15th September 2013

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
15 September 2013

¯ THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
305, 465, 440 (V 1-4), 170, 851.

FIRST BIBLE READING:
Exodus 32: 7-14
'Moses pleads for the people and the Lord relents'

The Lord said to Moses, "Hurry and go back down, because your people, whom you led out of Egypt, have sinned and rejected me. They have already left the way that I commanded them to follow; they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold and have worshiped it and offered sacrifices to it.
They are saying that this is their god, who led them out of Egypt. I know how stubborn these people are.
Now, don't try to stop me. I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you and your descendants into a great nation."
But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said,
"Lord, why should you be so angry with your people, whom you rescued from Egypt with great might and power?
Why should the Egyptians be able to say that you led your people out of Egypt, planning to kill them in the mountains and destroy them completely? Stop being angry; change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Remember the solemn promise you made to them to give them as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and to give their descendants all that land you promised would be their possession forever."
So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

SECOND BIBLE READING:
1 Timothy 1: 12-17;
'Gratitude for God's mercy'

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING:
Luke 15: 1-10;
'The lost sheep and the lost coin.'

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with
them."
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

EXODUS 32: 7-14:

The stipulations of the law were still in the process of being revealed when the people did not
simply complain, but actually rebelliously fell away from the God who had brought them miraculously out of Egypt.
The degree of their apostasy moved them to manufacture their own god who would act more quickly than the God on whom they were waiting. God's anger over sin, in this case so blatant and open, resulted in his determination to destroy the nation and to start all over again to raise a people through Moses and his descendants.
Moses' intercessory prayer reminded the Lord of his investment of care for Israel, the opportunity this would give the Egyptians to mock, and the promises he had made to their forebears. That God repented is a humanly expressed picture of his willingness to alter his threatened course in answer to prayer, but not, of course, his long-term purpose.

1 TIMOTHY 1: 12-17:
Among encouragements for the young pastor Timothy,
Paul repeats his own experience of salvation. It begins with his confession of former blind sin connected with hard unbelief. Christ nevertheless showed mercy and extended his amazing grace to turn Paul around and entrust him with service in the gospel. This brings us one of the most memorable sayings of Scripture, right alongside of John 3:16, namely, 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' Paul says that this grace was given also to encourage sinners in all places over all ages that through free forgiveness there is the sure gift of eternal life. What better comment could be made than the marvelous doxology that concludes the section!

LUKE 15:1-10:
These two much-loved parables of Jesus came in response to censure from the Pharisees that Jesus was befriending sinners. The teaching that Jesus conveyed through them is firstly that quite clearly sinners are lost. In other words, sin separates people from God. The second great teaching is that God grieves over that separation to the point that he goes looking for those sinners who are lost until they are found and restored. This truth is extended to one sheep out of the hundred, or one coin out of the whole house.
Note the joy Jesus expresses over the profit God sees in this recovery of a human soul. The angels join in the celebration in heaven! Do we always give God this joy?

Bible readings for Sunday 22nd September:
Amos 8: 4-7,
1 Timothy 2: 1-7,
Luke 16: 1-13

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 15th - 22nd Sept:
Sunday School continues this morning.
Tuesday - 12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing- along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (with Holy - Communion).
2. St John's Lutheran School Concert:
St John's school is holding its concert this Thursday 19th September, 2013 at 7.30 pm at the
Geelong Arena, North Geelong. Flyers with furthe information are available from the front foyer and on notice board near kitchen. It should be noted that no tickets will be sold on the night. They must be pre - purchased from the St. John's School office.
With allocation of seats, if people wish to sit together they must buy their tickets together.

3. Bus Trip Thurs. 26th September :
Further reminder that St John's Evening Fellowship is planning a bus trip on Thursday 26th September to Narrapumelap Mansion, near Wycliffe, about a two hour trip. Further details including cost and who to contact, are available from the notice board near
kitchen.
Final numbers requested by this Friday
BUS PICK UP WILL BE AT OUR REDEEMER NORTH GEELONG

4. Tandara Camp - Internship 2014:
Persons between 18 and 24 may be interested in applying for an internship at Tandara Lutheran Camp, Hall's Gap. Please see notice board near kitchen for further information.
Applications close 18th October, 2013.
Coming up for your diary:
Sunday 22nd September - Nominations Committee.
Wednesday 25th September - Evening Bible study group study on Colossians continues at the home of Linda and Paul Menzel, 400 Lake Road Connewarre.
Saturday 5th October - from 9.00 am General interior clean of church (with fellowship B.B-Q.
Sunday 20th October - (Third Sunday) - Sunday School. (No Sunday School during school term break)
Tuesday 8th October - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Friday 11th October - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 15th October - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Reformation Sunday 27th October - 9.30 am - worship service with H.C.at 'Our Redeemer'.
Sunday 3rd November - 9.30 am - 'All Saints' worship service. Fellowship morning tea to follow.
Sunday 1st December - (after worship) - Election of office bearers for 2014.