The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

When it came to the religious leaders of the day, scripture seems to suggest that the "godly life" had a different shape and substance for them, than it did for Jesus. "Pharisaical religion" was characterized by a growing sense of having a firm hold on God. Jesus’ religion was characterized by a growing sense of God’s firm hold on us. What kind of life of faith will we choose?

• Prelude: Partita on O Gott, du frommer Gott, (O God, Though Righteous God - hymn by Johann Heermans) BWV 767 (J.S. Bach)  
• Readings: James 1: 17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
• Sermon: "A Godly Person" (The Reverend Mark Aitchison)
• Solo: Abide With Me, from The Woman of Samaria (William Sterndale Bennett) (Parker Clements, baritone soloist)
• Postlude: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 549 (J.S. Bach)