of the gospel.