Month: July 2017

Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Date: Pentecost VII (Proper 11) + July 23, 2017

What an appropriate Gospel reading for us on this first Sunday meeting here in the Troy Historic Village. [Thanks to everyone who helped the move yesterday.] It is appropriate because Jesus is here speaking to two different audiences; first to the great crowds that had gathered about him, so great that Jesus got into a boat to make a sort of amphitheater of the shore of the sea, then secondly to his disciples only in the house. With our change in location many have thought this may be an opportunity for outreach into our new community. We encourage visitors to check us out, but more to check out Jesus whom we proclaim. Continue reading “Shine Like the Sun in the Kingdom”

Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Date: Pentecost VI (Proper 10) and The Disposition of a Church Building + 7/16/17

(This is the last Sunday we meet at the facilities of Lutheran High School Northwest, 1000 Bagley, Rochester Hills.)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Is. 40:8). Today we are aware that we are the grass and flower, we are the ones along with the whole world around us who wither and fade. Time goes by faster and faster. Our lives seem increasingly insignificant and our life so small. The one thing, says Isaiah, that stands forever is the word of our God. And that word is our life. Continue reading “Hear the Word of the Kingdom”

Text: Matthew 11:25-30
Date: Pentecost V (Proper 9) + 7/9/17

The Word of God before us today describes the struggle of the life and faith of the disciple of Jesus Christ in this world. The Introit from Psalm 91 speaks of how we need God’s shelter and shadow, bringing to mind, for instance, a hard day’s work under the summer sun. Without shade (or in my case a hat) the sun can burn us. We prayed in the Collect about “the wearisome changes of this world.” We get tired, exhausted, bushed after a long day of work or the struggle of living amidst the confusions, contradictions and problems of the world. This is nothing new. How did The Preacher, Qoheleth put it: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccl 1:1, 8, 14). Continue reading “The Kingly Invitation”

Text: Mathew 10:34-42
Date: Pentecost IV (Proper 8a) + 7/2/17

Peace be to you, and grace from Him who freed us from our sins (Rev 1:4-5).

You’ve heard the term “spin” meaning a person’s treatment of the facts, twisting and turning them to appear to support their own desired outcome. Such was the case in Jeremiah’s time when Hananiah, a false prophet, came on the scene seemingly contradicting what the true prophet was sent to speak. Hananiah spoke of the deliverance of God’s people and the restoration of the temple. Though he knew this was “spin,” Jeremiah began sort of in a mocking tone, saying, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true.” But he warned, “the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” Well, it didn’t come to pass. As Jeremiah said earlier, “They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jer 6:14). Continue reading “A Kingly Crown to Gain”