August 2011

Heavenly Father,

we thank you for making this beautiful world

and for calling us to be your people.

Help us to enjoy these days vacations.

Let them be a time of refreshment and joy

and bring us rest after our work.

Give us your grace to serve you each day

and to grow in your love.

17th Sunday

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,  who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-46

16th Sunday

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.  And the servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?'  He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?'  But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be  burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Matthew 13:24-30

and parish BBQ... :-)

15th Sunday

"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,  but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear."

Matthew 13:3-9

14th Sunday

 At that time Jesus declared,

 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

 that you have hidden these things from the wise

 and understanding and revealed them to babes;

 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.