Sermon Audio 6/3/2018 2nd Sunday after Pentecost B

Lutheran Church of the Savior, Kalamazoo 

Second Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary Year B

Mark 2:23--3:6 

The religious authorities challenge Jesus for breaking the law on the Sabbath. What is the purpose of Sabbath? Who is it for?

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February Newsletter Article: Jubilee!

No sermon audio for 1/25/15 or 2/1/15, because we had excellent guest preachers both weeks, so instead today I can post my February Newsletter article and accompanying annotated schedule of Jubilee Events. Pancakes! Basketball! Bishop! Prayer! So much good stuff here, as we rediscover the joy of following Jesus together.

The glory of these forty days

we celebrate with songs of praise;

for Christ, through whom all things were made,

himself has fasted and has prayed.

Then grant, O God, that we may, too,

return in fast and prayer to you.

Our spirits strengthen with your grace,

and give us joy to see your face.

-  Latin hymn, tr. Maurice F. Bell, “The Glory of These Forty Days,” ELW 320

Lent and Jubilee. How does that make sense?

January 2015 Newsletter Article: Jubilee

After a holiday hiatus, this blog is back in business! In addition to this newsletter article, look for sermon audios for Sunday 12/21, Sunday 1/4, and Christmas Eve in the coming days. 

^“10And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. ¹¹That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. ¹²For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.”

- Leviticus 25:10-12

During the five years I have served you as pastor, I have been immensely proud of all the tremendous work we have done together for the sake of the gospel. The love of God in Jesus Christ has guided Lutheran Church of the Savior to faithfully take risks on new endeavors, to faithfully let go of things that no longer serve the gospel as they once did, and to faithfully continue many of our successful ministries. The place of “the church” in our world continues to evolve, and we, LCS, have met this challenge with trust that God is leading us to participate in God’s work in Kalamazoo and around the world.

Growth and change in recent years haven’t always been easy. We have faced challenges and conflicts, lost beloved members and sometimes hurt one another’s feelings even though that was not our intent. Helpfully, scripture reminds us that following Jesus was never meant to be easy. From disciples who left their boats and families when Jesus said “Follow me,” to the apostles whose proclamation of Jesus Christ led to imprisonment and even death, following Jesus has always been about trusting God to lead us through the unknown.

And.