On Sunday, November 23, we celebrate the end of our liturgical church year with Christ the King and The Reign of Christ. At our 8:30 and 11:00 worship services, four members of St. Mark (Jenny G., Brian S., Gary D., and Gail F.) will reflect upon what it means to them that Christ reigns in…
Pastor Eric preached on the big message of Matthew’s gospel, 25:14-30…”In the meantime, I am with you always.” The image, on the front of our Sunday bulletin, portrayed three servants who are part of the parable concerning the use of the talents (huge sums of money) given to them by their master. Two are dressed…
Retired Pastor David Nelson preached today. The Gospel spoke of the foolish bridesmaids that missed out on the wedding because they ran out of oil in their lamps and were shut out of the wedding feast. Whether this is an allegory or a parable, it is difficult to understand why God would shut anyone out…
Today we celebrated All Saints Day with the reading of names of those dearly departed and the lighting of candles in their remembrance but this day also celebrates the baptized living people of God who are the body of Christ. We listened to the reading of Matthew 5:1-12 which is the retelling of the beatitudes…
Reformation Sunday acknowledges Martin Luther’s nailing of 95 thesis on the Whittenberg cathedral door over 500 years ago and we are all encouraged to wear red on this day in celebration of the Holy Spirit. Our church, part of the ELCA, is deeply rooted in scripture and history but what does it mean for us…
Do you know you are God’s treasure? We are God’s jewel that shines Grace into the world. Today’s gospel concerns Jesus being questioned about what to give to Caesar and what to give to God. Does everything belong to God? Is there some part of you that only belongs to you? Are there things that…
The Gospel this week was an allegory about a King (God) hosting a wedding celebration for his son (Jesus) and his bride (his church) where none of the specially invited guests (religious authorities) attend. When he sends his servants out to gather people, they are killed. The King is upset but continues to invite…
Jesus tells a parable about workers in the vineyard killing the landowner’s servants. Then he sends his own son. The workers also kill him, thinking they will inherit the vineyard. In hearing this parable, the religious leaders are convicted. They have not been tending God’s vineyard very well. They were not listening. They tried to…
Jesus is in the temple exchanging questions with the temple leadership which adds an edginess to today’s text. What is this Kingdom of God? What is the truth about the Kingdom of God? Pastor Eric explained that the Kingdom of God is about justice. Justice seeking is the reckoning of all that is wrong in…
On this 15th Sunday after Pentacost, Pastor Eric gave US a new way to think about today’s parable…”the last is first and the first is last”. There is no we and them. Only US. Some workers complained that those who toiled only an hour were paid equal to those who worked all day. But the…