November 15: The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
After Abram’s return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) –Genesis 14:17, 18
How fantastic that when Abram gets back from the battle that God fights for him, God then sends a priest out to serve Abram communion! And this is not just any priest, Hebrews 7 tells us this priest has the “power of an indestructible life,” by which Jesus himself derives his priesthood! This is a feast to celebrate the victory of God.
In every covenant-renewal worship service, the drama is unfolded again: Christ defeats all his and our enemies at the cross, makes us co-victors with him (not that it was by our might or power), and then serves us bread and wine in communion with him. When we go to that feast to celebrate the victory of God, we need not fear the King of Sodom or anyone else, for God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth, is satisfied to look on Christ and pardon us.
And that’s the gospel. Come hear it preached and enacted in the victory feast with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
All Creatures of Our God and King
The Beatitudes
To God Be the Glory
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed Treasures) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!