June 19 preaching

A reminder to my Loyal Readers, I’ll be preaching at the Church of the Holy City (Swedenborgian) this Sunday. That’s 1611 16th St. NW, Washington, at 11:00 a.m. Metro to Dupont Circle north exit and walk four blocks, or take the S2 or S4 bus to Corcoran Street.

In the “more” I’ve put the texts I’m preaching (in the public domain World English Bible) and the psalm (Coverdale version) but that’s not necessarily the versions I’ll be using on the day.

I’ll be saying more about this sermon later this week. Call the blogging a quick kick in the rump to get me going.

Genesis 21:8-21

The child [Isaac] grew, and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 21:9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 21:10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, Isaac.”

21:11 The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son. 21:12 God said to Abraham, “Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called. 21:13 I will also make a nation of the son of the handmaid, because he is your seed.” 21:14 Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 21:15 The water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 21:16 She went and sat down opposite him, a good way off, about a bow shot away. For she said, “Don’t let me see the death of the child.” She sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 21:17 God heard the voice of the boy.

The angel of God called to Hagar out of the sky, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Don’t be afraid. For God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
21:18 Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him in your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”

21:19 God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the bottle with water, and gave the boy drink. 21:20 God was with the boy, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer. 21:21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.

Romans 6:1b-11

Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 6:2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 6:3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 86:1-10

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me *
for I am poor, and in misery.
Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy *
my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.
Be merciful unto me, O Lord *
for I will call daily upon thee.
Comfort the soul of thy servant *
for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For thou, Lord, art good and gracious *
and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer *
and ponder the voice of my humble desires.
In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee *
for thou hearest me.
Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord *
there is not one that can do as thou doest.
All nations whom thou hast made come and worship thee, O Lord *
and shall glorify thy Name.
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things *
thou art God alone.