Posts tagged with ‘Sunday worship services’

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Sunday, Dec. 8: New shoot, new life!

by Trina Kleist

That new shoot is Jesus! Today’s Old Testament prophecy about a shoot growing out from the stump of Jesse foretells Jesus’ coming. Jesse was the father of King David, and so an ancestor of Jesus. But Jesus doesn’t continue the same old line. Instead, this “new shoot” brings a message of new life. John the […]

Sunday, Dec. 1: Advent Begins!

by Trina Kleist

Advent means Jesus is coming! Advent is the season of waiting and watching for signs of God coming among us. For Christians, Advent covers the four weeks before Christmas. (That’s right – Christmas for us doesn’t start until Christmas Day!) As the days grow darker, we light candles as a sign of our hope in […]

Sunday, Nov. 24: Christ the King Sunday!

by Trina Kleist

We celebrate the Christ, our King! Christ is King! Today is kind of like New Year’s Eve in the church calendar. We have had readings about troubled times, even end times. But our readings always point to the One who will come and “deal wisely, and execute justice and righteousness in the land.” Dueling Organs… […]

Sunday, Nov. 17: Have Trust Amid Turmoil!

by Trina Kleist

Faith lets us trust despite a world in turmoil! Jesus calls his followers to trust the One who sent him, no matter what turmoil we see around us. We see change. Society seems different, and the working world seems more difficult. People divide over small things. All too easily, we feel confusion and fear. Taizé […]

Sunday, Nov. 10: Alive and Dead

by Trina Kleist

– To God, those who die in faith are alive! Just a breath stands between being alive and being dead. That difference seemed as puzzling to people in Jesus’ time as it for us today. But Jesus promises that our faith in him and in God erases that difference. To God, all those who die […]

Sunday, Oct. 27 – Reformation Sunday!

by Trina Kleist

God’s reformation continues in our hearts today! Reformation for us Lutherans started 502 years ago. But it continues today and every day as God continually reforms our hearts. Jesus told his followers, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.”– John 8:31 In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus links following God’s Word with […]

Sunday, Oct. 20: God loves a pest!

by Trina Kleist

God wants us to pester him! Today’s Gospel lesson tells us: Be a prayer pest! Jesus compares God to a judge who is pestered day and night by a widow who demands justice. Finally, she wears out the judge, who gives in and grants what she asks. Jesus told them a parable about their need […]

Sunday, Oct. 13: Mt. Cross Sunday!

by Trina Kleist

Mt. Cross: This ministry-in-the-redwoods changes lives! Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains offers a special way to connect with our Creator. Prayer, fresh air and towering redwoods help you feel God’s rich, loving embrace in a whole new way! Special activities include high ropes and low ropes, archery, swimming, hikes, exploring the […]

Sunday, Oct. 6: Increase our faith – please!

by Trina Kleist

We increase our faith with Jesus’ help! Would you like to increase your faith in the One who created you? Jesus’ disciples sure wanted some of that. And even just a little faith can give us the power to do absolutely anything, That’s a promise that comes straight from Jesus’ mouth! Jesus’ followers begged him, […]

Sunday, Sept. 22: God or wealth at your center?

by Trina Kleist

God’s path offers true wealth! Jesus told the crowd: “No slave can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and wealth.” – Luke 16:13 Wealth by itself isn’t bad. But Jesus’ story today questions our relationship to wealth. What rules our hearts – our wealth or our Creator, the source of all wealth? Today’s Old […]