Trinity 22 2023

The Unforgiving Servant by Nelly Bube

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity

…Click on the above title for the bulletin.

Why Are the Saints Blessed?

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs

Today is the day we celebrate All Saints Day, perhaps one of the most misunderstood “Festival” days in the church year.
But, with that said, with the help of the Holy Spirit we will look at what God has to say in regard to “life after death.” To begin with, however, let’s answer a couple of basic questions: what is All Saints Day, and why does the Lutheran Church celebrate it?…For more, click on the title above.

Beautiful signs and wonders

Jesus Healing the Servant of a Centurion by Paolo Veronese

This is a time of year, in the Church, when we hear again of the signs and wonders that Jesus did to reveal Himself as the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, of the Scriptures. Today, that has come into our ears with the Apostle and Evangelist John’s account of Jesus’ second miracle having come from the Judea into the Galilee.
With that in mind, we remember that today’s readings have, in this time, come to us very near to our celebration of the Festival of the Reformation, as well as the days that immediately follow it—the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls. This is a time of year for us to hear a succession of proclamations concerning the powerful work of God…. For more, click on the title above.

Trinity 21 2023

Jesus Healing the Servant of a Centurion by Paolo Veronese

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

…Click on the above title for the bulletin.

Unpacking the meaning of a parable

Artist Unknown

Sometimes when you begin a sermon you need to explain what the text you are preaching on is NOT about before you can say what it is about and how it applies to the hearers. I hope this helps, because the parable of the wicked, nasty tenants is one of those texts.
This parable of Jesus is not about an unfruitful vineyard. It is not about a vineyard that bore the wrong kind of fruit. This parable is not about the people of God who at times do not bear the fruit that they should be bearing. And so, we should not simplistically say that we are just like the tenant workers in that vineyard because we sometimes don’t bear fruit for God….For more, click on the title above.

Are you welcome at the Feast?

Artist Unknown

Jesus said, “Many are invited but few are elected.”
Do you remember how Jesus explains the parable we just heard? Me neither. That is because this is one of those that Jesus doesn’t explain. He gives the parable and keeps on talking. Most of the time it’s not a big deal. This is one of those times it’s not a big deal – the explanation of the parable is pretty obvious when we consider it in light of the rest of the Scriptures….For more, click on the ttile above

Trinity 20 2023

Artist Unknown

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

…Click on the above title for the bulletin.

Be of good courage, your sins are forgiven

Arise, Take Your Bed and Walk by Yongsung Kim

Be of good courage, your sins are forgiven! Today we sinners who have responded to God’s call to come to Him for rest and peace have neither neglected nor despised His Word. That is one reason why you each and all are present in this His Divine Service.
As part of our response to and preparation for hearing God’s Word, we have collectively prayed that God would, for the sake of His mercy, be gracious to us. In that, we were echoing the unspoken petition of a paralytic and those bearing him before Jesus long ago. …For more, click on the title above.