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3RD SUNDAY OF PENTECOST - JUNE 21, 2020

JUNE 21 - 3RD SUNDAY OF PENTECOST
Do not be afraid...

Jesus' words this Sunday, well, don't sound a lot like Jesus as he prepares his disciples to go out in his name. He talks about bringing a sword, not peace. He says that because of him, families will be divided. He says you are only worthy if you pick up your cross and follow. What's with this transactional language?

NOT MUCH GRACE.

What in the world is Jesus inviting us to hear this week?

Some of the best interpreting advice I ever received was to ask of the text "what is repeated?" What themes are emerging? What point is the speaker circling around that he or she wants us to hear?

Notice that Jesus says "do not be afraid" THREE times. These are words often attributed to angels, but here Jesus speaks them. Jesus is honest with his followers...that following won't be easy. Transformation never is. Living a life-well lived take effort. Orienting your life around others and not yourself is not natural.

And, maybe this is the dividing line Jesus speaks of. Not that we should divide ourselves from family and others if they don't believe the same thing we do. It's not a division of who God loves and who God doesn't love. YET, when our life is oriented to serving the other...it will be difficult to connect and identify with those whose life is oriented towards self.

So...good folks of St. Peter's, do not be afraid as you are sent by Jesus out into the week and world. Do not be afraid to be about a life-well lived...about orienting your life towards others, just as God has oriented God's life toward you...toward us all.

Peace,
PV

Special thank you to those who helped make our online worship possible this morning, a powerful witness that even though space may separate us, it is the love of God in Christ which connects and re-connects us this day and always (The Cheesman Family, The Knight Family, The Vanicek Family, Matthew Martin).
LIVE-STREAM WORSHIP
The live-stream worship begins at 9AM on Sunday. Visit our website ( CLICK HERE ) for links to all our online resources for worship and communication.
This week is our DEBUT live-stream worship!

A few notes:
  • the link below works like it normally does. Click it to watch on YouTube.

  • the live-stream will begin about 5 minutes before 9am on Sunday with announcement slides.

  • the live-stream will turn into a video on YouTube that can be viewed ANYTIME after the worship.

  • BE GRACIOUS. It was easy to tweak audio and visual when we did pre-recorded worship, but now everything is done on the fly, so be patient as we learn how to get audio and transitions dialed in properly.

  • Please send Pastor Vanicek or Olivia Cheesman feedback on what went well or ideas on how we can improve live-streaming of worship.

  • NOTE: Since our two new cameras are still on backorder, we are using the one we have. It is nice, but since we only have one back of the room camera, some transitions will be with pans and not fades.

  • NOTE: We plan to also have the ability to watch our live-stream worship on Facebook ready by the 28th.
This Sunday's worship is printed in a downloadable bulletin to aid in your worship this weekend.
DWELLING IN THE WORD
 Martin Luther argued that “the ears are the only organs of a Christian,” since it is through the ear that life begins, through hearing the preached Word of God.

Read scripture from YOUR Bible at home. Remember the story of who gave you or how you got your Bible. May this story remind you of your connection to Christ & others.

READINGS FOR PENTECOST+3
Jeremiah 20:7-13 (working for God is hard!)
Psalm 69:7-10,16-18 (for when you feel alone)
Matthew 10:24-39  (taking up our cross and following Jesus)

CLICK HERE for various ways to DWELL IN THE WORD .
REMEMBERING OUR COMMUNION
One thing that many miss is sharing in Holy Communion.  This time invites us to turn our question from, "How do we receive Holy Communion?” to “How does the Word of God come to us and how do we receive the Word of God?
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Prayer is central to the life of faith because it connects us to God and each other, a reminder that we are never socially distanced in Christ. Please say these names aloud as a way of lifting them up to God this day. Names in bold were added this past week. You are welcome in this time of prayer to include your own joys and concerns.
Pam Wooten
Kaiden King
Ruby Sanders
David Ping
Carol Stiles
Angie Atkinson
Carolyn Selman
Marci Wilde
Joe Manno
Jim Dipprey
Faith Trapp
Ken Tate
Wyatt Crouse
Jenny Braeutigam
Vondean Schmidt
Vince Wesch
Sandra Conners
Laverne Pullin
Dick Schroer
Jolene Williams
Annie Woods
Nik Schappe
Doris Tate
Linda Williams
Mary Posey
Harold Brueckner
Mary Langehennig

Jon Bohmann
Judy Saxsma
Chris Tretter
Ellen Adams
Philip Salyers
Gil Debner
Mike Knigge
Craig Fields
Julia Reitz
Lincoln Cortez
Wayne Rhoades
Marnie Casteneda
Wade Herrington
Wanda Center
Charles Butler
Diane and Bill Burke
Amanda Morris
Pete Davis
Danette DeMont
Shane Carpenter
Anne Hunnafin
Greg Schoonmaker
Bob Lenz
Toby Green
Tammy Whitman
Sibi & Don Kraemer
Brayden Ybarra
Larry Stahl
Margo Stahl
Bob & Kris Ward
Ron Burke
Greg Butler
For the Boyd Family in the loss of Jake Boyd.
For Donna Nelson in the loss of her grandson Drew Franklin.
OFFERINGS AND GIFTS TO GOD
Thank you for your continued generosity toward our operating budget during this time.

Stewardship quote for the week:

"God gives gifts that are meant to be used and enjoyed. Like the gift of Sabbath rest, God's blessings are for the enrichment of our lives. When we push those gifts to the back of the drawer, God responds, 'Use what I've given you, you might be surprised how it'll change your life!" - Scott Thompson, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, MT.

 If you’re not using electronic giving, you can still mail your offering to the church at 1803 Highway 1431 West, Marble Falls, TX 78654 . And if you’re not already a sustaining member of our ministry through our Consecration Sunday process, this is a great time to ask the question, "What % of my income is God calling me to give?" Even a commitment of $5 or $10 a week can make a huge difference in our community.

CLICK HERE   to give online one time, 
or to set up a reoccurring offering.

Or, simply text the amount 
you want to give to 830-460-5757.
BLESSING FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor heights, nor depths,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

God, the creator, +Jesus, the Christ,
and the Holy Spirit, the comforter,
bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.
GO IN PEACE...TOGETHER, BOLDLY LIVING AND SHARING GOD'S GRACE WITH ALL!
LIVE STREAMS FROM OUR SISTER CHURCHES
If you would like to tune into a live-stream or recorded worship from one of our sister ELCA congregations , click the button below to visit our synod's website archiving a cornucopia of options of how God's people are worshipping.
PRAYER RESOURCES FOR YOUR WEEK
This is wonderfully elegant website with a daily scripture reading, music to go along with the reading, and a reflection.

It's also an app for your smartphone. Search for "pray as you go" and take with you for anytime a way to recenter your day.