• Welcome to Living Grace Lutheran Church
  • The Rev. David E. Hardy, D.D., Pastor of Living Grace Lutheran
  • Boxes filled with 89 quilts, 31 school bags, and 16 fabric kits going to the Lutheran World Relief trucks to be shipped
  • God's Work, Our Hands - digging the pollunated garden
  • Working on the pollunated garden - God's Work, Our Hands
  • Pollunated garden - God's Work, Our Hands
  • Pollunated garden - God's Work, Our Hands
  • Good work - Pollunated Garden finished - God's Work, Our Hands
  • Live Music at the Community BBQ
  • Community BBQ-Cooking
  • Honey Samples from Heifer International

LIVING GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

WELCOMES YOU

ALL SUNDAY SERVICES AT 9:30 AM

 

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

15 SEPTEMBER 2024

Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.

Prayer of the Day

O God, through suffering and rejection you bring forth our salvation, and by the glory of the cross you transform our lives. Grant that for the sake of the gospel we may turn from the lure of evil, take up our cross, and follow your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

 The image of the servant of the Lord is one of the notable motifs in the book of Isaiah. Today’s reading describes the mission of the servant, whom early Christians associated with Jesus. Like Jesus, the servant does not strike back at his detractors but trusts in God’s steadfast love.

Psalm: Psalm 116:1-9

I will walk in the presence of the Lord. (Ps. 116:9)

Second Reading: James 3:1-12

This text uses various images to illustrate how damaging and hurtful the way we speak to and about others can be. Not only are we to control our speech, but what we say and how we say it are to reflect our faith.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-38

This story provides the turning point in Mark’s gospel. Peter is the first human being in the narrative to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, but he cannot accept that as the Messiah Jesus will have to suffer. Moreover, Jesus issues a strong challenge to all by connecting discipleship and the cross.

(from 2024 sundaysandseasons.com)