MMC: Questions About Boasting and Loving Money

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope that you are enjoying this dreary Monday morning and that your basements are still dry.  

A few announcements 

• If you are interested in attending the Women of the ELCA convention September 10-12, please talk to me for more details.
• We are putting together a photo directory, you can sign up to have your picture taken at the church or you can email a photo to Ellen at ega55@yahoo.com
• The Book of Faith puzzler for this week is: Which ailment did Jesus NOT cure: leprosy, stuttering, blindness, or crippled hand?  If you know the answer email me by noon on Wednesday to be put into this week's drawing.  

Now onto the text:

The first reading is the extremely short Proverbs 25:6-7.  oasting about yourself is considered not only the norm in our society, but what you must do in order to get into a good college or get a good job.  In boasting about ourselves we put ourselves forward in the king's presence.  When have you been humbled because someone more important than yourself was the focus of attention instead of yourself?  Who do you know that is truly humble?  What is it like to be in their presence?

The second reading is Hebrews 12:1-8, 15-16.    Verse 5 warns us to "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have".  This is something that is difficult to do and it seems over the past few years as the economy has taken a nose dive, more people have struggled with.  Fortunately it seems like a few have even succeed.  How have you struggled against the love of money?  How are you content with what you have?  How is Jesus a constant in your life?  How is your relationship to Jesus changing?  

The gospel is Luke 14:1, 7-14.  Where do you sit during a family meal?  Where do you sit when invited to someone's house for dinner?  Do you invite people to your home or out to eat, expecting the gift of hospitality to be repaid to you?  How do you think this lesson ties into the first two that warn us against boasting and loving money?

Hope you all have a great week and see you Sunday!

Pastor Becca