Posted by hlewis |
Last Sunday we heard one of the many scriptures about banquets, feasts, and food in general. Sometimes they’re just about having a place at the table in fellowship with others. Sometimes they suggest we should eat with people that the world says aren’t worthy, but God says they are. “Jesus is the Bread of Life” talks about how His peace fills you, so you’ll never be hungry or thirsty again.
…Posted by svanbaale |
For something different, I thought I would write about the first and second readings for this Sunday instead of the Gospel reading. Both readings speak of rejoicing in God and the peace of God.
Rejoicing in God
In the first reading (Isaiah 25:1-9), it talks about exalting and praising God. “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you…
Posted by jmarple |
Two weeks ago, we held another town hall meeting at Atonement in our ongoing attempt to listen to pluses and pinch points of our current covenant with Atonement. About 25-30 people attended the meeting. We had a great conversation and also took another survey, and I am pleased to share the feedback and results with you as part of my Staff Trax this week! (We also offered the survey in last week’s…
Posted by hlewis |
Six years ago, an incredible team effort was started to provide a movable gaga ball pit for our youth. If you aren’t familiar with gaga ball, it’s a dodgeball-inspired game played inside a low-walled circle that you can see in many elementary school playgrounds and camps (including Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp). In September 2020 we had just started worshipping at Central Baptist Seminary and…
Posted by svanbaale |
Can you imagine working all day in the hot sun and someone else barely worked but got the same amount in pay? This is exactly what happens in the Gospel for this Sunday.
Matthew 20:1-16 tells the familiar parable of the landowner who pays his workers the same wage no matter when they start work.
I can just hear them whining, “But that’s not fair!” The landowner decides to…
Posted by jmarple |
One of the privileges I get as a pastor is to sit at a funeral home table after a loved one has died. I’m there to give support, act as a liaison between the funeral home and the church, and to just be another set of listening ears.
One of the most difficult times to do this has been when a loved one has completed suicide. It is a very painful goodbye. I have been with families of those…
Posted by hlewis |
There’s a song we’ve sung over the years at Salem titled “Blessings” that says, “What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?”
It was written by Laura Story after her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and their prayers for healing were not being answered.…
Posted by svanbaale |
It has been about three months since my heart surgery, so I thought I would give you an update in my Staff Trax this week. Things did not go as planned, but I am slowly feeling more back to normal.
I thought I would be in the hospital three or four days, but I ended up being there for 10 days. Later in the day they put in the mechanical valve and replaced the aortic valve, they discovered…
Posted by jmarple |
Dear Beloved of Salem,
By now, I hope you have received and read over the covenant that the councils and leadership of both Salem and Atonement sent out via email last week. This was drafted with careful consideration and with hopes of some structure moving forward. As part of our continuing collaboration, I wanted to make all of you aware that starting Sept. 9, I will be working…
Posted by hlewis |
I’m not a fan of conflict. Thankfully, I didn’t have to deal with it much growing up; my extended family all got along and went out of their way to spend happy time together. My parents always “presented a united front” to us, so we never saw them argue, or really even disagree. They both knew several foreign languages, so perhaps some of the negotiation was in front of us but we didn’t…