Texts for Sunday June 16
Holy Trinity Sunday
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
This Sunday is the Sunday when we celebrate the mystery of God. The texts give us a just a glimpse of our Triune God.
Lady Wisdom calls to us from the city gates in Proverbs. Listen and live. She was at creation, celebrating, rejoicing delighting in diversity. Psalm 8 marvels that God could care so much for humankind in the midst of all the wonders of the universe. Paul reminds us that God’s love is poured into our hearts though the Spirit. Jesus in John assures us that the Spirit will guide us into truth.
What do those texts tell you/us about God?
The Mississippi River in the Quad Cities has been over flood stage for 91 consecutive days, 68 of which were over “major flood” level. Community members have come out to assist. At first, they helped in sandbagging; during the flood they came down to support businesses that were near but not in the flood; those same businesses temporarily hired workers from closed businesses and held flood recovery fundraisers. Similar activities are happening all over the flooded Midwest and South…and tornado disasters in the West and East and South. One thing is obvious in all this. A single person or family simply cannot make it through a disaster – physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually - without the assistance of community.
June is Pride Month. This day, June 12, we remember those who were killed 3 years ago at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Later this week we remember 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan 50 years ago. This week is Iowa City Pride Week. Saturday is our city’s Pride Fest with Parade celebrating the diversity of life right here in Iowa City. Of course, some religious folks (usually from outside of Iowa City) come to protest and to announce that LBGTQIA+ people are sinners who are not welcome and who are condemned for eternity. Our congregation (and many others) join the city in affirming the beauty of each person’s being.
Be proud!
Since our eyes were opened in the 2016 elections, all users of social media have had to become wiser about what they read there. All listeners of any news broadcast have to be wary of the bias that organization might bring. It is hard to find sources of information to trust. What is truth in the midst of competing “truths”?
What do those stories tell you/us about God?
The Triune God is relationship, community, and mutual aid.
The Triune God celebrates diversity, welcomes all, loves all.
The Triune God is truth.
Community, relationship, mutuality, diversity, welcome, and love are truth.
Put that all together.
What does this say about us and God …we who bear God’s image; we who have been marked with the cross of Christ; we who have been sealed by God’s Spirit?
Holy Trinity Sunday
Psalm 8
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15
This Sunday is the Sunday when we celebrate the mystery of God. The texts give us a just a glimpse of our Triune God.
Lady Wisdom calls to us from the city gates in Proverbs. Listen and live. She was at creation, celebrating, rejoicing delighting in diversity. Psalm 8 marvels that God could care so much for humankind in the midst of all the wonders of the universe. Paul reminds us that God’s love is poured into our hearts though the Spirit. Jesus in John assures us that the Spirit will guide us into truth.
What do those texts tell you/us about God?
The Mississippi River in the Quad Cities has been over flood stage for 91 consecutive days, 68 of which were over “major flood” level. Community members have come out to assist. At first, they helped in sandbagging; during the flood they came down to support businesses that were near but not in the flood; those same businesses temporarily hired workers from closed businesses and held flood recovery fundraisers. Similar activities are happening all over the flooded Midwest and South…and tornado disasters in the West and East and South. One thing is obvious in all this. A single person or family simply cannot make it through a disaster – physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually - without the assistance of community.
June is Pride Month. This day, June 12, we remember those who were killed 3 years ago at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Later this week we remember 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan 50 years ago. This week is Iowa City Pride Week. Saturday is our city’s Pride Fest with Parade celebrating the diversity of life right here in Iowa City. Of course, some religious folks (usually from outside of Iowa City) come to protest and to announce that LBGTQIA+ people are sinners who are not welcome and who are condemned for eternity. Our congregation (and many others) join the city in affirming the beauty of each person’s being.
Be proud!
Since our eyes were opened in the 2016 elections, all users of social media have had to become wiser about what they read there. All listeners of any news broadcast have to be wary of the bias that organization might bring. It is hard to find sources of information to trust. What is truth in the midst of competing “truths”?
What do those stories tell you/us about God?
The Triune God is relationship, community, and mutual aid.
The Triune God celebrates diversity, welcomes all, loves all.
The Triune God is truth.
Community, relationship, mutuality, diversity, welcome, and love are truth.
Put that all together.
What does this say about us and God …we who bear God’s image; we who have been marked with the cross of Christ; we who have been sealed by God’s Spirit?
Gloria Dei is a member of the Reconciling in Christ organization
who are “Lutherans for full participation”.
Gathered by grace and recognizing our unity in Christ, we welcome to full participation in our community of faith all who are seeking God’s love and grace. We welcome all because God welcomes all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
