This morning God has called and gathered us together into His House that He established decades ago in Catalina. He did so that, even today with the real earthly loss we’ve suffered we might hear God’s Word and respond to it in thanks. God planted this congregation to be a light on this hill in Catalina in the Divine Hope that all that takes place here would reflect and shine forth the Light of Christ to us, and through us, to our neighbors near and far. For more, click on the title above.
Tag: Pastor Morehouse
The beauty of God’s wisdom about marriage
Rejoice in God’s promises fulfilled
Remembering baptism: Christ’s and ours
Each Epiphany Season, the more historic readings series through which we receive God’s gifts, are given to remind you that the work of declaring you right with the Father began at Jesus’ conception, birth, and circumcision. It continue(d) in His baptism. In time, the holy work God did that you, and all sinners, might be declared right with God, neared its fulfillment on a cross. That is when His blood began to cover over sin, to atone for sins. …For more, click on the title above.
The Law always accuses, the Gospel always acquits
The following theme flowed forth from today’s readings:
Lex semper accusat…lex non potest eos accusare aut damnare..
Those two Latin phrases ought to be interpreted into the language common to us, English. That is because we desire that we might be found faithful to the teaching of the Scriptures. The first phrase, lex semper accusat… may be correctly interpreted to mean: “The Law always accuses….” The second phrase, lex non potest eos accusare aut damnare is interpreted to reveal that “the Law cannot accuse or condemn them (that is, those who remain in the Jesus of the Scriptures).” Another way to think of that is to hear, reflect, and own this old biblically formed adage: The Law convicts, condemns, and kills… the Gospel acquits, atones, and enlivens. …For more, clickl on the title above.
God’s Word provides consistency and stability
Please hear the following theme text that has been selected for this first day of 2026. As you do so, remember as it is the eighth day of Christmas, it is also the day the Church has continued to celebrate Jesus’ shedding first blood in the war He won against sin, death, and the devil. We recall our response that prepared us to hear of the Circumcision of our Lord, as we declared:
What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD… . For more, click on the title above.
Proclaiming God’s faithfulness through the generations
Merry Christmas! This day, God has called us again to hear His Word to His Church on another fourth day of Christmas. This is also a day wherein the Church has commemorated the shedding of innocent blood on account of the Good News concerning Jesus the Christ.
Through all of that, God’s Word for today presents to you God’s will. He reveals that in the divine hope that it would move your New Adam’s response to God’s mercy. Hear now that which you are free in Christ to do—despite the multitudes of tragedies that surround you in this fallen world. For more, click on the title above.
King of kings and eternal priest of the living God
Voluntary submission and sacrificial love
Today, God has gathered us to hear His Word concerning repentance, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Those attributes, which the Word calls for as part of a continual practice in a healthy marriage between one man and one woman, are accompanied by two specific teachings in today’s texts. The first is one that has raised concerns in some 20th and 21st century American women. The second is one that some Christian men of the same era have failed to heed. We’ll hear more about voluntary submission and sacrificial love in a few minutes. …For more, click on the title above.
The song of Zechariah
Through His Services to us, the Lord has brought us to the second of the Church’s three Advent Wednesdays this year. They have served, and are serving, to proclaim to us Faith’s response to God’s beautiful gifts. Last week, we heard as the Magnificat was expounded that it was, and is, a reflection of this biblical principle as it applies to God’s Word and His people’s right responses: Gift, Recognition, [and] Response. The past two Sundays, we’ve heard the texts that led, and flowed from, that theme as it was, and is, wrapped about by the ancient themes of those Sundays, “Hope,” and “Peace.” …For more, click on the title above.