The Eternal One is With Us, January 24 Worship

Jesus began his ministry by announcing the fullness of time, “the time has come,” Jesus says to the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John. God invites each of us to follow Him. He promises that He will take the ordinary elements of our lives and make them count in his kingdom in eternal and infinite ways.  

God Speaks His Living Word, January 17 Worship

For so long the world prayed and hoped to hear God’s voice. Jesus is God’s clearest Word to all humanity—the Logos incarnate. Born in the manger of Bethlehem and heading for the cross of Golgotha, His words are full of light and of love. His eternal voice has broken the silence. Here now in the season of Epiphany it is time for us to listen to hear the voice of God’s Living Spirit speaking life and love to us in the name of Jesus—the Logos here with us.

The Guiding Light of God, Epiphany Worship, January 10

Epiphany is when we remember the long journey of the wise man who searched for the new King, sent from heaven. They looked to the night sky and followed the guiding light of the Spirit, until at last they arrived to see Jesus. We are on a kind of journey now. We need the hope and sense of expectation that enabled the wise men to complete their journey of vigilance. Together we celebrate the Light of God guiding us in all His goodness and mercy.  

Second Sunday of Christmas, January 3rd

We are only told about one moment in the childhood life of Jesus. Slipping away from his parents Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem and shared amazing wisdom and insight with the scholars gathered there. Jesus said he had to be in His Father’s house. In our continued celebration of God’s entrance into our world, we rejoice that He has come with wisdom and grace. We can now sit with Him in the sanctuary and refuge of God’s House, and be blessed by His eternal wisdom.   

First Sunday of Christmas, Our Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation, Dec. 27

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 a roaring outpouring of thanks and praise to God.  One day we will see Jesus face to face, but we are even now in the presence of the sacred mystery: God with us, Emmanuel. God bless you with joy, thanks and peace.

Christmas Eve, God with Us, Worship with Seven Readings and Carols

Welcome to Bethlehem’s Christmas Eve celebration: God is with Us.

On this sacred and magical night a beloved service of lessons and carols has been celebrated at King’s College in Cambridge, England for nearly one hundred years. Though our version will have different music we honor this grand tradition by reading from the original  lessons, and beginning and ending our service with a version of King’s College prayers.

God's Promises Come to Life! December 20 Worship

The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear a Son who will be the Most High, Eternal King. This is God’s way: at once the angel’s visit is a world changing moment in human history, but at the same time, God makes this very personal. The angel Gabriel speaks to Mary alone. In this we can wonder at the mystery of God Almighty, All-knowing, All-present, also being with each of us in the smallest details of our lives.   

God, Our Eternal Joy, December 13 Worship

This Sunday the candle we light on our Advent wreath is pink. Pink is a color of joy. This Third Sunday in Advent is referred to as “The Sunday of Joy.” What does the word Joy mean right now?  The joy of knowing our Savior sent from heaven can be the most constant and consistent joy that we know. Only in Jesus, the coming Savior, can we rejoice in good times and bad times, busy times and quiet times, sick times and healthy times. In Christ, we have reason to call ourselves to rejoice always!

God Our Hope, December 6 Worship

In Advent our hope grows stronger as we focus on God’s promise. The Eternal Word of God will be made flesh for us and our salvation. By the Spirit of the Living God we hear God speak to the deepest part of our soul: “Comfort, take Comfort,” He says, I can do this. We can celebrate that God has given us every reason to take peace in the promised Savior, Jesus Christ.

The hymn today is LSB 357, “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Waiting for Our Faithful God, Advent Worship, Nov. 29

Isaiah the prophet expresses the longing we have for God when he wrote, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” In the season of Advent we join the prophet in his plea. We celebrate that God consistently fulfills His promises, and so we watch and wait with hope and confidence in His goodness and love.

The first and second hymn is LSB 341, “Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 332, “Savior of the Nations Come”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.