 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Thursday, August 10, 2023 Some excellent news! 1 Kings 19:9-18 – Psalm 85:8-13Romans 10:5-15 – Matthew 14: 22-33  Good News! Meet the new Director of Residential Life and Housing at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee! We are so happy for Rocky Walker. More good news: Instead of the cramped little apartment that had at SBU they will have a three-bedroom house provided by the University. There will be room for everyone for the first time! Michael Elliott – We’re sending you our friends. These little ones are adorable – and there’s a new baby coming in October. Hopefully they will find welcome at church where you are!  A call today from the Rev. Brenda Sickler retired in Utah, asking about you all, delighting in Louise Ritter’s picture in the newsletter — and say to remind you, Louise, that you are still older than she is! She was also concerned about Deann and Joe Megonnell in Hawaii. Joe and Deann are safe – They do not live on Maui, but all the islands got the winds and rain from the hurricane: trees down and other damage. But only Maui saw catastrophic damage from high winds whipping up the wildfires fires that spread rapidly across the island. Do please pray for all of Hawaii as the state and federal government send massive aid to assist, and as churches and other local entities try to help those who have been burned out – losing everything. So far more than 60 people are known to have been killed in those raging fires – and the number is expected to rise.   Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. “He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” A first comment It is popular these days to suggest that Jesus never asked us to worship him, but only to follow him. And strictly speaking, of course, that’s true. But it misses the point. Christians have always worshiped the Lord Jesus because for us he is “the exact image” of the Father, the one God. And when God speaks to us through Jesus, and when we listen and hear – we both worship and follow. I urge you to listen to Dr Bertice Berry’s story today, which I have posted on our Facebook page and on mine, but which you can access through Youtube. It’s called, “My Soul is a Witness” and it will make sense of worship as the communal act that has given courage to Jesus’ followers under stress and in suffering and facing injustice.  |
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