It is hard to believe the violence and hatred seen recently in the media is actually happening in our time, in our country. Pastor Beth encouraged us that in times like this we especially need to remember God’s dream for us to live as a family. The Word of God challenges us, convicts us and…
Pastor Eric attempted to walk on water today, to illustrate in the Children’s’ Sermon that miracles are extraordinary moments in ordinary lives. He gave the children ice cubes to remember the story, along with a reminder to notice the miracles that happen in our lives every day. In today’s Gospel, Matthew 14: 22-33, Jesus comes…
A Quinceanera is an important event in many Latin American cultures. It is both a birthday celebration; a coming of age when a girl becomes a young woman, and a religious ceremony in the catholic church. A “Lutheran” Quinceanera may be a little different, but with help from the internet, a small group of St.…
Picture this…the setting is a market in Jesus’s times, with a merchant behind a fish stand bearing a sign above it…”Fishes: Buy 2, Get 5000 Free”. Our Gospel for today, Matthew 14, tells the story a bit differently. The crowd was tired and hungry and Jesus told his disciples to feed them. There was nothing…
Today’s Gospel is by Matthew, the 13th chapter, in which the story of the mustard seed parable is told. Jesus told the crowds many parables. The word parable means to throw aside. These were stories that Jesus threw out to his followers. They were often a mystery that wove the crowds into and then out…
When we pray, we most often ask for God’s blessings for those we love, those who are struggling or suffering, or perhaps for those we respect for doing good works in our communities or in the world. However, we may be hesitant to pray for individuals doing harm to others or who are just plain…
What does the landscape of your life look like now? When you plant seeds, what do you do to get your garden ready? Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, tells the story of the sower of seeds. Jesus was the sower of seeds every where. Let anyone with ears listen. Love, Faith and Hope are what seeds Jesus…
Jesus said come on, follow me, we’ve got some building to do. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11). With this invitation, Jesus offers both hard work and rest in the building of the Kingdom…
Jesus said to his disciples whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The world would see Jesus through their hands as it will through our hands. Retired Pastor David L Nelson spoke today of it being a good thing knowing who we are that we belong to…
I was born and grew up in Tsuchiura, Japan. Tsuchiura is a castle town in Ibaraki prefecture, about 65 km (40 miles) north of Tokyo. My parents used to run a dry cleaner there but have since retired and closed the shop. My grandparents moved from Hokkaido and we all lived together in the neighboring…