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…
A Place of Grace
Sermons (Page 56)
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…
The celebration of “Holy Cross” occurs on September 14th. Pastor Beth shared her personal struggle with understanding the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. She wondered, Why did Jesus have to die? Wasn’t there another way for God to redeem humanity? We do not have to completely understand the cross to stand under it…
There are 613 laws in the Old Testament and 1050 Commandments in the New Testament. Rules are important; they provide structure, organization and fairness. Rules make choices easier and give guidance and protections as we live together. But all the rules in the Bible can be lumped into one…Love God and love your neighbor as…
In Matthew 16:21-28, Jesus told his disciples, ” If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” The second reading for this Sunday, Romans 12:9-21, Paul goes into detail as to how to follow Jesus’s example. Pastor Eric asked us what does that mean and…