The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon Being Recognized, Encountering Christ Often called the visitation, the encounter between Mary and Elizabeth is full of joy, recognition, gratitude, and blessing. Luke immediately follows the annunciation with Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth, who gives this unmarried pregnant girl…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Real Strength in Community of Faith What makes something strong? Is steel strong because of its ability to withstand stress from many directions? Is wood strong because of its ability to absorb impact while remaining intact? Is the material…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Be Not Afraid How would you live if you were not afraid? Fear is used by politicians to gain our votes, by the media to get our attention, by advertising firms to sell us what we don’t need, and…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Sharing in Your Glory: Success or Service? “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Like James and John, we too are quick to assume that following Christ leads to…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Fat Camels and Narrow Needles: Only Possible for God A rich man approaches Jesus and asks how to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell what he owns, give the money to the poor, and follow. Jesus will…
Who Would Jesus Bless Today? Many Bibles include a heading before the latter part of today’s gospel reading (Mark 10:13-16) that says something like “Blessing the Children” or “Jesus Welcomes the Children.” In reading such a heading, we might begin to imagine a sentimental scene in which Jesus is surrounded by cute, adorable children. When we…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. The Attraction of the Repellant Cross Two themes vie for attention in the readings: divine forgiveness (with attention paid to the human sinfulness that makes it necessary!) and the cross’s mysterious power. Jeremiah prophesies of God’s desire and ability…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Joy and Sorrow at Christmas The joy-filled carols of Christmas still seem to echo in the nave as the assembly gathers for worship. There is praise of God in the psalm this day as the psalmist sings of the…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. Radical Love Triumphs For most of human history wisdom was largely part of an oral tradition. From one generation to the next, wisdom was passed down. These days it sometimes seems that technology has replaced that tradition of shared…
The sermon will be a post on our Facebook page. Please click on link to view sermon. God’s Verbs Through the lens of the gospel, today’s texts offer a clear identification of God’s work. What is God doing? God is reaching out to the bound-up to proclaim release from captivity. God is lifting up the oppressed.…