Sunday, August 11, 2024
Creators of Shalom
Music
Introit
Hymn #300
Hymn #637
Hymn #753
Hymn #378
Hymn #543
Sermon Notes
By Rev. AJ Ochart
Scripture:
Matthew 5:9-10; 1 Samuel 19:1-7Theme:
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” is a beautiful sentiment, that is very often confused. What would this phrase mean to the listeners of Jesus’ day, who lived under the ruthless occupation of the Roman Empire? What would this talk of ‘peacemaking’ mean to the Sadducees who made peace (and preserved their own power) by collaborating with Rome; to the Pharisees who worked for peace by insisting on their own narrow interpretation of Torah; for the Essenes who went off to live by themselves and focus on their own ritual purity; or to the Zealots who tried to make peace by causing violence? What does it mean in our own context where ‘peacemaking’ often means the absence of (obvious) conflict? How could this message of Jesus peacemaking be useful in our deeply divided political landscape? How could it be revolutionary? What would happen if we actually took it seriously?
Music Notes
By Kenneth Jones
Reflections:
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Introit: Pulling from our Call to Worship scripture, Ephesians 4, verse 5 of “O Christ, the Healer” speaks to the community of faith; “Grant that we all, made one in faith…”
Opening Hymn: The opening hymn continues that theme of the community of faith with “We Are One in the Spirit”.
Transition Hymn: For the month of August, our Transition Hymn will be “O Sing to the Lord”.
Special Music: AJ will be singing special music for us again, “Us for Them” by Gungor.
Responsive Hymn: When the theme is from “Blessed are the peacemakers”, singing “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” is a must.
Sending Hymn: Another reflection on peace, “We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom”, starts with a paraphrase of Isaiah 11:6-9 and then the other verses offer reflection in expanding scope.
Benediction: As I was looking for a benediction for the month of August, I thought the final verse of “O Christ, Surround Me” seemed an appropriate reminder in this time of increasing division and ugliness; “Christ in the eyes of all who see me, Christ in the ears that hear my voice, Christ in all the hearts that know me.”