Posted by hlewis |
I am not a gardener. I have memories of my parents’ beautiful vegetable garden, eating snow peas off the vine and dripping in strawberry juice, and my brother’s height being compared to huge zucchinis. I thoroughly enjoy others’ landscaping and flowers, but if a plant needs much tending, you probably won’t find it in my yard — I am excited to just be able to grow grass.
This…
Posted by dwhetter |
Compared to the past several weeks, as our gospel story begins today, everything has changed. Jesus has finished instructing the twelve disciples (Matthew 11:1) and he has now moved on. He is traveling around again to various cities and towns, proclaiming his message of repentance, for “the kingdom of God has come near” (Matthew 4:17). While Jesus continued on, John, while in prison,…
As you most likely know, this year we are commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Legend proclaims that, on October 31, 1517, a young German monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These theses, or statements, were actually a list of 95 propositions that Luther wished to debate to help reform…
Posted by dwhetter |
For the past several weeks we have been listening to Jesus provide his disciples instructions on what it will take to be a disciple. He began this time of teaching because he had commissioned the twelve disciples to go out and do the work he had been doing; he empowered them to cure the sick and drive out evil spirits. He provided them warnings of the persecutions and trials that would follow,…
Dear Salem Family,
I read an article the other day and this quote hit me and stuck with me for days, “The problem isn’t when Christians disagree, it’s when they lose the ability to disagree without dialogue. It’s when they lose the ability to welcome diversity of thought. The Church has become a members-only club, defined by the narrowest of doctrines and a singular understanding…
Posted by dwhetter |
Today we continue on right where we left off last week. When we ended the reading last week, Jesus was in the midst of sending the twelve out to do the ministry he had been doing. It would be their first “road trip” on their own and so he was giving them instructions as to how to go about this ministry and he was warning them of the dangers of doing such a ministry. Even though he was…
9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 9 (NRSV)
The VBS week has been an amazing experience for all involved. Our awesome adult leaders have been teaching, leading, playing music, serving food, and so much more. Our middle and senior high students have been leading…
Posted by dwhetter |
Last Sunday we read about Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This Great Commission as we call it, came after Jesus had spent many years with his disciples in mission…
Posted by hlewis |
My youngest turns 6 this week, and I made a little photo album of her dance pictures in the last 3 years. It’s so fun to flip the pages and watch her grow in confidence and grace! Many of you know that I’m a nut about pictures: I’m not one of those parents who says “it goes by so fast!” as I have pictures of so many sweet moments to prove exactly how long it’s been.
My oldest…
This past Sunday, June 4, we read in John’s gospel: “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you'” (John 20:19). As I noted in my sermon, Jesus’ words, “Peace be with you,” are more than just a greeting; they are…