27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 22), Year A

​​Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?
~Matthew 21:42
 
The Mosaic law, summed up in the ten commandments (Exodus 20) lays out the outline of a pathway that is life-giving for all. But the story of humanity seems to so often be centered on our failure to navigate this way faithfully, leading to chaos and trouble—especially for those among us who are most vulnerable—even as they are not the cause of this trouble. We know this.
 
But this is not the end of the story for a God on the side of the poor, on the side of the earth, on the side of everlasting life. God always seems to be up to something new that pulls through the golden threads of God’s way of shalom—justice, peace, and well-being.
 
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
 
This story of salvation is one that constantly surprises us—those of us who think we have it all figured out, and those of us who long for what we know could be. To some it is received as threat, but for all it is good news. We must only learn to see it, to receive it, to welcome it and water it and nurture it. And in a time when the old models and the old institutions seem to be failing us, this requires careful and intentional listening.

---

​The Rev. Dr. Tali Hairston joins us Sunday to help us explore the life-giving ways we might more deeply enter into this way of welcoming God’s spirit around us and in the world. Tali is the Director of Community Organizing, Advocacy, and Development at Seattle Presbytery and a pastoral leader at sister congregation Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. He currently directs the Seattle Presbytery’s Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Initiative(TCE) grant program. Maggie Breen works with Tali as Community Engagement Specialist for TCI, the sponsor for our Learning Group activities. We are thrilled to have Tali join us to preach and guide us following worship in a Community Learning Event. Join us! Lunch ill be provided and we’ll be done by 1pm.

​Enter into worship.
 
 
Readings: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 † Psalm 19 † Philippians 3:4b-14 † Matthew 21:33-46
 
About the Art: Lange, Dorothea. Children in a Democracy -- On Arizona Highway 87, Maricopa County, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55632 [retrieved October 3, 2023]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:On_Arizona_Highway_87,_south_of_Chandler._Maricopa_County,_Arizona._Children_in_a_democracy._A_migra_._._._-_NARA_-_522527.jpg.

We are so grateful to be gathering in person. If you can't join us, you can watch the service in real-time. Join us in person or watch it here live Sunday morning, 10:00am. You can view it upon completion by clicking on the video graphic to the left.

​We continue to keep our financial commitments to our mission partners and staff. If you are not yet able to join us, thank you for remembering to send in your financial pledges and offerings or donating here.