14th Sunday after Pentecost

Examination of  God’s call to community

Proper 18

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for as you always resist the proud who confide in their strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

Exodus 12:1-14  . . .  God commands Moses and Aaron to institute the first Passover, as a community day of remembrance.

Psalm 149

Romans 13:8-14  . . .  Paul describes the characteristics and behaviors of believers in community.

Matthew 18:15-20 . . . Jesus tells his disciples to persist in their pursuit of reconciliation.

Rev. Rachel May, Pastor of Boulevard United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia, looks at the text from Exodus 12 in a whole new way. Instead of giving us instructions about how to keep the Passover feast she focuses on those first two verses, where God gives instructions about what to do with our calendars