Hello everybody! Rooted in the past and growing into the
future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the
love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good
news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do
this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in
baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more
fully in worship and mission.
This Sunday is the 507th birthday of the Lutheran Church! It
was October 31, 1517 that Martin Lutheran Placed the 95 Thesis
on the church door at Wittenburg; thus jump starting the protestant
reformation. Wear your red as we celebrate this momentous
renewal of the church this Sunday. Blessing everyone!
Hello everyone! I certainly hope that all of you have survived
the hurricane and rainy weather. Hopefully that will lead us into a
beautiful October.
Several years ago, I ran into a young man who was engaged to
be married. He told me that he expected his first marriage to last
about ten years after which he intended to divorce. I had always
figured that nobody would ever marry with the thought that they
would divorce - but this young man proved that assumption
wrong. Well, this Sunday a group of Pharisees and Sadducees
asked Jesus some questions about divorce. This Sunday’s gospel
combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a
story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his
rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of
God’s law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the
children should challenge us as well. What does it mean to receive
the kingdom of God as a child does? We will learn more about
both of these teachings of Jesus this week. May God bless you all!
Greetings in the name of Jesus! Well, I am pretty much on a
high after last Sunday's church picnic. The attendance was great
and I am hopeful that we will be able to make this an annual
event. It is always great when both congregations can get
together as one! Our next opportunity will come at
Thanksgiving when we will have our service this year in
Lynchburg.
This coming Sunday we continue our readings both in the
book of James as well as the Gospel of St. Mark. We will be
hearing James warn against selfish ambition, while in the
gospel, Jesus' disciples quarrel over which one of them is the
greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to
make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood
child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front
of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give
them a place of honor in the assembly. May God bless you all!