God will take time for you!
Some people didn’t like Jesus because he upset the rules. In today’s Gospel story, the rule in question dealt with time and what was allowed on the Sabbath (the ancients’ Sunday). People were trying to follow God’s commandment to rest on the Sabbath. So, they got mad at Jesus because he healed a woman on the holy day of rest. They interpreted healing as “working.”
But Jesus viewed healing as “setting free from bondage.” Jesus’ critics had forgotten the deeper purpose of Sabbath rest: To experience the freedom God gives his faithful people. Furthermore, God’s time for liberation isn’t limited by rules.
Yet that doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want on Sunday. The prophet Isaiah reminds God’s wayward people that Sabbath days (whether Sunday or some other day during the week) are meant for drawing near to God. Isaiah calls us to honor the Sabbath by “not going your own way” or “pursuing your own interests.”
In addition, Isaiah calls us to “offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted.” This goes back to the two-fold core of God’s Ten Commandments: Love God and love each other. God wants us to become God’s tools for loving and liberating others.
At PEACE, we believe the time to love God and our neighbor is now! We welcome all who, like us, want to open up some time in our busy week for God!
“Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” – Luke 13:12
Pastor Eileen Smith Le Van preaches today.
Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 58:9b-14; Psalm 103:1-8; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17. Read them here.
Coming up at PEACE
- Harvest Dinner – 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. An event to help us remember our many blessings and think about how we can be a blessing to others.
- Church Picnic — Our Annual Church Picnic takes place on the afternoon of Sunday Sept. 18, at Lake Wildwood. Enjoy barbecued chicken, ribs, burgers & hot dogs; bring a potluck salad or dessert to share. Then, play horse-shoes, croquet, take a ride on the lake, enjoy children’s games & puzzle challenges. Sign up in the Atrium.
- God’s Work, Our Hands – On the weekend of Sept. 10-11, we don yellow T-shirts and let others know the joy we experience when we let God use our hands to do His work. Projects include singing hymns at Golden Empire Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center; building at our local Habitat for Humanity site; and preparing personal care kits that will be deployed to disaster sites around the world, through Lutheran World Relief. Sign up in the Atrium.
- More Coming Events – Learn more about events at PEACE here.
Adult Bible Study
The Adult Forum meets in the Old Fellowship Hall at 10 a.m., led by Pastor Eileen Smith Le Van.
Youth @ Peace Sunday School
We are on break for the summer. Sunday School resumes at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.
Youth @ PLC is our all-ages Bible study, where young disciples learn the core stories of our faith and what it means to walk the Jesus Path. Bring your questions, doubts and challenges to God, the Bible and the Church – they are welcome here!
Bible memory verses: Kids can earn Bible Bucks for verses they memorize and redeem them for cool prizes!
Get Involved at PEACE!
Click here to learn how to get involved at PEACE Lutheran Church.