The readings for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost are a challenging lot. In our service, we begin with a reading from Psalm 82, which is written at the time of an old world view, where God is chief among many god-like beings in a heavenly council, who influence the lives and events of mortals. God calls them to task for showing a bias for the wicked and the unjust, and requires them instead to rescue the lowly and needy.

The reading from Amos tells of Jereboam’s attempted rebuff to Amos through his priest: “I don’t care what the LORD requires of me, and I don’t want to hear it — go away!” But the penalty for such a snub to the LORD and the prophet is utter desolation and loss. (Amos 7:7-17)

In the gospel lesson, Jesus leaves no room for misunderstanding what it means to love one’s neighbor as oneself, when he tells the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. The law of love is fulfilled not by pious postures, but by acts of compassion and healing. (Luke 10:25-37)

In the midst of these readings, we hear the first of four readings from the letter to the Colossians. In it, Paul greets these new disciples with words of thanksgiving for their faith, encouragement to endure in difficult times, and exhortations to live lives worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in the Spirit. All this he says to do joyfully, mindful of their rescue from the power of darkness and of their transfer into the Kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:1-14)

Well, dear reader, which of these words will speak to you this week? The readings are filled with judgement, exhortation, and encouragement, and they contain an array of challenging questions:

• Are we like Jeroboam, who doesn’t want to hear what God requires?
• Or are we willing to submit to the rule of God, measured by the plumb line of God’s perfect will?
• Are we among those who would hear the same condemnation that God delivered to the heavenly council?
• Or are we willing to give justice to the weak and needy, and rescue others as we have been rescued?
• Are we people of position or influence who take a pass on helping the needy in our midst?
• Or are we like the traveler who, without regard to race or class, stops and stoops to provide safety and healing?
• And, if we do live lives worthy of the Lord, can we endure all things with joyful thanksgiving?

Choral Music:

We are blessed today to have Susie J, a former choir intern, sing for us in our worship.

• Introit: “I Will Praise You, Lord” – Paul Linwood — We use the same introit as last week, in this refrain from the setting for Psalm 30. “I will praise you, Lord; you have rescued me.”
• Interlude: “Open Our Eyes” – Kevin Kell — In response to our Prayer of Confession, we sing this contemporary song, in which we implore God to open our eyes to the needs around us, and to teach us compassion and love.
  
• Solo: “The Language of Jesus Is Love” – Scott Wesley Brown — This contemporary song is our response to the message, as we sing of the healing power of Jesus’ love, for us, and for those around us.

Instrumental and Organ Music

Amanda S graces us with her flute today in the prelude.

• Prelude: “Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits” – C. W. Gluck — This arrangement for flute and piano comes from Gluck’s opera, Orfeo. The storyline is mythological and has no scriptural associations. But perhaps using this music as a prelude sets the stage for hearing a psalm that addresses a divine council of gods and spirits.
  
• Offertory: “Rondo” – Janis Dunson Wilson — This is a new composition, published as the “Rondo Processional.” As you listen, do you get any images of travelers, moving along, and perhaps needing to stop along the way to lend a hand to someone?
• Postlude: “God of Grace and God of Glory” – Paul Manz — Using this setting of the familiar hymn (also our opening hymn today) helps us to end the service as we began: A plea for God to grant us wisdom and courage as we go out into the living of these days.
  

July 9th, 2010 Subscribe to the RSS feed!