Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed! We find ourselves celebrating the chief festival of the church year, i.e. Easter. “This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia. Alleluia.”—LBW page 82. Easter, also known as Passover, is a week of week’s celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. The Season of Easter is 50 days long, culminating in the Day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church, the arrival of promised power from on high. Our Easter word is Alleluia, which means, “Praise the Lord”. Every Sunday is a mini-Easter in the life of a Christian. (more…)

St. Paul, addressing the Church at Corinth, reminds them that they are called to be a Community of Reconciliation: reconciled and reconciling. “For our sake God made Jesus to be sin, he who knew no sin, so that in Jesus we might become the righteousness of God”—II Corinthians 5:21. Martin Luther called this divine transaction the “Blessed/Happy Exchange”. In baptism we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. In Christ, we are made Christian. Jesus takes all that we are and gives us all that he is. It’s a good trade! Sin is our problem, and atonement (AT-ONE-MENT) is God’s solution; what was separated is now at one! (more…)

Remember these hymnic words? “I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load. I bring my guilt to Jesus to wash my crimson stains; clean in His blood most precious, till not a spot remains”—LBW #305.

A woman once said to me, “Pastor, I don’t do guilt.” I paused and replied, “Then you must not do forgiveness either.” If guilt doesn’t exist, then sIn isn’t a problem and forgiveness isn’t necessary. If forgiveness isn’t necessary then Jesus didn’t need to die on a cross and we don’t need to be saved from sIn. Death is simply a nuisance (more…)

Each month in 2012, I am reflecting on some of the bedrock beliefs of our Christian faith. Coinciding with the Season of Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord, I began our year-long journey with the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Baptism is our entrance into the Church, the Redeemed Body of Christ. This month I am reflecting on a related topic, namely: “The Priesthood of All Believers” and the gift of “Vocation”. In baptism we are called to “let our lights shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven”. We are saved for a purpose! We are God’s calling cards. We are God’s portable temples of worship and praise in daily life. Once again hymnody leads the way: “We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another, to walk humbly with God”—ELW #720. “Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart”—ELW #574. “Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea, day by day his clear voice sounding, saying ‘Christian, follow me.’”—ELW #696. (more…)

The Grand Sweep is coming to an end.  Our Year of the Bible has run its course.  The Sacred Text is mastering and having its way with us; serving as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for correction, for teaching, for reproof, and for training in righteousness, that the child of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”—II Timothy 3:16-17.  On January 8, we’ll have our final Grand Sweep conversation during the Adult Education Hour.  We’ll discuss “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth”.  On Christmas Eve we begin the celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  On January 1 (10 a.m.) we will embrace the gift of a New Year with our traditional Bell Ringing Service.  On Sunday, January 22 we will officially be saying farewell to our Youth Director, Beth, and wishing her Godspeed as she departs for a new ministry opportunity in Australia.  As we say goodbye to 2011, may God grant each of us the wisdom and joy of a faith-filled 2012. (more…)