August 17th Worship Service

thoughts?

Lectionary:

Genesis 45:1-15: The other "bookend" of the Joseph story --Joseph, now second in command in Egypt, reveals his identity to his brothers and promises to provide land, food, and protection for the family during the famine and beyond, thanks to God's gracious provision.

Psalm 133 (UMH 850): The blessing of living together in unity -- a fitting response to the Genesis reading for today. See "Psalms for Singing" for another alternative.

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32: Paul concludes his excursus on the theological connection between God's covenant with Israel and the church (which includes both Jewish and Gentile people, but especially Gentiles) with a strong affirmation of Israel's place in God's saving intent toward the whole world. All-- Jew and Gentile -- receive salvation by God's mercy and grace, not by merit. And to Gentiles -- God's calling and gifts cannot be called back, which means Israel's place is permanently secure while Gentiles are like grafts of a wild olive tree into a domesticated olive tree (verses 16-21, not in the lectionary reading, but critical to the argument).

Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28: Jesus tells the crowd that it is what comes out of the heart that pollutes us. Then Jesus discovers great faith coming from the heart of a foreigner (the Canaanite woman) who won't take "no" for an answer.

Fringe Festival Tie-in: I talked with Kate Lamonte yesterday. She is performing in a Fringe Festival performance that opens next weekend. It is called Moved and Kate will be singing. She said that she would be willing to perform on Sunday morning and also perhaps bring one of the dancers along with her.

Dramatic Reading of Genesis?

A Dramatic Reading of Scripture: Genesis 45:1-5
(Adapted from Genesis 45:1-15, CEV)
Female Voice: When Joseph was alone with his brothers, he told them,
Male Voice:“I am Joseph.”
Female Voice: Then he cried so loudly that the Egyptians heard him and told
about it in the king’s palace. Joseph asked his brothers if his father was still alive,
but they were too frightened to answer. Joseph told them to come closer to him,
and when they did, he said:
Male Voice:Yes, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. Don’t
worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of
you to save lives. Now hurry back and tell my father that his son Joseph says,
“God has made me ruler of Egypt. Come here as quickly as you can. You will live
near me in the region of Goshen with your children and grandchildren, as well as
with your sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else you own. I will take care of you
there during the next five years of famine. But if you don’t come, you and your
family and your animals will starve to death.”
Female Voice: Joseph and Benjamin hugged each other and started crying.
Joseph was still crying as he kissed each of his other brothers. After this, they
started talking with Joseph.
(Tony Peterson, Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A)


Dramatic Reading of Mathew:

The reading from Matthew for this Sunday provides two stories that can be read perhaps most fruitfully side by side, assuming you include the optional verses (10-20). Indeed, they might be read precisely alongside each other as you offer the reading of the text as follows:
Reader 1: 10-11 Reader 2: 21-23a
Pause for reflection

Reader 1: 12-14 Reader 2: 23b-26

Pause for reflection

Reader 1: 15-20 Reader 2: 27-28

Silence