The Work Righteousness that Saves Us Worship: October 29, 2023

 On this day when we observe and celebrate the Reformation, our Readings point us to remember the struggles and eventual insights of Martin Luther. God used these struggles and insights of one man in Germany to reshape the Church and let the true Gospel resound all over the world. Luther struggled as a young monk and professor because he had been taught that he, by his works of righteousness, might possibly then qualify to be loved by God. This teaching caused him nearly to despair entirely. But then he read Romans 3:23–24: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Struck by God’s Word here, Luther recognized that it is Christ’s work of righteousness—His dying and rising for sinners like Luther—that saves. Today is a celebration of what Christ has done for sinners like Luther and us.

Trusting Against all Odds. Worship: October 22, 2023

Leaflets with information on people believed to have been captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 raid into Israel are displayed outside the Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Credit...Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

The most profound comfort lies in the assurance that God is always working out His purpose no matter the circumstances or the people. God’s saving purpose cannot be thwarted. Isaiah lived in an age of bad news and despair, but he was confident that God could overcome them all. In the short term, this redemption came through an unlikely messianic figure named Cyrus. At the appointed time, however, the true Messiah would come and save Israel and all who trust in Him. God is in charge—not just of the ups and downs of this world’s good and bad news but for the sake of His saving work. Jesus’ power is greater than every other power, and His saving purpose will prevail. This is our comfort.

I’ve Got a Secret. Worship: October 15, 2023

Peace. Image from iStock.com

Living in the ups and downs of this mortal life, in a world opposed to Christ and His purposes, it may seem like peace is a secret that must be found to be enjoyed. There is no secret, as it were, but the peace that passes understanding is hidden—hidden in Christ. This peace is not some relative calm against the upset of the world but knowing Christ and living in His strength, comfort, forgiveness, joy, and peace amid every circumstance of life. This is not to be confused with happiness, which is hard to find and ever harder to define. No, this gift of peace means knowing with contentment the steadfast love and mercy of God given to us in Christ Jesus, His Son.

There will be no audio service this week. We look to resume audio services shortly.

Christ The Cornerstone. Worship: October 8, 2023

Like a building, we have a foundation stone on which we rest, a cornerstone on which we build, a capstone that holds it all together. Christ is each of those stones—the foundation on which our faith is established, the cornerstone on which our faith is built, and the capstone that holds us up. He is also a stone of stumbling. Those who reject His foundation, His cornerstone, and His capstone are broken into pieces in the day of judgment. All of this is revealed in the surprise of a parable about a master who built a vineyard, planted the vines, and set it out for tenants to produce the wine. Instead, they conspired to keep the vineyard as their own, rejected those whom the master sent, and killed his son. This is the story of Jesus and of the people of God that He had chosen and created to be His vineyard. It is a story of warning, but it is also a story of grace.

There will be no audio service this week.

The Image of God, the Firstborn over All Creation. Worship: October 1, 2023

The Holy Spirit is alive and active, lighting the way for us to see God in our midst. God is powerfully revealed in how we live our lives. We celebrate this today in the Holy Baptism of Walter Edward Birkholz. Together we rejoice in the Holy Spirit’s work through the ministry of Word and Sacrament. As Pastor Disney retires and Bethlehem prays for the next chapter of life together, we celebrate the faithfulness of God in giving us His Living Spirit so that we may see the Image of God, the Firstborn over All Creation.  

The Audio service will be posted Friday 9.29.23

Our Generous God. Worship: September 24, 2023

One denarius, that's what each worker receives in the story Jesus tells. It is a full-day's wage, even for those who work only one hour. God generously gives us a gift no one could earn: life and salvation. That is unbelievably generous. Following Jesus’ example means being the one who is generous with compassion and forgiveness, help and support, even when other people don’t deserve it. 

The Gracious Way of Our God. Worship: September 17, 2023

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. The gracious way of God is ours today and forever.

God Creates Anew. Worship: September 10, 2023

God is creative. The Bible tells us from its first pages that God has infinite power to make new things. He can also renew and recreate. When Jesus finds his disciples squabbling about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven he invites them to think about themselves as children. In thinking of ourselves this way we prepare ourselves for the newness of life God can create. By his Spirit God can bring newness in wonderful, graceful, and eternal ways. Today as we begin new things we pray, “God, come among us, and create anew”.

The Amazing Way of God. Worship: September 3, 2023

Photo Credit: Aimee Munson, 2024 The North Face Glacier

God works in the simple natural order of things most of the time, but God’s way is also sometimes amazing and unexpected. Jesus willingly went to the cross when His disciples could not see what that would accomplish. His sacrifice made the way that leads to our salvation. St. Paul tells us in Romans how it is that what looks like a loss can be the very way in which we gain something great from God. Our God is awesome, surprising, and amazing. We pray for His Spirit now to bless us in God’s amazing way.

God Completes Us. Worship: August 27, 2023

[Image courtesy of Steven Teagarden.com.]

Jesus changes the way his disciple Peter thinks about himself and the world around him. He gives him a new identity and a new mission. God builds our faith and our lives by His infinite grace and eternal wisdom. we can celebrate this, saying "To Him be glory forever. Amen."

This week’s audio service is a rebroadcast from 9/4/2022