July 8, 2018
TIME AFTER PENTECOST — LECTIONARY 14

INTRODUCTION
Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that they will be dependent on how others receive them. When we are sent from the assembly to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable, to be dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the between: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
full of compassion and mercy,
abounding in steadfast love.
Amen.

Trusting God's promise of forgiveness,
let us confess our sin against God and one another.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Eternal God our creator,
in you we live and move and have our being.
Look upon us, your children,
the work of your hands.
Forgive us all our offenses,
and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires.
By your grace draw us near to you,
our refuge and our strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit given to us.
In the mercy of almighty God,
Christ died for us while we still were sinners;
and for his sake, God + forgives you all your sins.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of the covenant, in our baptism you call us to proclaim the coming of your kingdom. Give us the courage you gave the apostles, that we may faithfully witness to your love and peace in every circumstance of life, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. I will boast gladly | of my weaknesses,* so that the power of Christ may | dwell in me. Alleluia. (2 Cor. 12:9)

READINGS AND PSALM
Ezekiel 2:1-5
Psalm 123
Our eyes look to you, O God, until you show us your mercy. (Ps. 123:2)
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 2:1-5
In 597 B.C., the priest Ezekiel was removed into exile in Babylon. While there, he received a vision of God appearing majestically on a chariot throne. Today's reading recounts God's commissioning of Ezekiel during this vision. The prophet is to speak God's word to a people unwilling to hear.

1[A voice] said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. 2And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD." 5Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.

PSALM: Psalm 123
Our eyes look to you, O God, until you show us your mercy. (Ps. 123:2)

1To you I lift | up my eyes,
	to you enthroned | in the heavens.
2As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
and the eyes of a maid to the hand | of her mistress,
	so our eyes look to you, O LORD our God, 
	until you show | us your mercy.  R
3Have mercy upon us, O | LORD, have mercy,
	for we have had more than enough | of contempt,
4too much of the scorn of the in- | dolent rich,
	and of the derision | of the proud.  R

SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Christians do not boast of their own accomplishments. Rather, Christian boasting focuses attention on how the power of Christ is present in our lives, especially in times of weakness and vulnerability. No matter what our circumstances in life, Christ's grace is sufficient for us.

2I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—4was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

GOSPEL: Mark 6:1-13
At home and abroad, Jesus and his disciples encounter resistance as they seek to proclaim God's word and relieve affliction.

1[Jesus] came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate.
Growing in faith and discipleship, we give thanks for God's merciful compassion as we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
Lord God, equip all your faithful people for the work of mission. When we are empty-handed, give us partners in ministry. Help us to speak boldly of your promises without reservation or fear. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord God, you breathe life into the dust of the earth. Bless the land and all who work it. Bring relief to areas of drought and famine. Send healing rains and cooling breezes to places scorched by sun and heat. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord God, when the nations are rebellious, raise up prophets and leaders to proclaim your way of justice. Provide for the needs of refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, and exiles. Protect all who live in areas of war and conflict. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord God, your grace is sufficient to bring wholeness to human weakness. Restore hope to those suffering hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Strengthen all who are fragile in body, mind, or spirit (especially). Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord God, renew our commitment to the work of hospitality. Help us to offer a caring welcome to visitors and to those returning to the church. Help us to be living examples of your grace and your generosity. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Lord God, you equip disciples throughout the ages to proclaim your kingdom. Lead us by faith until every weakness of this world has been made perfect in the power of your everlasting glory. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we lift to you these prayers and the prayers of our hearts, trusting in your everlasting love and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God,
you open wide your hand
and satisfy the need of every living thing.
You have set this feast before us.
Open our hands to receive it.
Open our hearts to embrace it.
Open our lives to live it.
We pray this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Jesus Christ, host of this meal,
you have given us not only this bread and cup,
but your very self, that we may feast on your great love.
Filled again by these signs of your grace,
may we hunger for your reign of justice,
may we thirst for your way of peace,
for you are Lord forevermore.
Amen.

SENDING OF COMMUNION
O God of tender compassion,
as you healed the sick and welcomed the stranger,
bless those who leave this assembly
to share the gifts of this table
with our sisters and brothers
who are sick/homebound/imprisoned.
May they be sustained by the love and prayers
of this community,
and by the Bread of life that satisfies all hunger,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

BLESSING
May God, whose power working in us
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine,
grant you the gifts of faith and hope.
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve.
Thanks be to God.

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. Scripture quotations (except psalms) from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.