God asks us to make appropriate use of our gifts and talents.

Collect: Proper 28

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Judges 4:1-7 . . .    Deborah, a prophetess, shares with Barak God’s plan to defeat Sisera

Psalm 123 . . . Higher and lower sovereignty, to which do we see the throne?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 . . .  Paul urges the Thessalonians to quit worrying about the time of Jesus’ return, and instead to live fully, now, as children of light.

Matthew 25:14-30 . . . two slaves wisely invest the talents entrusted to them, while a third slave cowers in fear.

Sermon: “What is Expected”, by  Dr. Kincaid is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Escanaba, Michigan

Who Barack Obama was in 1995:  a review of “Songs Of My Father.”  Why did I decide this to be a good topic in a celebration session on use of talents, I don’t know.  For some reason it just fits: this is a guy who made quite a splash with what God gave him to work with.  And with that I can’t help but think about what I have at am doing.