We Rejoice That Our Lord Has Won. Worship: July 6, 2025

Today’s Old Testament Reading should be read last, for it is a call to rejoicing, at least for people of faith in Christ. The guaranteed future includes “peace . . . like a river” (Isaiah 66:12), a powerful and restful image. The Epistle, however, is full of marching orders for daily living and the warning, “let us not grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9). When the Seventy-Two (not just the Twelve) went out in the Gospel, we do not know how fearful they may have been, but they returned triumphant and were congratulated by our Lord. Because He has won the final battle for us, our worship today may certainly focus on the peace that awaits us. It is an opportunity to “shout for joy to God, all the earth” (Psalm 66:1).

New Tree, New Fruit. Worship: June 29, 2025

If you have ever enjoyed a homegrown tomato or plucked a ripe peach straight from the tree, you know there is no substitute for good fruit. Today, the Holy Spirit is continuing the work begun in your Baptism, bringing forth good fruit. Too often, we imagine bearing good fruit is a result of our own careful cultivation, paying special attention to getting things right. The Spirit takes another approach. Just as the flavor of fresh fruit is a delight to our senses, the Spirit delights our soul with the tantalizing tastes of joy, kindness, gentleness, and love! The Spirit teaches us to crave what is good and, in so doing, leads believers to produce the fruit the Lord always intended.

True Wisdom, on the Way. Worship:June 22, 2025

The season of Pentecost has arrived! With the arrival of the Holy Spirit, this season of the Church Year is marked by growth. We see evidence of the growth the Spirit is seeking in this week’s Readings. The Lord and giver of life seeks to see His people grow faithful hearts through faithful worship, resulting in faithful service. When the way ahead isn’t as clear or as comfortable as we would like, we rely on the Lord’s wisdom, leading us back to His faithful servant, Jesus Christ, who clears the obstacles of our sinfulness and comforts us with His Word and sacramental gifts.

The Holy Trinity Just Works! Worship: June 15, 2025

The Holy Trinity presents profound complexities. The church wrestles to dissect and sync together the identities and the activities of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The Athanasian Creed is the treatise that sews together the equality and uniqueness of the three persons of the Trinity. With faith’s assurance, the church confesses trinitarian substance, coeternal majesty, and seemingly unattainable mystery. The Uncreated, the Infinite, the Almighty are One in Three. The Holy Trinity is vested in working in our midst today, every day, and eternally. In faith, the church and its members forge ahead in life because the Holy Trinity just works! We may not understand fully, and yet, by faith we believe the Father works—creating; the Son works—redeeming; and the Spirit works—sanctifying. Our entire life of frailty and faith is only possible because the Holy Trinity just works—all the time—with us, for us, and alongside us!

Kindle in Us the Fire of Your Love. Worship: June 8, 2025

It is the week of weeks—seven times seven plus one, the fiftieth day—when Pentecost arrives. It is the last day of Easter and the first day for the fruits of Christ’s Easter victory to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Today we discover anew what it means to be united in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. All things in common, the disciples are gathered to bring the nations together as one people by the Word of Christ’s death and resurrection and the faith that apprehends and confesses this saving truth. All of this is enabled by the fire of the Spirit burning in us and through us so that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Only One Source. Worship: June 1, 2025

 How close must we be to achieve unity? For us sinners, separation of even a little bit compromises unity. What we need is a single source to unite us. It is our singular Savior who is the only source of true unity. Our Readings today show us the one church continuing and Matthias elected to sit in Judas’s chair. Jesus promises power to His followers and tells them to stay close and do His will. And our Lord even prays that they might be one with Him even as He is one with the Father. Today we need to hear the Word of God to find strength for continuing our being the one Body of Christ.

We Can’t Wait. Worship: May 28, 2025

It is almost the end of the Easter Season, and we would like it to continue. The non-festival half of the Church Year doesn’t seem as, well, festive. But listen to the Readings! There are people, like Paul in the Reading from Acts, who need support today. And Lydia is an example of a new Christian, ready to help. The vision in Revelation showed John’s readers the perfect city, ready to welcome all whose names are in the Book of Life (that’s us)! We can hardly wait to get there.

In the meantime, there’s no time to lose. “Ask,” Jesus tells us in the Gospel, “and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). You see, even now He is with us. What would you like to ask Him?

The Joyful Creation. Worship: May 18, 2025

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 The Fifth Sunday of Easter bears the traditional name of Cantate, from the Introit’s “Oh sing to the Lord a new song.” Not only people but all creation is urged to break out in song. Throughout our worship today we will do just that, for the resurrection news cannot be left to quiet contemplation. Though it was difficult for Peter to convince the others, when they realized Gentiles had received the Spirit, they rejoiced. The vision of heaven in Revelation has no more pain or sorrow; what can be left but joyful singing?

At the end of Jesus’ talk to the disciples, He promises “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). When we are filled with such joy, singing is inevitable. Much of today’s worship has us singing a few (or all) of the stanzas of familiar hymns. Let us join the joyful multitude in heaven and earth!

No One Will Snatch Them from My Hand. Worship:May 11, 2025

In our world of constant change and abundant challenges to our faith, we often feel alone, and fear causes us to question where God is and what He is doing. Our Good Shepherd has pledged never to abandon us but to be with us always. More than this, He has promised that no one can snatch us from His hand. He is the powerful Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Because of the investment He has made in us, He does not surrender us to temptation, trouble, trial, or test.

They Knew It Was the Lord. Worship: May 4, 2025

Though Jesus walks on water, He was testing the limit by telling seasoned fishermen where to cast their nets. The disciples knew it was the Lord—it could only be the Lord. Then, when He broke the bread and gave thanks, they rejoiced that the crucified and risen Savior had showed Himself to them again. This is what we do every week. Jesus presumes to tell us what life is and how to live it, and we are weary of all the things that have disappointed us. But Christ can never disappoint us. He fills our nets with His life, addresses us with the voice of hope, and feeds us to everlasting life, and by this Word and Sacrament we know it is the Lord.