Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 / Psalm 126 / John 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Audio-Only Version
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©2023 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.
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Introduction: “Rejoice always,” begins the reading from 1 Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of a spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes we are happy to wear. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.
Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 / Psalm 126 / John 1:6-8, 19-28 Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Introduction:
John calls people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing gets in the way of the Lord’s coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, “See, your God is coming!” We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace. Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11 / Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 / Mark 1:1-8 Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Introduction:
Festival Choir sings the story of the Christ child. The world’s deep night is shattered by the light of God’s new day. The glory of God is revealed to poor shepherds, who share the good news with others. Readings: Psalm 96/ Luke 2:1-20
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 / Psalm 95:1-7a / Ephesians 1:15-23 / Matthew 25:31-46
Introduction: On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet we await the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds. Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Readings: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 / Psalm 0:1-8 [9-11] 12 / 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 / Matthew 25:14-30
Introduction: Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the Lord will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope—word, water, bread, and wine—eager to welcome the good news of Christ’s coming among us. Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Readings: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 / Psalm 0:1-8 [9-11] 12 / 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 / Matthew 25:14-30
Introduction: Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the Lord will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope—word, water, bread, and wine—eager to welcome the good news of Christ’s coming among us. Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Readings: Revelation 7:9-17 / Psalm 34:1-10, 22 / 1 John 3:1-33 / Matthew 5:1-12
Introduction: All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem. Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Introduction: Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34/ Psalm 46/ Romans 3:19-28/ John 8:31-36 Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Introduction: In today’s first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world.
Readings: Exodus 33:12-23/ Psalm 99/ Matthew 22:15-22 Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
Introduction: In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.
Readings: Exodus 32:1-14/ Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 / Matthew 22:1-14 Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
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