Ascension

Ascension of Christ by Benvenuto Tisi aka Garofalo

About 40 days ago, we observed and celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Over the course of these 40 days, the readings and sermons have focused on the Resurrection and the gift of salvation.
Today, our focus shifts to the Ascension and what comes next, both for the Disciples turned Apostles and for the church as a whole, both at that time and today….For more, click on the title above.

God’s gathered ones are free to offer the sacrifice of prayer

Our Father by Jen Norton

God has, in His mercy and grace for us sinner-saints brought us to this sixth Resurrection Sunday for this year. This is the time when the Church’s ancient Rogate days of prayer have been traditionally offered in the days leading up to Thursday’s Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. Such prayers are to be offered to God Who,
from (the) lands (He) gathered them in, from east and from west, from north and from south. …For more, click on the title above.

Freed to sing Sunday

Photo by WELSTech on LutheranStockPhotos.com

Christ is risen! Our sermon for this fifth Sunday in this season dedicated to special proclamations about the Resurrection of our Lord is taken from today’s appointed Psalm. It is one chosen, because of its themes, long ago for our hearing on Cantate (or, Sing) Sunday. …For more, click on the title above.

Lamenting to rejoicing

Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord by Lillian Delevoryas

“You will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

As recorded by John, this is what Jesus told the disciples in the upper room. Jesus’ immediate audience was those men who were about to go through a very difficult few days. His message stated that the hard time they were entering had a joyous end. This end would be one of joy and rejoicing. This is why it is important that we, the text’s secondary audience, absorbs today’s words recorded in the Gospel of John….For more, click on the title above.

Who is your Shepherd?

The Good Shepherd by Daniel Bonnell

This can be a dangerous thing to do in a sermon—especially right at the beginning—but I’m going to ask you to close your eyes and visualize this scene: A shepherd is standing on a hillside surrounded by his flock. They are laying or grazing on green grass and in the distance is a shimmering lake….the water as still as a mirror, reflecting the bright light of the sky. …For more, click on the title above.