Good News: Recent Episodes
Faith Lutheran Church
Stormy weather ahead in both texts this week. Storms remind us of the limits of our power over our own lives and yet this helplessness does not need to cause panic. In the midst of all storms, we can cling to God’s steadfast presence and love. God proclaims to us peace in the midst of […]
In today’s first reading God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. In Holy Communion, we remember all are welcome to the table and none are turned away. As we share the bread of life, we are […]
In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us […]
Why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope […]
Why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope […]
The mystery of God’s ways is sometimes hidden from the wise and intelligent. The prophet describes an everlasting realm that contrasts with earthly nations, one marked by peace, humility, and freedom. Jesus associates with those excluded from the religious community. Like Paul, we struggle with selfish desires; we lament flawed systems; and we seek God’s […]
In many a church you will find a sign that says, “All are welcome here!” But how often do we forget what it means to welcome each other fully into our worship and community? Jesus makes it clear that when we welcome him, we also welcome the one who sent him, just as when we […]
God does not promise that the path of the disciple will be easy. Jesus declares his words may bring stark division. Even so, we need not be afraid for God accounts for each hair on our heads. Hagar was cast out by Abraham but not forgotten by God. We can remember though we may experience […]
This week, we get two glimpses of what discipleship looks like. In Genesis, Abraham and Sarah provide hospitality to three strangers and from there God’s wild promises and laughter show up. In our gospel story, Jesus, moved by compassion, invites the disciples into the work of discipleship beginning in that same place of compassion. In […]
More than a doctrine, the Trinity expresses the heart of our faith: we have experienced the God of creation made known in Jesus Christ and with us always through the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity in word and sacrament, as we profess the creed, and as we are sent into […]
The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”) concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah that glory is proclaimed for all nations and people. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of […]
In winter’s deepest night, we welcome the light of the Christ child. Isaiah declares that the light of the long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice. The angels declare that Jesus’ birth is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Filled with the light that shines in our […]
Love magnifies the beloved. It notices the unnoticed. It heralds the unheralded. It calls down blessings on what has been ignored and overlooked. Love is a cherishing attention that requires our whole hearts and our whole selves. (More Than Words: Weekly Theme Overview. © 2024 Barn Geese Worship. Used by permission.) Accompanying Scripture:Corinthians 13:1-14 , Luke 1:39-55
Joy is a time traveler: it catches God’s future vision for justice, peace, and restoration and superimposes it on the present landscape. Joy celebrates the future as if it’s already happening while getting down to work to make it a reality. It can coexist alongside other experiences, even sorrow and pain. Joy ebbs and flows, […]
Sometimes we settle for peace as an absence of violence or tension. John the Baptist and other prophets call us to a more robust peace: one that brings safety, refuge, and rest to the vulnerable. Peace enacts justice, and it requires the hard work of constructing new roads through the wilderness. (Barne Geese) Accompanying Scripture:Malachi […]
Our culture often speaks of hope as either a Pollyannaish positivism or a measured optimism. Viewed through the lens of the cross, hope becomes an agent of empowering transformation instead. It does not deny suffering. Hope acknowledges that the present conditions are desperate, and it depends on God, with whom nothing is impossible. Hope is […]
We often define justice as people getting what they deserve, but Jesus shows us a kind of justice that is more interested in what is necessary and loving than in what is fair. Jesus’ justice is ridiculously unbalanced: the Human One takes all of the hits, and humanity gets all of the benefits. Once we’ve […]
“Great is thy faithfulness!” sings a favorite hymn. We encounter God’s faithfulness whenever God meets us in baptismal waters, in bread and cup, in the word proclaimed, and in sins forgiven. On the other hand, our culture often frames faith as something we force into existence by sheer willpower: “Just have a little faith!” If […]
Widows are visible everywhere in today’s readings. Jesus denounces those scribes who pray impressive prayers but devour widows’ houses. He commends the poor widow who in his view gave far more than the major donors. Jesus doesn’t see her simply as an object of compassion or charity. She, like the widow of Zarephath who shares […]
On All Saints’ day, we remember loved ones who have died. In worship we will name out loud each loved person we have buried in the last year. In our scripture readings we are reminded that our grief, our tears are sacred. Together as the church we celebrate God’s hope and promise of resurrection for […]
Throughout scripture, mountains are a sign of God’s majesty and power. From these high vantage points, we feel in the tingling sensations of our toes how high up we are and how small humanity truly is. This Sunday we give thanks for a different perspective and renew our call to care for all things great and […]
From the rising to the setting sun, we mark our days by the sky. Throughout scripture the sky indicates God’s majesty, power, vibrant color and awe inspiring power. We also know how important it is to care for the sky, for without its health we become sick. Breath is life. Life is breath. This Sunday we […]
Our Season of Creation this year begins with humanity. Today we remember that we as humans are not separate from creation, but an integral part of this delicate web of life God has lovingly and painstakingly created. Jesus asks us to consider whether we as humans are placed here to lord over or partner with? […]
We know God shows no partiality and yet Jesus at first does not want to help this family because they are not Jewish. Even Jesus has grumpy days and needs to be able to listen with compassion. We too are given permission to be human, have grumpy days and in the end remember – compassion […]
Faith and religious practice have lost their center in this week’s readings. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus calls into question “This people” that “honors me with their lips” but whose “hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6). Some in the religious community have begun focusing on surface matters (the washing of hands, what one eats, the traditions […]
“This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” Jesus’ teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood isn’t something we can figure out and accept on our own. The good news of Jesus is too radical, unsettling, and illogical for us to accept. In this last week exploring Jesus as our Bread of life, […]
“Come and dine,” Lady Wisdom beckons to us. “The table is set and there is a place for you.” Jesus echoes this invitation by saying he is the living bread for us to eat. This is a free party and all are welcome. So what is stopping you? Accompanying Scripture:Proverbs 9:1-6, Psalm 34:9-14, John 6:51-58
Jesus expands on this imagery of bread to be bigger than feeding us one meal. Jesus is the bread of life for today, tomorrow and forever. Regular bread can sustain us for a little while, as well as be a wonderful comfort to us. But the bread that Jesus is talking about is the sustenance […]
After feasting on bread and fish, Jesus retreats and the crowd follows. As their stomachs begin to grumble again, they ask Jesus for a sign. Is he the one they have been waiting for. . .he may have fed them once but will he be able to support them for a lifetime? Jesus responds I […]
Mark’s gospel makes clear how great is the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today’s gospel, Jesus advises his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need we shouldn’t think […]
Sometimes being a disciple of Jesus is risky business. It may mean we aren’t popular or well liked. It may mean we have to share a hard truth. And yet- Jesus reminds those disciples, we have all that we need to bring God’s love to the world around us. Accompanying Scripture:Mark 6:1-13, Psalm 123, Ezekiel […]
When Amos reports his vision of God judging Israel for its mistreatment of the poor, he becomes a threat to the power of the priests and the king. John the Baptist also speaks truth to power, and Herod has him killed. In Herod’s fear that Jesus is John returned from the dead, we may hear […]
Sometimes it feels like we wait for a lifetime for God to hear us, see us, acknowledge us. Today we hear we are in good company – a woman who hemorrhages for 12 years seeks healing from Jesus at the same time as a desperate father for a dying daughter. With our loving God, we […]
Through the storms of life, in Job’s trials and in the disciples’ seasick panic, God’s promise is not that we will be airlifted out of troubles but that God is with us. God proclaims to the chaos and to us – Peace! Be still. Accompanying Scripture:Mark 4:35-41, Psalm 107, Job 38: 1-11
The mustard seed becomes a great shrub that shelters the birds, recalling ancient images of the tree of life. We’d expect a cedar or a sequoia, but Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny, no-account seed. It’s not the way we expect divine activity to look. It may not appear all […]
In the midst of conflict and shame, the messiness of life and relationships are lifted up in these texts. No matter how entangled we become, with God there is always steadfast love and forgiveness. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 130, Genesis 3:8-15, Mark 3:20-35
This Sunday our texts are about sabbath. Rest is meant for the welfare of all. In our gospel story, Jesus reminds us that well intentioned laws might need to be broken from time to time in order to make space for God’s wide love. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 81:1-10, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Mark 2:23-3:6
Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the birthday of the church! Crossing all boundaries that would separate us, the Spirit brings the wideness of God’s mercy to places we least expect it—to a crowd of strangers of different lands and tongues, to a valley of deeply dry bones and to our messy hearts. Today we […]
On this final Sunday of Easter, we hear this last piece of Jesus’s farewell to the disciples where Jesus moves from lecture to prayer. At a time when it would be understandable for Jesus to be worried about himself, he is thinking and praying for the disciples and for us. In prayer, Jesus asks that […]
On this sixth Sunday of Easter as we bring worms with us to church, we celebrate spring and our connection with God’s good earth. Being a person of faith is not just something we do on Sundays, but it is something that follows us out into the real world – as we wash dishes, as we […]
This Sunday’s image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image of the vine. Christ the vine and we the branches are alive in each other, in the mystery of mutual abiding described in the gospel. Baptism makes us a part of Christ’s living and life-giving self and makes us […]
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we embrace the fact that we are sheep and God is our shepherd who feeds us, walks with us and cares for us all the days of our life and after. We are also celebrating our relationship with camp today with special staff from Caroline Furnace. Accompanying Scripture:John 10, Psalm […]
On this third Sunday of Easter, we are filled with images of real life – joyful hearts, peaceful sleep and eating together. In this season of Easter we celebrate we are proclaimed beloved children of God for this is who we are. Resurrection sometimes shows up in the most mundane simple things. Accompanying Scripture:John 3:1-7, […]
The season of Easter continues as we get a glimpse of the early church in Acts, how they shared everything and everyone had what they needed. In the gospel, we encounter how the risen Jesus greets the frightened disciples behind locked doors. He meets Thomas’s doubts and proclaims a word of peace. In this season, […]
Christ is risen! Jesus is alive, and God has swallowed up death forever. With Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, we may feel astonished and confused, unsure of what to make of the empty tomb. But this is why we gather: to proclaim, witness, praise, and affirm the liberating reality of Christ’s […]
On this night we begin the Three Days during which we participate once again in the saving power of Jesus’ passing over from death into life. The Maundy Thursday service includes the words of Jesus’ new commandment (mandatum, from which Maundy comes) to love one another. On this night in which Jesus was handed over […]
On this fifth Sunday of Lent we get one last covenant – a promise that God will be as close to us as a tattoo on our hearts. The psalm is a nod back to Ash Wednesday and an ask to create in us clean hearts. As we prepare our hearts to face the horror […]
Through our texts today, we are invited to lift up the things that scare and afflict us the most – snakes, sin and even death. In doing so, we remember God asks us not to lift these things up to condemn us but to save and heal us. What would it look like to be […]
The third covenant in this year’s Lenten readings is the central one of Israel’s history: the gift of the law to those God freed from slavery. The commandments begin with the statement that because God alone has freed us from the powers that oppressed us, we are to let nothing else claim first place in […]
This Sunday we remember another covenant. We are connected to a wide family of faith, as numerous as the stars, through Abraham and Sarah. In the gospel reading, Jesus poses this famous invitation to the crowd and disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow […]
In this first week of Lent, we hear the familiar story of promise with a rainbow and of wilderness. No matter what messiness we find ourselves in, this story reminds us we are not alone. While Satan may show up, there also promises to be wild beasts, angels and Jesus in the midst of it all. […]
Welcome to the wilderness! This week we embark on a four week celebration of Creation alongside the global church. Whether we are in the depths of the urban jungle or lost on the Appalachian trail – God promises to be with us in the wilderness and feed us along the way. Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 16: 1-10; Matthew […]
Another week full of identity questions – God reveals Godself in a burning bush and Jesus describes what the Messiah is here to do. In each story, God reminds us that God shows up in places of suffering and promises this will not be our full story. As Paul reminds us we are called to […]
This week we blessed our backpacks and celebrated our vocations. God gives each of us unique gifts that are needed in the world. By showing up as our full selves, the spirit of God is also made visible. Just as Jesus gives Peter the keys to the kingdom, we too, are asked to lift up […]
Today we are reminded nothing is permanent. Joseph is reconciled to his brothers in a powerful and surprising way. In our gospel story, a conversation with a desperate mother changes Jesus’ mind. In worship, we are reminded of the transforming power of forgiveness. Together as a community, we ask for forgiveness, we are offered forgiveness and challenged […]
In this week’s first reading, God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. At the table we are all welcomed and fed and we call to mind all who are hungry or poor in our world today. […]
It is an age-old question: why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, […]
This Sunday is all about what makes a good harvest – rain, soil, sun, seeds and a little Holy Spirit. We remember God’s hand is working through and in all. We remember we are fed through this incredible journey of seeds to the plant to the harvest to the mill to the baker and then […]
Thirsty camels and an arranged marriage, a love song, an honest reflection from Paul and some musings from Jesus are our readings for this Sunday. But in the midst of it all we hear – “Come to me, all you that are weary.” Gathered around word, water, and meal, we find rest for our souls. […]
In this week’s gospel, Christ promises that the disciple who gives a cup of cold water to the little ones serves Christ himself. As God first welcomes us through the waters of baptism and at the table, we too are invited into God’s work of being a merciful welcome to all we encounter. Accompanying Scripture:Romans 6:12-23 ; […]
Hagar and Ishmael face rejection from Abraham and Sarah and yet God meets them in the wilderness and promises them safety and blessings. Jesus declares that his words may bring stark division. Even so, we need not be afraid for God knows the life of every sparrow and even accounts for each hair on our heads. Though […]
Abraham and Sarah welcome strangers and are promised a beautiful, surprisingly, outlandish and laughable gift. Jesus sends out the disciples as laborers into the harvest. In baptism we too are anointed for ministry, sharing God’s compassion with our world knowing it might not always be easy. From the Lord’s table we go forth to proclaim […]
Though Jesus was a devout Jew who practiced his faith, he was criticized for eating with folks on the margins like tax collectors. Jesus reminds us that mercy is to be at the heart of our religious practices. God continues to be made known in unexpected places and unexpected people. As we gather on Sundays, […]
More than a doctrine, the Holy Trinity expresses the heart of our faith: we have experienced the God of creation made known in Jesus Christ and with us always through the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity in word and sacrament and we are sent into the world to bear witness […]
In this week’s readings the risen Christ ascends into heaven and his followers are assured that the Spirit will empower them to be witnesses throughout the earth. The disciples were told to not gaze up into heaven to look for Jesus. . . we now find his presence among us as we proclaim the word […]
Jesus does not abandon the disciples or us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. The Holy Spirit is known to us as many names – Spirit of Truth, Advocate, Helper, Companion, Counselor. We receive this Spirit as a gift in baptism and pray that in our gathering around […]
As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, our gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for us. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, living stones, God’s people embraced by mercy. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth, […]
Today is sometimes called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” All of our texts today point to God’s abundant care and love for us, the “sheep.” God promises to be our shepherd, the one who provides protection, food, rest and beauty. In turn, we are called the sheep – the ones who follow, get lost and need to […]
As we continue in this season of Easter, today we meet the disciples on the road. Full of questions and wonderings, they meet a stranger and process all that has conspired the last few days – murder, chaos, resurrection – all they had hoped for that did not happen. It is not until the bread […]
Jesus is alive! What wonderful news! Except that the rest of the world hasn’t caught up. There are still reasons – then and now – to be happy and scared, doubting and confident, nervous and at peace, and every other emotion. Jesus comes to help friends and followers to be fully alive with him. Alleluia! Accompanying Scripture:Acts 2:14a, 22-32; John […]
What we hear today is great news. Yet, “fear” is mentioned four times in the telling of the story. What is so scary about resurrection? Change, even when it gives us wings, IS scary… and exciting. Accompanying Scripture:Acts 10:34-4; Matthew 28:1-10
Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem becomes a populist coronation parade. But when the parade ends the streets are a mess, literally and figuratively. On Palm Sunday, we relive the last days of Jesus earthly life again… and are reminded we get to live again with him now. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 27:11-54
They’re Jesus’ closest friends and he disappoints them. They had faith and lost it. If you haven’t been there, it’s only because you haven’t lived long enough or paid enough attention. Life – and death – are beautiful, bewildering, and hard… let’s not do them alone. Accompanying Scripture:Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45
How did you do on your last eye exam? Jesus meets a man with a disability (blindness) and – without talking to him – heals him. Was the man surprised by what Jesus did to/for him and what he saw afterward? Perhaps he was surprised… and not necessarily pleasantly! How often do we, conveniently, hang onto our myopia? […]
Jesus meets a woman whose life has been anything but ordinary or easy. They have a conversation that is anything but easy or ordinary. She shares that conversation with her neighbors, and nothing is ordinary or easy again. That’s what living water does: makes life extraordinary… and uneasy. Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42
A very smart and curious man, Nicodemus, is in the dark about who Jesus is and what Jesus is teaching. Their conversation is confusing to Nicodemus… and to countless generations since then. My take? Blessed are the ignorant, for they shall become learners and leaders. And… woe to those who know enough to be dangerous. Accompanying […]
As we embark on this journey of lent, we begin with this place of wilderness. From this vantage point, we are forced to ask ourselves who are we? Where do we belong? What matters? As tempting as it is to give in to every hunger, every offer of power or fame . . .in these […]
We live in a goal-oriented culture that wants to have every question answered and to know the cost and end-result of everything before anything is decided. Three of Jesus’ students go on the most puzzling field trip we could imagine and all they’re told is, “Be quiet and listen!” Good advice! Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew […]
Both readings this week are tough. Moses gives the newly-freed Israelites dozens and dozens of commandments (some are pretty picky) and tells them that their entire future depends on obedience. Jesus makes Moses look soft compared to the requirements he has to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Does he REALLY mean we have to be perfect? Accompanying […]
Jesus told his followers, “You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world.” (Mt. 5)Ever considered what kind of salt? What kind of light? How do you flavor creation and the culture around you? Where do you shine? How does faith – and Faith Lutheran Church – spice up and […]
Jesus tells his followers that they’re lucky/blessed when they find themselves in trouble. It’s a very blessed/lucky person who can find joy in those times. If you’ve been a friend or needed a friend in times of trouble, you may know that alien sense of joy. Love is always a blessing…especially when it’s need the […]
Jesus invited his first disciples to “fish for people.” Our culture is better at trolling (attacking) people. Reinhold Neibuhr suggested (in Leaves from the Notebook of a Tamed Cynic) that people need to be lured – not argued – into righteousness. Jesus did a little cajoling, a little arguing, and a lot of loving people […]
Two new disciples approach Jesus with a question, “Where?” Instead of answering it with a location fact, Jesus invites them into a relationship. Epiphany (these seven Sundays before Lent starts) is an invitation to “come and see” Jesus by seeing and living with him… and taking a look at where we might need to look at ourselves. […]
This week we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism. Listen as Guest Preacher Tara Spuhler McCabe explores the state of organized religion in our area and how the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism connects us to each other and the spirit of God’s love, grace and forgiveness. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 42:1-9 ; Matthew 3:13-17
Joseph and Mary run for their lives… and the life of their son. King Herod dealt with competition ruthlessly (he had his own son killed) so the threat to the Holy Family was serious. When in life have you wanted to run away? When have you been a safe haven for someone who was afraid? Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 63:7-9; […]
St. Matthew tells us that Joseph was “a righteous man.” In virtually any situation, Joseph did things “by the book.” This time, he knew exactly what he should do and decided to do something else. Courageous or crazy? Yes. A leap of faith is often scary. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25
John the Baptizer was in prison (for embarrassing King Herod) and wondering if he’d been wrong about Jesus and the kind of reign the Messiah would bring. Jesus says,“Watch what’s been happening and decide if that is God at work in the world.” John announced, “Justice is coming!!!” Jesus acted out mercy. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Two prophets with the same message: Make a road! Get ready! Isaiah and John the Baptizer warned people that change was coming and to prepare for it. How do you prepare for when family or guests are arriving? How does God prepare us for the King to come? And, for the Kingdom to come? Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12
Almost 2,800 years ago, Isaiah proclaimed that a new way of living is coming. The sculpture at the United Nations was inspired by Isaiah’s vision and serves as a visual mission statement…not just for the UN but for all humanity. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44
Infants learn that mommy (or daddy or doggy) doesn’t cease to exist just because she’s out of sight or hearing. It’s a fundamental learning that allows the human brain to understand time and space relationships. It can also become idolatry foolishness. Accompanying Scripture:Malachi 4:1-2a; Luke 21:5-19
How do you tell a sinner from a saint? A handy field guide is in the history of the martyrs (St. Stephen, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Joan of Arc, etc.). They were universally seen as enemies of the state and/or the established religion (Martin Luther narrowly escaped becoming a martyr as an enemy of the Church). Wanna […]
Jesus tells a story about two people who come to the temple to pray, to present a “spiritual audit” to God. Both tell God the truth. One gives God all the glory. The other gives God nothing and asks for more. God is happier with the grifter than with the giver. Say what? Accompanying Scripture:Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; Luke […]
Jesus tells a story about a lawsuit brought before a callous judge. The facts are not in question but the character of the judge is. How would you rule? Accompanying Scripture:Genesis 32:22-31; Luke 18:1-8
In both readings for this Sunday, pride plays a key role in the stories. Both featured characters in the stories had to change the way they looked at the situation… Sometimes, we need to turn our assumptions upside down and let go of our pride to see things clearly. Accompanying Scripture:2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; Luke […]
Jesus is pretty rough on his friends, accusing them of not having enough faith (trust). If THEY, the ones who walked and talked with him in person didn’t measure up, how do we stand a chance of being worthy servants? Maybe – if we add our faith together – we could move a small plant… […]
Jesus tells a troubling story about two men on opposite ends of the rich-poor spectrum but their fortunes are reversed in the next life. Apparently, “love your neighbor” isn’t just about a sentiment: it’s about noticing and meeting others’ needs. Turns out, we get to do God’s work with our wallets, too! Accompanying Scripture:Amos 6 1a: 4-7; […]
From the trivial (a grocery list, an old sock) to the devastating (a job, a loved one), we all know the frustration, embarrassment, sorrow, anxiety, etc., of loss. Those are all common to the human experience… and the divine, too. Listen as Pastor Craig explores how does God – and how can we – deal […]
We’re trained to calculate from early childhood on. We get very good analyzing costs. Jesus challenges us to spend some time and money considering values. What is a healthy relationship with God, partner, parent, child, friend worth to you in time or money? Listen as Pastor Craig explores the question, “What are the most important things in your life?” […]
Sometimes two passages of scripture seem to argue with each other. While we’re tempted to resolve tensions like this, it’s often healthier – but harder – to let them both work in our heads and hearts. Listen as Interim Pastor Craig considers two readings from Galatians and 1 Timothy that address gender roles… and illustrate […]
Our challenging text this week is the book of Job. In this book we see Job and his friends struggle with the question of why God permits evil in the world. Hint: It is not because God is mad at you. Accompanying Scripture:Job 1:13-22
The challenging scripture we are looking at this week is Ezra chapters 9 and 10. Returning from exile brings challenges for everyone and a difficult decision is made about wives of the exiles. Is it surprising or not that not one woman is heard from on the issue? Accompanying Scripture:Ezra 9: 1-4
This week’s story from the last chapter of Judges forces us to ask whether reprehensible actions are justified when faced with the possibility of extinction. Or is this really all about God not wanting to give the Israelites the king they longed for? Accompanying Scripture:Judges 21:1-7-6
Sometimes called the Battle Hymn of the Reformation, the hymn we will focus on this week, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, was written by Martin Luther. He is quoted as saying “music is next to theology.” Listen as Pastor Susanne considers what he thought about music in worship and what he might think about the way we worship today. […]
The hymn we are focusing on this week, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” can bring comfort in the times of trouble we all experience. Based in part on Psalm 107, it leads us back to the last line of that Psalm, “Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the […]
The song we will focus on this week, “When Peace Like a River” has a refrain of “It is well with my soul.” Listen as Pastor Susanne explores how singing can help our bodies, minds and souls. Accompanying Scripture:1 Corinthians 14:13-15
Long a staple in Lutheran hymnody, our featured hymn this week, “Beautiful Savior,” has a lot to say about our understanding of Jesus. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 9: 6-7
“Amazing Grace.” How do we know God in the words of this beloved song? We begin our July series on beloved hymns and songs with a hymn from someone who went from being involved in the Atlantic slave trade to working as an abolitionist. Accompanying Scripture:Romans 5: 1-5
We finish up our brief summer series of kids’ books with one last book about communion. We don’t invite people to the table, Jesus does. Jesus’ invitation is that all are welcome. Listen as Pastor Susanne considers what he mean by “all?” Accompanying Scripture:1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
We continue easing into the summer by reading a kids’ book during worship. This week’s story is “God With Us” and is about Jesus’ arrival here on Earth (yes a Christmas story in June). Accompanying Scripture:Luke 2: 5-7
For the month of June, we will enter into a more relaxed time in church with our biblical texts told as children’s stories. Listen as Pastor Susanne shares the story of God’s promise to walk with God’s people every day by bringing them manna. Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 16:13-16
In other places in scripture the Spirit is depicted as a gentle dove. Sometimes we envision Her as dancing. But in the scene described by Luke in Acts the coming of the Holy Spirit is no gentle appearance. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores the ways we experience the Holy Spirit today. Accompanying Scripture:Acts 2:1-21, John 14:16-17
Paul has a lot to say about community in the first few sentences of this letter he writes from prison. New scholarship suggests what he had to say is even more important to us today. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores what we can learn from the lessons of Paul’s letter to the community of Philippi. Accompanying […]
This week, Paul is challenged to “make a case” for God and Jesus vs the other options available to the ancient world. What do you think of his arguments? Are there any you would add? Accompanying Scripture:Acts 17:16-31, John 1: 16-18
The jailer asks “What must I do to be saved?” after Paul chooses not to escape from jail. He is not the only unnamed person in this story that is saved. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores what it means to be saved and the stories we all have of saved people known to God. Stories to […]
Paul’s trip to Damascus starts him on an epic journey that will take him to many places and many dangers, including imprisonment and shipwrecks. He does it all out of his love for Jesus. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores the challenging (and perhaps annoying) story of Paul and the question of our own blindness. Who do we […]
Thomas shows us that following Jesus leads not just to seeing him but to knowing him for who he is. Listen as Pastor Susanne considers the lesson of Thomas for us today. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 145:13-21, John 20:19-31
As Lent draws to a close, we hear the good news of Easter Sunday and the new life that comes with Jesus’ resurrection. Listen as Pastor Susanne revisits the resurrection story and considers the gift of hope it promises to us all today. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 118:21-29, John 20:1-18
Jesus may look like the victim but he is the one in charge in these last few scenes before he is taken to Golgotha. He is the King. He is the Son of God. He will triumph. Listen as Pastor Susanne considers Jesus’ last moments with Pilate and the implications for us today. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm […]
In the confrontation between Pilate and Jesus, is Pilate the one in control and making the decisions or is he just fulfilling the role God set for him as God’s plan moves forward? Listen as Pastor Susanne explores the political decisions that send Jesus to his death on the cross. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 145:10-13, John 18:28-40
The rooster crows and Peter has denied his relationship with Jesus three times. But the story does not end there and God does not abandon us because we fail. Listen as Pastor Susanne considers the great love Jesus has for us and how it continues to unfold. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 17:1-7, John 18:12-27
After Jesus brings Lazarus back to life, the leaders of the community decide Jesus has become too dangerous. They begin to look for an opportunity to kill him. Lazarus’s resurrection is the turning point in the gospel of John and Jesus begins his ineluctable journey to Jerusalem, his trial and his death. It is appropriate that this is […]
This week we read the story about Jesus healing the blind man and how the community responded to his healing. The community was not happy about how he was healed and questioned him along the way. How do we continue to question and silence the people on the margins today? How does God use these voices to […]
This week, we hear the scripture about Jesus being living water and how the people viewed Jesus. There was much discussion on who Jesus was and how everyone saw him. And we continue to see discussions on this today: Who is Jesus, and what does his teachings say? How do we look to Jesus and follow […]
This week, we hear a conversation with Jesus and his disciples where Jesus tells them he is the bread of life and how they may find nourishment in God. Where do we find nourishment and feel fulfilled, especially when we feel depleted? God wants to be with us and connect with us spiritually so that we […]
This week we hear about Jesus returning to Cana and healing an official’s son’s illness. The official had many things and privileges but could not make his son better. He could not control his son’s illness. The man traveled a long distance to see and ask for healing for his son from Jesus. His faith […]
This week we read the text about Jesus’s conversation with the woman at the well. She spoke with him about what is to come and how she knows the Messiah will be coming to speak to all. She got a glimpse of what Jesus was doing for her and all people. And we get to […]
For God so loved the world…Even if you have a very cursory knowledge of the bible, you likely know the start of John 3:16. Listen as Pastor Kate explores what it means to be loved by God and what our response should be. Accompanying Scripture:Psalm 139:13-18, John 2:13-25
This week, we hear the story of how Jesus cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem and speaks to the leaders about the Temple being destroyed. The leaders are confused about what he means by the Temple destruction and ask questions. Where do we turn when we cannot do things as we desire? What if we cannot […]
This week, we hear again the story of Jesus’s first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana. As the story unfolds, Jesus’s mother tells him, “They have no wine,” as she implores him to do something about it. But what if it’s not at all about the wine, but rather that they […]
This week, we are in John where Jesus is calling his first disciples and tells them to “come and see” what he is doing. They are asked to have faith and think about what they believe. What does it mean for us to believe? We are continued to be called to come and see what God […]
This week we are in the gospel of John, discussing how God is coming into the world to physically be with the people. But it can be difficult sometimes to see where God is with the people and also where God is with us. What does it look like to see God among us and for […]
Many of us had expected, or at the very least hoped, this holiday season would be more normal. Instead, we’re worried about another variant of covid and thinking through more precautions – experiencing once again a holiday season with further complications. Listen as Pastor Kate considers God’s promises in an unexpected situation, when hope and expectations […]
This week, we hear from Ezekiel about an experience a prophet has about prophesying to bring dry bones to life. It seems fantastical and hard to imagine. What does it look like to find life among things that seem lifeless and dry? Listen as Intern Pastor Jennie explores how to find life among death and […]
This week we hear from Jeremiah as the people are in Babylon, where God tells them to live their lives there in their new home. Their life in Israel isn’t the same, and they should continue in their life in Babylon. Listen as Pastor Kate explores what it looks like to live life in a […]