Welcome back after a week away from Chuckatuck. I was away at the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Baltimore last weekend and, happily, am back worshipping with the people in Chuckatuck. While it is nice being home, the higher humidity and heat here in the swamp is a little oppressive. But this too shall pass. We celebrate the middle of July and the beginning of the vegetable harvest in our garden. May God be with you in the coming week.
In worship, we are reminded that everything we need (not want) is known to God. Yet, even when we ask for the wrong things, God provides what we need not what we ask for or what we merit. In our reading from Hebrew Scripture from Amos God serves a reminder that there has been abundance in the lives of the Israelites. Since they cannot appreciate what they have, they are going to be left to their sin and personal devices. Our Psalmist reminds us that the deceitful and the one focused on the greatness of the world will get what they warrant in their self-centeredness. But God still cares for those who consider God’s presence. Our Epistle was from Paul’s letter to the Colossians and serves as reminder that God has sent Jesus to be the image of God with people. And when we live a life focused on God we will receive the riches of relationship with God through time.
Our sermon was based on the reading from Luke’s gospel. The story was Martha and Mary and the tension between doing and being; the tension between living up to external standards and living in relationship with God. Thankfully, we are called to do and be, and God lets us work our way through knowing which is the right place to be in the moment. God invites us to be attentive to God at work in our lives and communities.
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42
Video of worship: https://youtu.be/1ZrdlnRzmVU
Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/RTFgAY4FZbs
0 Comments