Sermons

Music is Next to Theology

Sometimes called the Battle Hymn of the Reformation, the hymn we will focus on this week, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, was written by Martin Luther. He is quoted as saying “music is next to theology.” Listen as Pastor Susanne considers what he thought about music in worship and what he might think about the way we worship today. […]

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Peril

The hymn we are focusing on this week, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” can bring comfort in the times of trouble we all experience. Based in part on Psalm 107, it leads us back to the last line of that Psalm, “Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the […]

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It is Well with My Soul

The song we will focus on this week, “When Peace Like a River” has a refrain of “It is well with my soul.” Listen as Pastor Susanne explores how singing can help our bodies, minds and souls. Accompanying Scripture:1 Corinthians 14:13-15

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Fairest Lord Jesus

Long a staple in Lutheran hymnody, our featured hymn this week, “Beautiful Savior,” has a lot to say about our understanding of Jesus. Accompanying Scripture:Isaiah 9: 6-7

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How Sweet the Sound

“Amazing Grace.” How do we know God in the words of this beloved song? We begin our July series on beloved hymns and songs with a hymn from someone who went from being involved in the Atlantic slave trade to working as an abolitionist. Accompanying Scripture:Romans 5: 1-5

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All Are Welcome

We finish up our brief summer series of kids’ books with one last book about communion. We don’t invite people to the table, Jesus does. Jesus’ invitation is that all are welcome. Listen as Pastor Susanne considers what he mean by “all?”  Accompanying Scripture:1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

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Emmanuel

We continue easing into the summer by reading a kids’ book during worship. This week’s story is “God With Us” and is about Jesus’ arrival here on Earth (yes a Christmas story in June).   Accompanying Scripture:Luke 2: 5-7

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Tell Me a Story

For the month of June, we will enter into a more relaxed time in church with our biblical texts told as children’s stories. Listen as Pastor Susanne shares the story of God’s promise to walk with God’s people every day by bringing them manna.  Accompanying Scripture:Exodus 16:13-16

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Pentecost

In other places in scripture the Spirit is depicted as a gentle dove. Sometimes we envision Her as dancing. But in the scene described by Luke in Acts the coming of the Holy Spirit is no gentle appearance. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores the ways we experience the Holy Spirit today. Accompanying Scripture:Acts 2:1-21, John 14:16-17

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Partnership in the Gospel

Paul has a lot to say about community in the first few sentences of this letter he writes from prison.  New scholarship suggests what he had to say is even more important to us today. Listen as Pastor Susanne explores what we can learn from the lessons of Paul’s letter to the community of Philippi. Accompanying […]

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