Easter Season
Fourth Sunday of Easter: April 21, 2024
As We Gather Flocks of sheep can number in the hundreds or even thousands. An annual trek from winter quarters to summer pastures and back again at a location in rural Idaho consistently draws hundreds of spectators to a location where the sheep must cross a major highway to reach their destination. Keeping track of two or three thousand sheep on the move is quite a task! Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows how to care for not just thousands but millions of His sheeplike people. The prophet Isaiah says of the Lord God that He “will tend His flock like a shepherd” (40:11). Assured and reassured that we are part of His flock, we travel through life following the guidance of our caring Shepherd!
As We Gather Flocks of sheep can number in the hundreds or even thousands. An annual trek from winter quarters to summer pastures and back again at a location in rural Idaho consistently draws hundreds of spectators to a location where the sheep must cross a major highway to reach their destination. Keeping track of two or three thousand sheep on the move is quite a task! Jesus, our Good Shepherd, knows how to care for not just thousands but millions of His sheeplike people. The prophet Isaiah says of the Lord God that He “will tend His flock like a shepherd” (40:11). Assured and reassured that we are part of His flock, we travel through life following the guidance of our caring Shepherd!
Third Sunday of Easter: April 14, 2024
As We Gather Luke reports that at seeing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples “disbelieved for joy” (24:41). The theme of rejoicing is woven throughout the Scriptures. The psalmist exhorts: “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!” (66:1–2). The prophet Isaiah assures God’s people that they will have cause for rejoicing as he writes: “For the Lord comforts Zion; . . . joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song” (51:3). Paul writes to people who know of the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ on that first Easter day: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). The season of Easter is a time for joyous praise that begins now!
As We Gather Luke reports that at seeing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples “disbelieved for joy” (24:41). The theme of rejoicing is woven throughout the Scriptures. The psalmist exhorts: “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise!” (66:1–2). The prophet Isaiah assures God’s people that they will have cause for rejoicing as he writes: “For the Lord comforts Zion; . . . joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song” (51:3). Paul writes to people who know of the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ on that first Easter day: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). The season of Easter is a time for joyous praise that begins now!
Second Sunday of Easter: April 7, 2024
As We Gather When Thomas finally met Jesus, alive again after Easter, he went from demanding proof to a personal confession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” It would have been a different story had the news been false. The rest of the Jerusalem congregation truly exhibited Easter faith when they became a welcoming community, one that shared with newcomers whatever they needed. The news was unbelievable, but so were the responses—in word and deed as faith saw the freeing truth: we need fear nothing, not even death. We have heard the news as well. How shall we respond?
As We Gather When Thomas finally met Jesus, alive again after Easter, he went from demanding proof to a personal confession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” It would have been a different story had the news been false. The rest of the Jerusalem congregation truly exhibited Easter faith when they became a welcoming community, one that shared with newcomers whatever they needed. The news was unbelievable, but so were the responses—in word and deed as faith saw the freeing truth: we need fear nothing, not even death. We have heard the news as well. How shall we respond?
Celebration of the Resurrection
Easter Sunday: March 31, 2024
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!
Easter Sunday: March 31, 2024
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen Indeed! Alleluia!
HOLY WEEK
Palm Sunday - the Triumphal Entry: March 24, 2024
As We Wait, Let Us Prepare “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” cried the crowds. Four days later, they were screaming, “Crucify! Crucify Him!” What people we are. For us the Lord came to give Himself? Indeed, He did. So great is the love of the Lord, that while we were yet His enemies He gave Himself up to death for us...
As We Wait, Let Us Prepare “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” cried the crowds. Four days later, they were screaming, “Crucify! Crucify Him!” What people we are. For us the Lord came to give Himself? Indeed, He did. So great is the love of the Lord, that while we were yet His enemies He gave Himself up to death for us...
The Lenten Season
Fifth Sunday in Lent: March 17, 2024
Holy Gospel Mark 10:32-45
Holy Gospel Mark 10:32-45
Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 10, 2024
As We Gather We hear today of eternal life that is given to us because of God’s great love for us, shown to us in perhaps the most famous Bible verse, John 3:16. This verse speaks of God’s genuine love for us and the world shown in Jesus’ death on the cross for us. The love of God never ends. God’s love is present here and now and extends into eternal life as eternal love. May we be so encouraged by God’s love to share it with others. Thanks be to God for such love!
As We Gather We hear today of eternal life that is given to us because of God’s great love for us, shown to us in perhaps the most famous Bible verse, John 3:16. This verse speaks of God’s genuine love for us and the world shown in Jesus’ death on the cross for us. The love of God never ends. God’s love is present here and now and extends into eternal life as eternal love. May we be so encouraged by God’s love to share it with others. Thanks be to God for such love!
Third Sunday in Lent: March 3, 2024
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter. 13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter. 13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Second Sunday in Lent: February 25, 2024
As We Gather Today we hear the apostle Paul proclaim something rather odd: that we can rejoice in our sufferings. Paul says this because—as he tells us—suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because our hope is in Jesus who died and is risen for us and our reconciliation and peace. That is something to rejoice in!
As We Gather Today we hear the apostle Paul proclaim something rather odd: that we can rejoice in our sufferings. Paul says this because—as he tells us—suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because our hope is in Jesus who died and is risen for us and our reconciliation and peace. That is something to rejoice in!
First Sunday in Lent: February 18, 2024
Holy Gospel John 13:31–35 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews,`Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Holy Gospel John 13:31–35 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews,`Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Ash Wednesday: February 14, 2024
As We Gather From earliest days the Christian Church employed the weeks before Easter—what came to be called the season of Lent—as the time of the year to prepare candidates for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, the catechumenate. Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). Baptism involves death, burial, and resurrection. During Lent, we discover that Jesus is not the only one who suffers, dies, and rises again. Our midweek Lenten services prepare us to consider our identity and connection with the Passion of Christ as the baptized children of God. We do so through the eyes of the Holy Evangelist, Saint John, as we hear, in John 18–19, of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, Jesus facing Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus before Pilate, Jesus delivered, Jesus crucified, and Jesus’ death and burial. Look for this Lenten season to provide a deeper understanding of your Baptism into the passion and death of Christ, with the result as Paul describes it: we are “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10)
As We Gather From earliest days the Christian Church employed the weeks before Easter—what came to be called the season of Lent—as the time of the year to prepare candidates for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, the catechumenate. Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). Baptism involves death, burial, and resurrection. During Lent, we discover that Jesus is not the only one who suffers, dies, and rises again. Our midweek Lenten services prepare us to consider our identity and connection with the Passion of Christ as the baptized children of God. We do so through the eyes of the Holy Evangelist, Saint John, as we hear, in John 18–19, of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, Jesus facing Annas and Caiaphas, Jesus before Pilate, Jesus delivered, Jesus crucified, and Jesus’ death and burial. Look for this Lenten season to provide a deeper understanding of your Baptism into the passion and death of Christ, with the result as Paul describes it: we are “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10)
The Epiphany Season
The Transfiguration of Our Lord: February 11, 2024
As We Gather Within the pandemonium of the transfiguration, the voice speaks: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). Moses is there and gone. Elijah is there and gone. The disciples are with Him on the mount and then head down into the valley. But the glory of the Lord will not depart. It will remain: lifted high upon the cross, revealed in the empty tomb, and placed upon the followers of Jesus. It is the Word that endures forever, the Word made flesh, and the Word who speaks through the voice of Scripture. The call remains: “Listen to Him.”
As We Gather Within the pandemonium of the transfiguration, the voice speaks: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). Moses is there and gone. Elijah is there and gone. The disciples are with Him on the mount and then head down into the valley. But the glory of the Lord will not depart. It will remain: lifted high upon the cross, revealed in the empty tomb, and placed upon the followers of Jesus. It is the Word that endures forever, the Word made flesh, and the Word who speaks through the voice of Scripture. The call remains: “Listen to Him.”
5th Sunday after the Epiphany: February 4, 2024
Holy Gospel Mark 1:29 - 39
Immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons
Holy Gospel Mark 1:29 - 39
Immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons
4th Sunday after the Epiphany: January 28, 2024
As We Gather In a world where there is nothing new under the sun, we still run to anything that appears to be new. When Jesus taught in the synagogue, the hearers heard a man speak with the authority of the author of the Scriptures. They were surprised and even more surprised when His Word was not simply theoretical but silenced an unclean spirit and relieved the man of this demon. In their amazement, they could not help but tell the story to any who would listen. Yet even as Jesus’ fame spread, so did opposition to His teaching and preaching.
As We Gather In a world where there is nothing new under the sun, we still run to anything that appears to be new. When Jesus taught in the synagogue, the hearers heard a man speak with the authority of the author of the Scriptures. They were surprised and even more surprised when His Word was not simply theoretical but silenced an unclean spirit and relieved the man of this demon. In their amazement, they could not help but tell the story to any who would listen. Yet even as Jesus’ fame spread, so did opposition to His teaching and preaching.
3rd Sunday after the Epiphany: January 21, 2024
Holy Gospel Mark 1:14–20 14After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Holy Gospel Mark 1:14–20 14After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
2nd Sunday after the Epiphany: January 14, 2024
As We Gather Since the beginning of creation, God has spoken. He spoke into being our universe and our very selves as the crown of His creation; He spoke when seeking out Adam and Eve in a fallen world; He spoke many times and many ways through the prophets; and He spoke by the very words that came from the mouth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. From Him came words of instructing, healing, forgiving, and of invitation to follow Him as we hear today with Philip and Nathanael. The Lord still speaks to us today in His Word, as His Spirit spoke instruction and encouragement of the use of bodies through Paul in his letter to the church of Corinth. Through all He speaks, we are called to listen to that Word to guide and direct, and to hear His continued words of forgiveness, peace, hope, and joy as “in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2).
As We Gather Since the beginning of creation, God has spoken. He spoke into being our universe and our very selves as the crown of His creation; He spoke when seeking out Adam and Eve in a fallen world; He spoke many times and many ways through the prophets; and He spoke by the very words that came from the mouth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. From Him came words of instructing, healing, forgiving, and of invitation to follow Him as we hear today with Philip and Nathanael. The Lord still speaks to us today in His Word, as His Spirit spoke instruction and encouragement of the use of bodies through Paul in his letter to the church of Corinth. Through all He speaks, we are called to listen to that Word to guide and direct, and to hear His continued words of forgiveness, peace, hope, and joy as “in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2).
The Epiphany of Our Lord: January 7, 2024
As We Gather The Twelve Days of our Christmas celebration have come to an end. But the miraculous birth of the Son of God is only the beginning of the story. For though Jesus came as the fulfillment of all the promises to God’s chosen people Israel, the promise to Abraham was clear that by his seed “all the families of the earth” would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This is the mystery Paul speaks of in Ephesians 3, how “the Gentiles are fellow heirs . . . of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). Anything hidden remains a mystery until it is revealed. No one, Jew or Gentile, can come to faith in Christ without the Gospel being revealed. Another word for “reveal” is “epiphany.” So today Matthew uses the word “behold,” showing what may seem a surprise to some. “Behold, wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1). “Behold, the star that they had seen” (Matthew 2:9). Today we say, behold, Christmas is a much bigger thing than many have thought. It encompasses nothing less than all our Lord’s earthly ministry culminating in His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing less than the gift of salvation to all who believe. This epiphany has invaded your darkness through the water and the Word of your Holy Baptism, through the Word of God preached in your hearing, and through the receiving of our Lord’s very body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar to sustain that gift, that epiphany of faith to the end of days. By faith you have made a very good beginning.
As We Gather The Twelve Days of our Christmas celebration have come to an end. But the miraculous birth of the Son of God is only the beginning of the story. For though Jesus came as the fulfillment of all the promises to God’s chosen people Israel, the promise to Abraham was clear that by his seed “all the families of the earth” would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This is the mystery Paul speaks of in Ephesians 3, how “the Gentiles are fellow heirs . . . of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). Anything hidden remains a mystery until it is revealed. No one, Jew or Gentile, can come to faith in Christ without the Gospel being revealed. Another word for “reveal” is “epiphany.” So today Matthew uses the word “behold,” showing what may seem a surprise to some. “Behold, wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1). “Behold, the star that they had seen” (Matthew 2:9). Today we say, behold, Christmas is a much bigger thing than many have thought. It encompasses nothing less than all our Lord’s earthly ministry culminating in His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing less than the gift of salvation to all who believe. This epiphany has invaded your darkness through the water and the Word of your Holy Baptism, through the Word of God preached in your hearing, and through the receiving of our Lord’s very body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar to sustain that gift, that epiphany of faith to the end of days. By faith you have made a very good beginning.
The Christmas Season
First Sunday after Christmas: December 31, 2023
As We Gather How much time do we spend waiting? A study by the Timex corporation revealed that the average American spends thirty-eight hours annually waiting in traffic and thirteen hours each year on the telephone waiting for customer service. Waiting is not always easy, but certain kinds of waiting are truly worthwhile. The Gospel for the First Sunday after Christmas takes us to the temple in Jerusalem, where Simeon, a “righteous and devout” man is “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). And his wait is more than worthwhile. He gets to hold the infant Christ Child and to express his thanks firsthand for the salvation that Jesus will accomplish. The waiting for Simeon was over. God knew the exact right time for His beloved Son to come to earth into this sin-filled world. God had a plan for salvation that was carried out faithfully and completely by Jesus. As we worship, we echo the words of Simeon, thankful that our waiting for Immanuel is over and that we are assured of the salvation brought by Jesus, the one for whom Simeon was waiting so patiently.
As We Gather How much time do we spend waiting? A study by the Timex corporation revealed that the average American spends thirty-eight hours annually waiting in traffic and thirteen hours each year on the telephone waiting for customer service. Waiting is not always easy, but certain kinds of waiting are truly worthwhile. The Gospel for the First Sunday after Christmas takes us to the temple in Jerusalem, where Simeon, a “righteous and devout” man is “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). And his wait is more than worthwhile. He gets to hold the infant Christ Child and to express his thanks firsthand for the salvation that Jesus will accomplish. The waiting for Simeon was over. God knew the exact right time for His beloved Son to come to earth into this sin-filled world. God had a plan for salvation that was carried out faithfully and completely by Jesus. As we worship, we echo the words of Simeon, thankful that our waiting for Immanuel is over and that we are assured of the salvation brought by Jesus, the one for whom Simeon was waiting so patiently.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: December 24, 2023
The King of Kings Salvation Brings
Sermon Title - Angels, Angels, Everywhere"
The King of Kings Salvation Brings
Sermon Title - Angels, Angels, Everywhere"
Sundays in Advent
Fourth Sunday in Advent: December 24, 2023
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! Soon and very soon our waiting and planning for Christmas celebrations will come to their close, and we will rejoice in Christ’s coming to save us. Such waiting and planning for Christmas can also guide us as we prepare for Christ’s final advent, His ultimate coming, when He returns on the Last Day. Until that glorious Day, when all portions of God’s plan for our salvation will be accomplished, we are blessed with the peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Such peace is an amazing gift that the Lord gave to the virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord, when she received God’s Word from the angel Gabriel and then carried our salvation in her womb, delivering Jesus into the world. “Let it be to me according to your word,” she said (Luke 1:38). May we say the same as we gather this day and, like Mary, receive the peace that God alone can give.
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! Soon and very soon our waiting and planning for Christmas celebrations will come to their close, and we will rejoice in Christ’s coming to save us. Such waiting and planning for Christmas can also guide us as we prepare for Christ’s final advent, His ultimate coming, when He returns on the Last Day. Until that glorious Day, when all portions of God’s plan for our salvation will be accomplished, we are blessed with the peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Such peace is an amazing gift that the Lord gave to the virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord, when she received God’s Word from the angel Gabriel and then carried our salvation in her womb, delivering Jesus into the world. “Let it be to me according to your word,” she said (Luke 1:38). May we say the same as we gather this day and, like Mary, receive the peace that God alone can give.
Third Sunday in Advent: December 17, 2023
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! As we wait, we have a special job to do. We joyfully get ready for Jesus’ arrival by remembering the ministry of John the Baptist, who came as a witness to Christ, the light of the world. John himself was not the light, nor was he the centerpiece of God’s plan to save the world; no, John’s life was dedicated to preparing the way before the Lord and to get people ready for Jesus coming to the rescue of His people. In many ways, we are invited to be like John. Through our personal witness to Christ in our interpersonal relationships with others, God is working through us so that others will come to know His Son. Our goal is not only to trust in Jesus for ourselves but also to let the world know that He is coming to save them too. And His soon-to-come arrival will be well worth the wait!
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! As we wait, we have a special job to do. We joyfully get ready for Jesus’ arrival by remembering the ministry of John the Baptist, who came as a witness to Christ, the light of the world. John himself was not the light, nor was he the centerpiece of God’s plan to save the world; no, John’s life was dedicated to preparing the way before the Lord and to get people ready for Jesus coming to the rescue of His people. In many ways, we are invited to be like John. Through our personal witness to Christ in our interpersonal relationships with others, God is working through us so that others will come to know His Son. Our goal is not only to trust in Jesus for ourselves but also to let the world know that He is coming to save them too. And His soon-to-come arrival will be well worth the wait!
Second Sunday in Advent: December 10, 2023
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! As we await Christ’s coming again in power and glory, we know that the time we are given before that great Day is due to the Lord’s patience. “The Lord . . . is patient toward you,” says Peter (2 Peter 3:9). Why? More time before Christ’s return as King and Judge means more opportunities for us to share the lifegiving Gospel with all the world. As people hear the message of Christ, repenting of their sin and turning to Him in faith, more souls will be brought into God’s eternal kingdom. And because He is working His wonders of salvation, we rejoice in Him and receive from Him all He seeks to give!
As We Gather Advent is the season of waiting! As we await Christ’s coming again in power and glory, we know that the time we are given before that great Day is due to the Lord’s patience. “The Lord . . . is patient toward you,” says Peter (2 Peter 3:9). Why? More time before Christ’s return as King and Judge means more opportunities for us to share the lifegiving Gospel with all the world. As people hear the message of Christ, repenting of their sin and turning to Him in faith, more souls will be brought into God’s eternal kingdom. And because He is working His wonders of salvation, we rejoice in Him and receive from Him all He seeks to give!
First Sunday in Advent: December 3, 2023
As We Gather Welcome to the season of waiting! Not only is Advent a period of preparation for Jesus’ first coming at Christmas, but this sacred season readies our hearts for Jesus’ ultimate coming: when He, as King of kings and Lord of lords, returns in power on the Last Day, when every knee will bow before Him and every eye will see Him as the One who reigns in sovereign majesty over all things. Until the arrival of that glorious Day, we wait for Him in confident faith, strengthened by His Word and Meal, trusting that He has redeemed us by His cross and resurrection. With the expectant people of old, may our worship together lead us to say: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).
As We Gather Welcome to the season of waiting! Not only is Advent a period of preparation for Jesus’ first coming at Christmas, but this sacred season readies our hearts for Jesus’ ultimate coming: when He, as King of kings and Lord of lords, returns in power on the Last Day, when every knee will bow before Him and every eye will see Him as the One who reigns in sovereign majesty over all things. Until the arrival of that glorious Day, we wait for Him in confident faith, strengthened by His Word and Meal, trusting that He has redeemed us by His cross and resurrection. With the expectant people of old, may our worship together lead us to say: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield” (Psalm 33:20).
The Season after Pentecost
Christ the King Sunday (Last Sunday in the Church Year): November 26, 2023
As We Gather Too often we think about God’s being up in His heaven, looking down on us. Today’s Readings give us the correct perspective. Through Ezekiel, God announces that He is the One who will provide pasture for His people and that He will send them David to be their king. In the Psalm, we reflect that God is our maker. Christ is not only the first to rise from death, Paul explains in the Epistle; He is also the foremost, the One to subject all things under Him. And so His decisions when judging on the Last Day cannot be questioned. First and foremost, then, today is a day to let God’s Word give us a correct perspective. This last Sunday of the Church Year is an opportunity to “make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise” (Psalm 95:2).
As We Gather Too often we think about God’s being up in His heaven, looking down on us. Today’s Readings give us the correct perspective. Through Ezekiel, God announces that He is the One who will provide pasture for His people and that He will send them David to be their king. In the Psalm, we reflect that God is our maker. Christ is not only the first to rise from death, Paul explains in the Epistle; He is also the foremost, the One to subject all things under Him. And so His decisions when judging on the Last Day cannot be questioned. First and foremost, then, today is a day to let God’s Word give us a correct perspective. This last Sunday of the Church Year is an opportunity to “make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise” (Psalm 95:2).
Thanksgiving Eve: November 22, 2023
As We Gather In Luke 17, we hear the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Only one returned to give thanks, and he was a despised Samaritan. Jesus did not take back His healing of the nine, despite their seeming lack of gratitude. He simply exclaimed, “Where are the nine?” None of us can claim to have never been with the nine. Our national day of Thanksgiving reminds us all that we take so much for granted and that our lives are not always lived in thankfulness and gratitude to God. Yet that does not stop Jesus from loving us, forgiving our sins by His cross, dying and rising for us, and giving us the power of His Spirit to, however imperfectly, express thanks to God.
As We Gather In Luke 17, we hear the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Only one returned to give thanks, and he was a despised Samaritan. Jesus did not take back His healing of the nine, despite their seeming lack of gratitude. He simply exclaimed, “Where are the nine?” None of us can claim to have never been with the nine. Our national day of Thanksgiving reminds us all that we take so much for granted and that our lives are not always lived in thankfulness and gratitude to God. Yet that does not stop Jesus from loving us, forgiving our sins by His cross, dying and rising for us, and giving us the power of His Spirit to, however imperfectly, express thanks to God.
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost: November 12, 2023
As We Gather It’s not a big surprise that no one has accurately predicted the end of the world—not that it hasn’t been attempted. From religious sects to cult leaders to apocalyptic predictions made when we entered a new millennium, a fascination grows around those who claim they have it all figured out. We are wise though to take the Lord at His word concerning the Last Day. From Amos in the Old Testament proclaiming the day of the Lord, to Paul writing the Thessalonians about Christ’s return, to Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, the Lord does not give us a date or a time of the end of this world as we know it. What He continues to give us, though, are promises of His faithfulness, His continued care and providence, and His assurance that when that day comes, it will usher in a glorious blessedness in His perfect presence that will last forever.
As We Gather It’s not a big surprise that no one has accurately predicted the end of the world—not that it hasn’t been attempted. From religious sects to cult leaders to apocalyptic predictions made when we entered a new millennium, a fascination grows around those who claim they have it all figured out. We are wise though to take the Lord at His word concerning the Last Day. From Amos in the Old Testament proclaiming the day of the Lord, to Paul writing the Thessalonians about Christ’s return, to Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, the Lord does not give us a date or a time of the end of this world as we know it. What He continues to give us, though, are promises of His faithfulness, His continued care and providence, and His assurance that when that day comes, it will usher in a glorious blessedness in His perfect presence that will last forever.
All Saints' Day (observed) November 5, 2023
As We Gather Every year on either November 1 or the first Sunday of November, we pause our busy lives to remember the saints. Lutherans teach that saints are sinners baptized into Christ, they are sinners redeemed by the cross of Jesus, and they are sinners who gave us examples of trusting not in their own heroic feats but in the grace and mercy of God in Jesus. Why remember saints? Our Augsburg Confession of 1530 says it clearly: “Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling” (AC XXI 1). Why remember the saints? To thank God for their life and witness, to be encouraged in our walk of faith, and to remember and rejoice for God giving us examples of how grace and faith look in the real lives of people we knew
As We Gather Every year on either November 1 or the first Sunday of November, we pause our busy lives to remember the saints. Lutherans teach that saints are sinners baptized into Christ, they are sinners redeemed by the cross of Jesus, and they are sinners who gave us examples of trusting not in their own heroic feats but in the grace and mercy of God in Jesus. Why remember saints? Our Augsburg Confession of 1530 says it clearly: “Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling” (AC XXI 1). Why remember the saints? To thank God for their life and witness, to be encouraged in our walk of faith, and to remember and rejoice for God giving us examples of how grace and faith look in the real lives of people we knew
Festival of the Reformation: October 29, 2023
Sola Gratia. Sola Scriptura. Sola Fidei.
Sola Gratia. Sola Scriptura. Sola Fidei.
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: October 22, 2023
As We Gather One of the most famous sayings of Jesus appears to provide a neat and tidy divide between the worldly power of government and the spiritual power of the Church. Is that really what Christ is doing? Is He marking the divide or is He commending all things and the ultimate authority to the saving purpose of our heavenly Father? The things that belong to Caesar appear to be valuable in the moment but are temporary and temporal. The things of God are everything—all things in heaven and earth. They are eternal. In reality, there is nothing that does not belong to God, although the Lord assigns different people with the different responsibilities of church and state. In this question of who is in charge, God makes it clear that He is always in charge and always working for our salvation.
As We Gather One of the most famous sayings of Jesus appears to provide a neat and tidy divide between the worldly power of government and the spiritual power of the Church. Is that really what Christ is doing? Is He marking the divide or is He commending all things and the ultimate authority to the saving purpose of our heavenly Father? The things that belong to Caesar appear to be valuable in the moment but are temporary and temporal. The things of God are everything—all things in heaven and earth. They are eternal. In reality, there is nothing that does not belong to God, although the Lord assigns different people with the different responsibilities of church and state. In this question of who is in charge, God makes it clear that He is always in charge and always working for our salvation.
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: October 15, 2023
As We Gather Food is at the center of our lives—we either live to eat or eat to live, but we always eat. In the parable of our Lord this morning, we hear the kingdom of God compared to a wedding feast. When those invited proved to be unworthy, God called every kind of person from the highways and byways of life and equipped them with a wedding garment as well as an honored place at His table. This feast is the promise of Isaiah the prophet, the joyful refrain of the beloved Psalm 23, and the promise still given and kept by our Lord as we gather around His holy body and blood. But the Meal is not simply about the eating, but the food—Christ’s flesh for the life of the world and His blood that cleanses us from all our sin. Because of this, it is the supper of our joy here on earth and the supper of our glory in heaven forevermore.
As We Gather Food is at the center of our lives—we either live to eat or eat to live, but we always eat. In the parable of our Lord this morning, we hear the kingdom of God compared to a wedding feast. When those invited proved to be unworthy, God called every kind of person from the highways and byways of life and equipped them with a wedding garment as well as an honored place at His table. This feast is the promise of Isaiah the prophet, the joyful refrain of the beloved Psalm 23, and the promise still given and kept by our Lord as we gather around His holy body and blood. But the Meal is not simply about the eating, but the food—Christ’s flesh for the life of the world and His blood that cleanses us from all our sin. Because of this, it is the supper of our joy here on earth and the supper of our glory in heaven forevermore.
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: October 8, 2023
As We Gather 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.
As We Gather 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.
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 24, 2023
As We Gather A common focus for the month of September is education. In Great Britain, the school term for autumn traditionally begins on or near September 29, the day Christians traditionally celebrate St. Michael and All Angels. Our learning goes on throughout our lives. A Sunday School song by American hymnwriter Fanny J. Crosby, who lived from 1820 to 1915, begins, “Let me learn of Jesus; He is kind to me; once He died to save me, nailed upon the tree.” Learning the greatness of our God and growing in our understanding of the amazing plan for our salvation is our duty and delight in every season of our earthly life. And it does not stop then. The German hymnwriter Johann Mentzer, who lived in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, shares a special vision of heaven as he concludes the text of “Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” with a view of eternal education, expressing the faithful hope one day that he will “learn with choirs of heaven to sing eternal anthems to my King” (LSB 811:5). May our learning and our singing both be blessed!
As We Gather A common focus for the month of September is education. In Great Britain, the school term for autumn traditionally begins on or near September 29, the day Christians traditionally celebrate St. Michael and All Angels. Our learning goes on throughout our lives. A Sunday School song by American hymnwriter Fanny J. Crosby, who lived from 1820 to 1915, begins, “Let me learn of Jesus; He is kind to me; once He died to save me, nailed upon the tree.” Learning the greatness of our God and growing in our understanding of the amazing plan for our salvation is our duty and delight in every season of our earthly life. And it does not stop then. The German hymnwriter Johann Mentzer, who lived in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, shares a special vision of heaven as he concludes the text of “Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” with a view of eternal education, expressing the faithful hope one day that he will “learn with choirs of heaven to sing eternal anthems to my King” (LSB 811:5). May our learning and our singing both be blessed!
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 17, 2023
As We Gather God’s creation is filled with amazing creatures, some of which dedicate their lives to making peoples’ lives fuller and better. Since 1942, the Guide Dogs for the Blind association has graduated more than 16,000 person and dog teams from its training programs. The canine guides assist their human teammates each day of their lives together. The guidance they give is expert and dependable. Good guidance in every stage of life is essential! Throughout Scripture, our Lord promises His presence and His divine guidance to sustain and direct His people. Paul summed up that blessed relationship very simply: “So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). Seeking the Lord’s guidance and responding to His promptings brings blessing to our lives!
As We Gather God’s creation is filled with amazing creatures, some of which dedicate their lives to making peoples’ lives fuller and better. Since 1942, the Guide Dogs for the Blind association has graduated more than 16,000 person and dog teams from its training programs. The canine guides assist their human teammates each day of their lives together. The guidance they give is expert and dependable. Good guidance in every stage of life is essential! Throughout Scripture, our Lord promises His presence and His divine guidance to sustain and direct His people. Paul summed up that blessed relationship very simply: “So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). Seeking the Lord’s guidance and responding to His promptings brings blessing to our lives!
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 10, 2023
As We Gather One way that many people hear about the prophet Ezekiel is through words of an African American spiritual: “Ezekiel saw the wheel way up in the middle of the air.” This song from the Black musical tradition was brought to the wider attention of other American listeners by William L. Dawson of the Tuskegee Institute. The song has been recorded by many notable singers, including Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby. Although Ezekiel’s visions make for memorable song lyrics, the prophet’s words make for challenging hearing. In today’s Old Testament Reading, we are challenged to hear words of warning from the prophet, who is mentoring God’s people in captivity. His message for them is an admonition to us that deserves our most careful attention.
As We Gather One way that many people hear about the prophet Ezekiel is through words of an African American spiritual: “Ezekiel saw the wheel way up in the middle of the air.” This song from the Black musical tradition was brought to the wider attention of other American listeners by William L. Dawson of the Tuskegee Institute. The song has been recorded by many notable singers, including Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby. Although Ezekiel’s visions make for memorable song lyrics, the prophet’s words make for challenging hearing. In today’s Old Testament Reading, we are challenged to hear words of warning from the prophet, who is mentoring God’s people in captivity. His message for them is an admonition to us that deserves our most careful attention.
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 3, 2023
As We Gather “Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). The prophet Jeremiah did not praise God with such words because his life was super easy. No, Jeremiah rejoiced in the Lord even as his life had plenty of problems. Why such delight in difficulty? Surrounded by evil in this world, like Jeremiah, we cling to the God who is good, learning to trust His Word as the means by which we receive His deliverance from our enemies of sin and death. The living, active, delightful voice of our Savior guarantees His ongoing presence in our life. Because of this, we rejoice! As we gather in the presence of Jesus this day, let us echo Jeremiah’s anthem of praise: “Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart!”
As We Gather “Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). The prophet Jeremiah did not praise God with such words because his life was super easy. No, Jeremiah rejoiced in the Lord even as his life had plenty of problems. Why such delight in difficulty? Surrounded by evil in this world, like Jeremiah, we cling to the God who is good, learning to trust His Word as the means by which we receive His deliverance from our enemies of sin and death. The living, active, delightful voice of our Savior guarantees His ongoing presence in our life. Because of this, we rejoice! As we gather in the presence of Jesus this day, let us echo Jeremiah’s anthem of praise: “Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart!”
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 27, 2023
As We Gather Son of a pub owner and a cabinet maker by trade, Edward Mote was a nineteenth century Englishman who came to faith in Christ as an adult and then served the last two decades of his life as a parish pastor. Although Mote is said to have never lost his touch for building furniture, he discovered a new passion in his later years: writing hymns for Christians to sing. “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,” he wrote. “No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand” (LSB 575/576:1). The story is told that the first person with whom Mote shared these words was a friend who had fallen ill and was nearing the end of her life. Mote’s beautiful hymn, which Christ-followers like us continue to enjoy today, reminded God’s beloved that Christ Jesus alone is the solid foundation, the mighty fortress in whom she could trust. In life and in death, our hope is built on this rock, who offers for us nothing less than His own blood and righteousness.
As We Gather Son of a pub owner and a cabinet maker by trade, Edward Mote was a nineteenth century Englishman who came to faith in Christ as an adult and then served the last two decades of his life as a parish pastor. Although Mote is said to have never lost his touch for building furniture, he discovered a new passion in his later years: writing hymns for Christians to sing. “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,” he wrote. “No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand” (LSB 575/576:1). The story is told that the first person with whom Mote shared these words was a friend who had fallen ill and was nearing the end of her life. Mote’s beautiful hymn, which Christ-followers like us continue to enjoy today, reminded God’s beloved that Christ Jesus alone is the solid foundation, the mighty fortress in whom she could trust. In life and in death, our hope is built on this rock, who offers for us nothing less than His own blood and righteousness.
As We Gather There are no outsiders in this place. Whether Jew or Gentile, lifelong worshiper or newcomer, young or old, rich or poor—no matter who you are or where you have come from—the promises of God are for you! As you gather in this place, God offers His grace to you through His living and active Word. Through the shed blood of Jesus, His Son, our gracious Father includes you in His everlasting kingdom. This inclusive kingdom is His Church, the family He has claimed as His own, the people whom He has saved, delivered, and called to Himself in Christ. So don’t stand on the outside looking in! The King invites you! Come to the feast!
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: August 13, 2023
As We Gather When children cannot understand why they can’t do something, the answer is often, “Because I said so.” As they grow up, they may get the answers they seek. Job did not get an answer, but he kept his faith in his Creator. In the Gospel, the disciples cannot understand Jesus’ walking on the sea, but when He is in the boat with them, they confess, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Though we may ask God, “Why?” and Paul in the Epistle says we cannot understand God’s reasons, we can confess with our mouths and believe in Christ’s resurrection. It is an exercise of the faith God has so graciously given us. Why did He come to earth? He came to save us. In great might He destroyed death itself so that we might live with Him forever. That’s why!
As We Gather When children cannot understand why they can’t do something, the answer is often, “Because I said so.” As they grow up, they may get the answers they seek. Job did not get an answer, but he kept his faith in his Creator. In the Gospel, the disciples cannot understand Jesus’ walking on the sea, but when He is in the boat with them, they confess, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Though we may ask God, “Why?” and Paul in the Epistle says we cannot understand God’s reasons, we can confess with our mouths and believe in Christ’s resurrection. It is an exercise of the faith God has so graciously given us. Why did He come to earth? He came to save us. In great might He destroyed death itself so that we might live with Him forever. That’s why!
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 6, 2023
As We Gather Without explaining Himself and to the surprise of those He chose, God decided to use the people who eventually became the nation of Israel to save all people. Likewise, He has graciously invited us and all people to join them, solely because we trust His promises. Recognizing that faith, not physical descent, is the factor that includes one in God’s promises, Paul laments that most of his Jewish friends have rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ. To those who follow our Lord, the disciples learn in today’s Gospel, God’s grace even invites them to serve as His instruments in caring for the people around them. Today we rejoice in God’s invitation to us, and we ask His blessings as we seek to extend His gracious invitation to those who do not yet know Christ as their Savior.
As We Gather Without explaining Himself and to the surprise of those He chose, God decided to use the people who eventually became the nation of Israel to save all people. Likewise, He has graciously invited us and all people to join them, solely because we trust His promises. Recognizing that faith, not physical descent, is the factor that includes one in God’s promises, Paul laments that most of his Jewish friends have rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ. To those who follow our Lord, the disciples learn in today’s Gospel, God’s grace even invites them to serve as His instruments in caring for the people around them. Today we rejoice in God’s invitation to us, and we ask His blessings as we seek to extend His gracious invitation to those who do not yet know Christ as their Savior.
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: July 30, 2023
As We Gather “All things work together for good,” today’s Epistle proclaims, “for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). That means us! But how does it happen that we love God? God predestined, called, justified, and glorified us, all because He loves us. He loved us so much that He “did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). By faith we are part of God’s people. By the grace of God, the Kingdom has been revealed to us like discovered treasure in a field or a pearl of great price, as Jesus teaches in two parables in the Gospel. Although as sinner-saints we may not perfectly endure tribulation, distress, and persecution, on the Last Day, by grace we shall be considered righteous because of all that God has done for us.
As We Gather “All things work together for good,” today’s Epistle proclaims, “for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). That means us! But how does it happen that we love God? God predestined, called, justified, and glorified us, all because He loves us. He loved us so much that He “did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). By faith we are part of God’s people. By the grace of God, the Kingdom has been revealed to us like discovered treasure in a field or a pearl of great price, as Jesus teaches in two parables in the Gospel. Although as sinner-saints we may not perfectly endure tribulation, distress, and persecution, on the Last Day, by grace we shall be considered righteous because of all that God has done for us.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: July 23, 2023
As We Gather God’s plans are far beyond our understanding. Even His divine existence sends our minds reeling. No wonder that Jesus’ disciples, and we who follow them, cannot figure out why He lets His and our spiritual enemies live with us. But because we have been given faith by the Holy Spirit, and although we cannot understand God’s plans, in the death and resurrection of Christ, our Lord, we trust His divine wisdom. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit and know that the Spirit intercedes for us. Thus, even in the groans of our prayers, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. In sure hope, we wait for the day when we shall “shine like the sun” in our Father’s kingdom.
As We Gather God’s plans are far beyond our understanding. Even His divine existence sends our minds reeling. No wonder that Jesus’ disciples, and we who follow them, cannot figure out why He lets His and our spiritual enemies live with us. But because we have been given faith by the Holy Spirit, and although we cannot understand God’s plans, in the death and resurrection of Christ, our Lord, we trust His divine wisdom. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit and know that the Spirit intercedes for us. Thus, even in the groans of our prayers, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. In sure hope, we wait for the day when we shall “shine like the sun” in our Father’s kingdom.
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: July 16, 2023
As We Gather Though you may be familiar with Jesus’ parable of the sower, you may be surprised to hear that you do not really know it yet! That’s because on the one hand, the Word of God does not change. Yet on the other hand, we need to keep hearing it again and again, because our circumstances are constantly changing. The parable of the sower tells of this mystery. The seed is God’s Word, God’s work of planting repentance and faith in ears who hear. We may think of the various kinds of soil Jesus mentions to be various sorts of people. Actually, however, He is describing each individual in their changing circumstances. There are times when we are “good soil,” that is, we understand God’s Word and take comfort in it. There are other times, however, when we either cannot or will not hear it. Sometimes we become hard paths, rocky or distracted by worries or fears. For this reason, God never ceases planting, speaking, and growing faith in the heart, and we return repeatedly to continue hearing, reading, learning, and receiving God’s Word because He never gives up on you.
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: July 9, 2023
As We Gather “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” When we hear these words of the prophet Zechariah in the season of Advent, we are evermore ready to rejoice, especially as Christmas approaches. But to hear these words now in the middle of summer may strike us as a little more challenging. The pressures and doldrums of daily life can wear away momentary joys. In fact, the call to rejoice can seem pointless echoing against the hard walls of a prison of our own making. No matter how many Christmases we have celebrated, like the apostle Paul, we may continue to feel trapped by our unrelenting sinfulness. True joy comes only as we receive the comforting words of our Lord, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Herein is the goal of Christmas. Here today by means of the Word of God and the receiving of His body and blood, God gives you faith to believe and to receive eternal salvation. By God’s Word, even today “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” For here is where true joy is found.
As We Gather “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.” When we hear these words of the prophet Zechariah in the season of Advent, we are evermore ready to rejoice, especially as Christmas approaches. But to hear these words now in the middle of summer may strike us as a little more challenging. The pressures and doldrums of daily life can wear away momentary joys. In fact, the call to rejoice can seem pointless echoing against the hard walls of a prison of our own making. No matter how many Christmases we have celebrated, like the apostle Paul, we may continue to feel trapped by our unrelenting sinfulness. True joy comes only as we receive the comforting words of our Lord, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Herein is the goal of Christmas. Here today by means of the Word of God and the receiving of His body and blood, God gives you faith to believe and to receive eternal salvation. By God’s Word, even today “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” For here is where true joy is found.
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: June 25, 2023
As We Gather It is not easy to live in this world as a believer in the one true God. Faith is challenged, truth is questioned, and persecution is faced. Though hardships and challenges are there and will continue, we are reminded this is nothing new since the fall into sin. The Lord doesn’t leave us though in midst of doubt and despair as we deal with division and even danger. He gives His presence and assures His lasting promises. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah and his people faced hardships, yet they modeled how our witness and testimony can be ones of boldness and confidence as we sing to and praise the Lord, for He “delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers” (Jeremiah 20:13). As Paul would face countless challenges in his Gospel proclamation to the ends of the earth, he reminds us that, even amid the battle of sin, we have received grace and that the “free gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). Jesus also reminds us that as divisiveness and persecution can be expected even from those closest to us, because of His everlasting promises we are able to “fear not.” The psalmist also assures that the Lord remains our refuge and our fortress. The world around us won’t change until Christ returns, but the Lord doesn’t change either. In and through Him, with faith and confidence we keep our trust.
As We Gather It is not easy to live in this world as a believer in the one true God. Faith is challenged, truth is questioned, and persecution is faced. Though hardships and challenges are there and will continue, we are reminded this is nothing new since the fall into sin. The Lord doesn’t leave us though in midst of doubt and despair as we deal with division and even danger. He gives His presence and assures His lasting promises. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah and his people faced hardships, yet they modeled how our witness and testimony can be ones of boldness and confidence as we sing to and praise the Lord, for He “delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers” (Jeremiah 20:13). As Paul would face countless challenges in his Gospel proclamation to the ends of the earth, he reminds us that, even amid the battle of sin, we have received grace and that the “free gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). Jesus also reminds us that as divisiveness and persecution can be expected even from those closest to us, because of His everlasting promises we are able to “fear not.” The psalmist also assures that the Lord remains our refuge and our fortress. The world around us won’t change until Christ returns, but the Lord doesn’t change either. In and through Him, with faith and confidence we keep our trust.
Second Sunday after Pentecost: June 11, 2023
As We Gather One of the three sung table graces included in Lutheran Service Book is “Be Present at Our Table, Lord” (LSB 775). The first part of the text, from around 1740, was written to be used before a meal began. It asks the Lord’s presence be at the dinner table. The text also has a parallel verse to be spoken or sung at the close of a meal: We bless Thee, Lord, for this our food, But more for Jesu’s flesh and blood; The manna to our spirits giv’n, The living bread sent down from heav’n; Praise shall our grateful lips employ, While life and plenty we enjoy; ’Till worthy, we adore Thy name, While banqueting with Christ, the lamb. The English author John Cennick thoughtfully ties together our daily eating at our home tables with our being together at the Lord’s Table at worship. Wherever our tables may be, the Lord is there with His blessing!
As We Gather One of the three sung table graces included in Lutheran Service Book is “Be Present at Our Table, Lord” (LSB 775). The first part of the text, from around 1740, was written to be used before a meal began. It asks the Lord’s presence be at the dinner table. The text also has a parallel verse to be spoken or sung at the close of a meal: We bless Thee, Lord, for this our food, But more for Jesu’s flesh and blood; The manna to our spirits giv’n, The living bread sent down from heav’n; Praise shall our grateful lips employ, While life and plenty we enjoy; ’Till worthy, we adore Thy name, While banqueting with Christ, the lamb. The English author John Cennick thoughtfully ties together our daily eating at our home tables with our being together at the Lord’s Table at worship. Wherever our tables may be, the Lord is there with His blessing!
The Holy Trinity: June 4, 2023
As We Gather Preachers, poets, and others have shared many images to help the faithful understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. One of the most lasting images has been that of the shamrock—a simple and sturdy plant with three leaves joined together on one stem. Saint Patrick, the famed Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century, used the shamrock to illustrate the concept of “Three in One” that is central to understanding the Trinity. The shamrock plant is closely associated both with the saint and with the Emerald Isle. Each shamrock is at its loveliest when it is in bloom—just as those who confess the Holy Trinity are at their most beautiful and most gracious when they show forth the presence of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their lives.
As We Gather Preachers, poets, and others have shared many images to help the faithful understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. One of the most lasting images has been that of the shamrock—a simple and sturdy plant with three leaves joined together on one stem. Saint Patrick, the famed Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century, used the shamrock to illustrate the concept of “Three in One” that is central to understanding the Trinity. The shamrock plant is closely associated both with the saint and with the Emerald Isle. Each shamrock is at its loveliest when it is in bloom—just as those who confess the Holy Trinity are at their most beautiful and most gracious when they show forth the presence of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The Day of Pentecost: May 28, 2023
The Coming of the Holy Spirit and a Day of Special Remembrance
The Coming of the Holy Spirit and a Day of Special Remembrance
Easter Season
Seventh Sunday of Easter: May 21, 2023
As We Gather Did you know your pastor has an office job? Maybe it is not quite the office job you are thinking of. He works in an office, but he also is a holder of the Office of the Public Ministry. This Office dates back to the apostles and the Early Church and will continue until Jesus comes back. While your pastor is in his office space, he works for God and shares God’s Word in its truth and purity, forgives sins, and shares God’s gift of salvation in the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
As We Gather Did you know your pastor has an office job? Maybe it is not quite the office job you are thinking of. He works in an office, but he also is a holder of the Office of the Public Ministry. This Office dates back to the apostles and the Early Church and will continue until Jesus comes back. While your pastor is in his office space, he works for God and shares God’s Word in its truth and purity, forgives sins, and shares God’s gift of salvation in the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
Fourth Sunday of Easter: April 30, 2023
As We Gather Today we hear about Jesus as both our Shepherd and the door for us, the sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who leads us to green pastures and still waters. And Jesus is the door, the gate by which we enter eternal life. As we follow Jesus, we know that He is always leading us toward righteousness—toward an eternity dwelling in the house of the Lord
As We Gather Today we hear about Jesus as both our Shepherd and the door for us, the sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who leads us to green pastures and still waters. And Jesus is the door, the gate by which we enter eternal life. As we follow Jesus, we know that He is always leading us toward righteousness—toward an eternity dwelling in the house of the Lord
Third Sunday of Easter: April 23, 2023
As We Gather Today we see Jesus appear to His disciples on the road to Emmaus. They say afterward that their hearts burned within them as Jesus opened up to them the Scriptures. In the Reading from Acts, those gathered on Pentecost are cut to the heart by Peter’s words. And in the Epistle, Peter speaks of purified souls and hearts. It seems our hearts are being greatly affected by Christ. They are cut, burning, and purified by the Word of Christ
As We Gather Today we see Jesus appear to His disciples on the road to Emmaus. They say afterward that their hearts burned within them as Jesus opened up to them the Scriptures. In the Reading from Acts, those gathered on Pentecost are cut to the heart by Peter’s words. And in the Epistle, Peter speaks of purified souls and hearts. It seems our hearts are being greatly affected by Christ. They are cut, burning, and purified by the Word of Christ
Second Sunday of Easter: April 16, 2023
As We Gather We gather today still in the glow of the most joyous and amazing celebration of Easter, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from the dead. The sights and sounds of that celebration linger in our memory, not as just a past event finished and forgotten, but as Peter calls it today, “a living hope,” as enduring and strong as the certainty of our living Lord and the promised future of our own resurrection. We return to continue the Easter celebration because in the afterglow of the days since Easter Sunday, many still do not know that hope. Like the absent apostle Thomas, we still face what seems to be a hopeless world. Today we remember that our only hope is built on a divine Savior whose crucifixion wounds were endured for us and for all. Indeed, we are to learn that every Sunday throughout the entire year is an Easter celebration as our living Lord draws us into His holy, life-giving wounds through His very same body and blood given us in Holy Communion. Thomas saw and believed. Peter rejoiced. Though we do not now see Him, “you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8), the only sure and living hope.
As We Gather We gather today still in the glow of the most joyous and amazing celebration of Easter, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from the dead. The sights and sounds of that celebration linger in our memory, not as just a past event finished and forgotten, but as Peter calls it today, “a living hope,” as enduring and strong as the certainty of our living Lord and the promised future of our own resurrection. We return to continue the Easter celebration because in the afterglow of the days since Easter Sunday, many still do not know that hope. Like the absent apostle Thomas, we still face what seems to be a hopeless world. Today we remember that our only hope is built on a divine Savior whose crucifixion wounds were endured for us and for all. Indeed, we are to learn that every Sunday throughout the entire year is an Easter celebration as our living Lord draws us into His holy, life-giving wounds through His very same body and blood given us in Holy Communion. Thomas saw and believed. Peter rejoiced. Though we do not now see Him, “you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8), the only sure and living hope.
Lenten Season
Good Friday: April 7, 2023
Good Friday is the most Solemn Festival Day of the Church. On this day, we both mourn what we have done to the Lord Jesus, yet also rejoice that He endured this for us, that we might be saved.
Good Friday is the most Solemn Festival Day of the Church. On this day, we both mourn what we have done to the Lord Jesus, yet also rejoice that He endured this for us, that we might be saved.
Maundy Thursday: April 6, 2023
Maundy Thursday, the Day of the Mandate, is the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ gave to us the gift of Himself in His Most Holy Supper. He has commanded us ever to receive Him in, under, through, the Bread and Wine, because He has remembered us, and tells us to remember Him.
Maundy Thursday, the Day of the Mandate, is the day on which our Lord Jesus Christ gave to us the gift of Himself in His Most Holy Supper. He has commanded us ever to receive Him in, under, through, the Bread and Wine, because He has remembered us, and tells us to remember Him.
Palm Sunday: April 2, 2023
AS WE GATHER Today is a very special day. This is true not only because it is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week; today is a very special day because the Word of God is proclaimed in our hearing. In this present hour, in this very house of the Lord, His Word delivers to us the saving work of Jesus. Far from being a detached dispatch from a distant deity, this Word of God is living and active, inspired by the life-giving Spirit who, this very day, brings us to the King who humbled Himself by becoming “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). As we gather again in the presence of our crucified and risen King, may we join with the ancients and say, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
AS WE GATHER Today is a very special day. This is true not only because it is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week; today is a very special day because the Word of God is proclaimed in our hearing. In this present hour, in this very house of the Lord, His Word delivers to us the saving work of Jesus. Far from being a detached dispatch from a distant deity, this Word of God is living and active, inspired by the life-giving Spirit who, this very day, brings us to the King who humbled Himself by becoming “obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). As we gather again in the presence of our crucified and risen King, may we join with the ancients and say, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Fifth Sunday in Lent: March 26, 2023
AS WE GATHER Each Sunday in Lent brings us closer to Holy Week and closer to the foot of the cross. In a sense, we are annual pilgrims traveling on the way of and to the cross. Each year is slightly different from the one that has come before on that cross way. According to the liturgical year in the Church, we are closer today to the death of Christ and His glorious resurrection than we were a week ago. And, according to our earthly lives, we are drawing closer to our own individual death and resurrection. Along this way, we intersect with the cross, which serves as a sign for our lives at all times. May we each be blessed in our pilgrimage!
AS WE GATHER Each Sunday in Lent brings us closer to Holy Week and closer to the foot of the cross. In a sense, we are annual pilgrims traveling on the way of and to the cross. Each year is slightly different from the one that has come before on that cross way. According to the liturgical year in the Church, we are closer today to the death of Christ and His glorious resurrection than we were a week ago. And, according to our earthly lives, we are drawing closer to our own individual death and resurrection. Along this way, we intersect with the cross, which serves as a sign for our lives at all times. May we each be blessed in our pilgrimage!
Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 19, 2023
AS WE GATHER Some of the central people in the Gospel narratives we get to know by name; others we do not. Although the man born blind is a major person in John 9, we never learn what his name might be. We meet his parents and his neighbors and we meet the Pharisees to whom he tells the story of the miraculous restoration of his sight. Although we do not learn his name, Jesus said of the man born blind that the works of God were displayed in him. As the One brightening our lives with the light of salvation, Jesus brings a new vision to our lives—an eternal vision of life with God that never ends. God knows our names. He directs the cross currents of our daily lives. In His light we see light—and that is what matters!
AS WE GATHER Some of the central people in the Gospel narratives we get to know by name; others we do not. Although the man born blind is a major person in John 9, we never learn what his name might be. We meet his parents and his neighbors and we meet the Pharisees to whom he tells the story of the miraculous restoration of his sight. Although we do not learn his name, Jesus said of the man born blind that the works of God were displayed in him. As the One brightening our lives with the light of salvation, Jesus brings a new vision to our lives—an eternal vision of life with God that never ends. God knows our names. He directs the cross currents of our daily lives. In His light we see light—and that is what matters!
Third Sunday in Lent: March 12, 2023
AS WE GATHER One guideline consistently commended to hikers is the importance of bringing along sufficient water for the journey. It is important to be refreshed and revitalized along the way, wherever our paths may take us. As we gather for worship, our gracious God refreshes us here in this place where, as American hymnist Christopher Wordsworth beautifully phrased it, “Gospel-light is glowing With pure and radiant beams And living water flowing With soul-refreshing streams” (TLH 9:4). As we join in worship, our cups run over with that living water. Onceagain, we are renewed and satisfied and made ready to journey further in the name of the Lord.
AS WE GATHER One guideline consistently commended to hikers is the importance of bringing along sufficient water for the journey. It is important to be refreshed and revitalized along the way, wherever our paths may take us. As we gather for worship, our gracious God refreshes us here in this place where, as American hymnist Christopher Wordsworth beautifully phrased it, “Gospel-light is glowing With pure and radiant beams And living water flowing With soul-refreshing streams” (TLH 9:4). As we join in worship, our cups run over with that living water. Onceagain, we are renewed and satisfied and made ready to journey further in the name of the Lord.
Second Sunday in Lent: March 5, 2023
AS WE GATHER The pages of the Bible are filled with some very human people. In the appointed Readings of the Sundays in Lent, we encounter several. In today’s Old Testament Reading, we hear of Abraham, who followed the guidance of God faithfully to the land of promise. Yet in Genesis, we also read that when in a challenging situation in Egypt, he misrepresented his wife as his sister and profited from the deception. Nicodemus, to whom Jesus explained the Gospel in great detail, kept his association with the Lord a secret. Even at the time of the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion, Nicodemus labors with Joseph of Arimathea “secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). It is well that we are reminded as we confess in the Nicene Creed that “for us men and for our salvation” our Lord “was made man.” As imperfect and very human people, we are assured by the Spirit that we are loved by God, who knows us as we are, and that we truly are “precious in the sight of the Lord” in life and in death (Psalm 116:15).
AS WE GATHER The pages of the Bible are filled with some very human people. In the appointed Readings of the Sundays in Lent, we encounter several. In today’s Old Testament Reading, we hear of Abraham, who followed the guidance of God faithfully to the land of promise. Yet in Genesis, we also read that when in a challenging situation in Egypt, he misrepresented his wife as his sister and profited from the deception. Nicodemus, to whom Jesus explained the Gospel in great detail, kept his association with the Lord a secret. Even at the time of the burial of Jesus after the crucifixion, Nicodemus labors with Joseph of Arimathea “secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). It is well that we are reminded as we confess in the Nicene Creed that “for us men and for our salvation” our Lord “was made man.” As imperfect and very human people, we are assured by the Spirit that we are loved by God, who knows us as we are, and that we truly are “precious in the sight of the Lord” in life and in death (Psalm 116:15).
First Sunday in Lent: February 26, 2023
AS WE GATHER “X marks the spot” is a reminder that a cross, whether on a treasure map or on a police investigation site outline, has a special meaning. It indicates what is at the center and is of greatest importance. In the Small Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther directs Christian people to make the sign of the cross to begin their day, as he writes, “In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross” (LSB, p. 327). He commends the same sacred action at the close of the day, writing, “In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross” (LSB, p. 327). The purpose of making the sign of the cross, whether at home or in conjunction with our worship, is to indicate that all our lives are marked by the redeeming action of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for us and for our salvation. It is a most blessed sign!
AS WE GATHER “X marks the spot” is a reminder that a cross, whether on a treasure map or on a police investigation site outline, has a special meaning. It indicates what is at the center and is of greatest importance. In the Small Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther directs Christian people to make the sign of the cross to begin their day, as he writes, “In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross” (LSB, p. 327). He commends the same sacred action at the close of the day, writing, “In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross” (LSB, p. 327). The purpose of making the sign of the cross, whether at home or in conjunction with our worship, is to indicate that all our lives are marked by the redeeming action of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for us and for our salvation. It is a most blessed sign!
Ash Wednesday: February 22, 2023
AS WE GATHER We are reminded on Ash Wednesday that we were destroyed by sin and come to the Lord for cleansing and renewal. We come because Jesus has beckoned us by the Holy Spirit and has called us to repentance. We rely on the great mercy of God and cry out to our King for clean hearts. We respond today, throughout Lent, and for the rest of our lives, by coming to our Savior and receiving His forgiveness and love.
AS WE GATHER We are reminded on Ash Wednesday that we were destroyed by sin and come to the Lord for cleansing and renewal. We come because Jesus has beckoned us by the Holy Spirit and has called us to repentance. We rely on the great mercy of God and cry out to our King for clean hearts. We respond today, throughout Lent, and for the rest of our lives, by coming to our Savior and receiving His forgiveness and love.
Epiphany Season
The Transfiguration of Our Lord: February 19, 2023
AS WE GATHER In one sense, the Transfiguration of Our Lord provides a sort of climax to the first part of the story of Jesus in the liturgical year. In the glorious vision, Moses and Elijah appear as if to prove that everything written in the Bible in the Law and the Prophets has come true in the advent and appearance of Jesus, “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary” (explanation of the Second Article). Yet this climactic event is not yet the true and complete climax of the story, but a transition now into the season of Lent and the road to the true climax: the cross of Good Friday, the resurrection of Easter, His ascension into heaven, and the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. There is so much more to tell. This brief glimpse of glory and Peter’s eyewitness account is to give us the strength and encouragement now to bring the story to completion in us, that we become witnesses in possession of the glorious hope of eternal life through the forgiveness of our sins.
AS WE GATHER In one sense, the Transfiguration of Our Lord provides a sort of climax to the first part of the story of Jesus in the liturgical year. In the glorious vision, Moses and Elijah appear as if to prove that everything written in the Bible in the Law and the Prophets has come true in the advent and appearance of Jesus, “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary” (explanation of the Second Article). Yet this climactic event is not yet the true and complete climax of the story, but a transition now into the season of Lent and the road to the true climax: the cross of Good Friday, the resurrection of Easter, His ascension into heaven, and the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. There is so much more to tell. This brief glimpse of glory and Peter’s eyewitness account is to give us the strength and encouragement now to bring the story to completion in us, that we become witnesses in possession of the glorious hope of eternal life through the forgiveness of our sins.
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany: February 12, 2023
AS WE GATHER What is the Fifth Commandment? Answer: You shall not murder. You are right. But what does this mean? The disciples needed a little review in today’s Gospel. So do we, for its meaning is deeper and more pervasive than we may think. When it comes to matters of the Christian faith and life, we never know it all or remember God’s Word consistently. Remember Martin Luther’s comment about those who would read the catechism once and then throw it in a corner as if they had already mastered it. Yet he who put it together, though he had advanced academic degrees, knew he needed to study God’s Word over and over again. God’s Word doesn’t change, but we do. New challenges, new situations in life call for new insight and continuous instruction in God’s living Word.
AS WE GATHER What is the Fifth Commandment? Answer: You shall not murder. You are right. But what does this mean? The disciples needed a little review in today’s Gospel. So do we, for its meaning is deeper and more pervasive than we may think. When it comes to matters of the Christian faith and life, we never know it all or remember God’s Word consistently. Remember Martin Luther’s comment about those who would read the catechism once and then throw it in a corner as if they had already mastered it. Yet he who put it together, though he had advanced academic degrees, knew he needed to study God’s Word over and over again. God’s Word doesn’t change, but we do. New challenges, new situations in life call for new insight and continuous instruction in God’s living Word.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: February 5, 2023
AS WE GATHER The Epiphany season continues to illuminate the miracle of Christmas shining its light forward to the goal and purpose of Christ’s coming to us in the flesh. That purpose is the salvation of the world through the forgiveness of our sins. That forgiveness can and will happen only through the sacrifice on Christ’s cross. As often as we Christians have heard this Gospel and believe it, however, the more often we tend to forget that this knowledge, this faith, remains a hidden mystery to the world, which ignores, rejects, or explains away “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Many really don’t get it! Yet, here through the Divine Word and Sacraments, God the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, enlightens minds and hearts to a spiritual epiphany.
AS WE GATHER The Epiphany season continues to illuminate the miracle of Christmas shining its light forward to the goal and purpose of Christ’s coming to us in the flesh. That purpose is the salvation of the world through the forgiveness of our sins. That forgiveness can and will happen only through the sacrifice on Christ’s cross. As often as we Christians have heard this Gospel and believe it, however, the more often we tend to forget that this knowledge, this faith, remains a hidden mystery to the world, which ignores, rejects, or explains away “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Many really don’t get it! Yet, here through the Divine Word and Sacraments, God the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, enlightens minds and hearts to a spiritual epiphany.
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: January 29, 2023
AS WE GATHER Today’s Old Testament Reading is the basis for the reproaches, traditionally spoken on Good Friday: “Thus says the LORD: What have I done to you, O My people . . .” We know that, like God’s ancient people, we fail to live in ways pleasing to Him. In terms of the Epistle, we reflect the world around us in its false wisdom, rather than rejoicing in God’s great folly in sacrificing His Son for us. And so, we pay more attention to the beginning of each Beatitude rather than finding solace in the reason for the blessing coming with that circumstance or action. But the Law-filled “do” in that list is covered by the “done” in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. He is the only One who fulfilled all our heavenly Father’s will. And the Good News is that He did it in our place! He took all the Father’s reproaches, all our worldliness, and all our failures to the cross. The great epiphany there was our Lord’s showing the world God’s boundless love for us. How shall we respond?
AS WE GATHER Today’s Old Testament Reading is the basis for the reproaches, traditionally spoken on Good Friday: “Thus says the LORD: What have I done to you, O My people . . .” We know that, like God’s ancient people, we fail to live in ways pleasing to Him. In terms of the Epistle, we reflect the world around us in its false wisdom, rather than rejoicing in God’s great folly in sacrificing His Son for us. And so, we pay more attention to the beginning of each Beatitude rather than finding solace in the reason for the blessing coming with that circumstance or action. But the Law-filled “do” in that list is covered by the “done” in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. He is the only One who fulfilled all our heavenly Father’s will. And the Good News is that He did it in our place! He took all the Father’s reproaches, all our worldliness, and all our failures to the cross. The great epiphany there was our Lord’s showing the world God’s boundless love for us. How shall we respond?
Third Sunday after the Epiphany: January 22, 2023
AS WE GATHER When Jesus appeared on the scene of human history, His coming was like the light of a new day. Isaiah had prophesied a day would come filled with joy as at the harvest or when victors divide spoils. But daylight also reveals problems covered by darkness, like the divisions at the Church in Corinth, as Paul writes. Jesus’ light not only reveals, but it also forgives, heals, and enlivens. People brought the sick and demon-possessed to our Lord, and the first four disciples jumped at the opportunity to follow Him. What ills shall we bring to worship today for resolution? Sins requiring forgiveness, gloom needing joy, divisions seeking reconciliation? Jesus came into human history to die and rise for us; today He comes through Word and Sacrament in grace and mercy to meet our deepest needs. Let us rejoice in the light of God’s forgiveness, mercy, and love.
AS WE GATHER When Jesus appeared on the scene of human history, His coming was like the light of a new day. Isaiah had prophesied a day would come filled with joy as at the harvest or when victors divide spoils. But daylight also reveals problems covered by darkness, like the divisions at the Church in Corinth, as Paul writes. Jesus’ light not only reveals, but it also forgives, heals, and enlivens. People brought the sick and demon-possessed to our Lord, and the first four disciples jumped at the opportunity to follow Him. What ills shall we bring to worship today for resolution? Sins requiring forgiveness, gloom needing joy, divisions seeking reconciliation? Jesus came into human history to die and rise for us; today He comes through Word and Sacrament in grace and mercy to meet our deepest needs. Let us rejoice in the light of God’s forgiveness, mercy, and love.
The Epiphany of Our Lord(Observed): January 8, 2023
AS WE GATHER The mystery of the Magi is not who they were or where they came from but that God welcomed them as His own through Jesus Christ. None of us is worthy of His love or His redemption, but God has chosen to rescue us from sin and its darkness by the incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection of His Son. The star still shines upon us with the light of Christ and fills our hearts with faith. This is the true unity that transcends every division and even reaches through space and time to make us His children. In response, we offer Christ the worship of our hearts, the tithes and offerings we bring in our hands, and the service of love to our neighbors in need.
AS WE GATHER The mystery of the Magi is not who they were or where they came from but that God welcomed them as His own through Jesus Christ. None of us is worthy of His love or His redemption, but God has chosen to rescue us from sin and its darkness by the incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection of His Son. The star still shines upon us with the light of Christ and fills our hearts with faith. This is the true unity that transcends every division and even reaches through space and time to make us His children. In response, we offer Christ the worship of our hearts, the tithes and offerings we bring in our hands, and the service of love to our neighbors in need.
Christmas Season
The Circumcision and Name of Jesus: January 1, 2023
AS WE GATHER A new year begins! Yet, often so little changes. For most, a new year means little difference regarding life, vocation, house, and home. Outside of annually changing one number on our calendar, much of life remains the same, including the daily battles we face against Satan, sin, and our own flesh. With that, we rejoice today not just in the year’s changing, but a daily changing we recognize every day as we live in this world through the blameless One born for us. Christ was under and has fulfilled God’s Law perfectly for us, even as an infant child brought to the temple for circumcision under Mosaic Law. It would mark both the promise of redemption and the burden of the Law—and with Jesus marking the sacrifice that would set us free. Try as we might with new year’s resolutions to become better people, we still find ourselves falling short of God’s moral law that remains today. Rejoice in the newness that has come! More than a new year, we are given a new life, for Christ has fulfilled all and set us free! As we are marked in Baptism and bear Christ’s name, we become inheritors of His promise. It is a newness to celebrate each day of every year!
AS WE GATHER A new year begins! Yet, often so little changes. For most, a new year means little difference regarding life, vocation, house, and home. Outside of annually changing one number on our calendar, much of life remains the same, including the daily battles we face against Satan, sin, and our own flesh. With that, we rejoice today not just in the year’s changing, but a daily changing we recognize every day as we live in this world through the blameless One born for us. Christ was under and has fulfilled God’s Law perfectly for us, even as an infant child brought to the temple for circumcision under Mosaic Law. It would mark both the promise of redemption and the burden of the Law—and with Jesus marking the sacrifice that would set us free. Try as we might with new year’s resolutions to become better people, we still find ourselves falling short of God’s moral law that remains today. Rejoice in the newness that has come! More than a new year, we are given a new life, for Christ has fulfilled all and set us free! As we are marked in Baptism and bear Christ’s name, we become inheritors of His promise. It is a newness to celebrate each day of every year!
The Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Eve: December 24, 2022
CALL TO WORSHIP Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness over the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His Glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!
CALL TO WORSHIP Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness over the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His Glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you!
Sundays in Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 18, 2022
AS WE GATHER The season of Advent reminds us that we as individuals are part of the big picture of salvation planned by our God as we reflect on the coming of Christ to earth for us. We are called to be resolute, as in the words of the hymn “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord”—determined and assured in Christ. We celebrate the season resolutely, sure that in Christ, God has done all that is necessary to keep us in His salvation picture for time and for eternity!
AS WE GATHER The season of Advent reminds us that we as individuals are part of the big picture of salvation planned by our God as we reflect on the coming of Christ to earth for us. We are called to be resolute, as in the words of the hymn “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord”—determined and assured in Christ. We celebrate the season resolutely, sure that in Christ, God has done all that is necessary to keep us in His salvation picture for time and for eternity!
Third Sunday of Advent: December 11, 2022
AS WE GATHER Advent is a most joyful time and a time for great praise of our God. Today is the “joyful Sunday” in Advent. With Mary’s beautiful song, the Magnificat, we exult that God has “done great things” and that “His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (LSB, pp. 248–49). With Mary, we rejoice that God “has shown strength with His arm” especially to those who are lowly and humbled. In his paraphrase of the Magnificat, hymnwriter Stephen Starke invites us to “Sing the greatness of the Lord” and “With praise and blessing Join in confessing God, who is solely Mighty and holy” (LSB 933:1). There is so much joy in Advent—it simply must be shared!
AS WE GATHER Advent is a most joyful time and a time for great praise of our God. Today is the “joyful Sunday” in Advent. With Mary’s beautiful song, the Magnificat, we exult that God has “done great things” and that “His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (LSB, pp. 248–49). With Mary, we rejoice that God “has shown strength with His arm” especially to those who are lowly and humbled. In his paraphrase of the Magnificat, hymnwriter Stephen Starke invites us to “Sing the greatness of the Lord” and “With praise and blessing Join in confessing God, who is solely Mighty and holy” (LSB 933:1). There is so much joy in Advent—it simply must be shared!
Second Sunday of Advent: December 4, 2022
AS WE GATHER For many Christian people, reading the Word of our Lord from a “red letter” edition of the Bible is a special blessing. Seeing the words of Christ highlighted in a special color may make them more immediate and noticeable. The last sentence with red words in those Bible editions is Revelation 22:20, in which the Lord promises: “Surely I am coming soon.” John, the writer of Revelation, follows with these inspired words: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Those words became part of the worship life for many in the Early Church as they expectantly awaited the return of the Lord to the earth and the completion of His promised eternal kingdom. In the season of Advent, we echo that ancient yearning cry: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
AS WE GATHER For many Christian people, reading the Word of our Lord from a “red letter” edition of the Bible is a special blessing. Seeing the words of Christ highlighted in a special color may make them more immediate and noticeable. The last sentence with red words in those Bible editions is Revelation 22:20, in which the Lord promises: “Surely I am coming soon.” John, the writer of Revelation, follows with these inspired words: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Those words became part of the worship life for many in the Early Church as they expectantly awaited the return of the Lord to the earth and the completion of His promised eternal kingdom. In the season of Advent, we echo that ancient yearning cry: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
First Sunday of Advent: November 27, 2022
AS WE GATHER “In God We Trust” is a familiar statement. It has been the official motto of the United States of America since 1956 and has appeared on American coins dating back to 1864. As God’s people, we trust that God will keep His promises. Centuries ago, the psalmist confidently stated, “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:11). Today we begin a new Church Year—another year of God’s grace. We can celebrate that God has brought us to this time and place and together can look trustingly to blessings and surprises yet to come.
AS WE GATHER “In God We Trust” is a familiar statement. It has been the official motto of the United States of America since 1956 and has appeared on American coins dating back to 1864. As God’s people, we trust that God will keep His promises. Centuries ago, the psalmist confidently stated, “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:11). Today we begin a new Church Year—another year of God’s grace. We can celebrate that God has brought us to this time and place and together can look trustingly to blessings and surprises yet to come.
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: October 9, 2022
Join us as we hear God's Word in "The Sermon about Complaining"
Join us as we hear God's Word in "The Sermon about Complaining"