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Maundy Thursday—April 18, 2019
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Exodus 12:1–14 | Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19 | 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 | John 13:1–17, 31b–35
Summary: In tonight’s Gospel, Jesus give the disciples a new commandment that they love one another. It’s easy to love when things are going well, but it is much harder when others disagree with us or do unlovable things. Something needs to change in us so we can witness to God’s love.
Palm Sunday—April 14, 2019
Sermon for the procession not recorded; dramatic passion reading, so no sermon given.
Fifth Sunday in Lent—April 7, 2019
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Isaiah 43:16–21 | Psalm 126 | Philippians 3:4b–14 | John 12:1–8
Summary: In our first lesson, we are reminded that while God has rescued us in desperate times and that we are not to remember former things but know that God is doing a new thing. Too often we focus on ourselves and impatiently belittle others. In our Gospel, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, filling the room with perfume, but Judas brings the focus back on the narrow particular. Too often, we focus on ourselves on our needs, and we miss the streams God is pouring out in the desert. We are all anointed at our baptisms and called to anoint the world with hope and joy.
Fourth Sunday in Lent—March 31, 2019
Preacher: Intern Pastor Andy Flatt-Kuntze
Lessons: Joshua 5:9–12 | Psalm 32 | 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 | Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
Summary: In our first lesson, God welcomes the Israelites from the desert into the Promised Land; and in our Gospel, we hear the story of the Prodigal Son. Both lessons show God reconciling all people to himself. We have all wandered and strayed, and God welcomes each of us back. Our life journeys change us, but we are never apart from God. God sees us from afar and welcomes us back. God loves us so deeply that we are never left in the wilderness.
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Third Sunday in Lent—March 24, 2019
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Isaiah 55:1–9 | Psalm 63:1–8 | 1 Corinthians 10:1–13 | Luke 13:1–9
Summary: Sometimes we misunderstand our lesson from Paul and the Gospel and think we have a license to destroy those who are unworthy. But the first lesson from Isaiah makes it clear that God calls everyone to the feast of grace and mercy. We want to decide who is worthy to receive God’s grace, but it is not our invitation; it is God’s. God has already called everyone to receive God’s grace, love, mercy, and peace. Our job is to proclaim that invitation.
Second Sunday in Lent—March 17, 2019
Preacher: Intern Pastor Andy Flatt-Kuntze
Lessons: Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18 | Psalm 27 | Philippians 3:17–4:1 | Luke 13:31–35
Summary: In our lesson from the Hebrew scriptures, we learn of the covenant God makes with Abram (later Abraham). Abram laments that he has no heir, and God promises that he will have as many descendants as the stars in the sky. Abram believes God, and the covenant is symbolized in sacrifice. Scripture shows us that God always keeps promises, even when we do not. As Lutherans we experience this faithfulness in our liturgies of baptism, weddings, funerals, and more. In our liturgy and rituals, we are changed and God’s promises made real for us to take into the world.
First Sunday in Lent—March 10, 2019
Preacher: Pastor Jeff Lilley
Lessons: Deuteronomy 26:1–11 | Psalm 91:1–2, 9–16 | Romans 10:8b–13 | Luke 4:1–13
Summary: This year for Lent we are focusing on each week’s first lesson from the Hebrew scriptures. In today’s lesson, God commands the people to bring offerings of the first fruits after they enter the Promised Land, not for God’s benefit but so they will remember that they belong to God. They are also reminded to bring along the aliens living with them to share in the feast. In the Gospel, Jesus responds to temptation through the use of scripture, thereby reminding us that we and all the earth belong to God. We are all called to bring our first fruits and become God’s instruments of grace in the world.
Ash Wednesday—March 6, 2019
Preacher: Intern Pastor Andy Flatt-Kuntze
Lessons: Isaiah 58:1–12 | Psalm 51:1–17 | 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10 | Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Summary: Ash Wednesday is a tricky day. Our Gospel tells us not to draw attention to ourselves, but here we sit with ashes on our foreheads. In baptism, we are each marked with the cross of Christ, brought into the family of God, and sent out for the sake of the world. The ashes on our foreheads trace that cross from our baptism. The question is whether we put our own needs before the needs of others or embrace our common humanity. May we use this season of Lent as a time of deep introspection and to strengthen our calling.