Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESSAll may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism. In the name of the Father,and of the + Son,and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known,and from whom no secrets are hid:cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love youand worthily magnify your holy name,through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.(Kneel or sit) Most merciful God,we confess that we are captive to sinand cannot free ourselves.We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,by what we have doneand by what we have left undone.We have not loved you with our whole heart;we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,have mercy on us.Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,so that we may delight in your willand walk in your ways,to the glory of your holy name.Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us,and for his sake God forgives us all our sins.As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ,and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins,in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

GATHERING HYMN ~ Eternal Father, Strong to Save No. 756

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

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PRAYER OF THE DAYLet us pray… O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.Amen.

FIRST READING ~ 1 Kings 19:9-189At [Horeb, the mount of God,][Elijah] came to a cave, and spent the night there.  Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”  11He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 15Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. 18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

PSALM 85:8-13 8I will listen to what the LORD| God is saying;  for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their | hearts to you. 9Truly, your salvation is very near to | those who fear you,  that your glory may dwell | in our land.  10Steadfast love and faithfulness have | met together;  righteousness and peace have | kissed each other. 11Faithfulness shall spring up | from the earth,  and righteousness shall look | down from heaven. 12The LORD will indeed | grant prosperity,  and our land will | yield its increase. 13Righteousness shall go be- | fore the LORD  and shall prepare for | God a pathway. 

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SECOND READING ~ Romans 10:5-155Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you,  on your lips and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  14But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”The Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel, according to St. Matthew, the 14th chapter.Glory to you, O Lord! 22[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while he dismissed the crowds.23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”  28Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ!

SERMONHave you ever been part of a “Come to Jesus” meeting? A “Come to Jesus” meeting is a euphemistic term for a meeting in which someone – preferably not you – has to be confronted by others with both unpleasant truths and the need for change. “Come to Jesus” meetings are not particularly fun for any of those involved, but particularly not for the one who’s being presented with issues about his or her behavior, performance, or chances – and the need for him or her to change course, conduct, or…jobs.

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“Come to Jesus” meetings probably got their name from the way many people hear our message as the Church.It may be a caricature, but very often people see us as those who go about to invite, urge, if not cajole people to “come to Jesus.”“You’re seeking greater fulfillment in your life? Come to Jesus!”“You’re restless, troubled, confused, and afraid? Come to Jesus!”“You’re captive to addiction, vice, or a lie? Come to Jesus!”“You’re in over your head, sinking under it all, and need to be saved? Come to Jesus!”None of these is a particularly wrong message. They all point people in the right direction. For Jesus is the life and the peace, the freedom and the salvation we all need. It’s just that coming to Jesus is not exactly like the “Come to Jesus” meeting that most people envision.

What is a “Come to Jesus” meeting really like? Matthew’s gospel tells us…about Peter coming to Jesus. Exhausted after a restless night on a dark stormy sea, Peter suddenly knew that coming to Jesus had to be a “throw caution to the wind” kind of opportunity, and not an interrogation. In fact, Peter asked for his “Come to Jesus” meeting! Peter knew that coming to Jesus had to be a daring, maybe foolhardy kind of thing. Peter knew that coming to Jesus had to mean stepping out into the very thing he’d been fighting all through the night. Peter alone knew what coming to Jesus really means, and even then he did not make it. He tried, but the fierce winds of creation’s rage and the gales of heedless ferocity captured his attention and made him too afraid; and before he could get to Jesus, he was sinking like a rock.

Coming to Jesus means having to step out into the very tumult that makes us afraid and weak. Coming to Jesus means having to step out into the very forces that that have been trying to wreck and overwhelm you. Are you and I so sure we want to come to Jesus? Look at what happened to Peter! Are we sure we should be praying to come to Jesus? Yes, we should be! Peter had it right on! Faith – if we’re ever going to have it or claim it – faith demands a time when we throw caution to the wind, step out into the chaos, and come to Jesus! No more splashing about in the safe shallow end of life, no more wading in the kiddy pool of life, but a stepping out into the storm to test and deepen real faith – that’s what it means to come to Jesus!

Did Peter fail? He sure faltered. But he sure had courage. When Jesus said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,” Peter did just that. Peter displayed a bravery in coming to Jesus that none of the rest who stayed in the boat had yet mustered. He took faith’s daring step. And because of some real fear, it sure turned into taking a plunge! But do you think he ever regretted stepping up and stepping out to “come to Jesus”? It’s still OK to be of little faith when you have a Lord of immense grace.

I don’t think we can always play it so safe in our faith life, and for two reasons. One, no matter how skilled and adept we are, storms are going to come; and some of them are overwhelming. In eastern Virginia and in many other places around the globe, how many people are still trying to cope with, much less recover from, what storms of wind, wave, and flood have done? And how many people, no matter how skilled and adept they are, are still trying to cope with COVID-19, or bankruptcy, or job loss, or the death of a loved one? We can’t always have it so safe in our faith life because storms are going to come, and some are overwhelming.

And secondly, we can’t always play it so safe in our faith life because faith inevitably entails risk. Faith proves to be a sure thing; but faith is not necessarily a safe thing. Faith pushes us to trust right when the outcome is anything but certain. There’s always a risk, a dare, to real faith. Faith puts you “out there” where there’s exposure to risk and harm. Faith beckons a venturing into sometimes dark and unknown waters.

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Oddly enough, right now is the time for some real faith ventures. Starting a new school year or entering college is now all about virtual learning.“Will I be able to navigate that?” “What’s best for my child now?” “What happened to the wedding we’d planned? I had such a different picture of the ceremony from what’s going to be possible now.” “Things at the office have really changed…since my office is now in my home, in the corner of the guest room. How are we going to manage a career and childcare under the same roof?”“Is it safe to go to the doctor, to undergo the procedure, or to have the operation?”

All around and among us, people are facing some really new ventures and choices that are confronting them with risky challenges and chances. And all around and among us, faith is needed for real people to step up and to step out to claim the opportunity. If you and I have a faith life, then we will each have some moment when we have to throw caution to the wind, and step out into the fray to…come to Jesus, who is there with new life and promise for us.

But I believe we muster the courage to come to Jesus only when we understand how wonderfully and awesomely Jesus comes to us. Peter’s coming to Jesus is actually a small part of a much larger and moving account of how Jesus comes to his disciples, and right when they are in trouble. The real gospel story is not so much “Come to Jesus!” as “Wow! Jesus has come to us!” Jesus comes to his disciples struggling in the storm; and his word brings courage. But when the disciples first notice a figure walking on the water, they are terrified and think it’s a ghost. Imagine that. The disciples are afraid of the very one who’s come to save them. …That ever happen to you? What’s so real are the throes of the storm; what’s so unreal is the presence of God in such a godless situation. What’s so real to us is the harsh struggle to stay afloat and the danger of the storm we’ve been fighting; what’s so unreal is sensing the Prince of Peace walking right through our chaos and conflict.

Jesus comes to disciples struggling in the storm; it seems unreal that the Son of God is in this godless situation; but his word works courage. “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” The first thing Jesus brings is courage; and courage comes from but the sound of his Word and the promise of his wonderful presence. The storm is still raging, but now there’s courage for Jesus’ disciples to keep at their struggle. How many of you need that courage to keep at it? It’s not yet a matter of finding peace; it’s a matter of mustering the courage to keep battling the forces you know you have to fight. Nothing works courage in our hearts like hearing the Word of our Lord and the Promise of his presence. “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Jesus comes to struggling disciples in the storm; and his word brings courage.

And then Jesus comes to drowning Peter, and his hand brings salvation. In trying to be so with Jesus and so like Jesus, Peter gets in over his head. The forces of danger and destruction are so real and so wild that we lose our focus on Jesus, and fears and doubts begin to drag us under. There will come a time when each of us is going to have to go under! And the only thing we’re going to be able to do is to cry, “Lord, save me!” “And Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him.” We will all have to go under one day, but no one can sink below the reach of our Savior. Jesus comes to his own, and his Word brings courage. Now Jesus comes to that drowning disciple, and his hand brings salvation. How many of us will need to trust the reach of Jesus’ mighty hand as we go under?

And finally Jesus comes into the boat, and his presence brings peace. I suspect that’s why many of you are sharing this worship today. You’re hoping to find that peace. Do you know where folks sit in a church? They sit in the nave, the section of a church that’s named for the main section of a…boat. Your life can be crazy, the world wild, and the times tough; but in the midst of it all, there’s no peace

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like knowing that we’re in the same boat as Jesus – that Jesus has come to be in the same boat as you and I. I think that’s what many of you hope for today – the peace of knowing that Jesus is somehow in the same boat with you.

“When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” …Seems to me that’s our part. Today Jesus comes to disciples struggling in the storm; and his word brings courage. Today Jesus comes to that drowning disciple, and his hand brings salvation. Today Jesus comes into our boat, and his presence brings peace. And so for that sudden courage, for that saving help, and for that wondrous peace, let us in the boat worship and proclaim him: “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Pastor Chris PriceAugust 9, 2020

First English Lutheran ChurchRichmond, VA

HYMN OF THE DAY ~ Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me No. 755

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CREEDWe are God’s people through our baptism into Christ.Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

OFFERINGSDuring this time in which we do not meet together for worship in our church building, please remember that the ministries of our pastor, staff, many individual members, synod, and wider church continue. We request that we all be diligent in offering our contributions through the mail for First English Lutheran Church, 1603 Monument Ave., Richmond, VA 23220. You may also use online giving by going to this link: https://www.felcrichmond.org/give.html

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONConfident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.A brief silence.

Through the storm we fear, you come, O Lord, to save your followers. Come to your Church wherever it is buffeted by the tempests of opposition, oppression, virus, or confusion. Surprise your Church with your power to work calm and confidence. Make yourself known in the words of those who proclaim your Gospel, so that your people may hear your voice and know your peace. Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

Through the storm we fear, you come, O Lord, to work courage in your followers, so that with confidence in you we may step out into risks and dangers. For those who speak out against another’s injustice; for those who stand for the rights of the aggrieved; for those who put themselves between lawless aggressors and their would-be victims; for the confidence that all lives matter to you: Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

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Through the storm we fear, you come, O Lord, to preserve life and goodness. For medical workers, exhausted and frustrated; for researchers struggling for a vaccine; for the gravely ill and the desperately hoping; for those who have suffered from the recent storm; and for those on our minds and in our hearts: Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

Through the storm we fear, you come, O Lord, to join us in the nave. For all your houses and homes of worship to be places of safety and hope; for a discernment of your will in our calling of as pastor; for a sense of your presence and strength in times of turmoil; and for our care of one another through stormy times: Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

Through the storm we fear, you come, O Lord, to pilot your struggling followers to the happy harbor of all your saints. In thanksgiving for those gathered on the bright and distant shore of your kingdom; for the faith they planted in us; and for the Day when all storms shall cease and we see you face to face: Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

LORD’S PRAYERLord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

BLESSINGNeither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,nor things present, nor things to come,nor powers, nor height, nor depth,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 now and forever.Amen.

SENDING HYMN ~ When Peace like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) No. 785

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DISMISSALGo in peace. Christ is with you.Thanks be to God.From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20625.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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