If you have been following along the storyline from Messiah Lutheran this autumn you have been hearing a couple of reoccurring themes.First, in September Pastor Dave had the challenge of preaching on parables in Luke about rich guys.What is the challenge about rich people?Jesus seemed to frown upon wealth and we are among the richest people on eart...
Who are the saints and what do they have to say to us? Rather than being perfect Christians, the saints are people who have been made whole by the grace of God, through baptism into Christ. The communion of saints is a diverse array of witnesses who remind us of God's continuing faithfulness - past, present and future. This Sunday we commemor...
Holy Communion - The Eucharist (Thanksgiving!) - is a sacrament of the Christian faith. We receive it with joy and awe. Yet, it is a mistake to separate the sacrament from the choices of everyday life. This Sunday we will read Isaiah 25:6-8 and 1 Cor 11:17-34. These texts speak to blessing and responsibility. Give them a looksie before worship...
This iconoclastic painting of Martin Luther was done by Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1548 - 30 some years into the Lutheran Reformation. It is unlike any pre-Reformation Christian art you will find. The painting (Cranach was sort of Luther's publicist, a story for another time!) shows Luther with his hand firmly on the Bible, pointing to th...
Dear People of Messiah Lutheran Church,Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Kathy and I were overwhelmed by the week of amazing send-off events at Messiah North, Brewed Theology, and culminating program and reception at the Hazel Dell campus. We were awestruck by the kind words, thoughtful cards, wonderful displays, generous gifts, tears of laughter an...