Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church

Thought for the Week:
         O God, keep our whole country under your protection.  Wipe out sin from this land; lift it up from the depth of sorrow, O Lord, our shining light.  Save us from deep grief and misfortune, Lord of all nations.  Bless us with your wisdom, so that the poor may not be oppressed and the rich may not be oppressors.  Make this a nation having no ruler except God, a nation having no authority but that of Love.  Amen.
                                                                                                                                Toyohiko Kagawa, Japan, 20th cent.
                                                                                                                               The United Methodist Hymnal

Instrumental Selections

• Organ Prelude:

"God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens"                                                                                 Diemer

Postlude:
"Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott"                                                                                                   Buxtehude
                                                               Evelyn Rowe, Guest Organist

Sermon Title:    Contradictions Not Final

Scripture Lessons:  Psalm 1118:14-29;  St. Luke 21:5-19

Sermon Summary:  In the Gospel reading our Lord envisions the staggering calamity that will befall Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  Roman armies will overtake the city, heaping bloodshed upon bloodshed, and reducing to rubble the temple which had inspired awe with its massive structure, exquisite design, and magnificent memorials.   Our Lord tells his disciples to be watchful of doomsday deceivers.  They can only rightly discern the signs of the times if they trust him, take him at his word.
        He is envisioning the fall of Jerusalem, and insisting as he envisions this staggering calamity that national upheaval in various places as well as natural disturbances are routine occurrences.  Those who follow him will be persecuted.  By standing firm they will gain life.  They are to stand, not speculate about signs; be faithful, not fretful; trusting, not timid.
        But our Lord also tells his disciples of his glorious return with power and the cleavages and collapse that will precede it.  He says, "When these things begin to take place lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (New International Version)
        Lift up your heads.  Let your awareness of the triumph of the kingdom rise to new heights of trust and trumpet-tongued defiance of evil's craft and subtlety.   Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Choral Selections

   Anthem
        "Until Then"                                                                                                                                     Hamblen

  Offertory Solo
        "It Is No Secret"                                                                                                                            Hamblen