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 In our Epistle reading for August 2nd, we read in Romans about the relationship between Jew and Gentiles and the failure of the Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Paul struggles with this dilemma. View the service video below.
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 Who wants weeds in their garden? Who wants leaven mixed into their unleavened bread? What would you do if you found treasure? In a series of parables, Jesus confronts his disciples with the radical nature of the Kingdom. The keys to understanding parables fall along two important lines here. First, all parables are meant to be simple expressions, taken at face value. We are always tempted to allegorize by attributing different identities and aspects to the elements in the story. I have done this repeatedly! Even the biblical editors did it, inserting Jesus explaining the parables. If Jesus had to explain his parable, then it was a lousy parable, like having to explain a joke - that's failure. Second, we need to pay critical attention to the opening words: The Kingdom of heaven/God is like .... In other words, the parables is not some generalized information from which we can draw our own conclusions, perhaps by allegorizing the parable. Rather, it directly refers to the Kingdom and its radical nature. The tiny seed and the pinch of leaven take on a whole new meaning. The incredible treasure in the field and the priceless pearl also take on new meaning as well.  In our Gospel reading for July 19th, we read in Matthew 13 about weeds and seeds. The summary of this parable of the wheat and the weeds is about creating the right environment for everyone to “shine like the sun.” Do you remember the saying from the 60’s and 70’s, “Bloom Where You Are Planted?” See below for the Order of Virtual Worship and the Fairfielder for this week. Click the icon and download to be ready for the service video published separately. 
 If you've planted seeds, you know not all of them are necessarily going to take root, sprout, and grow into maturity. Some do, some don't. How does this give us insights into ministry as servants of the Lord and his Kingdom? Readings from Second Isaiah and Jesus' parable of the sower have much to teach us. Faithful work as servants is not like other worldly occupations and tasks. We tend to measure and weigh and quantify, but that is a fool's errand in the work of serving the Lord. Find out the whole story in the sermon video below.
 In our Gospel reading for July 5th, we read in Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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