Weekly Message

This Sunday we celebrate a special date on our Church calendar: Christ the King Sunday. Christ the King Sunday was one of the last festivals developed by the Church. For nearly 2000 years we had known when to celebrate Easter and Pentecost. Since the year 336 A.D., we had been celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25. But Christ the King Sunday wasn’t brought into the Church year until 1925. Why?

By 1925, the world was in the midst of some rapid and dangerous changes. Early in 1923 Mussolini seized control of Italy. By late 1923, Hitler had made his first attempt to overthrow democratic Germany. By 1924 Stalin was firmly in control of Russia. In 1925 American society was in the height of the pre-Depression economic boom, becoming more and more secular in the process. Christ the King Sunday was placed on the calendar of the Church to remind the supposed "Christian" nations of the world that the real king was not Mussolini nor Hitler nor Stalin nor some out-of-control materialism, the real king is Jesus Himself. However, in the lesson for this Sunday (Matthew 25:31-46), we are reminded that this King Jesus is not the kind of king we would normally expect to see. We are also reminded that this King Jesus judges us by a completely different set of standards than we were expecting.

In a 2023 world where more and more of the political language we hear uses the words and imagery of the 1920s and 1930s Europe, Christ the King Sunday beckons us to be clear on which king we owe our allegiance and where we are to find that king. Curious?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link. .

About 640 years before Jesus was born, Josiah, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, ordered the long needed renovation of the temple built by King Solomon 250 years before. While they were doing the much needed repairs, something unexpected was found hidden in the drywall: the long-forgotten Book of God's Law. When the scroll was uncovered, it was given to the priest in charge who then brought it to the king. As the king heard the words of this scroll (probably the O.T. book of Deuteronomy), he tore his clothes in anguish. His country, his people had been ignoring God's word for decades. Josiah wasted no time. He began a movement in Judah which became known as Josiah's Reformation.

Josiah's reformation reminds us what our call as Christians is all about. Quite simply it is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor the same way we love ourselves. This weekend, we hear about the work of Habitat for Humanity in Will County and why our participation in it is central to what we should be about.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The prophet Isaiah tells the story in such a beautiful and poetic way. God built a beautiful vineyard and equipped it with the best that money could buy. However, when it came time for the grapes to be harvested, instead of the grapes being rich and succulent, they were wild and sour. The story is about Israel. Through Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon, God had called, gathered, and equipped a people to help redeem the world. But something had gone wrong. Instead of following God and God's law, they turned to false gods.

Finally, God had had enough. His people had become addicted to idolatry. That addiction had lasted for hundreds of years. Like any parent of an addict, God had tried everything to get them to change their behavior and none of it worked. It was time for God to do the most difficult and painful (as well as the most loving) thing a parent can do for a child lost in addiction - allow His people (Israel/Judah) to suffer the consequences of their addiction. God allowed them to touch bottom. Armies from the Empire of Babylon came and destroyed Jerusalem. Most of those who survived were hauled into slavery in Babylon (modern-day Iraq). There they sat, slaves once again. Would they finally gain control over their addiction? Would they die in slavery? Would this be the final chapter? Come and see.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

What is a saint? For most of us, the word conjures up images of people who have lived - if not perfect - then exemplary lives. We think of St. Peter and St. Paul in the Bible who tirelessly traveled the known world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, eventually becoming martyrs for their Christian faith. Or perhaps, we think of a particularly 'saintly' mother, grandmother, or aunt whose life was distinguished in service, patience, and love. The Bible talks about 'saints' in another way. When Paul addresses his letter to the 'saints in Ephesus,' he is referring to those whom Jesus has called, gathered, and set aside for lives of faithful service to God and neighbor. When Paul refers to 'saints', he is not referring to perfect people (or even exemplary people); he is referring to people redeemed by the blood of Jesus. In this meaning of 'sainthood,' we are all saints. In Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, we have been called, gathered, enlightened, and set aside for God's work! In and through Jesus, we are the saints to whom Paul is writing.

This weekend we celebrate two things: All Saints' Day and Confirmation. This weekend we toll the bell for those saints in our lives who have died this past year, giving thanks to God that they had been called, gathered, and sanctified in Christ Jesus. On Sunday, we will also witness six young people confess and affirm the faith that that their parents confessed on the day when they were baptized. On Sunday, these six young people proclaim that they are part of this community of 'saints' both living and dead.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

506 years ago, Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic monk and up-and-coming university professor, took great exception to the sale of indulgences in the Roman Catholic Church. An indulgence was a piece of paper, signed by a bishop, that alleged the power to forgive one of their sins. The Church at that time used the sale of indulgences to finance the completion of St. Peter Basilica in Rome - the greatest cathedral in Christendom. It was a blatant abuse of the Church's power.

On October 31, 1517, Luther posted a list of 95 points of debate (The 95 Theses) over the use of indulgences. In their posting, Luther would declare that we cannot buy our forgiveness, neither with money nor works. Our forgiveness, our freedom, is a gift of God's grace, in and through God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Often we have made Reformation Day an homage to Martin Luther. Perhaps a better use of Reformation Day is to celebrate our freedom. In our forgiveness, in our redemption, in our justification, in our salvation, we have been given freedom to serve and love our neighbor. We serve and love not to be saved, but because we are saved.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and online: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

We live in an age that seems to be desperate for heroes. We look for the next George Washington or Abraham Lincoln and when we don't find him or her or we find him or her to be less than perfect, we become disillusioned and cynical. The reality is that the Bible warns us against putting too much trust in our leaders. 'Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, . . . on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help in the God of Jacob.' (Psalm 146:3-5)

David was the greatest king that Israel would ever know. Poet, musician, warrior, king - a man after God's own heart. Yet he was far, far, from perfect. In fact, he was deeply, deeply flawed. Yet God would still use him, in part because David desired to have God in the center of his heart. When he failed, David was humble enough to admit his sins, ask for forgiveness, and start again. What can we, as very imperfect people, learn from this very imperfect David?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person and online:  Sunday at 10:00 a.m.  See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

There is an old saying that says, “Life is 5% of what happens to you and 95% of how you deal with it.” The first five verses of the Old Testament book of Ruth tell us what happened to the main characters. The remaining 80 verses describe how the two strong women of the story, Ruth and Naomi, dealt with it.

The story of Ruth begins with a famine in the city of Bethlehem. A young couple, Elimelech and Naomi, and their two young boys are hungry and go in search of food to another country, Moab. They become economic refugees. Years pass and Elimelech dies, leaving Naomi as a widow. But she has her boys to care for her and they get married to two nice Moabite girls. But the economic security that comes from having sons is short lived; both of her sons die as well. All of this happens within the first five verses! In five verses Naomi becomes one of the most vulnerable people of her time: a childless widow living in a foreign country. That is the 5% that happened. But 95% of the story remains. Come and see how God will protect her and give her her life back. Come and see how we are called to care for the vulnerable of our time.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

I would guess that when most people think of God's law, they do not think of freedom. When the 10 Commandments are mentioned, most people think that God is just being a killjoy. Aw, man - these are 10 more things that I cannot do.

The 10 Commandments begin with a declaration of freedom for the listener. They begin with God reminding us that he is a God of freedom: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Deuteronomy 5:6) Therefore, God gives us the 10 Commandments to teach us how to live as free people. However, that freedom we are given is not just for us alone. We are called to work for the freedom of our neighbor as well. How?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

I would be willing to bet that you have heard the story many, many times. Most of us have grown up with the movies, The 10 Commandments and the Prince of Egypt. God's people had been enslaved in Egypt for many years. Their cry rises up to a God who they were convinced had forgotten them. But God had not forgotten. He heard their cry and remembered the promises He had made many years before. Out of a burning bush, God calls a man named Moses and issues a call, 'I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt.'

Moses has a multitude of excuses why that would be a bad idea. But God's answer is always the same, 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.' Moses asks, 'Who am I to do this great thing?' God replies, 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.' Moses responds, 'What if they ask me who sent me, what shall I say?' God repeats, 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.' 'What if they don't believe me?' 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.' 'I am not eloquent of speech; I'm slow of tongue.' 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.' Moses will not go alone. God will be with him.

What is God calling you to do right now? What excuses are you putting forth in response? Regardless of the excuse, we can trust the answer will be the same, 'Don't worry about it, I will be with you.'.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Whenever you read a story from the book of Genesis, pay special attention to the names. The names almost always reveal something about the character of the story's participants. This week's Bible story is about a man named Jacob - a grandson of Abraham. The name Jacob means 'trickster'. For a good part of Jacob's life, he lived up to his name. He was devious, ambitious, and cunning - so much so that he stole his brother's inheritance by tricking his blind father. Jacob's brother was so furious that he threatened to kill Jacob. Jacob fled for his life and stayed away for more than 20 years. Eventually, he knew he needed to come home and confront his past - this brother he had cheated. This week's lesson tells us what happened immediately before that dreaded confrontation. Spoiler alert: it involves a change in name.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

When we say we trust God we are saying two things; we are saying that God has the ability to fulfill his promises and that God has the desire to fulfill his promises. In other words, we are saying that God is both powerful and trustworthy. In Genesis, chapter 12, God appeared to a pair of senior citizens, Abraham and Sarah, and made three promises to them. 1. God would give them the land where he was sending them. 2. God would make of them a great nation. 3. God would make of them a blessing for all the families of the earth.

There was a problem with these promises, however. Abraham and Sarah did not have children. Sarah was barren and beyond the age when conceiving a child should have been possible. So where would the great nation come from? 25 years would pass and God still had not fulfilled that promise. Would they still trust in God? Would we?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

There is not just one story of creation in the Bible; there are two (at least). In these two stories found in Genesis 1 and 2, the Bible shares with us more than just how all things were created; these stories also share with us our purpose as human beings. In Genesis 1, God says, "Let us make humankind in our image, . . . and let them have dominion over the [rest of creation]." (Genesis 1:26)

In Genesis 2, the language about 'having dominion' is softened. God creates the first human out of the dust of the earth, breathes life into him, and places him in the garden to serve and protect the garden. Dominion is not just about using (and often abusing) the natural resources we have been given. Having dominion is more about being caretakers and protectors of the world around us. As we celebrate this year's Rally Day - the beginning of our congregation's programming year - join us as we look for ways to fulfill the purpose of serving and protecting the world around us.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

To be an apprentice, whether it is an apprentice carpenter or apprentice teacher or apprentice sheet metal worker, one must spend time with the master teacher. To be an apprentice of Jesus, one must spend time with Jesus. How? We do it through prayer, Bible reading, worship, small groups, service, and serving those on the margins of society. The foundation of all of these practices of discipleship is something very fundamental: time. Without creating space in our busy lives for prayer, worship, Bible reading, and service, these things are not going to happen. Without carving out time, we do not put ourselves in the presence of Jesus. This is the purpose of sabbath. Sabbath is more than a day - it is choosing to create space to meet Jesus. How can we create this space?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

In order to be an apprentice of someone, one must spend time with them. You can’t be an apprentice carpenter without spending time with the master carpenter. You can’t be an apprentice fisherman without spending time with the master fisherman. You cannot be a disciple/an apprentice of Jesus without spending time with Jesus. So the question remains: how can we spend time with Jesus? Prayer, scripture, worship, and service are good places to start but where else?

While I would like to think of Jesus as just hanging out in my office or hanging out in our sanctuary just waiting for church to start, it is simply not where He promises to be. Jesus did not spend his earthly life hanging out the in the synagogue and temple. He hung out with those outside of the center of the religious world – with those on the edges, those most rejected, those most marginalized. Join us this week as we consider what that means for us today.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

I don’t know if you have ever thought about it, but nearly all of the books of the New Testament were not written for individuals. They were written for communities. The writers of the New Testament recognized that to be an apprentice of Jesus is a life lived in community, a life that is lived with the support of others.

As we continue our series of messages about our call to be apprentices of Jesus, we recognize that this apprenticeship walk is not easy. We need a small group around us to love, support, forgive, encourage, and build us up. At the same time we are called to love, support, forgive, encourage, and build up our siblings in Christ. Come and see what that can look like in your life.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

We are called to be disciples (apprentices) of Jesus. In order to be an apprentice, one has to spend time with the master teacher. God has given us a number of ways to spend time with Jesus: prayer, worship, reading scripture, service, small groups, giving, and hanging out with people on the margins. This week we talk about the discipleship practice of serving. How can serving be a means of hanging out with Jesus?

The 6th Century Christian mystic, Teresa of Avila, writes, “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” Serving is not just abiding with Christ, it is actually becoming the body of Christ.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Think about a time in your life when you felt inspired. Where did that inspiration come from? In Paul's letter to Timothy, he writes, "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16) Here, the word 'inspired' comes from a Greek word meaning "God-breathed." Paul is telling us that all scripture is God-breathed.

We have been called to be disciples of Jesus, apprentices of Him. To be an apprentice means that we need to spend time with the master. To be an apprentice of Jesus, we need to spend time with Jesus. How? Knowing that scripture is God-breathed is a good place to start.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The best definition of the word 'disciple' is 'apprentice.' Jesus wants apprentices. An apprentice has only one goal: to be like the master. That is true whether you are an apprentice electrician or apprentice carpenter or apprentice pipe-fitter. Your goal is to be at least as good as the person teaching you. That is our goal as disciples/apprentices of Jesus. Our goal is simply to be like Jesus - to act as He would act, to love as He would love, to value what He would value. So, how do we know how Jesus would act, love, and value? We get to know these things through the discipleship/apprenticeship practices of prayer, worship, reading of scripture, service, reunion of small groups, and hanging out with the people that Jesus would hang out with. This week, we will talk about prayer. How can we shape our prayer life into something that allows the Holy Spirit to shape us in our apprenticeship to Jesus?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

If someone were to ask you about the times in your life when you grew the most emotionally and spiritually, I would be willing to bet that it would not be during the easy times but the hard times. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, "Suffering leads to perseverance, perseverance leads to character, and character leads to hope and hope does not disappoint." (Romans 5:3-5) This past week, six young people from SOTH participated in a Group Mission Trip to Winchester, Kentucky, where they rebuilt the porch and wheelchair ramp of a woman in need. What did they learn about perseverance and character in the process?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Peter, one of the first apostles, was arguably one of the most fervent messengers of the good news of Jesus Christ. And it was a job he totally grew into from the time he set down his nets and answered the call to follow Jesus. Peter was far from the perfect disciple. But that didn’t get in the way of God’s Holy Spirit working in Peter, who grew to be a great servant of Christ and a pillar of the early church. And through God’s Holy Spirit, Peter found his voice. Join us this week as we hear Peter's words of encouragement, teaching us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus, and to participate throughout our lives in the divine nature of God.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The apostle Peter had much to say to the early Christian church and through his writing he reminded them (and reminds us today) of the divine gift we have been given in Jesus Christ. Peter's audience understood that Jesus died, was resurrected from the dead and would return. Many believers thought he would return within their own lifetime. But after decades had passed, some wondered if that was true; and some detractors, false teachers, were spreading seeds of doubt by questioning the truth of Jesus. Peter had much to say about this and he did. Join us as we hear Peter's message of truth and contemplate how we might understand and speak the truth of Jesus in our lives today.

When Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" the apostle Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” (Matt. 16:16) Peter may have been one of the first to really understand this. Surely Peter did not have the same level of understanding when Jesus first beckoned Peter to follow him; yet he answered the call that Jesus placed on his life. And answering the call changed Peter's life as he continued to grow in understanding and faith even after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter became a cornerstone of the Christian mission.a bit and hear more about an exciting week at LOMC!

Some of our confirmation kids spent this past week at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Team Camp! What a blast! Along with swimming, hiking and team building activities and a host of other fun stuff, the kids participated in a daily bible study related to the things that Jesus does. Jesus Creates, Heals, Loves, Serves and Sends. The campers read and discussed scriptures related to each of those gifts that Jesus has given to us.

Join us this week as we dive into Matthew 6:25-34 for a bit and hear more about an exciting week at LOMC!
Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God."

These words from the prophet Isaiah were given to the people of Israel who were captive to Babylon after the empire destroyed Jerusalem". Exiled from their homeland and isolated from all they had known, they lamented and worried about remaining faithful to Yahweh in this foreign land.

Exiled, yet God provided words of comfort and hope; a path home on the road that God would pave for them. Join us this week as we think about the times of exile in our own lives and in the lives of our fellow sojourners. Join us as we ponder God's comfort in times of exile and consider how we might be of comfort to those who feel exiled in our own time.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters!" God speaks clearly through the prophet Isaiah, who delivers these words of hope to a people in dire need of God's help. God hears their voices and responds with an invitation to bountiful feast where everyone may feast on all they need without price. And all are welcome. Yet this is more than just an invitation to dinner. It is an invitation to life in God's presence and a message that reinforces God's everlasting covenant for all who hear. Join us this week as ponder this feast of life and think about its implications for our lives today.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

"Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God."

These words from the prophet Isaiah were given to the people of Israel who were captive to Babylon after the empire destroyed Jerusalem. Exiled from their homeland and isolated from all they had known, they lamented and worried about remaining faithful to Yahweh in this foreign land.

Exiled, yet God provided words of comfort and hope; a path home on the road that God would pave for them. Join us this week as we think about the times of exile in our own lives and in the lives of our fellow sojourners. Join us as we ponder God's comfort in times of exile and consider how we might be of comfort to those who feel exiled in our own time.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The prophet Isaiah was a gifted writer and poet whose vivid biblical imagery allows us to sit and soak in a passage, turning it this way and that in wonderment at the sharp contrasts of God's power in that which has been and that which is to come. During June, we will indeed sit and soak in the book of Isaiah, as the texts present to us God's deep care for creation, God's will for peace and God's promise for God's people.

We are God's people. And as we ponder this week's text, Isaiah 9:1-7, we may wonder in the midst of our chaotic and often not very peaceful world, when and where and how will we ever coexist in a peaceful kingdom. Yet God has provided the light that was in the beginning, and that through God's Holy Spirit shines into the depths of our hearts and guides us to understanding what God's deep love is all about.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, his disciples were gathered in a room in Jerusalem. While they were worshipping, something extraordinary happened. These followers of Jesus were dramatically filled with the Holy Spirit and given the ability to speak in other languages. These foreign tongues came in quite handy as these disciples filed out onto the street and began to share with this diverse, multi-lingual crowd God's deeds of power. These crowds from Asia, Europe, and Africa were amazed to hear this message in their own languages.

In our baptisms, we have been given the Holy Spirit. We, too, are called, gathered, equipped, and sent to share God's deeds of power with the world. What language are we given to do so? While we may not be given the ability to miraculously speak another language, we are given the language of love, respect, and service. Through our actions, our message of God's power over sin, death, and the evil can be heard. Come and see.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Romans, chapter 6, is the basis for the good news that is proclaimed at a Lutheran funeral service; "Therefore, we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be unite with him in a resurrection like his." (Romans 6:4-5)

Join us this weekend as we hear what 'walking in newness of life' looks like from the perspective of our guest preacher, Mike Bjerum.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

It almost seems unfair. It seems like we should be able to say that if we are in a good relationship with God, then life should be easy. Shouldn't it make sense that if we have been forgiven and are in good standing with God that we shouldn't get cancer or lose our job or go through marital difficulties?

We need only to look at Jesus to see that that argument doesn't make sense. The relationship between God the Father and God the Son was perfect, yet Jesus' life contained sadness, pain, and death. For the sake of the world, Jesus entered into its suffering. But Easter morning proves to us that suffering did not have the last word. That was true for Jesus and it is true for us.

In this weekend's Bible reading (Romans 5:1-11), Paul tells us that Christ is present to us even in our suffering and that suffering need not have the last word.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God's saving power for everyone who believes . . . Romans 1:16

2000 or so years ago, the apostle Paul wrote these words in a letter to the Christians in Rome. Writing this letter some 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Paul had already traveled throughout the Mediterranean sharing the Gospel, the good news of salvation for all who believed in Jesus. Christian communities were taking root all around the Mediterranean, but Paul still had much to teach. And the concept of God's power of salvation was crucial. This short excerpt of Paul's letter speaks to the heart of what God has done for God's people.

Our world today is vastly different than it was 2000 years ago, but human nature has not really changed. We humans strive to be self-sufficient. We often are attracted to power . . . the idea of being powerful. Sometimes we are charmed by those we perceive to be powerful, believing them somehow to be better than the rest. But that power pales in comparison to the gift that has been freely given to all who believe.

Join us this week as we breathe together the air of God's power . . . our gift.
Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

This weekend we will hear part of a story that might aptly be called "Who's in charge here?" The scripture for today begins with God's Holy Spirit speaking directly to the church in Antioch and commissioning them to set apart the disciples Barnabas and Paul for "the work to which I have called them."

The Holy Spirit has called Barnabas and Paul to go, to travel far and wide, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. And so they go from country to country sharing this good news. And in some places they are met with resistance from people who really don't want to hear this good news. But . . . when they get to Lystra, they are met by a man who cannot walk and Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, heals the man. And the crowd goes wild! They are beside themselves, shouting "the gods have come down to us in human form!"

But . . . is that a good thing? Join us this week as we hear this story and ponder the crowd's reaction. Join us as we think about who and what are our gods . . . and consider . . . who's in charge here.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

There is an old story about a rabbi who used to teach his people that as they studied the Torah – the word of God would be placed on their hearts. One day, one of his students asked him, “Rabbi, why do you always say that when we study the Torah, the scriptures will be placed on our hearts? Why don’t you say the word of God will be put in our hearts?” The rabbi replied, “Only God can place God’s word in our hearts. But reading and studying God’s word places it on our hearts so that when our hearts break, the holy words fall inside.”

I suspect that the rabbi was correct. Why? If we come before God pretending that we have life all figured out, we provide little room for God to work. However, if we come before God with the truth - that we are broken and in need of God's healing - we give space for that Word of God to seep into our hearts. Join us as we hear how two of Jesus' brokenhearted followers come to recognize the resurrected Jesus in their midst.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

One of the things that I appreciate most about the TV show, The Chosen, is their portrayal of the disciples of Jesus. I appreciate how regular they are. They are broken and fallible like we are. Do they mess up? Absolutely – all the time. Do they fight against their own prejudices? Yep - Peter starts off hating Matthew. Andrew is frustrated by Mary Magdalene. All of them do not trust Simon. Do they lose their nerve and try to return back to their old lives? Of course. These are normal folks. They are perpetually unfinished works in progress. Just like us. What keeps them going is their connection to this Jesus who has called them. Jesus is the vine and they are the branches. As long as they stay connected, they can keep going.

In the Bible reading for this weekend, Jesus gives the disciples his final words, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing . . . and teaching them what I have taught you. Remember, I am with you until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) We have been called to be disciples - to be connected with Jesus and to learn and grow. We have also been called to tell the story of Jesus, gathering and teaching. We do so as unfinished works in progress. We do so trusting that Jesus is will us until the end of the age.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

When Jesus was crucified, scripture tells us that most of the men who had followed him scattered. They went into hiding – fully expecting that what had happened to Jesus would soon happen to them. It was the women who did what needed to be done. As Jesus’ body was placed into the tomb, it was Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of James and John, who took note of where the tomb was located. On Sunday morning, it was the women who who came to see the tomb.

What did they come to see? After all, a tomb is a tomb - a hole covered by a huge rock. Could it be that they remembered something that Jesus had said to all of them numerous times? Jesus had told his followers “that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the religious leaders and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Mt. 16:21) These women had seen the 'great suffering' and the killing. I wonder if these women came to the tomb to see whether the final part of that prediction was going to come true. Could it be that these women came to the tomb in hope, remembering what Jesus had told them? That hope would be fulfilled! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday has a tendency to produce feelings of ambivalence. On one hand, after 34 days of Lent, we are all ready for some celebration. The parade-like atmosphere of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey while the crowds wave palm branches and shout 'Hosanna!' seems to provide a new and hopeful mood. But, for those who know the story, we know what Jesus will encounter in just a few days. Shouts of 'Hosanna' will turn into screams of 'Crucify him!' Jesus comes in the gate as a king and leaves the gate as a prisoner marching towards execution. The reality is, however, that Jesus comes in like a king and leaves still a king - a king who gives up his life for the sake of the world.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

I have always been fascinated by those people at the airport who are assigned to pick up passengers they have never seen. They hold up their signs with some random name and they hope to be found. Do they wonder what "Bill Smith" or "Luisa Hernandez" looks like? As they watch hundreds of people descend the elevator into Baggage Claim, do they get good at making educated guesses about age, race, dress, and body size? In this weekend's Bible story (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus tells a parable about how we wait faithfully for Jesus to return. The interesting thing about Jesus' parable is that He suggests that, as they faithfully wait for His return, He has been with them the entire time - in the hungry, in the homeless, in the thirsty, etc. How can we recognize Jesus in the crowd? Look to those whom the rest of the world ignores - those who live on the margins - the hungry, the homeless, the thirsty, etc.

This weekend, Sarah Junkin Woodard from Jubilee House Community in Nicaragua will share with us their ministry among some of the world's poorest people. For more than 28 years, Sarah and the Jubilee House Community have seen Jesus in the faces of their neighbors and have worked tirelessly to help. How can we help these helpers? Tune in to find out.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

In this week's gospel lesson, Jesus gives us a parable about the importance of being ready (Matthew 25:1-13). Ten young people have been invited to a wedding celebration. As part of the wedding customs of the day, they are expected to bring oil lamps to light the way for the bride and groom. All ten of them had lamps, but only five had oil. The other five, the foolish ones, were left outside, not able to attend the wedding party. In life, unexpected things happen: accidents, illness, divorce, bankruptcy, pandemic. Do we have enough oil in our lamps? What do we do to ensure we do?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

This week Jesus shares a somewhat confusing story about an elaborate banquet given by a king to celebrate his son's wedding. The king invited his honored guests and on the day of the event sent his servants to remind all who had been invited that the celebration was ready. All was prepared! But none of them showed up . . . and the king was furious! Calling those who refused to show up unworthy of the invitation, the king sent his servants out again; this time to the streets to invite everyone they met to come to the banquet. All were welcome . . . good and bad alike! And the wedding hall was filled with guests! And it was good. Until the king noticed a guest who was not wearing the proper robe for the wedding, a sign of great dishonor towards the king. And so the king had the man bound and thrown into the outer darkness, where, he said, "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus ends this story saying this, "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Join us this week as we contemplate where are we in this story? What does it mean to be ready for the banquet? Why are all invited, but some not worthy? And what's up with the wedding robe? Where do I get one?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

When we pray the words, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," what are we asking of God? Quite simply, we are praying that God's kingdom be more than just something that happens in heaven when we die; we are praying that God's kingdom be with us now, in this world. We are praying that God's preferred way for this world come into reality now. So what does 'God's preferred way' look like? Jesus us shows us through parables.

In this week's Bible reading (Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus gives us a parable about the kingdom of heaven. "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard." (Matthew 20:1) The parable starts off innocent enough, but by the end we are left surprised. Some hear this parable and get angry. Why? Well sometimes our preferred way and God's preferred way are not the same. Hmmmm. . . imagine that.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Forgiving can be difficult.

This week we hear the parable of the Unforgiving Servant . . . one who, out of the pity of the king, has been forgiven of a great debt, yet turns around and absolutely refuses to forgive the debt of one who owes him. In fact, instead of forgiving, he throws him into prison. When friends of the poor fellow bring this to the attention of the king, the Unforgiving Servant is handed over by the king to be tortured until he pays his entire debt.

Join us this week as we take some time to hear this story and to think about what it says about our own ability to forgive and the path to healing and fullness of life that God desires for us and provides to us . . . through forgiveness.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

"And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white." Matthew 17:2

You might say that the story of Jesus' transfiguration is . . . well . . . dazzling. And it is pretty amazing to imagine the sight of Jesus becoming the light . . . the appearance of Moses and Elijah . . . and God's voice from heaven proclaiming, "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Oh, the imagery!! And, the transfiguration of Jesus was witnessed by the "inner circle" of Jesus, the disciples Peter, James and John, who were overwhelmed by what they saw and heard. Imagine being a part of that inner circle on that particular day. Aside from imagination though, how does this story relate to our lives today? Join us as we hear this story, as we consider it from the perspective of the inner circle disciples and as we contemplate how this story might be for us, as disciples of Christ today, as well.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

When I was in middle-school, I would 'walk beans' to earn money during the summer. For those of you who did not grow up in rural communities, 'walking beans' was the process of walking through soybean fields and cutting down (or pulling out) weeds between the rows of beans. It was hot and hard labor - but in the end, the fields looked soooooo clean. You can walk bean fields but not wheat fields. Wheat is not planted in rows. If you see a weed in the middle of a wheat field, you will have to trample a lot of wheat to get to it. You will end up hurting more than you help.

In this weekend's Bible lesson, Jesus tells a parable about a farmer who plants good seed in the field and later that night an enemy plants weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). When the field hands see that something is amiss, they ask, "Do you want us to pull up the weeds?" The farmer's answer is interesting. "No. Let them be; lest you pull up the wheat with the weeds." (Matthew 13:29) Sometimes, we are quick to try and separate what is wheat in our lives and what is weed. Sometimes we just have to wait and see. How does that work in our spiritual lives?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Jesus was a carpenter, a builder. He understood the importance of foundations. In the Bible reading for this weekend (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus paints a vivid picture of two types of foundations: one made of rock, strong enough to withstand any storm, and another made of sand which washes away when the rains come. Jesus ends his famous (and long) Sermon on the Mount with these words, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. . . . And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

Join us this weekend as we study this foundation that Jesus invites us to build. What kind of bricks is it made of? I think you may be surprised.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

We have much to be thankful for . . . and much to worry about. And Jesus, our teacher, our healer, our friend, our Savior, knows this. Jesus understands the things we worry about and he tells us "do not worry." This is a tall order for us in the middle of a world that provides endless opportunities for worry! Jesus knows this . . . he knows our concerns and the pressure we are under; and yet he teaches us not to worry and to "strive first for the kingdom of God and God's righteousness."

Join us this weekend as we come together to hear these words of encouragement . . . this sacred advice from the One who knows the deepest worries of our hearts. Join us as we ponder this text from Matthew's gospel and learn together how "do not worry" might apply to (and impact) our lives and our journey of faith.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Jesus begins His famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) with these words:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those that mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right relationship with God, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.'

If you look carefully at this list of people that are supposedly 'blessed', it seems completely backwards. To be 'poor in spirit' or 'mourning' seems more like being cursed than being blessed. But Jesus uses the word 'blessed' different than we do. To be blessed, according to Jesus, is to receive God's grace, a grace that helps us move forward in life. The 'poor in spirit' or 'mourning' were blessed not because they were poor in spirit but because they were brought into the presence of Jesus and God's grace met them there. How do we receive this blessing of God's grace, even if we are not poor in spirit or mourning? Join us to find out.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link

From Birth to Baptism to Temptation in the Wilderness . . . the gospel of Matthew brings Jesus forth into his ministry in a whirlwind of activity. Jesus is on the move and will not be deterred by anything. No force of human or spiritual evil will take his attention away from the mission of Jesus; Jesus is here to stay.

Join us this weekend as we hear the story of how Jesus encounters the devil and prevails, then moves into the ministry that will provide light unto a world filled with darkness. Join us as we hear how the good news of that perpetual light shines even today and will shine tomorrow for all who believe!

Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

In the Bible, baptism is presented in a number of different ways. For John the Baptizer, baptism was a symbolic washing away of our past sins. For Paul, we were baptized into the Body of Christ. For Jesus, baptism was an entrance into his mission and ministry. Which of these is true for us as baptized followers of Jesus? I will give you a hint; the answer is "d" all of the above.

Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The gospel of Matthew begins in - what might seem to be - sort of a boring way, with the ancestry of Jesus, going back 42 generations. Who starts a good news story like that??

Ahhh . . . but there's the catch! This long listing of fathers and sons includes some genuine nuggets that we don't often get a chance to talk about. For instance . . . this lineage includes the names of four women. In ancient times women were considered insignificant, so this is something to consider! Also, many of the people in Jesus' lineage were - at the very least - significantly flawed and - at the worst - downright jerks.

And within all of this, God has a message for us. Join us this week as we dive into the generational soup that through the Holy Spirit brought Jesus into the world; and as we highlight the significance of the insignificant and of the imperfect ones through whom God worked to bring the Kingdom of God to dwell on earth. Join us as we look to connect the dots between these ancient generations and our lives today in a way that helps us to better understand God's big picture.

Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king! In person: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 10:00 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

As I read the story of the birth of Jesus, I am struck by how all of the main characters (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Elizabeth, the Inn Keeper, the shepherds, the angels, - even the Magi) were thrown out of their normal lives. Each was displaced in their own way, asked to do something strange and new. If we think of our own lives, we, too, are consistently being displaced by the circumstances of life. Perhaps it is the birth of a baby, an unexpected medical diagnosis, a layoff, or the death of a parent or spouse. In all of these events, we feel displaced, thrown out of our normal lives. The birth of Jesus reminds us that just because we feel displaced, that does not mean that God has abandoned us. In fact, it is the very opposite. 2000 years ago, God, in Jesus Christ, came into the lives of displaced people with love, strength, and grace. That is just as true today; God, in Jesus, continues to hang out with the displaced and marginalized. Look for those displaced in our world, there you will find Jesus and there we are also called to be.

Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king! In person: Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church: December 18, 2022

One of the things that I love most about the Christmas story is how God uses some of the most unlikely characters in the story of Jesus' birth. God uses an adolescent girl and her reluctant fiancée. God uses a formally barren mother-to-be and the emperor of the known world. God uses a group of shabby shepherds, a very unhelpful innkeeper, and a group of astronomers from the East. God uses a cross section of humanity to enter into the very heart of the human story through God's Son, Jesus. Join us this weekend as we tell this traditional Christmas story in a not-so-traditional way using the Christmas pageant, "God's Greatest Gift" performed by the SOTH players.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

The story of Esther has all the makings of an intriguing movie. It is intriguing because Esther is nobody special. Orphaned as a child, she is taken in by her cousin Mordecai, who teaches her how to protect herself by hiding her Jewish identity. As a woman, she is considered chattel and drafted into the King's circle when his own wife, Queen Vashti, is de-throned for refusing to obey the king, embarrassing him in front of his friends. The king chooses Esther for his next queen, not knowing her heritage, only knowing that she is beautiful.

A sinister fellow named Haman, enters the picture and plots against the Jewish community and receives permission from the king to destroy the entire Jewish population in Persia. When Esther's cousin Mordecai learns of the plan he pleads with Queen Esther to intervene. Knowing that going to the king could very well put her own life in danger, Esther starts to refuse . . . but . . . ?

Join us this week as we consider the fragility of Esther's place in her world and the difficult decision in front of her. Join us as we hear the rest of this story. Join us as we contemplate our place in the world and how God might call us to respond, courageously, in the midst of hatred and disregard for human dignity.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

About the year 700 B.C., King Hezekiah of the Southern Kingdom of Judah looked over the protective walls of Jerusalem and saw there the army from the great Assyrian Empire, more than 150,000 soldiers strong. He had known that they were coming and what they would do. This army was like a great wrecking ball from the north destroying cities in its path and enslaving their residents. Humanly speaking, the future of Jerusalem looked bleak. The future of Jerusalem and, consequently, the future of the people of God looked out of control and hopeless. Chapters 36 and 37 of the Old Testament book of Isaiah tell us the story of how King Hezekiah reacted and, more importantly, how God responded. What do we do when we look over our protective walls and see chaos and hopelessness? What can we learn from King Hezekiah?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link

Food For The Poor, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, is the largest international relief organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1982, Food For The Poor has provided more than $17 billion in aid and has built more than 88,500 safe and secure homes for destitute people in need of adequate shelter.

Food For The Poor does much more than feed millions of individuals. We drill life-giving water for those who otherwise wouldn’t have clean drinking water; we provide life saving medical care; we build homes for families without adequate shelter; we provide skills training and micro-enterprise opportunities that enable the poor to work; and we give children an education that will enable them to break free from the cycle of poverty that has ensnared generations. This weekend Pr. Darrell D. Golnitz will deliver the Message: “The Root Of Righteousness”. You will be invited to participate in this ministry through a special offering.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Finding Hope in Hopelessness

About the year 700 B.C., King Hezekiah of the Southern Kingdom of Judah looked over the protective walls of Jerusalem and saw there the army from the great Assyrian Empire, more than 150,000 soldiers strong. He had known that they were coming and what they would do. This army was like a great wrecking ball from the north destroying cities in its path and enslaving their residents. Humanly speaking, the future of Jerusalem looked bleak. The future of Jerusalem and, consequently, the future of the people of God looked out of control and hopeless. Chapters 36 and 37 of the Old Testament book of Isaiah tell us the story of how King Hezekiah reacted and, more importantly, how God responded. What do we do when we look over our protective walls and see chaos and hopelessness? What can we learn from King Hezekiah?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Christ the King (?) Sunday!!!

This week is the last Sunday of the church year and we will sing praise to Christ our King, singing favorite church hymns, like "Crown Him with Many Crowns" and "Jesus Shall Reign." As we celebrate and give praise for all that Jesus has given for our sake, this week we will also hear a text from the gospel of Luke . . . a somewhat disconcerting text that focuses on the crucifixion of Jesus. We will hear about the actions of those who mocked Jesus on the cross . . . and those who loved and believed in Jesus the Messiah. And we will hear how Jesus, the real Messiah, responds. Join us as we enter into this holy space together and ponder how this text might help us think about our own responses to a world that is often filled with violence and hatred. Whose voice do we listen to in the midst of chaos?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Regardless of where you attend Christian worship on a Sunday morning, you will see and hear variations of the same sorts of things. There will be prayer and the singing of hymns/songs/canticles. There will be the reading of scripture/Bible/God's word. There will be some sort of sermon/message/homily given by some sort of priest/preacher/minister. In the more historical churches (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal, etc.), you will probably share in Holy Communion/Lord's Supper/Eucharist. Each faith tradition has its own way of worshiping God, some more exuberant, some more serene.

About 700 years before the birth of Jesus, God used a prophet named Micah to share a poignant message. The people of Jerusalem were under attack. The armies of Assyrian were at their front gate and they were terrified. Fear is a strong motivator for people to pray. What do you want from us, God? We are desperate! Do you want burnt offerings of 1000's of rams? Do you want rivers of oil? Shall I sacrifice those things most dear to me (like my children)? Is that what you want?

God answers His people with something surprising. "I'm not interested in your animal sacrifices. I'm not interested in your rivers of oil. Good Heavens, NO! I'm certainly not interested in the sacrifice of your children." What does the LORD require of us? "God has told us what is good: do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8) If our worship doesn't drive us to justice, kindness, and a humble walk with God - then we have more work to do.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

What is a saint? For most of us, the word conjures up images of people who have lived - if not perfect - then exemplary lives. We think of St. Peter and St. Paul in the Bible who tirelessly traveled the known world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, eventually becoming martyrs for their Christian faith. Or perhaps, we think of a particularly 'saintly' mother, grandmother, or aunt whose life was distinguished in service, patience, and love. The Bible talks about 'saints' in another way. When Paul addresses his letter to the 'saints in Ephesus,' he is referring to those whom Jesus has called, gathered, and set aside for lives of faithful service to God and neighbor. When Paul refers to 'saints', he is not referring to perfect people (or even exemplary people); he is referring to people redeemed by the blood of Jesus. In this meaning of 'sainthood,' we are saints. In Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, we have been called, gathered, enlightened, and set aside for God's work! In and through Jesus, we are the saints to whom Paul is writing.

This weekend we celebrate two things: All Saints' Day and Confirmation. This weekend we toll the bell for those saints in our lives who have died this past year, giving thanks to God that they had been called, gathered, and sanctified in Christ Jesus. On Sunday, we will also witness eight young people confess and affirm the faith that that their parents confessed on the day when they were baptized. On Sunday, these eight young people proclaim that they are part of this community of 'saints' both living and dead.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Wisdom and Reformation!

This week we hear a story about Solomon, king of Israel. Solomon is probably best known for the great wisdom that was bestowed upon him when God appeared to him in a dream; yet there is another aspect of God's visit with Solomon that is important to recall. It is God's call for Solomon to follow in God's ways and to keep God's statutes.

We consider the significance of God's call, especially in light of this "Reformation Sunday" when we also recall the work of Martin Luther in following the call of Jesus in working to reform the church. In the same way that Solomon and Luther had a call to follow, we, too, have a call to follow. The question is: follow whom?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

King David has often been called, "a man after God's own heart?" Really? After reading this passage you will discover that David is one deeply flawed, sinful person. Is he still a man after God's own heart? Our guest preacher, Pastor Tom Redig, will explore what it takes to have God's heart.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Moses had led God’s people to the very front door of the Promised Land. But, in one of the sadder moments of the Old Testament, Moses died before they could enter. Upon Moses’ death, the mantel of leadership passed to one of his most trusted lieutenants; it would be up to Joshua to lead God's people in their conquest. There was a problem, however. The land that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants was not empty; the Promised Land already had inhabitants. To take possession of the Promised Land, Abraham’s descendants would have to fight and fight they did. With God’s help and Joshua's leadership, the Israelites took possession of what would come to be known as Israel.

This week's Bible reading takes place a few years later. Joshua is an old man and knows that he is about to die. He gathers the tribes around him for one final word. He begins with a recounting of their history. He reminds them of the story of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Egypt, Moses, the Red Sea, and the crossing of the Jordan. Joshua reminds the people that their victory was the LORD's doing and “not by your sword or by your bow.” Joshua needs to retell the story so they will not forget. And before he dies he finishes with some of the Old Testament’s most famous words, "Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ (Joshua 24:15)

In our baptisms, we have been included into the story of God. That story of God's love, grace, power, forgiveness, and inclusion shapes our lives. We need to hear it over and over and - more importantly - we need to be like Joshua and tell it to those who have never heard.

The word 'holy' often gets a bad rap. When we hear about a person being referred to as 'holy', the first thing that many of us think is negative. He is 'holier than Thou.' She thinks she is better than me. In the Bible, that is not what 'holy' means. When the word 'holy' is applied to a person or thing, it means that that person or thing has been set aside for a particular task or responsibility.

My mother once told me about an epidemic that went through her neighborhood when she was a little girl. The sickness hit the homes of her neighbors and killed a couple of children that she new. She remembered her father going over to the neighbors to help prepare their little bodies for burial. He would then come home and change his clothes in the barn so to not run the risk of infecting his own family. Those clothes that he wore were made holy - they were set aside to help the family in need and yet to keep his family safe.

In the Bible reading for this week (Exodus 19:3-7 & 20:1-17), God tells His people that He has made them a 'priestly kingdom and a holy nation.' It is not that they are better than anyone else, it is that they are given a special purpose, a special responsibility. They are to be a blessing for the rest of the families of the earth. We, as part of God's people, have also been set aside. We, too, are given that purpose and responsibility: to be a blessing for the world. Come and see how we can learn to live that purpose and responsibility.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 5:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

It is one of the most well known stories of the entire Bible. Through Abraham's great grandson, Joseph, God's people are saved from starvation by being allowed to live in Egypt. But, over time, the good news sours. As time passes, the welcome of God's people wears out and they are enslaved by the king of Egypt for 400 years. As their voices cry out, "How long?" God sends a savior, Moses. Through the powerful works of God, Pharaoh finally decides to let them go, all 600,000 of them. As they reach the edge of the Red Sea, they look back and see that Pharaoh has changed his mind and the entire Egyptian army is crashing towards them.

Join us this weekend as we hear the rest of this familiar story and consider together how God shepherds us in this life . . . guiding, protecting and providing even when circumstances seem insurmountable.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 6:00 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

Years ago, if someone were to ask me, “Pastor, how are you?” and I was feeling particularly good that day, I would nearly always answer, “I am blessed.” If someone were to comment on my car or home or on something positive about my children, I would respond, “Well I have been blessed.” Of course, what I intended by this is that all good things I have, I have because God has given them to me and that God has been with me. Of course, there is truth in that.

However, there is an unintended barb in that response. If I identify only the smooth times of my life as examples of God blessing me, then I am implying that God is no longer blessing me in those times when I do not feel so well or when my pastoral call is particularly challenging or when my faith wavers and I cannot sleep at night. This week's Bible story reminds us that this is not true. God was with Joseph not just in his happy and easy moments. God was there especially in the most difficult moments. The same is true for us.

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 6:15 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.

This week we encounter the story of God's call to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-9. God says to him, "I will make of you a great nation." But wait . . . what is so special about Abraham that God would choose him to be a great nation? What does that even mean? And about those offspring . . Sarah is barren . . . so . . ?

The questions are valid. But remember this: these questions speak to the power of the Creator who created order out of chaos, creating light and sky, seas and land and vegetation and then created us. These questions speak to the power of the God who knows us intimately and the God who, throughout history has used un-mighty and flawed people, like us, to serve God's purpose. God called Abraham because God had a purpose. Join us this week as we listen to this story of God's call. Where will God's Holy Spirit draw our attention?

Come and see! Come and worship! In person: Saturday evening at 6:30 or Sunday morning at 10:00. Online: you can join us online for our live-streamed service beginning at 10:00 on Sundays. See above for the link. If you miss the live-stream, you can watch a recording of the same service afterwards using the same link.