10 am 9/1, 1st Baptist Church, 6025 New Hartford St., Wolcott, NY

I have a big speaking engagement this weekend at First Baptist Church in Wolcott, NY. Pastor Mike Mazzye has graciously and courageously invited me to preach in his pulpit. Probably not his best leadership move. Hopefully it won't cost him his job or any standing in the community. I'm sure some will doubt his salvation and sanity by the time I'm done harassing the people with the Word of God. Let's check the lectionary texts for this coming Sunday, the 17th of Pentecost. This is an American Baptist Church and I'm not sure this is a lectionary driven church but it's always a good place to start one's preaching preparation: Year B / II Green Readings: Psalm 15 Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Ephesians 6:10-20 (please stand) Celebrant: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark. People: Glory to you Lord Christ. Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 (ESV) 7:1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" 6 And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ. (you may be seated) "the grass whithers and the flower fades but the word of our Lord shall remain forever."