July 13, 2014 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Thursdays at 10:00 AM Readings for 6th Sunday after Pentecost, July 20, 2014

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1 Page 1 of 8 Living the Lectionary a weekly study of the Scriptures assigned for the coming Sunday. An opportunity to make the rhythms of the readings become a part of the rhythms of your life. July 13, 2014 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Thursdays at 10:00 AM Readings for 6th Sunday after Pentecost, July 20, 2014 A lectionary is a collection of readings from Sacred Scripture. These readings are arranged according to the Church's calendar and are intended to be read at the regular, weekly gathering of God's people The Lutheran Service Book Lectionaries provide Sunday readings that begin with the season of Advent. For each Sunday and festival, three scripture readings are listed from the Old Testament, the New Testament (an Epistle reading) and a Gospel reading. Psalms for the Introit are also appointed. These scripture readings are often the basis of the sermon for that Sunday. There are two Lectionary Series available. The most commonly used Lectionary is the Three-Year Series (A, B, C): Year A, ( ), focuses on the Gospel of Matthew Year B, ( ), focuses on the Gospel of Mark and selections from the Gospel of John Year C, ( ), focuses on the Gospel of Luke. The Season After Pentecost is essentially the part of the year that is left over after everything has been accounted for. The name of this season varies widely from church to church it can be called Kingdomtide, Dominiontide, or Ordinary Time. In most churches, the general theme of the Bible readings and sermons concerns the church s mission in the world. The Season After Pentecost begins on the day after Pentecost. In the western Church, it ends on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent. In the eastern Church, it ends on 14 November.

2 Page 2 of 8 6th Sunday after Pentecost July 20, 2014 (5th Sunday after Trinity, Proper 11 [16]) Green Hymn of the Day LSB 772 In holy conversation The hymn of the day is based on a Swedish tune, Bred Dina Vida Vingar. It was introduced in the Lutheran supplemental hymnal, With One Voice. With One Voice has been receiving glowing praise since its publication in April of Developed for use by the ELCA and ELCIC (Evangelical Church in Canada), With One Voice contains over 200 hymns, songs and pieces of service music The tune is better known as "Thy Holy Wings" (originally "Bred dina vida vingar" literally "Spread your wide wings"), a Swedish metrical psalter with lyrics by Lina Sandell in 1860 and reworked in 1865 to a Danish or Swedish folk melody. The Lutheran Service book is the only hymnal to use these words written by Dr. Gregory J Wismar, a now retired LCMS pastor. Isaiah 44:6-8 New International Version (NIV) (next week Deuteronomy 7:6-9) The LORD, Not Idols 6 This is what the LORD says Israel s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. 7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come yes, let them foretell what will come. 8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.

3 Page 3 of 8 Psalm 119:57-64 (next week Psalm 125) Heth [Ḥet or H et (also spelled Khet, Kheth, Chet, Cheth, Het, or Heth)] 57 You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words. 58 I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. 60 I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. 61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. 62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. 63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. 64 The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees חית Chet The Hebrew Letter Hebrew Letter Chet The Hebrew letter Chet (חית) is difficult for many English speakers to pronounce because the sound doesn't exist in

4 Page 4 of 8 the English alphabet. It's not pronounced like the 'ch' in the English word cheese. Not at all! To say it correctly, you make a gurgling sound at the back of the throat. People from Scotland can say the Chet (יתח) properly, because it is a sound they use in words like loch, as in the Loch Ness Monster. To hear the Chet (יתח) pronounced, just go to the Hebrew Alphabet Video below. The Chet (יתח) is used in many words you probably already know, like L'Chaim יים חל (to life). When people try to identify this letter with something in the English alphabet, they will transliterate it as 'H', 'Ch' or 'Kh.' Because Chet (יתח) is the first letter in the word Chanukah this is why you see the name of the holiday spelled,(נוכהח) different ways when written in English. Alphabet-Hebrew-Letters# Romans 8:18-27 (Romans 8:28-39) Present Suffering and Future Glory 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that [a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

5 Page 5 of 8 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God s people in accordance with the will of God. Footnotes: a. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For Matthew 13:24-30, (Matthew 13:44-52) The Parable of the Weeds 24 Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The owner s servants came to him and said, Sir, didn t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from? 28 An enemy did this, he replied.

6 Page 6 of 8 The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? 29 No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn. The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31 He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. 33 He told them still another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds [27 kilograms] of flour until it worked all through the dough. 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. [Psalm 78:2] The Parable of the Weeds Explained 36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field. 37 He answered, The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The

7 harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.}] Page 7 of 8

8 Page 8 of 8 Graphic from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Martinsville, Indiana Living the Lectionary is a class that presented each Thursday at 10:00 AM to look ahead to the readings for Sunday. Each lesson is also posted in the Bible Studies tab of the congregational website, churchparma.com Make the lectionary a part of your life.