Father's Day: June 18, 2006, Epworth Worship Celebration

Father's Day, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (Year B)

Welcome. The Season after Pentecost is a time for growth in faith under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Easter's celebration gives way to the hard work of Christian discipleship in grateful response to God's love. Our text today recounts the unlikely anointing of David, shepherd son of Jesse, as future king of Israel. Today we also reflect on our national observance of Fathers' Day. Our 11:00 a.m. worship adds the Baptism of Mary Kathryn Barnhart, daughter of Ryan and Liz. When you think of yourself as a child of God, is that rich in the sense of God as divine parent? How does God's divine parenting, made known especially in the gift of Jesus Christ, inspire your practice of love in God's world?

Welcome
Verses for Fathers' Day from Deuteronomy 32:1-7 (alt

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 
§       May your teaching drop like the rain, your speech condense like the dew; 
        like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth.
For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; I will ascribe greatness to our God!
§       God is the Rock, whose work is perfect, and whose ways are just.
Is not God our father, who created us, who made us and established us?
§       Let us remember the days of old, consider the years long past; 
        ask our father, who will inform us, our elders, and they will tell us.   

Hebrew Bible Lesson
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

³⁴ Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16

Samuel Anoints David

¹ The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

² But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me."
        The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."

⁴ Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"

⁵ Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
        "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
        Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."

¹² So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
        Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. (via)

Sermon - Fathers' Day Rev. Jack Abel
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