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Speaker: Rev. Kate Davidson

Doubting Thomas

Written by Faith2014 on .

Doubting Thomas gets a bad rap. First, the man he had hoped would change the world and bet his whole life on was dead and things looked bleak for anyone known to follow Jesus. In the midst of his grief, hope was distant and even though Thomas and the other disciples trusted Jesus, they doubted he was really coming back. So it’s no wonder the disciples locked themselves away from the world, huddled together in an attempt to save themselves. Yet Jesus finds them anyway and it is in that encounter, they are extended real, lasting peace. Listen as Pastor Kate considers the ways our fear, grief, and pain cast doubt in our lives and how Jesus encounters us to bind us back together.

Accompanying Scripture:
John 20: 19-29

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Doubting Thomas
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The Samaritan Woman at the Well

Written by Faith2014 on .

Many of us have parts of ourselves that we hide from the world because we are ashamed or worry about others reactions. Yet, God knows what those things are and still loves us. In our reading this week, we encounter Jesus at the well with a Samaritan woman who was there midday probably because she didn’t want to worry about the stares and snide comments she would receive if she went another time. Listen as Pastor Kate explores how in that encounter, this woman’s shame is unraveled by Jesus’s love for her – a love that extends to each of us.

Accompanying Scripture:
John 4:1-29

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The Samaritan Woman at the Well
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Encouraging the Israelites in Exile to Plant Gardens & Build Houses

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Sometimes we need to plan a funeral for our dreams because maybe then we can grieve the broken dreams and begin to see the beauty that surrounds us. This week we hear God tell the Jewish people exiled away from their homeland to begin to put down roots in Babylon – to build houses and plant gardens. Listen as Pastor Kate considers how letting one dream die might open us up to new dreams and new possibilities.

Accompanying Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:1-7

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Encouraging the Israelites in Exile to Plant Gardens & Build Houses
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The Conversion of Saul to Paul

Written by Faith2014 on .

Change is the only constant in the world. And yet, it is something so many of us push back against, fight, or refuse to do. So much so, that it might take an act of God to put us on a different path – something the Apostle Paul knows all about. This week we hear the story of how Saul has a change of heart and stops persecuting the Christians to become an apostle who proclaims Jesus to the world while another disciple, Ananias, takes a risk and trusts God to encounter the newly converted Saul so he can regain his sight. Listen as Pastor Kate considers what it might take for us to change our minds, both about what we believe and whether we can trust other people have actually changed.

Accompanying Scripture:
Acts 9: 1-20

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The Conversion of Saul to Paul
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Pharaoh Hardens His Heart to Moses’ Requests

Written by Faith2014 on .

Is there really enough? Pharaoh would say no. God always says yes, there is always enough. Listen as Pastor Kate considers whether we trust God’s abundance and desire for freedom and justice, or if we, like Pharaoh, unravel God’s plans with our belief there simply isn’t enough to go around.

Accompanying Scripture:
Exodus 5:1-2; 7:8-23

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Pharaoh Hardens His Heart to Moses’ Requests
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Zacchaeus the Wealthy Tax Collector

Written by Faith2014 on .

If we are to consider who might be worthy enough to host Jesus in our homes, some would likely either mimic a couple of the disciples who believed they were worthy and argued as to who should sit at Jesus’ right hand, or simply assume that they were not worthy. If you asked the crowd gathered to see Jesus when he finds Zacchaeus up in a tree trying to see, nobody would have said Zacchaeus. As a wealthy tax collector who profited from unjust tax collection, he was a sinner and had defrauded his own people. Yet, Jesus asks to be invited to his house for dinner. Listen as Pastor Kate explores this text and the ways Jesus has of unraveling our expectations – about who is worthy, who we are, and how we see the world.

Accompanying Scripture:
Luke 19: 1-10

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Zacchaeus the Wealthy Tax Collector
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Sarah Laughs

Written by Faith2014 on .

Over the past 16 months, we have seen our plans, expectations, and hopes for our lives unravel and change. In Genesis, we hear how Abraham and Sarah also experienced the pain of unmet hopes and expectations that they would one day have their own child and yet it became seemingly impossible. Listen as Pastor Kate explores the story of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah to make the impossible possible and considers that even if our prayers aren’t answered in the same way, we can trust that sometimes, even after life seems to fall apart, God can surprise us and unravel our plans with unexpected joy if we are willing to receive it.

Accompanying Scripture:
Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

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Sarah Laughs
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Fruits of the Spirit

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“I’ve got to go now, Julia, we got cows,” says a character in the movie “Twister,” as a cow flies past the front windshield, caught up in the wind of a tornado. We celebrate Pentecost this week, when the Spirit came in to the disciples as a violent wind and tongues of fire appeared above people’s heads. Listen as Pastor Kate examines what it means to be caught up in the Spirit, if it is gentle or as violent as a tornado, and what that means for us in our lives.

Accompanying Scripture:
Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7, Luke 11:11-13

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Fruits of the Spirit
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One in Christ

Written by Faith2014 on .

Nationals or Phillies? Coffee or Tea? Urban, Suburban, or Rural? Asian, Black, Native, White, or Multi-racial? Lutheran, Catholic, or Evangelical? We naturally divide ourselves based on any number of things, many of which are core to our identity. This week we hear again from the Apostle Paul who writes to the Galatians about their own identity and from where it comes. Does it come from the Jewish practices they have adopted or held on to as they begin to worship the risen Christ? Or does it come more purely from God. And then, what happens to the other aspects of their identity? Listen as Pastor Kate explores what it means when Paul says there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; for all are one in Christ Jesus and whether this means we shed the rest of our identities to become like the Borg (from Star Trek)?

Accompanying Scripture:
Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29, Luke 1:68-79

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One in Christ
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Council at Jerusalem

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In worship this week, we continue the story of the early church as they sorted out what the requirements were for being a member of the church. In the midst of it, it seems that God, the Holy Spirit, may already know and we’re just playing catch up. Listen as Pastor Kate considers the ways God is at work in our midst and how we might follow God’s lead.

Accompanying Scripture:
Acts 15:1-18, Luke 2:29-32

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Council at Jerusalem
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Faith Lutheran Church

3313 Arlington Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201

703.525.9283 (Church)
703.525.1375 (Preschool)

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9 am Contemporary Worship

11 am Blended Traditional Worship with Livestream

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