Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
14 September 2014
THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
354, 31, 635, 473, 292.
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Exodus 14: 19-31
'The crossing of the Red Sea' (GNB)
The angel of God, who had been in front of the army of Israel, moved and went to the rear. The pillar of cloud also moved until it was between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The cloud made it dark for the Egyptians, but gave light to the people of Israel, and so the armies could not come near each other all night.
Moses held out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind. It blew all night and turned the sea into dry land. The water was divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides. The Egyptians pursued them and went after them into the sea with all their horses, chariots, and drivers.
Just before dawn the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw them into a panic. He made the wheels of their chariots get stuck, so that they moved with great difficulty. The Egyptians said, 'The Lord is fighting for the Israelites against us. Let's get out of here!'
The Lord said to Moses, 'Hold out your hand over the sea, and the water will come back over the Egyptians and their chariots and drivers'.
So Moses held out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the water returned to its normal level.
The Egyptians tried to escape from the water, but the Lord threw them into the sea. The water returned and covered the chariots, the drivers, and all the Egyptian army that had followed the Israelites into the sea; not one of them was left.
But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on both sides.
On that day the Lord saved the people of Israel from the Egyptians, and the Israelites saw them lying dead on the seashore. When the Israelites saw the great power with which the Lord had defeated the Egyptians, they stood in awe of the Lord; and they had faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
SECOND BIBLE READING:
Romans 14: 1-12;
'The strong and the weak in faith' (GNB)
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about personal opinions. The faith of some allows them to eat anything, but the weak faith of others allows them to eat only vegetables.
Those who will eat anything are not to despise those who don't; while those who eat only vegetables are not to pass judgment on those who will eat anything; for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail.
And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed. Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while others think that all days are the same.
Each of you should firmly make up your own mind. Any followers who think highly of a certain day do so in honour of the Lord; they will eat anything and so honour the Lord, because they give thanks to God for the food.
And any followers who refuse to eat certain things do so in honour of the Lord, and they give thanks to God.
We do not live for ourselves only, nor do we die for ourselves only. If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of the living and of the dead.
You, then, who eat only vegetables – why do you pass judgment on others? And you who eat anything – why do you despise others? All of us will stand before God to be judged by him. For the Scripture says,
'As surely as I am the living God, says the Lord, everyone will kneel before me, and everyone will confess that I am God'.
All of us, then, will have to give an account of ourselves to God.
GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 18: 21-35;
'Parable of the unforgiving servant' (GNB)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?'
'No, not seven times', answered Jesus, 'but seventy times seven, because the kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.
The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. "Be patient with me", he begged, "and I will pay you everything!" The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.
'Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 denarii (over 3 month's salary). He grabbed him and started choking him. "Pay back what you owe me!" he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!" But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he could pay the debt.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. "You worthless slave!" he said, "I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you".
The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he paid back the whole amount'.
And Jesus concluded, 'That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive other people from your heart'.
NOTES ON THE SECOND READING:
ROMANS 14: 1-12:
How often doesn't it happen that matters neither forbidden nor commanded by God can cause anger, division and hatred even among Christians? Paul admonishes the Roman Christians not to permit the eating or non-eating of meat, nor the observance or non-observance of particular holy days, to colour their judgment of each other.
It is of utmost importance to think of each other as individually saved by God's gracious forgiveness in order to live and die for him. Then we will respect one another.
Bible readings for Sunday 21st September 2014:
Exodus 16: 2-15, Philippians 1: 21-39, Matthew 20: 1-16.
This week in the Lord's Service-14th -21st September:
1. Today after worship - Nominations Committee meet.
Tuesday -12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time. 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (Non Holy- Communion).
2. St John's Bus Trip - 9th October :
As fully publicised last Sunday, St John's Evening Fellowship has organised a bus trip to Werribee mansion/ rose garden on Thursday 9th October,
leaving from 'Our Redeemer' at 9.30 am, returning at 3 pm. If you would like to come, please let Norma Koehne know by Wednesday 1st October either by
phone 52488228, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or text to 0413 595 176.
3. Situation Vacant - Araluen:
Araluen Lutheran Camp Angelsea has some casual work (cleaning duties) available commencing Monday 22nd Sept. till Friday 31st October.
Most days are 9.30 am start with early to mid afternoon finish. Eight different days cleaning are available within those 22nd - 31st dates.
Prefer candidates to be available for familiarisation with cleaning duties prior to the 22nd. Usual casual wage and work conditions apply.
Please contact Manager Steve Burger 5263 3337 or 0407 840 12,or Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Coming up for your diary:
Sunday 28th September - Fellowship evening at 'Our Redeemer' - 5.30 pm (soup/rolls) - Meal by gold coin if anyone wishes to make a donation! 6.00 pm
movie 'Heaven is for Real'. All most welcome!
Tuesday 7th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Friday 10th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 14th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Sunday 19th October - Sunday School resumes.
Thursday 30th October - 2.30 pm - Reformation mid - week worship service (with Holy Communion), followed by fellowship afternoon tea. All welcome!!