Beverly Hills United Presbyterian Church, Upper Darby
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lansdowne
“If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.” – Henri Nouwen
Pentecost
May 23, 2021
Sunday Service
9:45 am Brief In-person Service of Holy Communion
at St. Paul’s, 50 Plumstead Avenue, Lansdowne
10:30 am Online Morning Worship
“Priority Number One”
Music: “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”; “All Things Bright and Beautiful”; “Change My Heart, O God – Spirit Song” (lyrics below)
Join the Service from a computer or device (Zoom Meeting):
Join by phone: Call this number: +1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 860 0274 0088
Honor the Lord with your stewardship offerings
to sustain our worship and work in our community and world.
By mail: Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, 500 Midvale Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082
Online: You may now also choose to contribute through an online giving form.
Today’s Scripture
Luke 12:1-44
Warnings and Encouragements
12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Watchfulness
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Today’s Music
All Things Bright and Beautiful
John Rutter
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.
The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one; [Refrain]
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well. [Refrain]
Change my heart O God / Spirit Song
Eddie Espinosa
Change my heart O God, make it ever true
Change my heart O God, make it be like you (Repeat)
You are the potter I am the clay,
mold me and make me this is what I say
Change my heart O God, make it ever true
Change my heart O God, make it be like you
Jesus, oh Jesus, come and fill your lambs. [Repeat]
Oh let the Son of God enfold you
with his Spirit and His love,
let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
Oh let Him have the things that hold you
and his Spirit, like a dove,
will descend upon your life and make you whole.
* * * * *
Announcements
Week of May 23–29
———
This Week’s Zoom Links
Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – Morning Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86002740088
1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 860 0274 0088
Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. – Discipleship/Evangelism Group https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86589493548
1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 865 8949 3548
Growth Groups
Evangelism/Discipleship Group – This Wednesday, May 26 on Zoom – “The Renewal of Our Local Congregations: A New View of Evangelism”
Monthly Prayer Meeting – Saturday, June 19, 10:00-30, on Zoom, as we pray together for God’s renewing guidance and power. Information: Art Tung
Culture, Diversity, and Relationships in Christ’s Church – on a rescheduled date to be determined. We continue our discussion of Caste by Isabel Wilkerson with Pastor Nate Goodson of Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ – and, tentatively, Mark D. Goodson, Senior Peer Counselor/Police Officer, Philadelphia Police Department, and Pastor of Destiny Worship Center; and Yeadon Police Chief Anthony Paparo. Information: Art Tung
For Food Assistance and Covid 19 Information, see
www.stpaulslansdowne.org or
https://www.bhpcud.com/loving-our-neighbors
You are welcome to contact Pastor Tung directly for pastoral needs.
Tel. 610.246.8240 • Email – arttung@gmail.com
Prayer List
| Jeanne Grace’s great niece, Molly; MaryHollie Law, Muirin; friend Liza Erin, Jayne; Edwin in San Antonio Kyle and Family in Colorado Don Van Krieken Lisa’s friend HeidiFamily of Ann Marie LawFamily of Mary KorhammerRoberta Neill | Family of Pat BoydMary & Maurice Hopper Ashley/Greg Young, Isaac (Sandhoff Disease)Kelly Gallagher; Susan Taylor, Beverly’s DadLara Weiant, TomLisa’s cousins Kathy and JeffBHPC SessionSt. Paul’s Congregation Council |
| The Opioid Crisis The Unemployed, Underemployed Borough of Lansdowne Upper Darby Township | The COVID-19 Pandemic Nursing Homes William Penn School District Upper Darby School District |
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, SE Pennsylvania Synod
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Presbytery of Philadelphia
Community of Believers in Christ Pentecostal Church
Week 20 Prayer Guide The Changing Face of Mission; Ethiopia, Eritrea
Next Sunday
TRINITY SUNDAY – MAY 30
10:30 a.m. – Morning Worship
“FOOTSTEPS (Revised)”
Pastor Tung preaching
St. Mark 1.21-28
Brief In-person Service of the Eucharist – On the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 9:45 a.m. at St. Paul’s, 50 East Plumstead Avenue, Lansdowne.