Salt and Light v. Sugar and Spice

Pastor Michael Zarling from Epiphany Lutheran in Racine, WI shares his thoughts on the person tug-of-war struggles between what we are called to do and what we're actually comfortable doing in our daily lives.

Read his commentary here.

God, Valentines, and Love

The first act of love came from God. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

In love, God gave us Jesus, a human being who would promise eternal life and a personal relationship unlike any other.

On Valentine's Day and throughout the month of February, random acts of kindness and intentional expressions of love are anticipated and often willingly shared. As God's love is everyday, all the time, unconditional, and never-ending, how can you share His love in your daily life?

Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mid-Week Devotion

It's Tuesday and nearly mid-week since Sunday's worship service. Have you given any thought to how you might "fish" and share God's love?
Today's post includes the Gospel verse that reflects Jesus' invitation to the disciples. It's followed by a devotion, written by Nance Wabshaw, posted at www.allsaintsphoenix.org.

Matthew 4:12-23

Gospel Lesson for Sunday, Jan 26, 2014

12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the Territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

  17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw to other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
    (e-Devotion text by Nance Wabshaw) Matthew is determined at every turn to underscore the fact that Jesus’ geographical moves were each a fulfillment of prophecy.  This move to Galilee is no exception and appears to be the direct result of Jesus learning that John has been arrested.  In addition to fulfilling prophecy, it is a prudent move on Jesus’ part as he realized just how serious Herod was about putting out the light that was shining brighter each day (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16). In what might be called holy defiance, Jesus landed in Galilee and began to proclaim the exact words of John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching and healing was now in full swing. Those moments of seeming chaos were all working together to bring Jesus into the fullness of his calling.
    I don’t really like to fish.  Getting up before first light to get into a boat, wrangling worms on a sharp hook and snagging a living creature that I don’t really enjoy eating just doesn’t light me up! When I see news reports on the struggling fishing industry in the northeast or the starfish blight along the west coast, I wonder how people can hope to make their living this way, let alone do it as recreation. But as grueling as this work could be, it was also extremely important work, taught and bequeathed down through the generations. Fishing was no less arduous when Jesus was on the shores of Galilee collecting his ragtag group of disciples. It was also not a recreational activity; it was livelihood for these coastal folks.
    I can imagine Jesus walking along the shore, leaving sandal prints in the sand to be washed away with the tide.  It was still dark because Simon (Peter) and Andrew were just casting their nets when Jesus showed up and offered them a “new job.” Jesus’ spirit probably outshone the sun as he approached them so it would be no surprise to read that the response to his offer included such words as “immediately” and “at once.” No returning home to discuss with family, no season of pondering pros and cons…just the immediate response to the great light that had dawned on them. And, as with anyone who spends enough time with someone, the disciples began to take on the attributes of Jesus so that he could tell them (and us), “You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).”
    For whatever reason, Zebedee stayed in the boat as his sons, James and John, left to begin a brand new journey.  It is intriguing that he didn’t join them.  Perhaps he was thinking of his other responsibilities.  Maybe he had already “sowed his wild oats” as he might have considered his sons’ impetuous behavior. We don’t know if he rejected Jesus or simply wasn’t invited to join Jesus’ initial group of missionaries.  Whatever the reason, Matthew leaves Zebedee in the boat which suddenly, to me, seems like a perilous place to be. And yet, how many times have I chosen to stay in the boat, seasick as I might be, rather than climb out and begin a journey of unknown dangers (and equally unknown joy) with God?
    Discipleship is not something we can understand from the beginning.  It unfolds for each of us in a God-ordained way. If they had known “the end from the beginning,” who knows what they would have chosen. But Jesus’ beckoning must have been exactly what these men had been seeking.  Their immediate response is the essence of repentance, which is not necessarily an emotion of sorrow for sins as it is a decision to change our minds, hearts and life directions. God gives us more than one chance to say “Yes” so I choose to believe that Zebedee eventually got out of the boat to do whatever God asked of him.
    Being a fisher of men and women is not on a list of optional spiritual practices; it is the heart and soul of any disciple of Jesus Christ. And each one of us is worthy of that call, regardless of what we are doing when we hear it.  It doesn’t depend on our talents, our good looks, our bank account, our current profession.  It depends on the grace of God and God’s desire that each of us abandons our leaky, self-driven boat and joins him in the most amazing journey there is. My prayer is that I will receive each day the strength of will to untangle myself from the things of this world—to “leave my
nets”—and experience the exhilaration of simply following the Lord.

2nd Sunday After Epiphany

Second Sunday after Epiphany Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-41

In a blog post penned by Delmer Chilton, a pastor authoring an article in Living Lutheran, he shares a memory of feeling lost.

Read it here.

His story is simple; an everyday kind of thing. It's an experience that could be dismissed as one that isn't worth sharing with anyone. When he reflected on this experience, he was reminded of a God-present life. A life that includes God's eyes set on him everyday, all the time, even when he might not be looking in His direction. The Gospel of John illustrates how John the Baptist told others about the Messiah. In telling them, they learned and followed Jesus.

How does this week's text apply to your everyday life?
Do you have a seemingly everyday experience to share with others that might lead them to the Lord?

Sunday School

January 12th marks the first Sunday after Epiphany, a day to recognize Jesus' baptism. Reference the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17.

Most Sunday School classes resume on the 12th at 9:15. 

The Not-So-Silent Night

Many children from the elementary Sunday School program participated in a delightful Christmas pageant during the late service on Sunday. The premise of  The Not-So-Silent Night  targeted sounds and emotional responses in preparation for Jesus' birth. 

 The shepherds who visit baby Jesus on the night of his birth are so excited about the events of the evening that they make a great deal of noise and are arrested for disturbing the peace. The play takes place in the court room where the shepherds are on trial.

Click once on the picture to make it larger

Luke 1:35 ...the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.

Advent Noise!

Each Sunday in Advent is celebrated with a theme and a candle lighting in the sanctuary. Recently, the contrast between silence and noise were addressed at the beginning of the church service. In the midst of this season, pray for opportunities to listen for the Lord and speak of His love.

Women of the congregation, along with friends from the community, joined together in unity on Tuesday, December 3rd.

 An evening of delectable desserts and fellowship was enjoyed by more than 170 women in the CLC.

 The planning team designed the program to highlight Jesus as the Star of Unity. An invitation to students and faculty from Hartford Elementary, provided welcome "Advent Noise" to the evening. Ten students in the Morning Music program at Hartford performed three delightful songs on xylophones, uniting community neighbors with church members and friends.

Holy Trinity Quilters donated several quilts to the raffle as well as a generous assortment donated to the families of Hartford Elementary.

 The deep blue of Advent is meant to inspire in us the hope of faith, and to encourage us to keep watch for the promised light of Christ to break over the horizon, changing night into day, darkness into light, and filling our lives and our world with a holy and righteous splendor.

We need both silence and noise to journey through Advent. The joy of fellowship is especially sweet and the tranquility of silence allows us to ponder the treasures of this season.

"Prepare the way of the Lord." - Matthew 3:3