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Proper 5 | Ordinary Time 10 - A

Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Called not From but To the Tax Office" by Alex Gondola
"Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him" by Alex Gondola
"Not My Home" by Craig Kelly


What's Up This Week
We live in an uncertain world. What is right? What is certain? What is the sure path to take? It can feel like we're trying to find direction with a broken compass, not receiving any direction. As Christians, we know who is the true north star of our faith, guiding us through life's twists and turns. Alex Gondola examines the lives of two people who have been guided by God's sure direction in "Called not from but to the Tax Office" and "Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him." In "Not My Home," Craig Kelly tells the story of one man who, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, kept a sure and certain faith that kept his eyes fixed for home.


* * * * * * * * *

Frank Ramirez
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station…. (v. 9)

When the first fired cuneiform mudtablets were discovered in Sumer there was a great deal of curiosity about what they contained. What ancient insights would they reveal? And while it is true that such ancient classics as the Epic of Gilgamesh and his failed search for immortality still touches us today, as well as the hymns by the high priestess of the moon, Princess Enheduanna, for the most part the writing revealed royal tax records.

Tax records are an essential part of the records preserved from the ancient world. And it wasn’t just cuneiform. Every ancient society that left behind writings left behind tax records, receipts, and past due notices.
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Healing Story"
Shining Moments: "High and Lifted Up" by Laurie Woodard
Sermon Starter: "Knowing Where You Are Going" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Chosen" by John Sumwalt


What's Up This Week

We never know where God is going to call us to go or what God may ask us to do. In Shining Moments, Laurie Woodard tells about giving birth to five babies in six years (including a set of triplets) and then finding herself expecting again. In the Sermon Starter, based on the story of Abraham's decision to go to a faraway place where God is calling him to go, John writes about the possibility that this may happen in our family one day:
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.

Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.

Additional StoryShare for this week

Called Not From But To The Tax Office
Knowing Where You Are Going
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Good morning! Have you ever seen one of these? (Let them
answer.) Yes, this is a container of medicine. There are probably
some in the medicine cabinet at your home. Have your parents ever
told you anything about this kind of medicine? (Let them answer.)
Yes, I'm sure they have told you never to open one of these
vials, and, for sure, not to eat any. Why do you think they tell
you that? (Let them answer.) Yes, this medicine is for a
particular sickness, and if you take it when you don't need it or
Who can tell me what this compass does? (Let them answer.) A compass always points north. It always knows which way is north. Sometimes I get mixed up. If I'm in a strange place and get turned around, I might think that south is north or east is north. If I have a compass, then I can always tell which way is north. It always points in the same direction. Does anyone know which direction a compass will point? (Let them answer.) It will always point north. Some cars even have a compass built in the dash so that the driver can always tell which way is north.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

R. Craig Maccreary
If you want to know how to get me to sing, though of course I am not sure that anyone would want me to be singing, just get out one of the old favorite hymns like "Standing On The Promises."

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
When I sit down to plan the worship services for this Sunday, I will start by penciling in John H. Sammis' hymn, "Trust And Obey." If Sammis had chosen to devote individual verses in his hymn to biblical characters, he could easily have included some that we will read about this week.

SermonStudio

Beverly S. Bailey
Hymns
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less (UM368, PH379, NCH403, CBH343)
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, PH488)
For The Beauty Of The Earth (CBH89, UM92, PH473)
Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (CBH491, UM348)
Heal Us, Emmanuel, Hear Our Prayer (UM266)
This Is A Story Full Of Love (CHB315)
When In Our Music God Is Glorified (PH264)
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing (LBW499, NCH459, PH356)

Anthems
God Of The Promise, Richard Hillart, Augsburg, SATB
Dallas A. Brauninger
First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-9
Theme: Go, Come, Be A Blessing

Call To Worship
Leader: Go!
People: Come!
All: Be a blessing!
Leader: We hear the word "blessing," and know it as a special word for someone else, certainly not for us. Then a person whom we respect tells us, "You are a blessing," and we ponder those words. Turn now to someone near you. Quietly say to each other, "You are a blessing." During this time of worship consider how, indeed, you are a blessing.

Collect
James L. Killen, Jr.
Down through the centuries, philosophers and theologians have come up with a number of classical "proofs for the existence of God." The truth is that these "proofs" are not likely to convince anyone who is determined not to believe in God. But they can be helpful guides to experiencing God for people who want to believe. Most of the proofs for the existence of God focus attention on the things that exist and the things that happen in the world around us and reason that there must be someone who is making those things happen.
Gary L. Carver
In his stimulating book, The Dynamics Of Belief, the beloved former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, Don Harbuck, tells the story of a thirteen--year--old boy. Life for this young lad had been difficult. He and his younger brother had not only suffered through the loss of their mother, but they had borne the burden of an alcoholic father and his abject irresponsibility. In fact, the two boys often had nothing to eat. They lived on the berries they picked and the rabbits they killed and cooked over an open fire. Life for them was difficult, at best.
Schuyler Rhodes
There's an old rock and roll song titled, "I Don't Need No Doctor." The song, like so many of the era, is a song of unrequited love. The lyric, screamed out by a number of rock bands over the years, says, "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." And what's ailing the singer, of course, is the deprivation of the object of his affection. He is smitten, out of control in the painful, bittersweet carnival ride of adolescent love. "I don't need no doctor, 'cause I know what's ailing me." I remember many years ago swaying to the sounds of this song at a very loud outdoor concert.
Larry M. Goodpaster
Whenever the "new" bumps up against the "old" there is bound to be friction. It happens within the community where we live. Someone -- an elected leader or would-be community change agent -- comes along with a new idea, seeing new possibilities for the future, and there is a vocal hesitation. "Why should we change?" the long-time residents complain.
Russell F. Anderson
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 12:1--9 (C)
God calls Abraham to leave his homeland and go to the country that God had promised him. God pledged Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Abraham obeys God by setting out with his aged, barren wife and his nephew, Lot.

Lesson 1: Hosea 6:3--6 (RC); Hosea 5:15-6:6 (E, L)

StoryShare

Alex A. Gondola, Jr.
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Called not From but To the Tax Office" by Alex Gondola
"Praise the Lord, Make Melody to Him" by Alex Gondola
"Not My Home" by Craig Kelly


What's Up This Week

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:
Jesus said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners." In our worship today let us examine ourselves to discover whether we are the righteous, or sinners who need to repent.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, I'm probably no worse than anyone else and perhaps better than some.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, I see other people who regularly flout your laws and I think that is terrible.
Christ, have mercy.

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Christopher Keating
Nazish Naseem
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
George Reed
Thomas Willadsen
For June 7, 2026:

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