King Jesus Reigns, November 22 Worship

Christ Jesus is King of King and Lord of Lords; that is what we celebrate on this Last Sunday of the church year. Already at His crucifixion Jesus could be called a conquering king for His victory over death. What we believe is that as time continues to move forward we are getting closer to the complete and ultimate recognition of Christ’s Kingship. We can live this day with hope and expectation because Christ is the King of all eternity.

The first and second hymn is LSB 525, “Crown Him with Many Crowns”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 549, “At the Name of Jesus”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Lord of the Ultimate Things, November 15 Worship

The light of day gets more fleeting and cherished this time of year. In the church calendar we are coming to what we call the last days. At this time we call out to our gracious God to brighten our lives as only He can. He is Lord of the ultimate things and He can bring light to even the smallest and seemingly insignificant aspects of our lives. Jesus Christ victoriously opened the heavens that God’s gracious light may come into this darkened world. Jesus tells us a story about how God has entrusted us with the care of things and people. He is telling us that God’s light can be clearly seen, and the brightness of the coming new heaven and earth already shines for us, even now, today.

The first and second hymn is LSB 670, “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 512, “At the Name of Jesus”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Our Infinite and Eternal God, November 8th Worship

God is infinite and eternal. He has no beginning and no end. He always has something else, another strength, another chapter. God is infinitely creative and eternally generous. He is always beginning something new, even now. The Living Spirit of God reassures us to keep watching and expecting that we will see God in all of His glory, infinite and eternal.   

The first and second hymn is LSB 516, “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 919, “Abide, O Dearest Jesus”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

For All the Saints, Nov. 1 Worship

Thinking of ourselves as saints could only bring a lot of pressure if it was a status we gain by our virtuous efforts and good accomplishments. But instead, how wonderful it is that holiness is God’s gift to bestow on us. Jesus came among us to bring us His holiness. In Jesus’ sacrifice we all are made anew to be holy. In Jesus’ triumph we are wrapped in the sacred robes of God’s love now and forever.

God's Strong Fortress, October 25 Worship

Five hundred years ago Martin Luther knew that he needed the strong fortress of God. He struggled and studied and prayed, but still the security he sought eluded him. Finally he realized that God had made it very simple. Our salvation is won for us by Jesus Christ. God has made a strong and eternal fortress for us. Nothing can knock down the walls of the strong fortress God has built around us in Christ Jesus.  

The first hymn is LSB 657, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. The second and third hymn is LSB 578, “Thy Strong Word”, and fourth hymn is LSB 657, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Jesus Reveals the Mystery of God, October 18 Worship

There is a mystery at the center of everything, and we all can sense it. When the mystery was revealed his name was Jesus. It is really all about Jesus. The great secret is revealed: Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth.

The first and second hymn is LSB 523, “O Word of God Incarnate”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 793, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven ”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

God's Great Banquet, October 11 Worship

We are invited to a banquet. It’s quite a feast. On the menu is mercy, grace, and joy. Come and sit at this table and you will laugh with relief and wonder. This is God’s banquet, and He invites us to come and sit with him at His table. Here we are in the presence of the Almighty Creator and King. God’s banquet is an eternal celebration of all that good, right, and true. 

The first and second hymn is LSB 636, “Soul Adorn Yourself with Gladness”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 621, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence ”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Good Harvest of God, October 4th Worship

Jesus told many stories in which he uses images from the harvest time. Any farmer would agree with Jesus that the harvest can be surprising, requiring versatility and vigilance. Jesus is telling us why we can be confident in the harvest. He will be triumphant and the harvest is his victory in our salvation.   

The first and second hymn is LSB 893, “Sing to the Lord of Harvest”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 894, “For the Fruits of His Creation”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Our Faithful God of Completion, September 27 worship

Now, perhaps more than ever, we see that many things are too big or complicated for us to finish. Even though we long for things that are whole and complete, so many things in life are too vast to even see the end. But, we can celebrate that Our Great God knows how to finish and complete things. God’s promise is to continue with us until we are made complete. Even when it feels like we will never get to the end of things God is already there, just as powerfully as He is also present with us in the here and now. He is Sovereign King over all of time and eternity.

The first and second hymn is LSB 940, “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 524, “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Gracious Way of Our God, Sept 20 Worship

Our God is abundantly, outrageously generous in His love for us. Jesus came to tell us about God’s gracious way and then make it so by His sacrifice and triumph that the gracious way of God is ours today and forever.

The first and second hymn is LSB 818, “In Thee is Gladness”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 763, “When Peace Like a River”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.