THE EPISTLE LESSON James 5:13-20
THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 9:38-50
SERMON "The Salty Stew of Stewardship"
Worship Notes
Welcome to worship on this the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green. In worship this morning, we examine our faithfulness through the eyes of community.
Today, we consider how our individual gifts enable us to create God's "salty stew" of stewardship and faithfulness. This "salt" is that which is described by Mark in the gospel passage today. Our opening hymn, "Gather Us In," speaks to our collective sense of community and to our call to be new salt to the earth.
The prayerful sense through which we act as stewards within our community is the message of the Epistle lesson. The anthem "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" reminds us of the important role of prayer within our individual and communal lives. It also helps us to recall that Christ lives among us as a friend willing to help us carry our burdens.
In response to God's Word proclaimed, we welcome a child into our community of faith through the sacrament of Baptism. We also have an opportunity to envision ourselves as part of God's "salty stew." As the service ends, we will bring forward our offerings and the special blessings cards, which record our individual acknowledgments of those within our community who have blessed us through their interactions with us. While these blessings cards are focused today on those within our Westminster community, they will become an important part of our service of World Communion next week when our definition of community broadens to extend beyond these walls and across denominational and political boundaries. After coming forward, you will also receive a package containing the basic elements for a fall "stew." You are encouraged to use these elements during the week ahead as a reminder of how you are fed through your relationship with God to fulfill your own special place in this community and within God's salty stew.
