Category: Sunday

  • Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    + Holy Baptism of Blair Elouise Rosenbaum + Readings: Numbers 11:4–6, 10–16, 24–29 | James 5:1–20 | Mark 9:38–50 Text: Mark 9:38-50 (covering points of Formula of Concord, Article V – Law and Gospel) 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because…

  • Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

    Readings: Jeremiah 11:18–20 | James 3:13—4:10 | Mark 9:30–37 Text: James 3:13—4:10 (covering points from Formula of Concord, Article III – The Righteousness of Faith) “Even in Your Weakness, He is Strong to Save” Why do Christians act so unchristian sometimes?  Bitter divisions and resentment separate people from the congregation, and congregations from one another. …

  • Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    Readings: Isaiah 50:4–10 | James 3:1–12 | Mark 9:14-29 Text: Mark 9:14-29 covering points from the Formula of Concord, Article I – Original Sin “To Shine on Those Who Sit in Darkness and the Shadow of Death” Arguing, suffering from childhood, inability to help, exasperation, unbelief, convulsions, and near death—This is what the Lord Jesus…

  • “Good Works are Necessary (not for Salvation)”

    Readings: Isaiah 35:4–7a | James 2:1-26 | Mark 7:24–37 Text: James 2:1-26 (covering points from the Formula of Concord, Article IV – Good Works) “Good Works Are Necessary for Salvation.” Ever since the time of the Reformation lead by Martin Luther, good works have been a point of contention.  The Reformers pointed out the gross…

  • The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

    Readings: Revelation 6:9–11 | Romans 6:1–5 | Mark 6:14–29Text: Mark 6:14-29 “Martyrs for Marriage” “Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” ~ Psalm 71:4-5 ~ In the + Name of…

  • Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

    Readings: Isaiah 29:11–19 | Ephesians 5:22–33 | Mark 7:1–13 Text: Mark 7:1-13 In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were the religious guard for the nation of Israel.  After the time of the Exile, and coming out as champions for righteousness after the Maccabean revolt, they held the Scriptures in the highest regard.  However, they…

  • Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

    Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

    Readings: Proverbs 9:1–10 & Joshua 24:1-2(a), 14-18 | Ephesians 5:6–21 | John 6:51–69 Text: Ephesians 5:6-21 “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’”~ John 6:68-69 ~ Yesterday at…

  • Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

    Baptism of Inara Fae Means Readings: 1 Kings 19:1-8 | Ephesians 4:17-5:2 | John 6:35–51 Text: Ephesians 4:17—5:2 Everyone has desires and needs, ideals for which they strive, a sense of how it should be.  But do we stop and think where that comes from? While humanity was originally created the image and likeness of…

  • Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

    Readings: Exodus 16:2–15 | Ephesians 4:1–16 | John 6:22–35 Text: Psalm 145:10-21; Ephesians 4:1-16 God always provides.  This is something we acknowledge (most of the time) in our lives.  We prayed earlier in Psalm 145,             15    The eyes of all look to you,                         and you give them their                         food in due season.…

  • Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (also Feast of St. James)

    Readings: Genesis 9:8-17 | Ephesians 3:14-21 | Mark 6:45-56 Text: Genesis 9:8-17 When people hear about the Flood, people in our culture might picture a boat with animals sticking out windows, and several people aboard.  Other cultures record the same event: The Chinese have the story of the family of Fuhi, who lived during the…