Greetings from the Rector’s Study in Chuckatuck. It has been an unsettled week in Suffolk, not bad – simply unsettled. There has been a lot of little things competing for attention in the neighborhood and at the Parish. But we are well as we approach the 2/3 mark of 2023 – how have almost 8 months passed this year? Thankfully, God has been with us all the way and at all times. May the week before Labor Day and the “end of summer” find you refreshed and renewed for the remainder of the year.

As we began worship we heard a prayer for us to be joined in unity – not speaking all alike but telling our part of the same story of God in our lives. Our Hebrew Scripture reading from Exodus set the stage for today. We heard about the chaos of Egypt after there was a change in Pharaoh and the oppression of the Jews. But we heard the rest of the story, the faithful midwives were part of the birth of Moses and the witness of the ones who help deliver God’s people. The Psalmist sang a song that reminds us that God has been (and is) on our side. If that weren’t the case, we would not survive. Our New Testament lesson from Paul’s letter to the Romans served the reminder that we need to view ourselves honestly and to set our sights on God’s kingdom not earthly kingdoms.

Today’s sermon was based on Matthew’s gospel story of Jesus asking the Disciples “who do you say that I am?” Jesus prods the Disciples to remember that Jesus and God are in charge, not just of what was, but will be in charge today and for all eternity. Our question for today, “what do we say the Church is?” And, “of what importance is God in our lives?” We will never know the whole answer to those questions but, with others, we can see what can be in God’s kingdom.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

Listen at: https://audiomack.com/fatherles-1/song/13-pentecost-sermon

Video of worship: https://youtu.be/C7AsIEbFppY

Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/999MYEI2_B8