Author: kyriss
Can these bones live?
Ezekiel is brought to a massive bone heap—dry bones scattered from one end to the other of the valley. Lest we forget, they were people once. They lived and breathed, they laughed and loved and played, they fought and died.
Now all that is left of them are these bones – dry and brittle. Not yet turned to dust, but well on the way. And the big question put to the prophet by the Lord: “Can these bones live?” …For more, click on the title above.
Let Jesus into your life
As a young boy one of the great thrills of my life was going fishing with my dad. For awhile we lived on the shore of Lake St. Claire in Michigan, and we could go fishing a lot. Every year, when my dad’s vacation time came around, we would pack up the car and hook up the boat and head for the cold waters of northern Minnesota. …For more, click on the title above.
All according to God’s beautiful plan
In case you somehow haven’t heard it yet today, Happy Easter! He is risen! As is Church tradition, today we celebrate the raising of Jesus from the tomb. Today is a triumphant and joyful day at the end of a somber and contemplative week. So far today, the attendees of the earlier services have heard two post resurrection events, now you are going to hear about a third, the true story of the road to Emmaus….For more, click on the title above.
Let us rejoice in the Lord’s Day
Our sermon for this day as we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord is taken from our inspired readings. Today, we are going to hear more about how this theme text applies to our lives in Christ:
This (is) the Day which YHWH has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! …For more, click on the title above.
He is risen indeed!
Christ is Risen! (He is risen indeed. Alleluia!)
Imagine standing in the darkness just before dawn. The air is still, the world is quiet, and the horizon is only a faint outline. Then, slowly, the first light breaks through—and everything changes. This is something that happens all over this beautiful world, but somehow, in the grandeur of the shadow of the mountains, this seems especially vibrant.
That’s what Easter morning is like. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of resurrection. The silence of the tomb is shattered by the angel’s announcement: “He is not here, for He has risen.” …For more, click on the title above.
Why John?
Today is Good Friday. The altar before you remains barren from service on Maundy Thursday, when the altar was stripped of everything that adorned it, just as our Savior was stripped of His followers, dignity, public image, and respect. Going further, this hall of worship is dark. Our only source of light in the chancel are these seven candles placed in front of the Sanctuary of the Nave, the same seven candles which have been extinguished one by one as we move through the service. However, a cross has been placed front and center at the altar. Both this cross and pastor are adorned with dark black dressings, echoing the darkness of the sky following Christ’s death. …For more, click on the title above.
Jesus completed all that was needed to atone for our sins
Today the Church remembers that which is depicted in this congregation’s seventh Station of the Cross. There, this past Monday evening, those who walked the stations again, following Deacon Tim’s lead, spoke these words:
“We adore You, O Lord Jesus Christ, in this Church, and all the Churches of the world, and we bless You because, by Your holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Amen. ” ….For more, click on the title above.
Beautified received tradition from the Lord
Our sermon for this night is grounded in a faithful, beautiful, received tradition from the Lord. It has grounded in that which has been handed on to us concerning the events of the first Holy Week. Hear again the theme for this evening:
“For I received from the Lord that which also I handed over to all of you….”
For more, click on the title above.
If only…
Jesus has been tried and wrongly convicted—but convicted none the less—and of the most unacceptable, offensive crime. Not for the murder of a child, not for molestation, or rape, nor for any number of outlandish, despicable crimes that we can only imagine—but for blasphemy—the denial of God Himself or the claim to be God or to be God’s Son, and for that, he must die….For more, click on the title above.