# 🕊️ St. John's United Church of Christ – Eighth Sunday After Pentecost 📍 Chambersburg, PA 📅 August 3, 2025 --- ## 🌾 Cover Artwork - **Title:** *Grain Fields* - **Artist:** Edwin Evans - **Source:** *Art in the Christian Tradition*, Vanderbilt Divinity Library --- ## 📜 Order of Worship ### 🎶 Gathering - **Gathering Song:** *This is the Day* - **Unison Welcome:** > "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here" --- ## 📣 Announcements ### 📚 Today - **Bible Study on the Book of Acts**: 8 PM, Google Meet (link in Friday e-blast) ### 📅 Monday, August 4 - 10:00 AM: Meditation Group – Parlor Room 104 ### 📅 Tuesday, August 5 - **Church Office Closed** ### 🧹 Wednesday, August 6 – Friday, August 8 - Church lobby, hallways (1st & 2nd floor), and nursery/school rooms’ floors being stripped and waxed ### 🏊 Sunday, August 10 - 8:45 AM: Wired Word Church School Class – Room 116 - 10:00 AM: Sunday Service – Sanctuary **Annual Youth Splash Party:** - August 8, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Chambersburg Aquatic Center - Meet at entrance 4:45 PM - Pizza provided. - Costs: Borough residents $6; Franklin & Shippensburg residents $9; other $11 **Sunday Night Bible Study:** - 8 PM via Google Meet - Book of Acts, Chapter 7 verses 37–60 - Will continue with lay leadership while Pastor Caroline is on sabbatical ### 🎶 Summer Special Music - Choir room sign-up for providing special worship music - Contact Gary Crum for details ### 🥫 August First Fruits - Collecting donations for NETwork Ministries: bottled water, low sugar drinks, snack packs, peanut butter & jelly, granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. --- ## 📌 Ongoing and Upcoming ### 📕 Monday Afternoon Book Study - Paused while Pastor Caroline is on sabbatical; new book chosen upon her return ### ☕ Join Us for Life Talk - Informal adult conversation group after Sunday services - Share concerns, joys, or simply connect with others ### 🎈 Birthday Balloons - Coffee hour celebration for monthly birthdays - August birthdays honored August 31 ### 📖 July/August Upper Room - Available at Welcome Center ($1 small / $2 large print) --- ## 🗓️ Save the Dates - **Aug 16:** *Paint & Picnic* – 9 AM painting, picnic lunch at noon – St. John’s Camp - **Aug 17:** *Blessing of the Animals* – 10 AM Outdoor Worship - **Aug 22:** *End of Summer Dance* – 6 PM Fellowship Hall - **Aug 24:** *Gratitude Sunday* – Pancake Breakfast 8:45 AM, Worship 10 AM, Gratitude Cards - **Sept 20:** *Fall Harvest Tea* – Fellowship Hall - **Sept 28:** *Family Fun Day* – 11:30 AM–1:30 PM, food, music, games - **Oct 5:** *Chili Cook-Off* – After Worship, Fellowship Hall - **Oct 24–26:** *Habitat for Humanity Used Sale Book Sale* – Fellowship Hall --- ### ✌️ Passing of the Peace - "The peace of Christ be with you" - "And also with you" --- ## 🙌 Call to Worship *(Inspired by Psalm 107)* - Hallelujah! Give thanks! Give thanks to God! - **For the Holy One redeemed us and sustained us through the time of trouble.** - Give thanks to the Holy One, for God is good! - **For the Compassionate One heard our cry and sustained through the time of trouble.** - Give thanks to the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. - Hallelujah! Give thanks! Give thanks to God! ### 🎵 Hymn #676 *Teach Me, O Lord I Pray* #### Lyrics: 1. Teach me, O Lord, I pray, Your precious truth divine; Lead me to understand Your Word And make its precepts mine. Impart Your wisdom, Lord, Shed light upon my way, That I may know Your boundless love; Teach me, O Lord, I pray. 2. Train me, O Lord, I pray, In knowledge and in skill; O daily let me walk with You And do Your perfect will. O train my heart and mind To serve You unashamed, At home, abroad, where'er the Christ Has yet to be proclaimed. 3. Use me, O Lord, I pray, To shed Your light sublime To rich and poor, to high and low Of every race and clime. O may Your flaming zeal Burn constantly and true, Till souls in darkness everywhere Fall down and worship You. --- ## 🙏 Call to Confession ### Prayer of Confession > Spirit of the Living God, temptation surrounds us. > Self-preservation lures us to indifference. Fear of confrontation coaxes us to keep silent about things that matter. > The desire to be right entices us to ignore the cries of our neighbors. Too often, we ignore the call to go and to be in favor of staying stuck in our attitudes and behaviors. > Too often, we are the ones who refuse to welcome you into our space, who resist the work of transformation, and who remain unresponsive to the burdens of others. > Lord God, redirect us back to the path of life, the way of justice, and the hope of peace. Amen. ### Kyrie *Hymnal Companion C-4* ### Assurance of Pardon > Beloved, you have received an inheritance… They are yours to live. Receive them freely and abundantly. ### 🎵 Glory Be to the Father #704 --- ## 📖 Scripture ### Epistle Reading: Colossians 3:1–11 (NRSVUE) 1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all! --- ### Responsive Reading: Psalm 49:1–12 (NRSVUE) 1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together. 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. 5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life; there is no price one can give to God for it. 8 For the ransom of life is costly and can never suffice, 9 that one should live on forever and never see the Pit. 10 But God will ransom my life, and will snatch me from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. 11 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases; 12 for they will not let your life go in exchange for their wealth, and they will live on forever like the beasts. --- = ## 👶 Children's Message - **Leader:** Roxanne Davenport - *Children’s Corner will follow the message* ### 🎶 Solo - *Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us* - **Soloist:** Rosemary Elder --- ## 📢 Sermon ### Gospel Lesson: Luke 12:13–21 (NRSVUE) 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. 21 And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” --- ## Sermon Recap: “Rich Toward God” ### Introduction & Opening Prayer - The pastor opens by affirming the **Word of God** as the book of God and central, praying: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our God.” ### Illustrative Story: The Rich Old Man - A young man, not today’s gospel man, walked into the social hall of a church for a potluck and sat down next to the oldest and richest man in that generation. - The young man, curious, asked the old gentleman how he made his money. - The old man recounted starting as a teenager with little, using his gold to buy and polish apples, selling them for profit, and repeating the process daily until he accumulated wealth, selling them for $20 at the end of the day. ### Reflection on Wealth and Culture - The speaker then transitions to personal reflections on wealth, briefly mentioning his wife spending dollars. - He acknowledges his own experience buying lottery tickets with the hope of getting rich someday, but also notes that “all the money in the world is not what it cracks up” to be. - He references how a third of all professional athletes struggle financially by the fifth year of their retirement, concluding that even the rich and famous often find that money does not guarantee happiness or security, contrasting this with the “rich fool in Jesus.” ### Scripture Focus: The Parable of the Rich Fool **Scripture Reference:** _Luke 12:13-21_ - Context: Two people are arguing over one must have been more unhappy than the other, and they want Jesus beside them to intervene in what is understood as a dispute over an inheritance. - Jesus refuses to settle the dispute, rejecting the request because he will not satisfy the greed that he senses prompted the argument in the first place. - Jesus teaches: **“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”** And from there he launches into this parable. - He tells the story of a rich farmer blessed with a bumper crop. - Jesus gives no credit to the farmer for the crop, merely stating that the land produced the land. - The farmer debates with himself about what to do with his surplus, as he has no place to put all his grain. - He decides to tear down his barns and build larger ones to store his grain and all his goods. - He tells himself, “Soul, you have ample goods made up for many years. Relax. Eat. Drink. Be merry.” #### Analysis of the Parable - The farmer’s thoughts are self-centered, marked by possessive pronouns like “my crops, my barns, my goods, my soul,” and repeated use of “I will,” highlighting his self-made perspective. - He consults no one, not even God, about his plans; his flaw lies in shutting everyone else out from his life, taking no advice, not praying, and not thinking of anyone else. - The flaw is not in his success, but in his isolation and lack of generosity; his only thoughts are gathering and hoarding wealth, with no consideration for giving to those in need, sharing, or investing in anything life-affirming, as greed has eaten away at his compassion. - God interrupts, calling him a “fool” and declaring that his life will be demanded that very night, stating, “This very night of your life [is demanded of you] and the things you have prepared [will be for others].” - In Scripture, “fool” is not a word used lightly; it refers to those who live their lives as if God does not exist, reminding us that we’ll never get the formula of our lives right unless the love of God demands it to be at the very center of our lives. ### Key Points from the Pastor 1. **Wealth is Not Evil, But a Temptation** - Jesus does not condemn wealth or possession in and of themselves, but warns that it offers a great temptation to put our faith and trust in them rather than in God. This is what was wrong with the farmer; he calculated his life without God and patience. 2. **Life’s Meaning is Not in Possessions** - It’s Jesus’ not-so-gentle way of reminding us that we cannot count on the future or live in the future; we only have the now, the present. The question is, what gives meaning to your life now, in the present? - Life consists of much more than what we can store up on Earth, and true life is still being revealed to us every day. - “This very night, your life is being demanded of you,” says Jesus, reminding us that our lives truly belong to Him. He pleads with us not to be caught up in our earthly possessions or anxieties, as there is so much more to our purpose here. 3. **Being “Rich Toward God”** - The rich man in this story is not criticized for storing up treasures, but for storing up treasures while not being “rich toward God.” - The speaker emphasizes that we are often grateful for the abundant ways God has blessed us but forget that it goes both ways; part of discovering our true selves is to give back to God and to others. - This allows us to open our eyes to find that our lives are more than what we can count or possess. Our true selves are discovered in generosity, goodness, gentleness, and hospitality. ### Application for Today - The sermon encourages listeners to discover fully the potential God has placed within them, which is God’s dream for us. - This discovery is realized through giving back to God and others, and by investing in values like love, goodness, generosity, gentleness, and hospitality. - Living this way is not because we must, but because we know that this is the way to truly discover God’s dream for us and live out life. ### Modern Example: Alfred Nobel - The pastor shares the story of Alfred Nobel, who, after reading his own mistaken obituary, was deeply disturbed to be remembered only for inventing explosives. It was a journalistic mistake where a paper used a pre-written obituary about Alfred Nobel after one of his brothers had died. - He was simply seen as the “dynamite king,” a merchant who amassed a great fortune selling explosives, despite hoping his invention would be useful in construction. - At that moment, Nobel resolved to show others a new purpose in his life; he changed his will so that his fortune could be dedicated to the recognition of creative achievements, with the highest award going to those who have done the most work, now associated with the Nobel Peace Prize. - The story prompts reflection: “What do you want your legacy to be?” The pastor suggests the answer likely has nothing to do with material possessions. ### Closing Challenge & Benediction - The pastor concludes by inviting listeners to reflect on their own legacy and what truly matters. - He suggests that most people’s deepest desires for legacy have little to do with material wealth. - The sermon ends with “Amen,” affirming the call to be rich toward God. --- ### Summary of Who God Is and How He Responds - God is the giver of all blessings and the true source of life’s meaning, reminding us that our lives truly belong to Him. - God desires relationship, generosity, and for us to center our lives on Him. - God calls out self-centeredness and invites us to a life of purpose beyond possessions. ### Who God Says We Are & How We Are to Live - We are God’s children, called to discover our true selves in giving, loving, and serving. - Our value is not in what we own, but in how we live out God’s love. - We are to be “rich toward God”—generous, compassionate, and focused on eternal values. --- **Scripture Highlight:** - _Luke 12:13-21_ — The Parable of the Rich Fool **Key Takeaway:** - Life’s true riches are found not in possessions, but in being “rich toward God”—living generously, loving others, and centering our lives on God’s purposes. --- ### **🗒 Sermon Summary** - **Central Message:** The sermon warns against defining life by possessions and wealth, urging the congregation to live “rich towards God.” It emphasizes generosity, compassion, and present-moment faithfulness over anxiety about the future or accumulation of goods. - **Liturgical/Thematic Focus:** Strongly tied to Luke 12:13–21 (Parable of the Rich Fool). The sermon connects the text to stewardship, mortality, and legacy, aligning with themes of discipleship and Kingdom-centered living. **Score:** 4/5 *Clear theme, strong connection to the Gospel, but could emphasize communal responsibility more explicitly.* --- ### **🎙 Preaching Style Assessment** - **Primary Style(s):** - **Narrative:** Uses modern stories (young man and rich elder, Nobel obituary) alongside the parable. - **Topical:** Theme-driven exploration of wealth, legacy, and generosity. - **Light Expository:** References scripture but doesn’t unpack verse-by-verse. - **Deductive:** States the main point early (“life does not consist in possessions”) and supports it. - **Blend of Styles:** Narrative + topical with light exposition. - **Appropriateness:** Works for accessibility and reflection, but lacks depth for those seeking textual exegesis. **Score:** 3.5/5 *Good narrative blend, but minimal exegesis limits theological depth.* --- ### **🧵 Storytelling and Illustration** - **Stories Used:** - Modern anecdote of the young man and rich elder polishing apples. - Jesus’ parable retold with commentary. - Alfred Nobel reading his own obituary and changing his legacy. - **Inclusivity:** - Stories are culturally broad (parable, historical Nobel), but no marginalized perspectives are highlighted. - Appeals to universal human concerns (wealth, mortality) which are relatable across demographics. - **Balance:** Stories carry the sermon, with scripture supporting them rather than driving the entire structure. **Score:** 4/5 *Engaging and relatable, though scripture could be more central than illustration.* --- ### **🗣 Intonation and Delivery** - **Tone:** Warm, pastoral, and invitational, avoiding condemnation while issuing challenge. - **Vocal Variation:** Transcript suggests contemplative pacing with emphasis on key lines (“You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you”). - **Gestures/Visuals:** Not recorded in the transcript, but strong mental imagery through storytelling aids visual learners. **Score:** 4/5 *Good tone and pacing; physical or visual reinforcement could strengthen delivery.* --- ### **📝 Content Structure** - **Introduction:** Modern anecdote sets up theme. - **Body:** Moves into parable exposition, highlighting isolation and greed of the rich fool. - **Application:** Connects to contemporary life (retirement, possessions, anxiety). - **Illustration:** Nobel story ties to legacy and transformation. - **Conclusion:** Reflective question about personal legacy; call to live “rich towards God.” - **Transitions:** Smooth and logical; thematic refrain (“rich towards God”) threads sections together. - **Learning Support:** Repetition of key phrase reinforces retention. **Score:** 4.5/5 *Clear narrative arc, good transitions; lacks deeper textual scaffolding.* --- ### **👥 Engagement and Application** - **Engagement:** - Universal questions (“What do you want your legacy to be?”) invite personal reflection. - Applies to all economic statuses, though examples lean toward middle-class anxieties (retirement, portfolios). - **Equity & Inclusion:** - Implicit call to generosity and communal responsibility. - No explicit mention of systemic injustice, marginalized groups, or wealth redistribution. - **Interactive Elements:** Reflective questions engage intrapersonal learners; no explicit communal or kinesthetic actions. **Score:** 3.5/5 *Good personal application; communal/systemic justice dimension is underdeveloped.* --- ### **📖 Scripture Handling** - **Primary Text:** Luke 12:13–21. - **Depth of Exegesis:** - Uses the parable effectively for theme. - No historical context of first-century grain storage or economic systems. - No Greek/Hebrew language insights. - No cross-references to related texts (Matthew 6, Amos, Acts). - **Use of Scripture:** Scripture serves as a **launchpad** rather than a foundation. The moral of the parable drives the sermon more than textual analysis. **Score:** 3/5 *Faithful to the parable’s intent but lacks depth and context.* --- ### **Logical Reasoning** - **Strengths:** - **Deductive Reasoning:** “Life does not consist in possessions → therefore live rich towards God” is logically consistent. - **Causal Reasoning:** Greed → isolation → spiritual emptiness is clearly articulated. - **Ethical Reasoning:** Frames generosity as a moral imperative. - **Fallacies Present:** - **Hasty Generalization:** “A third of all professional athletes go broke” used as universal illustration without context or source. - **Appeal to Emotion:** Nobel story leans on emotional weight; effective, but risks manipulation if not tied back to theology. - **Mild False Dilemma:** Risks presenting wealth and spirituality as opposites without nuance for faithful stewardship. **Score:** 3.5/5 *Strong moral logic; minor fallacies weaken argument slightly.* --- ### **📚 References** - **Referenced:** - Jesus’ parable. - Alfred Nobel’s historical story. - **Absent:** - Theological scholarship. - Voices from marginalized communities. - Cross-scriptural references to build theological weight. **Score:** 2.5/5 *Limited references; opportunity to integrate diverse voices and deeper theology.* --- ### **🗨 Quotes and Illustrative Stories** - **Impactful Quotes:** - “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” - “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you.” - “Rich towards God.” - **Illustrations:** - Polishing apples (perseverance, wealth-building). - Parable of the rich fool (central text). - Alfred Nobel obituary (legacy transformation). - **Connection:** Each story reinforces the theme of valuing spiritual wealth over material. **Score:** 4/5 *Memorable quotes; stories tied well to biblical theme.* --- ### **🔄 Calls to Action** - **Invitations:** - Reflect on legacy and what gives life meaning. - Live “rich towards God” by giving back to God and others. - Avoid anxiety over possessions; live in present faithfulness. - **Equity/Allyship:** Implicit; no explicit mention of systemic justice or marginalized communities. - **Learning Modalities:** Reflective questions engage auditory and intrapersonal learners; lacks visual or experiential reinforcement. **Score:** 3.5/5 *Clear personal calls; communal/systemic dimension and multi-modal engagement missing.* --- ### **🧠 Style Effectiveness Analysis** - **Style Impact:** - Narrative + topical style made the sermon accessible and reflective. - Lack of deep exegesis limits theological and historical grounding. - **If Fully Expository:** Would explore historical context, Greek terms, and socio-economic dynamics; application would shift to communal justice as well as personal legacy. - **If Prophetic:** Would challenge systemic wealth inequality and call for communal repentance. - **If Inductive:** Could start with a question (“What defines a rich life?”) and build tension to reveal the parable’s answer. - **If Contemplative:** Could focus on silence and prayerful reflection on what it means to live “rich towards God.” - **Learning Styles Served:** Strong for auditory and intrapersonal learners; weaker for visual and kinesthetic learners. **Score:** 3.5/5 *Effective for reflection; could be stronger with historical grounding and justice lens.* --- ## 📊 **Scoring Summary** - Sermon Summary: **4/5** - Preaching Style: **3.5/5** - Storytelling: **4/5** - Intonation/Delivery: **4/5** - Content Structure: **4.5/5** - Engagement/Application: **3.5/5** - Scripture Handling: **3/5** - Logical Reasoning: **3.5/5** - References: **2.5/5** - Quotes/Stories: **4/5** - Calls to Action: **3.5/5** - Style Effectiveness: **3.5/5** **Total:** 43.5 / 65 --- ## ✅ **Analytical Takeaways** - **Strengths:** - Engaging narrative style and relatable illustrations. - Clear central message tied to the Gospel theme. - Strong ethical reasoning and personal application. - **Weaknesses:** - Minimal exegesis; lacks historical-critical depth. - Justice and communal dimensions underdeveloped. - Minor logical fallacies (hasty generalization, emotional reliance). - Limited use of diverse theological voices and cross-references. - **Opportunities:** - Blend narrative with deeper expository work for theological weight. - Explicitly connect generosity to systemic equity and care for marginalized. - Add visual or participatory elements for broader learning styles. - Include more scriptural and scholarly references to ground moral appeals. ## 🤲 Sharing of Joys & Concerns --- ## 🙏 Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer --- ## 🎁 Invitation to Giving - **Offertory** - **Offertory Response #706:** *Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow* ### Prayer of Dedication > Holy One, bless these offerings, prosper the work of our hands, and the gifts we bring. > We dedicate them to your kingdom forever and ever. Amen. ### 🎵 Hymn #461 *Let Us Break Bread Together* #### Lyrics: 1. Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees); Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees); When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. (on me.) 2. Let us drink the cup together on our knees, (on our knees); Let us drink the cup together on our knees. (on our knees); When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. (on me.) 3. Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees); Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees); When I fall on my knees, With my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. (on me.) --- ## 🍞 Service of Holy Communion - **Communion Hymn #517:** *Most Delicious Bread* --- ## 🙌 Commission & Benediction - **Closing Hymn:** *Go Forth for God* #### Lyrics: 1. Go forth for God, go to the world in peace; Be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace, In God’s good Spirit daily to increase, Till in the kingdom we see face to face. Go forth for God, go to the world in peace. 2. Go forth for God, go to the world in love; Strengthen the faint, give courage to the weak; Help the afflicted, richly from above God’s love supplies the grace and power we seek. Go forth for God, go to the world in love. 3. Go forth for God, go to the world in joy, To serve God’s people every day and hour, And serving Christ, our every gift employ, Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit’s power. Go forth for God, go to the world in joy. ### 🎹 Postlude (seated) --- ## 🎂 Birthdays This Week - 8/6: N. Aaron Hartman - 8/7: Sean Collier, Jean Cook, Lynnann Funk - 8/8: John H. McGinley - 8/9: Sadie Boyer - 8/10: Carol Foltz --- ## 🙋 Worship Participants - **Pastor:** Rev. Peter Emig - **Organist:** Barbara Motichka - **Deacon in Charge:** Sarah Myers - **Lector:** Eileen Shaffer - **Children’s Corner:** Diana and Swann Kongkeattikul - **Media Coordinator:** Calvin Frantz --- ## 🌱 St. John’s Vision > We are called to love, to learn, to worship, and to witness in Christ as a congregation that welcomes everyone, and seeks service that will advance God’s realm on earth. ## 🌍 St. John’s Mission > To grow in love of God and neighbor