Follow St. Paul’s as we follow Jesus.
We’re using this space to think about doing and being church in new ways.
And you’re invited to join us!
Paid subscribers get a front row seat to a 30-member traditional congregation’s journey into the Future of Church.
What changes are we making? What discoveries about who we are?
Subscribe and find out….
Proper 16A Scripture:
Notes from Fr. Cathie Caimano’s sermon - which was more like a word study:
Church
‘On this rock I will build my church’
Jesus uses the word only three times - twice in the context of if someone holds something against you, go to them, then the church. And the third time is here.
‘Whatever you bound on earth, is bound in heaven.’
Ecclesia = church = those who are called
Present
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12)
And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee (HE rite 1) - this is directly from Romans!
Thomas Cranmer (first Book of Common Prayer - 1549) - sacrifice is intentional, conscious self-offering of one’s whole life to God - as Jesus offered his whole life to us.
Rite I is Thomas Cranmer’s words almost exactly - as Cranmer’s words are Paul’s..
‘Present ourselves’ - to place alongside. Relinquish ownership. Presenting a child for baptism - hand it over to the church.
Sacrifice
Give up something valuable to you for another
The ancient Hebrew people sacrificed grain and meat. They gave up the very best of their food (even if it was scarce) as an offering to God
as opposed to OT animal sacrifice, NT
‘Jesus - himself, once offered - a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice.’
Jesus gave up his very life for US. That we might be freed from our sins and believe in everlasting life..
‘Sacrifice’ root is ‘sacer’ - means to ‘make holy’
So Paul is saying ‘make yourselves holy by presenting yourselves before the Lord’
We sacrifice ourselves in other relationships, too. We give of ourselves in our marriages, to our children, our church, our neighbors.
Worship
to adore, to approach with awe, to put in right relationship (orientation)
To confess our sins, to praise, and to present ourselves
‘be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction’
‘That we may be made ONE body, and that he may dwell in us, and we in him.’
Corporate worship is ‘rehearsal of life-as-worship’
We’re glad you’re here, and we’re already praying for you.
In fact, if you have a prayer request, you can make it right here:
Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30am: 930 South Main Street Salisbury, NC 28144.
But mostly, just know you belong here - as part of God’s family and this community.
We would love to know more about you, too!
You are already on our subscriber list. If you’d like to be part of St. Paul’s digital membership - and participate with us in discipleship, spiritual growth, and worship, please fill out our Connect Card (share only the information you want to).
Bulletin, readings, prayers, schedule, and how to watch the service online:
Join us at Trexo: a gym for your soul!
St. Paul’s is a small town church with a big heart for the Gospel.
Join us for worship - Sundays at 10:30am
We’re located at:
930 South Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 637-9404
stpaulsalisbury.org
online worship:
