Blog Posts - Elim Lutheran Church

Bring the Little Children to Him October 3, 2021

10/3/2021

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24 / Psalm 8/ Mark 10:2-16
Introduction: Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’s law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us as well. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

Good Being Done in Jesus' Name September 26, 2021

9/23/2021

Scripture:  Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29/ Psalm 19:7-14 / James 5:13-20 / Mark 9:38-50
Introduction:  Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson -  "God's Power-Sharing Program"

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

Service is the Way to Greatness September 19, 2021

9/19/2021

Scripture: Jeremiah 11:18-20 / Psalm 54 / Mark 9:30-37
Introduction: Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson - "The Little Ones”

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

Jesus as the Messiah September 12, 2021

9/12/2021

Scripture:  Isaiah 50:4-9a / Psalm 116:1-9 / Mark 8:27-38
Introduction:  Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.
Sermon:  Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson—   "Fellow Cross-Bearers“

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

God Shows No Partiality September 5, 2021

9/5/2021

Scripture:  Isaiah 35:4-7a / Psalm 146 / Mark 7:24-37
Introduction:  James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson -  "Jesus is open to a persistent, faithful woman!'

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

Create a Clean Heart Within Us August 29, 2021

8/29/2021

Scripture:  Song of Solomon 2:8-13/ Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9 / Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Introduction:  Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson -  "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away"

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

"To Whom Shall We Go" August 22, 2021

8/22/2021

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11] 22-30, 41-43/ Psalm 84 / John 6:56-69
Introduction: In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John’s gospel for Peter’s confession of faith. “To whom can we go?” asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. “You have the words of eternal life.” In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

Mary, Mother of Our Lord August 15, 2021

8/15/2021

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-9 / Galatians 4:4-7 / Luke 1:46-55
Introduction: Mary’s role is not limited to giving birth to Jesus and mothering him in his childhood. In John’s gospel, she is among the women standing near the cross; in Acts, she is among the disciples awaiting the gift of the Spirit. Through all that happened she continued to see how God was at work through her son, keeping the ancient promises to her ancestors, brushing aside the rich and powerful, and focusing on those as poor and powerless as Mary herself.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson - "Theotokos”

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

The Bread of Life August 8, 2021

8/8/2021

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 / Psalm 130 / John 6:35, 41-51
Introduction: Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this life Jesus gives us looks like, this life we live as those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. The whole purpose of life is giving yourself for the other.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson - "

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

"I am the bread of life" August 1, 2021

8/1/2021

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:13a / Psalm 51:1-12 / John 6:24-35
Introduction: Apparently not satisfied by Jesus’ feeding of thousands, some who were there press him for a sign of his power; perhaps it is daily manna they want. As always in John’s gospel when people want a sign, Jesus offers himself. He is the bread come from heaven to give life to the world. He calls us to come to him and believe in him, and through that relationship to know the one who sent him.
Sermon: Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson - "Holy Meal"

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©2021 Elim Lutheran Church of Petaluma, California. All rights reserved. Portions used by permission.

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