WORSHIP
A King's Parade with Palms and Shadows, March 25 Worship
Jesus' walk leads Him finally to the gates of Jerusalem. He will now fulfill the prophecies regarding the coming King of kings. He does this in memorable fashion, turning the people's expectations upside down by an entrance marked by humility and innocent celebration. In this most holy of weeks, our Lord calls on each of us, not to cheer from the sidelines, but rather to join in the spirit of the parade.
Jesus Shows Us His Way, March 18 Worship
In Mark 10:33 Jesus is trying to speak of what is to come, but His disciples were not listening. They were arguing over who was greatest. Jesus was speaking of His cross and describing the cross-shaped pattern of His life. He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. If we want to find what is great, the path we want to follow will be shaped by the cross and will demonstrate the same love that we receive in Christ.
Divine, Eternal Love for Us, March 11th Worship
You probably know John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son” This passage answers the question, what does divine and eternal love look like? It is sacrificial, shown clearly in Jesus Christ laying down His life for us. This love makes good things grow. Just as a small seed can become a great tree, so too sacrificial love creates new things. We have the opportunity to live out a sacrificial love in the small things of every day life. Maybe it is shown as you pause and really listen with attention and concern to what someone is sharing with you. Because of God’s strength in Christ Divine, Eternal Love is with us in our world.
Made Sacred by God, March 4 Worship
Sacred and holy, set apart for God. Today, God’s Word takes us back to revisit God’s efforts to make things sacred. First He gave his people the Ten Commandments. They tried hard to live by those commandments even building the great temple in Jerusalem to set apart the things of God above all else. But it was not enough. By the time Jesus arrives there the temple had been crowded by the materialistic concerns of commerce. Only the sacrifice of the Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ could create a way for things to be made sacred and set apart for God. During the season of Lent we meditate on what this means for us who are still on our earthly journey of being made sanctified by God. What a great time to pray for a new season of life, and set to doing some spiritual house cleaning, for we have seen the power and the wisdom of God in Christ.
For the Sake of Our Souls, February 25 Worship
If you took an inventory of your most valuable things what would be on your list? Jesus reminds us that by far the most priceless thing we have is our soul. Jesus tells us that even God values our souls more so than anything else in the cosmos. The salvation of our souls was to be the singular focus of Jesus’ mission. This is still astonishing, world changing news that reorients the choices we will make, how we see ourselves, and how we cherish everyone around us.
God with Us in the Wilderness, February 18th Worship
The First Sunday in Lent comes to us with stories of temptation and test. It begins with the story of Abraham. He waited his whole life for the fulfillment of the promise and a son to carry on his name. Then comes the call to sacrifice that very same son to the Lord. Abraham had been bounced around his whole life and now he had to ask: Why me? We have all had those "why me" moments of test, trial, and temptation. Today, we discover how God is present even in the troubles of life and how His good and gracious will carries us through those trials. Could it be that God is at work even in our darkest moments and times of greatest fear? Not only Abraham tells us that the answer is yes - Jesus' own temptation shows us that God works in those moments of test and temptation to reveal his great love and infinite compassion.
Ash Wednesday Worship, February 14th, 7:00pm
Ash Wednesday is one of the most solemn days of the Church Year. Ashes suggest in a dramatic way God's judgment and condemnation of sin, our frailty and total dependence on God. The words spoken as ashes are imposed, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," were first spoken to Adam after his fall into sin. We are forcefully reminded of the words of the committal in the Burial Service, "...earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." But our God is eternally redemptive and so the ashes also suggest cleansing and renewal. They were once used as a cleaning agent. Thus, ashes imposed in the shape of a cross symbolize judgment, but also the cleansing and healing that God brings.
The Most Glorious Mystery, February 11 Worship
Today the season of Epiphany ends and we prepare for Lent by following Jesus up a mountain. Jesus had been revealing His true nature through His words and actions, and then, on the Mount of Transfiguration three disciples see His glory revealed as transfiguring light. Moses and Elijah appear with Him, talking about His departure in Jerusalem. Jesus then commands the disciples not to tell about the event until after he will rise from his grave alive. In this we recognize Jesus’ true glory in His sacrificial love devoted to our salvation. For God has “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
God's Gift of Healing, February 4th Worship
Sometimes the hardest things in life are the very things that drive us toward dependence on God. We need the healing that God can bring to our wounded bodies, our weakened spirit, and our fragile feelings. God is always up for the battle of defeating those things that hurt us. It can take courage to hope in God’s healing, but that faith will always be rewarded. We might question God’s timing on aspects of His healing. But our faith is that God is good all the time, and His healing in Christ is great!
Jesus Speaks with Authority, January 28 Worship
Jesus spoke with power and authority. His voice ultimately rises above all the other voices we hear. The Word of God alerts us to the voices of false prophets and misleading teachers. There are also evil spirits that have a voice. As we grow in godly wisdom we become more adept at discerning these voices. Even as we might grow in confidence it is helpful to remember that others also struggle to hear God with clarity and that we need to be sympathetic and humble to the needs of others. Jesus’ sacrifice for us frees us to put our neighbor’s needs above our own.
Sermon did not get recorded for Jan. 28 due to technical difficulties.