Let Jesus Lead, February 10 Worship

Jesus jumps into Simon Peter’s fishing boat and asks to go out into deep water. Peter was tired and reluctant. There was no one else who could have inspired Peter to go against his own inclinations and follow such a request. But once out in the deep water Peter and his crew caught such a large number of fish they now feared they might sink. Like Peter and his fellow fisherman God might ask us to go forward in directions that raise our fear and concern. But when we let God lead He will always be good and we will be blessed.

Listening to Jesus, February 3rd Worship

Sometimes a parent will catch their child getting a little too excited and need to ask them to use their “indoor” voice. Each of us have many different voices and we don’t always use them in an appropriate way. In contrast God has a lot of different ways in which He can speak to us, and He always gets it right. In our Gospel lesson we see Jesus teaching in the synagogue, healing a man possessed by an evil spirit, healing Simon’s mother-in-law, healing more of the sick and diseased, casting out demons. In each one of these situations He uses a different tone of voice. If we listen carefully God may use different voices with us, sometimes challenging us to live better lives, and then at other times comforting us with an accepting voice that says we are ok just the way we are. God can speak to us in a variety of ways. Are you listening?

Grateful to See Jesus, Epiphany 3 Worship, January 27

When Jesus came back to His hometown as a young man his neighbors and even those who had watched him grow up could not see that He was the Son of the Living God. In our own age there are those who cannot see who Jesus is. It takes an open heart and an open mind to recognize who Jesus is. It takes reason and imagination. Most of all it takes the Holy Spirit to introduce us to the personality and character of Jesus. The Spirit can lead each of us on our own unique journey to see that Jesus is our Savior. Today we rejoice to be able to recognize Jesus as worthy of all our thanks, praise, and grateful worship.

A Taste of the Sacred, Epiphany 2 Worship January 20th

Jesus went to a wedding and turned water into wine. It was the first of his many miracles and by it Jesus was revealing something amazing. Go to a wedding and you will probably feel like something sacred is happening. But it can be hard to define just what that is. By what Jesus did at this wedding He established that what is holy and sacred can be very real. Real enough to actually taste. God is really present now with us and that changes everything. God has this incredible ability to turn one thing into another. He can turn water into an eternal promise. He can turn bread and wine into His body and blood. He can turn a bad day into a good day. He can turn a hopeless situation into one in which we are blessed. He can turn death into life. We can always hope in God. He is the sacred and holy come into our lives. 



The Voice over the Waters, The Baptism of Our Lord, January 13th

There are so many voices all competing for our attention. Even when we don’t realize it, we are listening to the sounds of life that surround us. What do those voices say? What choruses do they sing? What refrains do they repeat? The voice we gather to hear this day stands in stark contrast to the multitude of others in our world. “The voice of the Lord is over the waters,” says Psalm 29:3. As He did for ancient Israel—and as He did for His only-begotten Son—our Father does for us today: He speaks over us words of life! At Jesus’ baptism the voice of the Father was heard from heaven. Today we celebrate the voice of God’s affirming love in our midst.

The Guiding Light of Life, Epiphany Worship January 6th

Our celebration of Christmas now turns into Epiphany when the Magi followed a star that led them to Bethlehem. There they found the Christ Child, Jesus, and worshiped Him as King. As we consider the mystery of just how that guiding light might have worked, we can celebrate that God has arrived in our midst to guide us. He is a real guiding light. Wise men and women still seek Him because the True Light that enlightens all things has come!

Our Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation, December 30 Worship

After waiting and waiting Simeon and Anna were blessed beyond measure.  There in the great temple their old eyes beheld the salvation of God, the baby Jesus brought right to them. Seeing Jesus inspired in them an outpouring of thanks and praise to God.  One day we will see Jesus face to face, but for now we meet Him in different ways. Today He is present in Holy Communion. Here is your salvation. We are in the presence of the sacred mystery: God with us, Emmanuel. God bless you with joy, thanks and peace which passes all understanding.

The Mighty One has Done Great Things for Me, December 23 Worship

In one of his Christmas sermons, Martin Luther reminds us that Mary, the mother of Jesus “was flesh and blood. She was not made of stone.” Mary’s part in the Christmas story helps each of us to wrap our minds around what it means to have God enter our world. A young woman’s life is completely changed when the angel Gabriel tells her that she will give birth to the world’s savior. How would you respond, “But I had other plans”? Instead Mary sings, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” Like Mary we meet God with open wonder at the miracle of His Glory among us.

Rejoice and Celebrate the Coming of the Eternal One, December 16th Worship

Right now some people are preparing for one grand day of celebration and rejoicing. But, at this same time some people are preparing for an eternity of celebration and rejoicing. They know that Christmas is just the beginning of a story that has no end. It is the greatest story that The Creator of the whole universe heard our deepest yearning and desire and came himself to answer us. Perhaps the whole season of Advent is embodied in the hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."  Since the seventh century these words have been sung in the final days of Advent.  They celebrate the fulfillment of the Divine promises He has kept for us in Christ.  They propel us forward to the day of Jesus' coming in judgment and glory on the Last Day. In this service we will pray and sing these O Antiphons.  In this we rejoice today and forever!

The King Shall Come to Bring Us Peace, December 9th Worship

During the season of Advent we remember the unique claim of Christianity. We believe that Jesus is forever alive, and that he is the most direct connection to God anywhere and anytime. Other religions are centered around dynamic personalities who have many virtuous qualities. But Christianity believes that these other figures point toward Jesus Christ. Today we remember John the Baptist, who came out of nowhere to point toward Jesus. John made the radical claim that this carpenter from Nazareth was the promised Savior of all mankind. Some people think that there are many ways to know God. Today we celebrate that we do not have to suffer the uncertainty of having to unravel the puzzle for ourselves. Instead we can rejoice that God has carved out a wide straight road for us all to travel. The way is clear for us to see what is ahead, God has revealed himself in all of His Glory.