Vicar Decker – Catalina Lutheran Church

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.

All according to God’s beautiful plan

The Risen Christ at Emmaus by Ladislav Záborský

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.

Why John?

Cristo Crucificado by Diego Velázquez

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.

Vindication and judgement

But Who Do You Say That I Am? by Jen Norton

We are now just two weeks away from Easter Sunday and find ourselves at Judica Sunday. The purple paraments have returned and the bright and joyful pink that decorated the nave is gone. But the welcoming pink is not the only thing that has been removed. Much like how the nails left holes in Christ’s hands after he was removed from the cross, today the removal of the rest of the glorias leaves the services with empty holes that stand out. …For more, click on the title above.

King of the Jews

Crucifixion, St. John of the Cross c. 1550

Today marks the third Wednesday in the season of Lent as we continue our series on the doctrinally sound Stations of the Cross. As you can see by looking to the back of the Nave, the fifth station of the cross is uncovered and is what we will be looking at today. If you look at the station, you will see a scene where three men are in front of a cross that is laying on its side, yet to be hoisted aloft. The key figure is Jesus. Our Savior is standing tall but looks weak. Jesus knew what was to come next. He knew that he was mere moments from being placed on the cross. …For more, click on the title above.

Rejoice in God

Jesus and the Canaanite Woman from Department of Syriac Studies

One of the key teachings of the Confessional Lutheran Church is that mankind is justified—declared right with God—by faith, not by the works carried out with human hands. This has been the case since Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Thesis to the door of his church. While there are multiple readings from Holy Scripture that explain the truth of how mankind is justified, our epistle reading for today clearly states that “we have been justified by faith.” For more, click on the title above.

Blind and begging

God has brought us to the last Sunday of Pre-Lent. In just a few days the greens we see before us will be replaced. Crosses will be veiled. There will be a lot to see and hear as the seasons change.
Of the five senses that we use to absorb information about the world around us and in the Church, sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, we tend to rely on two of them more than the others. Sight and hearing are the two key senses we use more than anything else. Now, this is not to say that the other three senses are unnecessary or useless. We use all of our senses on a daily basis. …For more, click on the title above.

Listen to Him

Transfiguration by Bernadette Lopez

Today marks the last Sunday in the Epiphany season this year. It starts to guide our thoughts and studies to the season of Lent. That will conclude with the events in the city of Jerusalem during the Passover feast and the Passion of Christ. The reading our church fathers selected to fill this role is the Transfiguration of our Lord as recorded in the Gospel of the Apostle Matthew. …For more, click on the title above.

Written by the prophet

Advent Starry Night 5 by Virginia Wierenga

There are two ways that people learned of and came to visit the infant Savior. The first way is how the shepherds learned of the birth of Christ.
As we heard read during the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, the shepherds were doing their job, watching over the flock placed in their care through the night when they were greeted by an angel of the Lord. The angel told them where Jesus was and sent them on their way. They were told by a messenger of the Lord where the Light of Man was born….For more, click on the title above.

Dressed for action and lamps burning

LSB Icon used with permission

Seeing how this is the last day of the calendar year, it seems only fitting that the sermon is on the true and final Last Day.
Through the earthly authors of the Bible, God has communicated to mankind some details about the events that will take place leading up to and during the Final Judgement. Typically, this topic would lead the faithful to dissect the text of the Revelation or as it is titled in the Greek text, The Apocalypse of John, to find information and answers to their questions.
That is not a bad place to start your study. In fact, it would be the correct choice in many cases, considering how Revelation largely focuses on this subject. However, the Final Day is spoken of elsewhere in Scripture, including but not limited to our Gospel and sermon text for today from the Gospel of Luke the Evangelist. …For more, click on the title above.