But Martin Luther was clear in his criticism: 

that the Meal is God’s gift to the people and not a sacrifice for the people.

The idea is that each Sunday, we take one of the four parts of worship, 

and reflect on each individual element in that section.

Today is the first service of a 4-part series entitled “Learning about Liturgy”.

The idea is that each Sunday, we take one of the four parts of worship, and take time to reflect on each element, before and after; 

what it means, the history and traditions, 

kind of like taking apart a car and putting it back together again. 

The nature of the gift gives us much information about the giver.

What’s in the present tells us about who gave the present.

God’s gift of Jesus tells us about who God is.

It became clear to me last Wednesday: 

here were people who are lying in a symbolic manger.

According to Sam Weicker, he performed 10,725 ministerial acts at St. Mathews, including 3,745 baptisms, 3,374 confirmations, 1,681 funerals.

But rejoice: there are still faithful youth, and they are here and ready to worship, learn and meet, especially in a format that is geared to them.

So today, in a lazy mid-Summer hot Sunday service,

we have the best, or perhaps worst, 

story of sex and violence in the New Testament,

a story which has inspired artwork and artistic interpretations throughout the ages, from painters like Lucas Cranach to composers like Richard Strauss:

“The Dance that caused the prophet’s death”

Do we keep our faith when miracle healings DON’T happen?

is our faith all in vain, when these intercessions don’t become reality?

What happens if the sick woman for whom I am praying dies?

We need to help refugees and to oppose policies that degrade human rights of refugees and immigrants (for example the current inhuman practices along the US-Mexican border, and the immoral and wicked separation of children and parents).