Category: - Elim Lutheran Church

Lectionary 14 - July 3, 2016

7/4/2016

Reading: Galatians 6:[1-6]7-16; Psalm 30
Gospel: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

God is the source of our nourishment. Our Lord’s invitation to “take and eat . . . take and drink” is a repeated one. In the holy eucharist, in the word read and proclaimed, in the assembly of the people of God, the dominion of God has come near. Rejoice! Your name is written in heaven.

Lectionary 13 - June 26, 2016

7/4/2016

Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

We have no good apart from God. That makes our Lord’s call to follow him an invitation to freedom. This is freedom to revel in the Spirit’s fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, and the like. This is the path of life.

Lectionary 12 - June 19, 2016

6/19/2016

Readings: Isaiah 65:1-9; Psalm 22:19-28; Galatians 3:23-29
Gospel: Luke 8:26-39

This Sunday’s texts paint startling pictures of the horrific—the demonic—nature of sin. The church’s repeated celebration of the holy communion counters that tragic reality in a continued showing forth of the death of Jesus “until he comes.” It is a dramatic declaration of “how much God has done for you.”

Gifts of the Spirit (Pentecost) - May 15, 2016

6/18/2016

Readings: Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Gospel: Mark 1:4-8

On the day of Pentecost (50 days after Christ’s resurrection), many were gathered together when God sent God’s Holy Spirit to enter the world and motivate people to serve God and others. It was a community event that sparked the spread of Christianity worldwide.

Lectionary 11 - june 12, 2016

6/13/2016

Readings: 2 Samuel 11:26--12:10, 13-15; Psalm 32; Galatians 2:15-21
Gospel: Luke 7:36—8:3

The enormity of our sin is surpassed only by the mercy of God. We come, repentant, to the table of the Lord. In the body and blood of Jesus, in the announcement of our absolution, all our sins are forgiven. “Happy are they . . . whose sin is put away.” Happy are we.

Lectionary 10 - June 5, 2016

6/6/2016

Readings: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 30; Galatians 1:11-24
Gospel: Luke 7:11-17

The Time after Pentecost is a teaching time, a growing time, in the life of the church. Today’s texts celebrate God’s ability and intention to provide us with a new lease on life. To that end we gather today with the whole people of God to be instructed by the word and nourished in the blessed sacrament.

Death Swallowed in Life - May 8, 2016

5/9/2016

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57
Gospel: Mark 12:26-27a

To quell a debate over life after death, Paul wrote quite eloquently about new life made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ. Not only has Christ given us new life here on earth – a life driven not by fear, but by hope, faith, and love – but Christ has also made possible eternal life with our creator, God.

Church at Thessalonica - April 17, 2016

4/18/2016

Readings: Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Gospel: Mark 13:9-11

Paul and Silas took on the religious authorities directly, arguing on the Sabbath and proclaiming Christ the Messiah. Religious authorities tried to quell the rebellion by imprisoning those who aided the Christians. But Jesus’ message of love endured, despite the culture of fear.

Peter Heals in Jerusalem - April 10, 2016

4/11/2016

Reading: Acts 3:1-10
Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

Peter and John offered healing in Jesus’ name as their witness to Jesus’ love for humanity. The people who were used to seeing the man asking for alms were filled with wonder and amazement at the sight of the lame man walking. There are many things about Jesus and about God’s world that can fill us with wonder and amazement. Are we open to seeing?

You Shall Be My Witness - April 3, 2016

4/4/2016

Reading: Acts 1:1-14
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus left his followers with the promise of the Holy Spirit, which would be God’s presence with them at all times and in all places. Jesus also left them (and us) with hope that one day Jesus would return, and this world would be restored to the world God intended. In the meantime, we have been given the charge to create God’s intended world with our thoughts, words, and actions.