A Song for the Summertime, August 4 Worship Pentecost 8

So, what’s growing at your house this summer?  Weeds seem to grow easily. But what would you rather see grow? In the epistle lesson from Colossians we are challenged to grow in living lives of integrity that honor our Creator. Paul says this kind of growth comes when we get rid of things like “lust, evil desires and greed.” Jesus challenged a man who had many material things to work on growing in the spiritual things of God. We can grow flowers rather than weeds when we are nourished in God’s goodness and love. Let’s sing a prayerful song for the summertime: “Lord enable us to grow in lives that glorify You.”  

Praying for the World Around Us, July 28 Worship Pentecost 7

God wants us to be talking and praying to Him. But what are we supposed to be talking to Him about? In our Old Testament lesson Abraham pleads to God for a place and a people that others would have forsaken. We can learn from Abraham’s example to pray that God would mercifully care for the culture of the world around us. God is great in wisdom and might. How will He answer your prayer? Praying keeps us at once humble and hopeful.

God Visits Us, Worship July 21, Pentecost 6

Jesus visits the home of two women, Mary and Martha. They are very different people. Jesus cares for each of them in a different way. This helps us to see that God can enter the distinctly different predicament of any of our lives. Do you need to hear of the mysteries of God, or do you need to let go of the accumulation of ordinary things that clouds your mind? God knows what you need. Are you ready to invite Him for a visit?

Growing in God's Great Love, Worship July 14, Pentecost 5

In today's Gospel reading a young lawyer asks Jesus, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  Their conversation leads Jesus to tell one of His best known parables known as “the Good Samaritan.” In this story Jesus stretches our imagination about what godly love can do in the reality of our lives. How great do you think God’s love is? In Christ Jesus we see that God’s love is eternal, almighty, and ours forever, and even today.

The Kingdom of God is Near You, 4th Sunday of Pentecost, July 7

In the Gospel for today, Jesus sends out seventy-two of His followers with power to heal and cast out demons. But most importantly Jesus wanted them to share that the Kingdom of God is near. As they bestowed care and concern on those they met they were embodying the Kingdom of God. The goodness they brought to people’s lives was pointing to the even greater blessing of our everlasting future in God’s Kingdom. In Jesus all this is near even for us. The Kingdom is near, now and forever.

The Journey of Faith, Third Sunday After Pentecost Worship, June 30, 2019

When was the last time you had the comfort of pulling out a paper map that showed you the way you would travel? Now days many a journey is taken trusting that some sort of electronic voice will tell you when to turn and what to do. This occasionally results in people arriving somewhere only to realize that it is not actually where they were hoping to go. Led by faith in God our journey may be imperfect, there may even be detours, but guided by God’s wisdom and love both the journey and the destination will be good.

Jesus Sets Us Free, Second Sunday of Pentecost, June 23

We are held captive by many things in this earthly life, but especially by sin, death, and Satan. In the Gospel reading Jesus asks his disciples to sail across to the side of the lake that they prefer to avoid. Jesus stepped ashore and encountered a man who possessed by many demons. This man had been chained so he wouldn’t hurt himself or others. Jesus comes to this man in his captivity and sets him free. There is no border to Jesus’ mercy and compassion. He can reach us wherever we are. By His death and resurrection, Jesus sets us free from our enemies, from sin, death, and Satan. We are free to tell of Jesus’s mercy and compassion.

Trinity Sunday, All Thy Works Shall Praise Thy Name, June 16

Whenever we contemplate the mystery of God being three persons in one God, we can be in awe of how far above us He is in His divine nature. We were called into being when we were nothing, we were saved while still in our sins, and we are given faith to trust Him, purely by the grace of God. God’s creation itself is majestic in scope and grandeur. The more we learn about it, especially the vastness of cosmic space, the more we recognize the grace of God in His caring about us. God has not only provided the one place where we might thrive, but He also became one of us, showing us His Majesty in such a humble way. The Holy Spirit now lives among us to teach us all things and remind us how majestic is God’s name in all the earth, especially in our hearts and minds!

The Spirit of the Living God, Pentecost Worship, June 9

Jesus told His followers that they could expect the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ascended into heaven Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that we can have God’s holiness and wisdom as a present reality. This Spirit can renew our mind and emotions. The Holy Spirit can inspire love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As we celebrate God’s Spirit, we pray “Come Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Our Lord, June 2nd Worship

As we go through life we hope for a few little triumphs.  So it was for Jesus’ disciples just before Christ was about to ascend to heaven.  "Lord," they said, "will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"  But God had a greater blessing in mind.  Christ's ascension means His triumph is over all humankind, all nations, kingdoms, powers, and everything else for all time and eternity.  He who was crucified, died, and risen, now takes His victory with Him to sit at God's right hand in power and majesty. He is triumphant over all things forever.