3rd Sunday after Pentecost

June 25, 2017
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am

Prayer of the Day
Teach us, good Lord God, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we do your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture readings
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Psalm 69:7-10 [11-15] 16-18
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39

Sermon
"Secrets and Sparrows and Swords, Oh My!"
Matthew 10:24-39
Our gospel reading today is filled with sayings of Jesus. The common thread is the life of discipleship. As followers of the Master, we are called to live life out in the open, proclaiming the gospel from the housetops. Jesus notes that this will not necessarily lead to what we often envision as the good life. No, our closest relationships undergo change, even painful transformation, when Jesus enters the picture. Our very lives will be lost, but in losing them, we find the life that really is life. As we follow Jesus, we put our faith in the God who counts even the hairs on our heads and promises that in losing our lives in Christ, we will be saved.
 

Hymns

LBW     Lutheran Book of Worship


In our prayers we remember Cornerstone Academy,  a small, private Christian high school on the Near North Side of Chicago, serving students whose needs have not been met by other high schools. Cornerstone works with students who began high school elsewhere, but now need a fresh start in a personalized setting. 

Between services, at 9:45am

Adult Education: “Living Faithfully: Practice and Purpose,” with Pastor Lauren Wegner.
She writes: Even though I'm a pastor, I'll be the first to admit that applying faith practices to my daily life is a challenge.  And don't even get me started on the challenges of teaching and living the faith at home with my family! We are all busy, and we're all bombarded with multiple demands for our attention and time. And yet, we crave spiritual nourishment and a deep connection with our God on more than just Sunday morning. How can we find the time, energy, and focus to do so? What are some faith practices and rituals we can easily implement into our hectic lives? Let's explore together this common conundrum of the Christian life, and walk away with renewed intentions for living our faith in practice and with purpose.

The Bible study group will meet in the lower-level conference room, continuing a discussion of books of the Old Testament.

Sunday School and Confirmation classes resume in the fall.

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.