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A-ha! Baptism

This week – we remember Jesus’ Baptism according to Luke.  This account is different from the others – Jesus has been baptized, was praying, and then the heavens broke open, the spirit descended, and God claimed him as “My Beloved.”  I am struck by the fact this isn’t about the relationship between …

Worship Servant Schedule for January

Here’s the worship schedule for January. January 2016 Server Schedule Please arrive 15 minutes before worship. If you cannot serve when you are scheduled, please find a substitute.  Then call the office so we are aware of that change.

Epiphany – A-ha!

It’s a play on the definition, you know.  An Epiphany is an awareness, a knowing, an ‘a-ha!’ moment.  We mark several A-ha! moments of Jesus’ life in the liturgical season known as Epiphany – times when we come to know the glory of God in Jesus. It’s also a season …

EPISODE 4: FAITH AWAKENS

Gabriel is sent to a small town in Galilee. Mary is a young girl that God has chosen to carry a child who will be Savior, Messiah, & Lord. Elizabeth is a woman already blessed with a miracle and recognizes such in her young cousin. In these women, the world …

Episode 3: Return of the Baptist

The prophet – a man who preached repentance and baptism – is causing a commotion on the edge of the Empire.  Normally, this man would be silenced – but he’s attracting too much interest and desire.  And that’s odd because his message to the people is not what you’d expect. …

Episode 2: The Empire Strikes Back

The Roman Empire has tight control on the public lives of its people. The Sanhedrin has tight control on the religious lives of the Jewish people. And suddenly, there is a voice – calling for change. Folks flock to hear this voice – a grizzly looking prophet who has prepared …

Episode 1: A New Hope

There is chaos & terror in the capitol city.  There is a rebel preacher who preaches Good News but makes the established faith leaders & the Empire nervous.  And that rebel preacher knows it. So he counsels his followers – that there will be signs of calamity and chaos.  Some …

Christ the King

Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Amen. Fitting words for a king or a president or a mayor.  Lauds and accolades abound – especially as we come full circle in the church year.  Last November, we waited anxiously …

Ends & Beginnings

I’ve been thinking a lot about this week’s readings as I have experienced birth through death this week. As we approach the end of the liturgical church year, many of us will experience endings and beginnings. There will be pain and sorrow, joy and laughter. But through one comes the …

Faithfully All In

How would you live if you were not afraid? Fear is used by politicians to gain our votes, by the media to get our attention, by advertising firms to sell us what we don’t need, and by TV evangelists to get our donations. What fears are used against us? One …