{"id":2268,"date":"2023-07-26T07:07:10","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T07:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/?p=2268"},"modified":"2023-07-26T07:07:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T07:07:10","slug":"9th-sunday-after-pentecost-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/9th-sunday-after-pentecost-2\/","title":{"rendered":"9th Sunday after Pentecost"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2268\" class=\"elementor elementor-2268\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2753f168 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2753f168\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e26f16b\" data-id=\"3e26f16b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64fc71 eael-dt-th-align-center eael-table-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-data-table\" data-id=\"64fc71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-data-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eael-data-table-wrap\" data-table_id=\"64fc71\" id=\"eael-data-table-wrapper-64fc71\" data-custom_responsive=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<table class=\"tablesorter eael-data-table center\" id=\"eael-data-table-64fc71\">\n\t\t\t    <thead>\n\t\t\t        <tr class=\"table-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t            <th class=\"\" id=\"\" colspan=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"data-table-header-text\">Lectionary<\/span><\/th>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t            <th class=\"\" id=\"\" colspan=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"data-table-header-text\">1st Reading<\/span><\/th>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t            <th class=\"\" id=\"\" colspan=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"data-table-header-text\">Psalm<\/span><\/th>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t            <th class=\"\" id=\"\" colspan=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"data-table-header-text\">2nd Reading<\/span><\/th>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t            <th class=\"\" id=\"\" colspan=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"data-table-header-text\">Gospel<\/span><\/th>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t        <\/tr>\n\t\t\t    <\/thead>\n\t\t\t  \t<tbody>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">Anglican lectionary <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">Genesis 29:1-28<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">105:1-11\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">Romans 8:26-30<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t\t\t\t<tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">Catholic lectionary:<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">1 Kings. 3:5, 7-12<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">119: 57,72, 76-77<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">(Both)<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td colspan=\"\" rowspan=\"\" class=\"\" id=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"td-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"td-content\">(Both)<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t        \t\t\t    <\/tbody>\n\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t  \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4462695e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4462695e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h4><strong><u>SECTION ONE: NOTES ON THE READINGS<\/u><\/strong><\/h4><p><strong>Genesis 29:15-28<\/strong><br \/>It is love at first sight for Jacob and Rachel when he first arrives to stay with his uncle Laban. But the relationship between Jacob and Laban could be described as \u2018passive aggressive\u2019 \u2013 family warmth and loyalty on the surface belied by secretive self-centred actions. Despite this, God blesses both families and eventually Jacob returns to Israel triumphant, with four wives, a daughter and eleven sons (tragically Rachel dies the following year giving birth to Benjamin). However, the family continues to be marked by the pattern of discord and trickery, which continues into the next generation who take it out on Joseph.\u00a0<\/p><p>Today\u2019s reading covers the 14 years it takes Joseph to earn first Leah (much to his dismay!) and then Rachel in marriage. In our time we struggle with the tradition of marriage as property rights. Why do we think it is fine to purchase land, but not OK to purchase people? Individual land ownership is a foundation of capitalism, but it still feels foreign to indigenous people. In Aotearoa New Zealand we have plenty of stories of colonists buying land from M\u0101ori tribes where the deal was underhand and promises not kept. Trickery casts long shadows of injustice.\u00a0Genesis 29 is a glimpse into the relational impacts of bad-faith negotiation. What stories of injustice continue to shape life in your area?How do you understand the connections between our relationships with land, with one another, and with God?<\/p><p><strong>Psalm 105:1-11<\/strong><br \/>The \u2018eco\u2019 line in Psalm 105 is verse 7:\u00a0\u201cHe is Yahweh our God \u2013 \u201d<br \/>\u201cHis judgments govern the whole earth.\u201d (HCSB)<br \/>\u201cHis judgements are in all the earth.\u201d (NRSV &amp; NIV)<br \/>\u201cbringing justice everywhere on earth.\u201d<br \/>This begins a set of three \u2018history Psalms\u2019 which retell the story of the people of Israel. 105 accentuates the positive while 106 and 107 are a litany of woe and disobedience. Through all our history, no matter what, God is our God, God is faithful and keeps covenant with us. Verse 7 is important because it takes God\u2019s faithfulness and covenant commitment wider than just people. All the earth is under God\u2019s justice and compassion.<\/p><p>This could be a powerful entry into prayers of intercession. Show images from around the world, including places and creatures of great beauty as well as images of environmental degradation and disaster. Pray for God\u2019s judgement which is already alive and well in every corner of Planet Earth.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Romans 8:26-39<\/strong><br \/><em>Wordless Groans<\/em><br \/>Romans Chapter 8 stands among the greatest texts of all time, and has a special place in Christian faith. A vast amount that has been, and could be, written on these words. For this brief comment I would like simply to sit with Paul\u2019s description of the Spirit of God interceding for us with wordless emotion. The Greek word \u2018groaning\u2019 is also used for the cries of the slaves in Egypt in Acts 7:34, and is similar to word for the pain of childbirth (the King James used \u2018travail\u2019, e.g. John 16:21). In Romans 8 Paul tells of creation (v22), \u201cwe ourselves\u201d (v23) and the Holy Spirit (v26), all groaning.<\/p><p>Eco Theology draws attention to the nearness of God and invites worship of a God passionate about all created beings, including the human ones. This is an important counterbalance to the dualism that sets the spiritual over and against the tangible. Our Reformed heritage placed the Word in the highest place, elevating logic expressed verbally, and devaluing the body and the earth. Paul\u2019s theology of groaning is a window into God\u2019s heart which is so very with us, so very present in our pain and our wordless cries. This is where \u201cdeep calls to deep\u201d (Ps 42:7). This affirms the prayer of whales and sparrows, oak trees and lava. This affirms the prayer of infants (Ps 8:2), the disabled, and the forgetful who no longer make much sense when they talk; God still knows and God still hears, even without our words.\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52<\/strong><br \/><em>Kingdom Stories, Kingdom Secrets<\/em><br \/>In the middle of the Gospel of Matthew is Chapter 13 which is a \u2018storehouse\u2019 of Jesus wisdom. It tells and reflects on eight stories. It is worth reading the whole chapter, especially Jesus\u2019 explanation of why he spoke in parables. If we are puzzled by his stories, Jesus seems to say \u2013 that\u2019s the point! \u201cLooking they do not see, hearing they do not understand\u201d (13:13). I think we do wrong by Jesus when we try to \u2018get\u2019 his stories and sum them up in a neat \u2018point\u2019. These 8 stories are told to confuse us, to tease us. From the birds nesting in the tree to the weeping and gnashing of teeth they tantalise us with possible meaning.\u00a0<\/p><p>Today\u2019s reading includes 6 short stories, far more than anyone could possibly cover in one sermon. I\u2019m guessing that when Jesus told them he filled them out as a master story teller would, and all Matthew gives us is the \u2018potted summary\u2019. Do they have anything in common? Taken together as a group of stories, what do we notice?\u00a0<\/p><p>They\u2019re a bit \u2018Over The Top\u2019. For goodness sake, no woman would make 50 pounds of bread, that\u2019s outrageous! No one would sell everything just for a pearl, no matter how pretty it is.\u00a0They contradict each other. The fish in the net story seems to say that God only wants some people and throws the rest away, while the storehouse story seems to say that everything is a treasure, old or new.\u00a0<\/p><p>There\u2019s a theme bubbling away about little and big; the seed, the yeast, the pearl are tiny things with a big impact. Which is perhaps our point of connection back to Solomon. Perhaps the little thing with the big impact is wisdom.\u00a0<\/p><p><em>Some \u2018eco\u2019 questions to engage these stories:\u00b7<\/em><strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>What kind of wisdom do we need in 2023 to care for the planet? \u00a0 \u00a0<\/li><li>What is Jesus inviting us to \u2018see and hear\u2019 in the world around us?<\/li><li>What are the small actions that have a big impact?<\/li><li>Each story describes a dynamic ecosystem: a tree with birds nesting, a fizzing batch of yeast, fish and fishers. Where is God in the system? Explore an ecosystem approach to faith.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>Jesus describes the stories as expressing the \u201csecrets of the kingdom\u201d (13:11). In our care for the environment, what are the \u2018kingdom secrets\u2019 that the Spirit uncovers for us?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: var(--ast-global-color-2); font-size: 1.333333rem; font-style: inherit; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-word-spacing ); background-color: var(--ast-global-color-5);\">SECTION TWO: SERMON SUGGESTION<\/span><\/h4><p><i>\u2018Little can be huge\u2019<\/i><br \/>Focus Bible verses:\u00a0the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast, Matthew\u00a0\u00a013:31-33, \u201cThe kingdom of heaven is like \u2026<span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-word-spacing ); background-color: var(--ast-global-color-5);\">\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-style: inherit; color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-word-spacing ); background-color: var(--ast-global-color-5);\">Key idea:\u00a0Little things can have a big impact, such as seeds and yeast<\/span><\/p><p>Personal\/Local connection: Tell a story of a local group or from your own experience of doing something small for the environment which has had a larger impact, e.g. an enviro school project, or a tree you planted, or a conversation you had. How are you seeing God at work in this?\u00a0How might this experience become a parable of the Kingdom of Heaven?<\/p><p>Practical ideas:<br \/>&#8211; \u00a0 A children\u2019s talk with yeast and making bread<br \/>&#8211; \u00a0 A children\u2019s talk with seeds and plants<br \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 (e.g. photos to match the plant with the seed it grew from)<br \/>&#8211; \u00a0 Invite the congregation to discussion and\/or write down a commitment to one action to care for the \u00a0 environment, e.g. writing a letter to their local supermarket asking about their policies to reduce plastic<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h4><u>SECTION THREE:\u00a0\u00a0ADDITIONAL MATERIAL<\/u><\/h4><p><b>Call to Worship:\u00a0Psalm 105:1-4<\/b><br \/>\u00a0Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name.<br \/>Shout about God to everyone!<br \/>\u00a0Sing to God, sing praise!<br \/>Tell about all wonderful things God has done!<br \/>\u00a0Honour God\u2019s holy name;<br \/>You who seek Yahweh, rejoice and celebrate!<br \/>\u00a0Lean in to the\u00a0Lord\u00a0and rely on God\u2019s strength<br \/>Live every day in God\u2019s presence.<\/p><p><b>Bi-lingual Call to Worship<\/b><br \/>Choose a language that is spoken by some members of your church. Look up Psalm 105:1-4 in Bible Gateway (or other online Bible) in that language. Copy and paste this into the Call to Worship, so that each line is said in both English and the other language.\u00a0<br \/>When using another language in worship, keep sections short and people will enjoy the richness this brings.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Prayer of confession from Romans 8: 26-28<\/b><br \/>Spirit of God, help us in our weakness.\u00a0We confess that we do not know how to pray. Spirit of God, pray for us. Groan for us when words run out, sigh for us when words are not enough. In this time of silence we let go of our words, for you hear our heart. (silent prayer)Spirit of Jesus, you know us. Deep calls to deep in your love. Bring us into the mind of God until we rest, forgiven, in God\u2019s great purpose. Friends, we know that in all things\u00a0God works for the good of those who love him. Halleluia. Amen.<\/p><p><b>The Smallest Seed<\/b><br \/><i>A litany for children and all ages.<br \/>Should include actions.<br \/>Read it twice, so that people are confident with the actions the 2nd\u00a0time.<\/i><\/p><p>The smallest seed, the mustard seed,<br \/>a tiny dot, it\u2019s nothing much!<br \/>Can God use this, this tiny speck?<br \/>What could God do with nothing much?<br \/>Cup your hands, hold it tight.<br \/>Dig a hole, plant it well.<br \/>Give it love, give it light.<br \/>What will grow? Do you know?<br \/>Day by day, week by week<br \/>month by month, year by year.<br \/>Watch it grow, green and strong,<br \/>up and up, out and out.<br \/>God at work, God at play!<br \/>A bush, a tree, a home.<br \/>Come, birds! Make your nest.<br \/>Come, people! Sit and rest.<br \/>God is good! God is great!<\/p><p><b>A Children\u2019s Talk on the Storehouse Parable :\u00a0<\/b><b>Matthew 13:52<\/b><br \/><b>\u00a0<\/b><i style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-word-spacing );\">Prepare: You need a box with something old (a rock, or a fossil if you have one), and something new (e.g. a flower bud.\u00a0<\/i><i style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-ef3f7c6-word-spacing );\">Talk about how old things are: ask the children how old they are, their parents are, and to guess how old you are! Ask the congregation how old the church is.<\/i><\/p><p><b>Tell the Jesus story:<\/b><br \/>You are learning. I am learning. Everyone here in the church is learning. We are learning the ways of God. Jesus called God\u2019s ways the Kingdom of Heaven. And he told lots of stories to help people learn the ways of God. And he said that as we learn to live the Kingdom we are like someone who has a storeroom with cool things inside. Some of the things in the storeroom are really old. And some things are really new.\u00a0<\/p><p>Bring out the box and get the children to open it and take out what\u2019s inside. Discuss.<br \/>God\u2019s incredible world is a treasure house. There are things that God made long, long ago, that are very old (you could name the oldest person in your church as an example!) and there are some things which are brand new. This rock is enormously old, millions and millions of years old. This flower is so new that it has not even been opened yet. What will it look like inside? We don\u2019t know, it\u2019s that new!<\/p><p>God is like that. God is older than the universe, and God is new every morning. And living in God\u2019s ways means honouring the treasures that have been passed down through many generations, as well as the things that are bursting out brand new.\u00a0<br \/>What new idea will you have today?\u00a0<br \/>What new thing will you create today that has never existed before?<br \/><i>Pray for the children.<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0be21f2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0be21f2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4431e66\" data-id=\"4431e66\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9bacbb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9bacbb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong><span>Share the article:<\/span><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71295c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-htmega-social-shere-addons\" data-id=\"71295c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"htmega-social-shere-addons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t            <div class=\"htmega-social-share htmega-social-style-1 htmega-social-view-icon-title\" >\n                <ul>\n                                            <li class=\"elementor-repeater-item-30d5755\" data-social=\"facebook\" > \n                            <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-facebook\"><\/i><span class=\"htmega-share-title\">Facebook<\/span><span class=\"htmega-share-counter\" data-counter=\"facebook\"><\/span>                        <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"elementor-repeater-item-e452574\" data-social=\"twitter\" > \n                            <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/i><span class=\"htmega-share-title\">Twitter<\/span><span class=\"htmega-share-counter\" data-counter=\"twitter\"><\/span>                        <\/li>\n                                            <li class=\"elementor-repeater-item-44f48b2\" data-social=\"googleplus\" > \n                            <i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fab fa-google-plus\"><\/i><span class=\"htmega-share-title\">Google Plus<\/span><span class=\"htmega-share-counter\" data-counter=\"googleplus\"><\/span>                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n        \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2778e245 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2778e245\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-129b54cd\" data-id=\"129b54cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50f66413 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"50f66413\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Screenshot-2023-07-25-at-22.28.47-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-2275\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59dbe554\" data-id=\"59dbe554\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-749bd77f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"749bd77f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Silvia Purdie<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13555978 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13555978\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Silvia<\/strong> is part of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand, a Presbyterian minister in Wellington. More of her writing can be accessed at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.conversations.net.nz\/\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/www.conversations.net.nz\/\">www.conversations.net.nz<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ninth Sunday after Pentecost<br \/>\n30th July 2023<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,30,9],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2268"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2283,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2268\/revisions\/2283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/preachingforgodsworld.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}