Prepare Ye

naz_29oct17_message_ed.m4a Download File os_29oct17_message_ed.m4a Download File Below is my manuscript of my sermon for Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017. The lessons for today were Ephesians 4:1-6 and John 6:27-35,  This is the fourth in our Reformation 500 series, today focusing on vocation. Above are two audio files with the message from Nazareth and Our Savior's. The audio quality is not what I hope for. If you are interested in prayer resources, look here and here . If you would like more information on the Seven Daily Faith Practices, contact Pastor Brian . I want to share the connection between these two lessons. In our Gospel lesson, Jesus was followed by some of the 5,000 people who he fed with a few fish and loaves of bread. They ask what must they do to perform the works of God. This is at the heart of this passage from the letter to Ephesians. In a series this Summer when we focused on Ephesians, I said that this vers

em_smalltalk_22oct17.m4a Download File em_message_22oct17_ed.m4a Download File This is my sermon for October 22nd. This is the third week of our Reformation 500 series, focusing on Holy Communion. The lessons were 1Corinthians 11:18, 21-29 and Matthew 26.26-29. Above are a recording of my message and the Small Talk (Children's Message)  from Emmanuel. I got to spend yesterday morning talking to some really smart and fun kids about Holy Communion. They are going to receive this sacrament for the first time today. So we spent time talking about what this meal means. We talked about how this meal means so many things. It is: A sign of God’s love A sign of God’s forgiveness A remembrance of what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection mean for us. A meal that strengthens us for service. A promise and foretaste of the meal to come in eternity. A gathering of the community of saints. It is all of this, and so much more. But it foremost wh

naz_message_15oct_t.m4a Download File os_message_15_oct_t.m4a Download File em_smalltalk_15oct_t.m4a Download File em_message_15oct_t.m4a Download File Below is my manuscript for my sermons on Sunday, October 15. We are in week two of a five week series focusing on themes for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The lessons were 1 Peter 2.4-6, 9-10 and John 14.1-7. Recordings from the three services are above, each had some audio issues. I've also included my Small Talk (Children's Sermon) from Emmanuel. I'm not happy with the finished message. If you compare any of the audio versions to the manuscript, you will see I strayed and went into materials I read but hadn't committed to paper.  I still have two more tries at this as I will be leading services at two assisted living facilities. EDITED 10/15/17 at 255pm: I forgot to include a link to the Living Lu

Below is my manuscript for my sermons on Sunday, October 8. We are beginning a five week series focusing on themes for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The lessons were Ephesians 2.3-10 and John 3.16-21. Recordings from the three services are here , here and here , each had some audio issues. What happens to us when we die? Believe it or not, that was at the center of what started the movement we know as the Reformation. The Catholic understanding, which was the only understanding that mattered at the time, was that souls spent time in purgatory. Purgatory is like a waiting room, where your soul spends time to get rid of residual sins; you must be purified, if you can, before you enter heaven.  This became important to a German monk and theologian named Martin Luther. Near the town where he served as pastor and professor, representatives of the Pope were selling indulgences. Indulgences were certificates that assured you, by the power of

os_message_1oct2017_ed.m4a Download File em_message_1oct2017_ed.m4a Download File Below is my outline for my sermon on October 1 using the Call of Moses pericope from Exodus 2:23-25; 3:1-15; 4:10-17. Above are recordings from 2 services; there was some variations. Last week, Jacob gets the family’s blessing from God. Between then and now, basically, watch the movie Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. God heard their groaning, & God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, & God took notice of them People of Israel, Jacob’s sons, went to Egypt &left the land that was promised Under Joseph, they were protected. Under a new Pharaoh, they were made slaves. They suffer & God knows. God wants to act & God wants someone to act thru God sees Moses, who has fled Egypt because he killed an Egypti

This is An Article from Ananias from the October newsletter. My Big Guy did something SO much better than reading me a story from the Bible. We watched a movie! Did you know they made movies about the stories in the Bible? And they SANG in this one. The movie is called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . It tells the story from Genesis about Joseph and his mean brothers, and what happened to Joseph. Joseph was one of 12 sons of Jacob, who was also called Israel, and was his father’s favorite. Jacob gave Joseph this coat of many colors, which I didn’t see as such a big deal. But Jacob could see what was going to happen and could figure out what dreams mean. I think that would be awesome. If I knew what was going to happen, I could warn people. If I could tell what dreams meant, I could help people to know what to do. While Joseph’s brothers were mean to him – they sold him to slavery and pretended he was dead – Joseph didn’t take the opportunity to pay them back.