1st September 2013 Pentecost 15

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Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
1 September 2013

'A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society'.
(Billy Graham - Christian Evangelist.)
'The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother' – (Theodore Hesburgh - Catholic Priest).

Father's Day reflection:
Well, here comes Father's Day. Honestly, I don't much need a calendar or a card company for me to wax reflective about fathers and fatherhood. The special day for fathers is fine, but I rarely take a breath on any day without realizing that way up high on the short list of the best blessings God the Father put into my life, is my father. That I would be the son of the finest man I have ever known
is a gift of pure grace. I had nothing to do with it. I didn't, and don't,
and couldn't, deserve it in the least.

If you've had that same kind of blessing, and I hope you have, then you know the proper response for that kind of father is humility and eternal gratitude to the Father of us all. You had a giant step forward from the moment of your birth in experiencing and learning about the love of your heavenly Father. No small blessing that!!
If you're part of Christ's Body, the church, the blessing is multiplied as He has promised "fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters" far beyond our merely human allotment! What an amazing family! All because of our amazing God the Father.

My father took care of my "self-esteem" issues by getting the focus right himself. It would never have occurred to Dad to waste time navel-gazing, agonizing about whether or not he believed in himself. My father was far too busy helping his family, and many others, believe in the Father of us all, the One who absolutely loves, values, and counts each child as precious. "Self" esteem is pretty thin stuff compared to knowing for sure that God your Father esteems and delights in you.
(Curtis K. Shelburne: Religion columnist, Muleshoe USA)

¯ THIS MORNING'S SONG'S OF PRAISE:
496, Ps 112, 373, 502, 265, 301.

FIRST BIBLE READING:
Proverbs 25: 6, 7
'The wisdom of humility'

Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, 'Come up here,'than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

SECOND BIBLE READING:
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15, 16;
''Obligations in community, home, and church'

Keep on loving one another as fellow Christians.
Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are.
Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you'. Let us be bold, then,
and say,
The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?'
Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord. Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.

GOSPEL READING:
Luke 14: 1, 7-14;
'Humility and hospitality'

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you,
"Give this man your seat". Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, "Friend, move up to a better place". Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.
'If you exalt yourself, your will be humbled. But if you humble yourself, you will be exalted'.
Then Jesus said to his host, 'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite
you back and so you will be repaid.

NOTES ON THE READINGS:

PROVERBS 25: 6,7:
Arrogance is at any time unwarranted. It is more fitting to compare oneself with those who are wiser, greater or more accomplished than those we consider to be our inferior.
An unsolicited elevation is infinitely preferable to one's pride having been set before a fall, where one is humiliated in the presence of the same 'inferior'.

HEBREWS 13:1-8,15,16:
In this chapter the writer rounds off the letter with appeals directed towards fulfilling specific injunctions of Christ for worthy living. This is in keeping with the Lord's comforting promise never to leave nor forsake his disciples.
His unchanging nature, yesterday, today and forever, provides double assurance. To Christ's own, true sacrifices consist of thanksgiving, confession of the truth and sharing in love with the needy.

LUKE 14:1,7-14:
Jesus' hosts were watching him malevolently. This particular teaching was not simply to impart good social advice as in Proverbs 25:6,7. Luke tells us this was a parable. It therefore illustrates something significant about the kingdom of God. God does not have special regard for those who ambitiously place themselves in positions of importance. God rather humbles the proud and raises up the humble. Neither should invitations and favours be bestowed in the hope of personal gain as the outcome. God will reward whatever freehearted service is humbly given without expectation of gain, perhaps not now but most certainly in the resurrection.

Bible readings for Sunday 8th September:
Deut. 30: 15-20,
Philemon 1-21,
Luke: 14: 25-33

Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 1st - 8th Sept:
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 - 'Family Sunday' public divine service (with Holy Communion),
followed by B.Y.O (non- Bar-B-Q) picnic lunch at Rippleside Park, North Geelong.
If inclement weather, in 'Our Redeemer' hall.

2. Lunch - Araluen - Sun. 27th Oct:
Another reminder that completed registration forms for the Longest Lutheran Lunch
Reformation Sunday) at Araluen Camp on Sunday 27th October, 2013, together with payment
should be given to our Treasurer Phil,
no later than Sunday 6th October.

3. 2013 Christian Life Week Camps:
Further reminder of the two remaining Christian Life Week Camps for young people 13 -18
years, theme "MeMe's"; to be held at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap; as follows:
Green: September 23rd - 27th,
Yellow: September 30th - October 4th.
More details in the camper's and parent's letters which along with reg. forms are available from
the front foyer.

4. Lutheran Media Ministries:
The 'Face to Face' radio and TV guide for September is available from the hall notice board.

Coming up for your diary:
Wednesday 11th September - 7.30 pm -
Evening Bible study group on Colossians continues - venue to be announced.

Thursday 12th September - 1.30 pm – Ladies Fellowship Group meet and 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm - Fellowship worship service (with Holy Communion)
at 'Our Redeemer. Afternoon tea to follow.

Saturday 5th October - from 9.00 am –
General interior clean of church (with fellowship Bar-B-Q).

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 at 'Our Redeemer'.