Trinity Lutheran Elkhart Homilies: Recent Episodes
Trinity Lutheran Church
This sermon centers on two deep human fears: abandonment and being unloved, tracing them back to the fall in Eden where doubt in God’s love first took root. Jesus directly addresses these fears in John 14:18, promising not to leave his disciples as orphans but to come to them through the Holy Spirit. This promise is not superficial comfort but the profound reality of God’s indwelling presence. Throughout salvation history, God has always been with his people, but now, through the Spirit, he dwells within them. The Spirit is not secondary to Christ but brings a deeper intimacy with God, actively working in believers to transform them. This indwelling assures Christians that while they may feel lonely, they are never truly alone or abandoned. The Spirit animates, sanctifies, and draws believers into love and obedience—not out of fear or obligation, but as a response to God’s love poured into their hearts through Christ. As fears resurface, believers are called to trust in the Spirit’s abiding presence. Ultimately, the sermon proclaims that God’s presence within us dispels the lies of abandonment and replaces them with the enduring truth of divine love.
This sermon unpacks Jesus’ hard words in Luke 14:26 about “hating” family and even one’s own life. It clarifies that in Hebrew idiom, “hate” means “to love less,” so Jesus is calling His followers to detachment—to love Him above all else. Too often, we cling to created things—family, success, wealth, or even our own lives—as if they could bear the weight of being God. When we do, they crack under the pressure, and both they and we suffer. Jesus asks us to “give it up”—to open our hands and hearts by setting down the false gods we cling to, so we are free to receive His love, mercy, and strength. Taking up our cross is not about needless suffering but about learning to rely on Him above all things. When we surrender, He returns our relationships and possessions as true gifts—loved and appreciated, but no longer idols. With simple prayers—“Jesus, give me your eyes to see, your heart to love, your hands to serve”—we learn to place everything in its proper place under Him. Detachment becomes freedom, and the cross becomes life. In Christ, we gain immeasurably more than we ever give up.
This sermon reflects on how modern wealth, convenience, and independence have shaped us to expect comfort and repayment, leaving little room for humility or mercy. Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14 exposes our “Pharisee problem”: we grasp for the best seats and avoid the poor, crippled, lame, and blind because they cannot repay us—and because they remind us of our own dependence. Pride blinds us to God’s generosity, but the truth is that we are the broken ones who cannot repay. The good news is that Jesus Himself took the lowest seat on the cross—mocked, beaten, and cast out—so that we might be raised up and seated at His eternal banquet. At His table, honor is given not to the proud but to the humble and dependent. Because we have been welcomed by sheer grace, we are freed to welcome others with the same mercy, especially the overlooked and outcast. Our acts of hospitality become a living picture of God’s hospitality to us in Christ. In the end, the joy is not in repayment but in hearing the Host’s words: “Friend, move up higher.”
August 31, 2025
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The Trinity Is Relational, Not Just Doctrinal The Most Holy Trinity is not a puzzle to solve but a God to know. True Christian faith involves not just understanding the doctrine but entering into relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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We Know the Persons of the Trinity Through Each Other To know the Father, we look to the Son. To know the Son, we receive the Holy Spirit. The persons of the Trinity reveal and glorify one another in perfect unity and love.
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Knowing God Happens in Everyday Grace God draws near through simple, tangible means: reading Scripture, prayer, the Church, Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Through these, we are known, loved, and drawn deeper into communion with the Triune God.
3 Minute Summer Prayer:
1 Minutes for our leaders: Pastors, teachers, staff, Council, School Board
1 Minute for our people: your brothers and sisters in our church and school
1 Minute for those who will come: in the days and years ahead
Only the Spirit of God that has filled someone with his fire can speak that way. Whoosh.
Pastor Mielke explores the concept of repentance and wholehearted living through Jesus' teachings and parables. He emphasizes that God's patience and mercy provide opportunities for spiritual growth, urging listeners to turn towards God and bear the fruits of love rather than exhausting themselves and others.
March 23, 2025
Pr. Mielke explores how we can become wholehearted when we have resisted Jesus, using the metaphor of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings. He identifies five reasons why people resist Jesus' protection and love, and ultimately calls for believers to stop resisting and relent to Jesus' open arms. The sermon emphasizes that true wholeheartedness comes from allowing ourselves to be loved by Christ.
March 16, 2025
This sermon on the first Sunday of Lent reflects on Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and its significance for our spiritual journey. In the desert we are not alone- Jesus is with us, calling us to something greater.
Pastor Mielke explores the concept of resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, emphasizing that "second is best" in Christianity. He explains how our earthly bodies will be transformed into glorious, incorruptible heavenly bodies, drawing parallels between the first Adam (earthly) and the second Adam, Jesus (heavenly). The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder that the hope of resurrection triumphs over our earthly destiny of returning to dust.
February 23, 2025
An introduction to the series "Rising Up" that will look at:
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Our Hope: The Resurrection of our Bodies on the Last Day - how we will be saved.
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How we are also being saved. We are Rising Up even now as we cling to this hope.
This sermon on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple highlights the themes of waiting and suffering, both in the lives of Simeon and Anna and in our own. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple for consecration, where they encounter Simeon, who proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise, and Anna, who rejoices at His arrival. These two elderly prophets represent Israel’s long wait for redemption, a wait filled with suffering and longing. Like them, we also experience waiting and suffering in our lives—seeking relief from sin, loneliness, grief, and brokenness. The sermon reminds us that Jesus, the Light of the world, does not stay distant from our pain but enters into it, sharing in our suffering and ultimately overcoming it through His death and resurrection. The devil tempts us to doubt God’s promises, but Christ’s presence—especially in the Eucharist—assures us that He is with us always. As we navigate life’s challenges, we are encouraged to trust in Christ, who brings comfort and peace. The blessed candle serves as a reminder that even in darkness, Jesus is present, our light and salvation, guiding us until we rest in His eternal peace.
Waiting and Suffering Are Part of Faith – Like Simeon and Anna, we often wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Though this waiting can involve suffering, it is not in vain because God is always faithful.
Jesus Enters Into Our Pain – Christ does not remain distant from our struggles but shares in our suffering. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He brings redemption and hope to those who feel lost or broken.
Christ is Our Light in Darkness – Just as the blessed candle symbolizes Jesus as the Light of the World, He continues to shine in our lives. In moments of doubt and despair, we can trust that He is present, guiding us toward His peace and eternal salvation.
After the major accomplishment of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days, the Judahites hear the Torah. But instead of a time of celebration, they are deeply grieved and begin to weep. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites call to them to celebrate because the Joy of the Lord is our Strength.
This sermon on the Baptism of the Lord emphasizes Jesus’ identity as the beloved Son of God and the profound significance of His baptism. At His baptism, the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descends, and the Father declares, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." Jesus, though sinless, enters the waters not for His sake but to sanctify them for our salvation, cleansing and preparing them to wash away sin for generations to come. Despite this act of love, people often resist Jesus. Some desire a harsher, judgmental figure, while others feel unworthy of His compassion, expecting abandonment and condemnation. Both responses stem from fear and misunderstanding of Jesus’ true nature. The sermon highlights that Jesus’ baptism is a demonstration of divine love and compassion. He comes to restore the broken, free the bound, and cleanse the sinful. Through baptism, we are made beloved children of God, called to repentance, renewal, and a life of radical love and compassion for others. Jesus invites us to enter the waters of repentance, to be transformed, and to embrace our identity as God’s beloved children. In this, we find freedom, renewal, and a mission to share His love with the world.
Those who are wise know they are not wise. That’s why they seek wisdom. And wisdom is found in Jesus. He is wisdom.
And the Wise Men find him seated on the lap of Mary. She is given the honorary title “Seat of Wisdom” because he is enthroned on her lap.
Mary is also the icon of the New Jerusalem, Holy Mother Church, whose heart throbs and overflows with joy when her sons and daughters come home to her son.
This sermon reflects on the disintegration of families and communities, identifying the human heart as central to the problem. The story of Mary and Joseph anxiously searching for the boy Jesus highlights the importance of being in the Father’s house, where priorities are realigned, hearts are nourished, and families are strengthened. Jesus' response, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” underscores that spiritual grounding in God’s presence is essential for individuals and families to flourish. The sermon challenges us to reflect on misplaced priorities—whether due to work, activities, or distractions—that pull us away from God’s house. Pastor Vieth calls for repentance, reminding us that church is where we are born, fed, and reminded of our true identity in Christ. It is also where we are prepared to be sent out to extend God’s love and mercy to others, strengthening our cities, neighborhoods, and families. Finally, the sermon encourages the congregation to act as a holy family, sharing Christ’s love with the world and pointing others to the Father’s house for healing, restoration, and peace. By reprioritizing God’s mission, we are called to participate in the rebuilding of broken families and communities.
Where is the holiest place on earth? The womb! Of all of the places on earth, God chose to dwell in the womb of Mary. This gives us great reverence for the dignity of human life in the womb and for the dignity of all women. But the “womb” is also a way of describing the spiritual life, according to St. Maximus the Confessor.
Advent remembers the past, celebrates it in the present, and looks to the future.
Jesus came, is present with us now, and will come again.
While we wait for Jesus to return, we would continue to celebrate the past and share that with future generations to come.
As we close our 150th Anniversary we review and give thanks for what God has done through us and in each of us. In addition, we take a look at time and eternity and where we go from here.
Time is a gift.
We are priests who consecrate the time.
We give it back to the Lord and use it for his purposes.
It’s not about the money. It’s about the Lord. Which means its about your heart. Which means its about trust. Which means its about his faithfulness.
The Lord doesn't want to be an important part of your life.
He wants to be your life.
November 10, 2024
Pastor Schallhorn reflects on Trinity Lutheran Church's 150-year history, emphasizing the importance of attitude in Christian life. He explores Jesus' Beatitudes, particularly "Blessed are the poor in spirit," highlighting how true happiness comes from recognizing our spiritual poverty and relying on God's grace. The pastor illustrates this concept through the inspiring story of Ruth Hankeke, a saint who embodied generosity and joy despite material poverty.
November 3, 2024
We all struggle with our love of money and possessions. Our love for our stuff stands in the way of a love for God and others. Which is how we fulfill the commandments. We don’t just follow the rules to get the reward of eternal life. The commandments are eternal life because they are God’s life and God is love.
- The commandments are not the way to eternal life. We don’t follow the rules to get the prize. No, the commandments are eternal life. Because Eternal life is God’s life. And God is Love. So love is the fulfillment of the commandments.
- This is impossible for us. But not for God. So we must stay in his love that transforms our love.
This week’s reading from St. James offers a stark warning to the rich about the fleeting nature of wealth, while the Gospel contains harsh admonitions about sin, with Jesus encouraging the removal of anything that causes sin, even if that means drastic measures. Despite this challenging message, we can find hope in the first reading of the lectionary for this week, where Moses wishes for all of God's people to be prophets, filled with the Spirit. Like all of the weeks of this series, we are invited to be open—to God's Word, to seeing others and ourselves through Jesus’ eyes, and to receiving wisdom that is pure and sincere. This openness should extend to using our time, talent, and treasures to serve God and others, echoing the refrain of the sermon series, "Be open."
- Wealth and Possessions are Temporary: The readings warn against placing too much value on material wealth, as it will eventually decay and fail to bring lasting fulfillment.
- Openness to God is Crucial: The central theme of the sermon is "Be open." We are called to be open to God’s Word, to seeing others as He sees them, and to using our time and talents for His glory.
- Everyone is Called to be a Prophet: Like Moses, God desires all His people to be filled with His Spirit and to proclaim His Word through their words and actions.
- Sacrifice for Righteousness: The Gospel reading emphasizes the importance of cutting out sin from our lives, even if it requires difficult or drastic changes.
- Commitment to Service: The sermon challenges the congregation to commit their time, talent, and treasure to God's work, embracing openness as a way of life in their faith journey.
This sermon focuses on the theme of active faith and its transformative power in our lives. It begins by discussing how openness—both of the heart and the eyes—enables us to see ourselves and Jesus for who we truly are. The pivotal question from the Gospel, "Who do you say that I am?" leads to Peter's confession, "You are the Christ," which lies at the center of Christian faith. However, faith is not just a declaration; it is meant to be lived out through actions. Jesus teaches that faith involves denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following Him. St. James reinforces this in his epistle, stating that faith without works is dead. The sermon challenges listeners to move beyond lip service and embrace a faith that is active, even when it hurts. Faith requires us to prioritize Christ above all else, which may lead to rejection and suffering. Yet, through this death to self, new life and healing emerge. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to use their gifts for God's kingdom, becoming part of a chain reaction of resurrection that transforms lives.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of openness in the Christian faith, as exemplified by the word "Ephphatha," meaning "be open" in Mark 7. The call in St. James’ epistle today is for Christians to be impartial and open-hearted, recognizing the value and dignity of every person, regardless of their status. The overarching theme is that being open to others is the way of Christ, the way of heaven, and should be the way of the Church. We are encouraged to see Christ in everyone and to participate actively in the work of salvation by showing love and compassion to all, without partiality.
- Openness to God's Word: The sermon emphasizes the importance of keeping our hearts open to welcome God's Word, allowing Jesus to purify and work through us.
- Ephphatha – Be Open: The call to be open extends beyond just our hearts; it involves every part of us—our ears, eyes, and actions—so that we can fully engage in God's work and see His will for us.
- Impartiality in Faith: Christians are urged to be impartial, treating everyone with the same love and respect, regardless of their status or appearance, reflecting the reality of heaven on earth.
- Seeing Christ in Others: The sermon encourages believers to view every person through the lens of Christ, recognizing that each individual is created and redeemed by Him.
Active Participation in Christ’s Work: Followers of Christ are called to participate in His salvific work by using their unique gifts to bless others, particularly those who are marginalized or in need.
This homily introduces our new sermon series and small group study titled "Faith and _______," inspired by the epistle of James. The series aims to ignite a deeply active faith in us as believers, focusing on different acts or virtues each week. As we begin these five weeks wading through St. James' epistle, it's important to note that he's writing about the way of heaven not the way to heaven. In this first week, St. James is encouraging us to open our hearts to receive and welcome God's Word, allowing it to transform and purify us. In this first week of our series, before we get into the nitty gritty of being doers of the Word in future weeks, let us first commune with the Lord which will quiet and heal their hearts.
The readings today call us: Choose this day whom you will serve? This choice cannot be ala carte - picking and choosing what we want and rejecting what we don’t want. Because everything Scripture teaches connects back to Jesus. It is personal. We are choosing or rejecting him.
This is important when we look at many of the “issues” of our day around the topics of gender, marriage, and sexuality. They are not isolated issues. They are personal because they are all connected to him. As Pauls writes:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31–32)
We must choose whom we will serve and love.
Marriage and sexuality image God and his relationship with us.
This Sunday we hit the “summit” of Jesus’ Eucharistic teaching in John 6. In graphic terms he shows us how essential his flesh and blood is so that we may:
Have eternal life
Be raised up on the last day
Abide in him
St. Teresa of Avila said: If we but paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament of the Eucharist, I am sure that the thought of Christ's love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude.
Last week we heard about our spiritual hunger - the desire to be satisfied. But this week the reading takes hunger to the extreme - when we are starving and can’t go on. Like Elijah who comes off a spiritual high to crash to the lows of fear and despair, the Lord wants to feed us with food that will make us truly live: Jesus, the Bread of Life.
The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is the key to our lives. It teaches us to:
Realize it all comes from God and give thanks.
When we put it all back in Jesus’ hands, he will multiply it.
This miracle ultimately points to the miracle of the Eucharist where Jesus takes a little bread and wine and satisfies the deepest desires of our hearts.
Every time the Church stands at an inflection point in its history; the Lord has one request: rest a while. After intensely laboring and looking to further the mission of Christ, the Lord asks us to come and simply be with him so that he can give us repose and refresh our soul. By doing this, it helps us keep the main thing the main thing. As Trinity stands at an inflection point in the history of our church and school and looks to break ground, the Lord invites us into this rest. This rest enlivens and motivates us for the next chapter of our journey as we continue to fix our eyes on Jesus and pull more people into the rest he offers.
Like Jesus’ own kin, we are cursed by familiarity. We know who Jesus is with our heads, but for some reason the wonder of our hearts has been transformed into apathy. We begin to believe the devil when he asks if God really said, or if God can really handle our situations in life, or if he can really act. This only leads us to become apathetic toward our struggle against the vices and false promises the world offers. But it only makes our faith shrink more. Jesus marvels at our lack of faith, but that isn’t his final or greatest feeling toward us. Instead, he invites us to come closer to him; to let him come through the door of our hearts after he’s knocked. What if we actually invited the Lord into those places that have hurt us the most? He promises to dwell there with us, and in his own beautiful way, he’ll either take the thorn away from our flesh or he’ll teach us through the pain a more beautiful lesson, if only we’ll let him. Could we, with the centurion and with our blessed Mother Mary, begin to pray “Say the word Lord and I shall be healed.” “Let it be unto me according to your word.”
Our Gospel tells of a woman who suffers from chronic bleeding and a father in crisis: his daughter is dying. Suffering is sometimes chronic, sometimes a crisis. But this story shows us how we get through such times. We need Jesus. We need to wait on him. And we trust that he will give more.
1. We need Jesus.
2. We need to wait on him.
3. We trust that he will give more.
When God asked Adam and Eve after the Fall, “Where are you?” He wasn’t inquiring about the location of their bodies, but the location of their hearts. By eating the forbidden fruit and straying from the Lord, our first parents lost their identity and began to search for it behind fig leaves. Our fig leaves have gotten more sophisticated over the years, but they have the same goal: to hide the decay of our outer self. God doesn’t leave mankind in this misery, though. He promises a seed that will make all things right again. Jesus takes onto himself that which makes us most ashamed: our human flesh. He sanctifies it and calls us back to our true identity in him. The worst thing we can do is to reject this gift and the working of the Spirit in us. Jesus wants us back as his brothers and sisters – our truest identity! We should let his will be done.
All the blood in Scripture is hard for us to understand. It seems gory and barbaric. But in Scripture, blood is life. And shared blood is shared life. Sin, however, brings death. So blood - life - is poured out.
But God pours his lifeblood into us. Foreshadowed at Sinai (Ex. 24) and on Yom Kippur (Lev. 16), Jesus takes his divine blood and pours it out in sacrifice on Good Friday and in Sacrament in the Eucharist. Sins Paid. Life Given. Peace. That’s what the covenant gives. Family.
“God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange.” (CCC 221) “In the core of the Trinity, the Father laughs and gives birth to the Son. The Son laughs back at the Father and gives birth to the Spirit. The whole Trinity laughs and gives birth to us. All things love God.” (Meister Eckhart) Our human minds may not be able plunge into the depths of who the Trinity is, but what we do know is that God wants to share his exchange of love, laughter, and community with us. By taking our seat at the table of communion with him, we taste and touch heaven, we come into community with one another, and we are motivated all the more to draw more people into the mystery of God.
As we come to the culmination of our Fan the Flame journey we are braving it! The vision and dream before us is big - crazy big. But the Spirit given at Pentecost gives us the courage to do it and fulfill the dreams of our Father.
We must stay in the fire. Or as Jesus says, like branches in a vine. Which is difficult. We are often detached, disobedient, distracted and distressed. But in the end, a suffering vine makes finer wine.
1. You will Bear Fruit. We don’t just get fed, we feed.
2. You get what you want, what you really want. Jesus!
3. Jesus gets what he wants - to live through you.
4. A suffering vine makes finer wine.
Like sheep, we must follow and trust our Shepherd. Our readings today tell us to Know, Hear, and See.
As we kick off our Fan the Flame journey, we want to see that this is about the fire of faith in each of our hearts. Our readings illustrate the “triangle of fire.” In order to have a fire you need heat, fuel and oxygen. If any are missing, no fire. But Jesus gives all of these things to us!
It is the second Sunday of Easter, the end of the great octave. The vestiges of our Easter joy can still be felt. Yet, a faint shadow has snuck into our celebrations in the form of Thomas’ doubt and our own. Jesus is risen, and yet we can’t help but still be gripped by the reality of the darkness, sin, and brokenness that still plague us. When doubts arise, we revert to what we know and try and go at life on our own, trying to combat the darkness with darkness. Jesus, however, always draws near when we try and run away, He stoops down into our darkness and doubt to remind us of his presence, forgiveness, and light. Jesus always turns our doubt back to himself. He constantly gives himself to us in tangible ways to remind us of his presence, dispelling our doubt, disbelief, and fear.
"Who will roll away the stone for us?" the women ask. This is a profound spiritual question. Had Jesus not rolled it away, we would be stuck in our graves forever. But even now, that stone traps us in this life, a life filled with the fear of death and misery. The stone rolled away is a portal to a new life with Jesus.
Too often we have a false perspective of our suffering and only want to escape it.
Jesus wants to show us through his suffering that there is some good in our suffering.
Jesus welcomes us into his wounds so that we can see that perspective.
The great spiritual paradox is shared by Jesus today: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” (John 12:25).This is not self-hatred. It means that you think so little of your life in comparison to how much you love God, you are willing to sacrifice your life. Which is how you save it.
The key to this is just like how a side “falls to the ground and dies” - it cracks open and gives way to life. So also our hearts must crack open in vulnerability. There is great risk in this, but it is also the birthplace of love.
So we sacrifice our self-preservation which resists this and we find love.
Apologies, the gospel reading was not recorded correctly by Pastor Vieth so please skip forward to 1:40. Thank you
Today, Jesus asks us to sacrifice our crooked, disordered desire so that he might give us a greater, divinized desire. This is terribly difficult because our desires seem to be one of the deepest things about us. Satan has manipulated us into thinking that we are the only ones who can fulfill those desires. Yet, our hearts have become enslaved and have lost their freedom, leaving us looking only for the next pleasure, hit, high, or ecstasy that just might fulfill or satisfy them. We constantly choose darkness over light. In the midst of this, God shows his love for us by sending his Son in the flesh and we have shown our love back by loving the flesh more than the Son. This is horrifying, yet Jesus pursues us all the more. He doesn’t leave us because he knows what’s at stake. He doesn’t want our eternal exile, but our eternal freedom. He keeps pursuing us, even through the excruciating pain of the cross, not only because his desire is for us but because he knows that our hearts will only be satisfied if they desire him. Jesus asks us to sacrifice our desire because we don’t desire enough. He wants to divine our desire so that we can experience the One who can fill our hearts and our desire infinitely: himself.
There is objective truth.
The more we hold onto our own, subjective truths the more they kill us.
Jesus who is THE TRUTH comes to free us from the lies that deceive us and reminds us of the truest thing in the world: God and his love for us.
Your body is the Temple, a temple - where God dwells. So sacrifice your body - give the gift of yourself.
Do the opinions and approval of certain people matter more to me than what God thinks of me?
If He mattered most, how might this liberate me?
Today Jesus is giving you and me, Abraham and Isaac, Peter and the disciples, and the whole church catholic a test: will we choose God or will we choose the treasures of God? Too often we choose the treasures of God because we think they’ll relieve our anxiety and worry and give us security. The truth is, though, that that is far from the truth. The more we try and hoard our treasures, the more worried and anxious we become. In that anxiety and worry, we try and rebuke Jesus when he comes to try and heal us. When we do this, he says to us what he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God but of men.” He doesn’t say this to hurt us or to cast us into the darkness. On the contrary, he tells us this so that we would be reminded of who we naturally are and to lead us to the place where all of these treasures are sacrificed so that we might receive of the true riches of heaven thus freeing ourselves from all anxiety and worry.
Our theme for Lent this year is “Sacrifice.” Sacrifice is natural to humans - because love sacrifices and humans are made to love - just like God. We see his love above all in his sacrifice. Which calls us to respond in the same.
This week we are called to sacrifice our comfort. Because comfort makes us believe we are in control. But ironically, comfort begins to control us as we want more and more of it.
But when we sacrifice our comfort we give control of our lives to the one who is in control, the one who loves us.
Our theme for Lent this year is “Sacrifice.” We begin our journey on Ash Weds with this invitation:
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
For His Glory is why we built our beautiful church. But For His Glory is why we live. Those 3 words become the measure of our lives. God does not need us to give him glory. But he gives his glory to us so that we can enjoy him and be all that he made us to be - full of his glory.
January 21, 2024
As Jesus calls his first disciples, he tasks parents to form them as His disciples. Our Lutheran School extends this holy calling.
November 5, 2023
As we anticipate the celebration of our 150th Anniversary, we can't help but think of the saints who have gone before us, especially in our Trinity family. This inspires us to run our "leg of the race" and to pass the torch to the next generation.
Sept. 17, 2023
Pastor used a Story Corp clip from NPR during the homily and the homily ends with a special song(not recorded) "Greater Still" by Brandon Lake.
We need the church because we need the forgiveness of Sins. The Church is the rock of our life because it is built upon the Rock: the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
What is the significance of Jesus’ Ascension?
- He takes us with him, through his atoning sacrifice, up into heaven.
- He goes out with us in very real way, in the power of his Spirit.
By the Spirit’s motherly nurturing, working in the community of Mother Church through relationships, the rhythm of the liturgy, and Scripture that makes us ready to give a defense of our Christian hope, biological and spiritual mothers and fathers are strengthened in their vocation of guiding their children to remain in the Lord by loving and serving him.
The darkness now is
- Death overshadowing us
- The Dark Times we live in
- The Dark Places we end up in
Though the darkness is real, it is not the real “reality.” It is true, but not the only truth.
As he did in our Gospel, Jesus breaks into the darkness with his Light, announcing his Kingdom. He calls us to come and follow him and changes our life. His light shatters death, dark times, and dark places.
But this is all in faith and hope. IYKYK. If you know, you know.
A discussion on the history and importance of why the Church calls Mary: The Mother of God.
Understanding the hypostatic union of Christ’s natures: divine and human
Matthew 28:16-20
Athanasian Creed:
- Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.
- Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
- And the catholic faith is this,
- that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.
- For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.
- But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory eternal, the majesty coeternal.
- Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:
- the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;
- the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;
- the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
- And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,
- just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one eUncreated and one Infinite.
- In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;
- and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
- So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;
- and yet there are not three Gods, but one God;
- So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord;
- and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
- Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
- The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.
- The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.
- The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.
- Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
- And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than the other;
- but the whole persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.
- Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
- But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
- He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before al ages; and He is man born from the substance of His mother in this age:
- perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
- equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
- Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
- one, however, not by the conversion of the assumption of the humanity into God;
- one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
- For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,
- who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
- ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
- At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.
- And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.
- This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.
This was the Homily given for the Confirmands of 2020.
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Psalm 23
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-28
Today's readings:
Revelation 14:6-7
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
Pastor also showed this clip from Braveheart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TME0xubdHQc
Pastor Davis' final homily at Trinity.
Isaiah 55:1-3
Psalm 145
Romans 8:35, 37-39
Matthew 14:13-21
Here is the video Pr. showed at the end of the homily: https://vimeo.com/393964917
Scripture readings:
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:17-45
Exodus 17:3-7
Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
John 4:5-42
Stallman Video: https://vimeo.com/393964381
Commitment Card explanation video: https://vimeo.com/397885604
Here is the Jeff and Diane Vander Vliet story that Pastor shared: https://vimeo.com/393963427
Here is the "How to start a fire" video that Pastor showed: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qa8XXo4f8ONeqrIVHPETcZIRAtMZ7ASQ/view
Today's Scripture readings:
Genesis 12:1-4
2 Timothy 1:8-10
John 3:1-17
Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11
These videos were played during the homily:
Wunderlich Flint Fire
Tony and Laura Harmon Ignite
Ron Stallman's update at the end of the homily was captured on a separate recording:
Ron Stallman's Ignite update
Exodus 24:8-18
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
Here is the Ignite video Pr. Davis showed during his homily.
Here is the invitational video for the CCS Spotlight night on Sunday, March 1st.
Isaiah 48:1, 3-5, 8-11
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Luke 3:15-17
Here is the video that Pr. Mielke showed during the announcements.
Deuteronomy 4:9-14
Revelation 3:14-22
John 18:15-18, 25b-27
Here is the Ignite video that Pastor showed during the announcements: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QiqM1HQmLlH1Qo5NCbNAYAzmACJRCRW8/view?usp=sharing
Here is the video shown during the homily: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_sqsMhN-vuCnX-oMKzQnbypXIILe7teS/view
Malachi 3:1-4
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-32
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7, 10-14
Matthew 4:17-23
Here is the Ignite video Pr. Mielke showed at the end of the homily.
Here is a link to the Chalk video that Pastor showed during the homily: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17A3DUkphTi0efjaIhj0V81En4sUps8e8/view?usp=sharing
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
Ex. 3:1-15
2 Thess. 2:16-3:5
Luke 20:27-38
After the homily, the worship team led the song "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe.
Skit Guys Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb6EbzT_leI
Readings:
Revelation 14:6-7
Romans 3:19-28
Luke 18:9-14
Clip from Schindler's List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhA5GIx51Kg
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Luke 16:1-13
Pastor Mielke showed part of the following video: https://generousgiving.org/media/videos/greg-and-alison-baumer
Sunday's readings:
Romans 11:33-36
Luke 12:13-21
First Reading - Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Epistle - Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Gospel Reading - Luke 14:25-33
In between the Gospel and the Homily, the congregation confessed their faith through the Athanasian Creed.
Here is the link to the video Pr. Mielke showed during the homily: https://youtu.be/k7qkS_C6bbE
Pr. Mielke played this video clip from the movie "Moana" during the homily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4QuKwfv6Wk
Here are links to the song and video that Pr. Mielke played during his homily:
Goo Goo Dolls: "Iris"
Excited Groom
Here is the video that Pastor shared in his homily this week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vckz6EAn30Y
During the sermon Pastor Mielke shared the following video with the congregation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfO1veFs6Ho&disable_polymer=true
This is the video interview with Peggy and Rick McCollough that was played during the homily.