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Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate...

Illustration
Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - C
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Mark J. Molldrem
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate, describes in her book Mighty Be Our Powers how sisterhood, prayer, and sex changed a nation at war. Liberia was embroiled in a civil war from 1990 to 2003. Hundreds of thousands were killed and many more were displaced into refugee camps. One night, Leymah Gbowee had a dream in which the voice of God commanded her: "Gather the women to pray for peace." Her response was quick and direct, like Jeremiah's, except the content was more blatant: "I drink too much. I fornicate. I sleep with a man who is not my husband and is even married to another.
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For August 3, 2025:

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Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

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Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (vv. 9-10)

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Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

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Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
Christ, have mercy.

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For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
-- Psalm 107:9, 43

Kirk R. Webster
How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
Thomas A. Renquist
This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
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" 'It was I who taught Ephraim how to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them' (11:3). They did not know me. Do you?

" 'I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.' (1:4). But they did not know me. Do you?

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