As we continue through the time after Epiphany, stories of the call to discipleship show us the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. Jesus begins proclaiming the good news and calling people to repentance right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. Knowing that John…
Our re-creation in baptism is an image of the Genesis creation, where the Spirit of God moved over the waters. Both Mark’s gospel and the story in Acts make clear that it is the Spirit’s movement that distinguishes Jesus’ baptism from John’s. The Spirit has come upon us as upon Jesus and the Ephesians, calling…
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is Given!” This joyful weekend, our Advent cries of “Prepare the way of the Lord” shift to wondrous sounds of Christmas good news for the world: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the…
“Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party…
On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds…
Here in November, our hearts turn to the season of Thanksgiving. In spite of the world’s challenges, we do have much to be thankful for! Above all… our amazing God of love who, through our journey with Jesus, takes every next step to grow hope in our hearts and give us a peace the world…
On this weekend of Reformation Sunday, we remember how Martin Luther took bold steps 506 years ago to the cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany– to post 95 theses that would eventually call the church and world back to the truth of faith that we are saved by God’s grace alone! On Sunday, we witness 6…
Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests…
In today’s second reading Paul questions why we judge one another, since we all stand before the judgment of God. Yet we do sin against one another, and Jesus’ challenge that we forgive seventy-seven times reveals God’s boundless mercy. When we hear the words of forgiveness in worship and sign ourselves with the cross, we…
As we enjoy some beautiful weather to kickoff Labor Day weekend, we hold in prayer all affected by this week’s hurricane, as well as those who continue to recover from Hawaii fires and other disasters. In addition to our prayers, September kicks off our LS Disaster Response. Coins & dollars can be placed in the…