13th Sunday After Pentecost
August 19, 2018
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world. Fill us with such a knowledge of his presence that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life to serve you continually, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture readings
Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Sermon 
Jesus gets more specific in his discourse on bread today.  As he continues to promise life for those who eat the bread he gives, today he tells us that this bread is his flesh.  We can no longer simply envision a warm loaf of risen yeast.  That image is now turned to a body--a real body, a fleshy body, Jesus' body.  Connected to the bread, the body, and the life that Jesus offers us, we also hear about the gift of Wisdom in our first and second readings.  In Proverbs, Wisdom beckons, "Come, eat of my bread."  In Ephesians, we are cautioned to live "not as unwise people but as wise."  True wisdom, it seems, is revealed and sustained in us through the true body of Jesus, given as bread for the life of the world.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Chicago Cornerstone Academy.

Education hour at 9:45am

Sunday School, Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation classes are on summer break.

Adult Education

Resources on Racial Justice
The summer’s second Adult Ed program from the Faith Perspectives Committee includes a TED talk by Bryan Stevenson, human rights attorney and author of "Just Mercy.” Grace member Paul Eichwedel, Executive Director of Jeremiah Community Renewal Corporation, will share insight and briefly discuss his ministry which serves recently incarcerated returning citizens and provides transitional housing.

The Sunday morning Bible study group will not meet on August 19. 

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.