Pastor's Message

We Pray

Posted by on Apr 23, 2008

One of the seven core values of our congregation is Prayer. These core values are printed in our bulletin almost every Sunday. The following describes our core value of prayer:

Prayer as a means of opening our hearts, minds, and souls to God through thanksgiving, intercession, confession, and supplication.

Things That Are Above

Posted by on Mar 28, 2008

I’m writing this article on the day after our Easter celebration. What a glorious day indeed! The sights, sounds and even smells of Resurrection, new life, real life and people alive together embraced us all.

Easter is...

Posted by on Mar 21, 2008

As you read this article in early March we will all experience the joy and celebration of Easter, of life and promise in about three weeks. Soon we will hear what we have heard and said so many Easters before this one: “He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” But, before Easter we must pass through Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Lent: A Time of Turning

Posted by on Feb 01, 2008

Ash Wednesday is the day that begins our Lenten observance as the people of God. Lent is a time to remember and receive. We remember the suffering and death of Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” and we receive the assurance of God’s grace and favor and our salvation as a result of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us and the world.

Advent Blessings

Posted by on Dec 11, 2007

The first season of the church year is Advent. Advent is filled with promise – the promise of God – the promise of Immanuel: “God with us.”

Advent celebrates the coming of God as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed hundreds of years before the birth that transformed the earth. Advent is Jesus! And Advent is also about the people of God! The people of God waiting, watching, wondering and welcoming.

As the people of God we wait! But our waiting is active not passive. We look forward for opportunities to love, minister and serve. Advent is a time to be fully engaged in life and living as we wait.

A Holy Calling

Posted by on Oct 10, 2007

Most historians date the beginning of the Protestant Reformation and the start of the “Lutheran” church as October 31, 1517. This was the day (the day before All Saints’ Day) that Martin Luther went to the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany to post 95 Theses. One of the things, these 95 Theses were, were “matters to be debated”. The core of the 95 Theses by Luther revolved around the sale of indulgences and the forgiveness of sins. The church was teaching that people could “buy” forgiveness to escape some punishment for their sins.