In the Parish

David and Bathsheba -- Narrative Lectionary Oct. 5, 2014

Readings: 2 Samuel 12:1-9. Psalm 51:1-9; Matthew  21: 33-41

 A story of human sin and God's relentless forgiveness.

The Lord Is With Us

Reading: Genesis 39

Throughout the story of Joseph, we hear the repeated declaration "The Lord was with him." Joseph's story is our story, for the Lord has promised to be with us. 

The Flood and a God Who Acts -- August 24, 2014

We began the school year using the Narrative Lectionary but because of the academic calendar, shifted two weeks early to match up. 

Reading: portions of the flood story Genesis 6 and 9. 

Marriage and the Gospel -- 25th Sunday after Pentecost

Reading: Luke 20:27-38

Marriage, death and eternal life all come into contact here in this reading. Jesus clarifies thinking about our temporal relationships and our eternal ones. 

18th Sunday after Pentecost -- Money: Loving It and Hating it

Reading: 
Luke 16:1-13

Jesus stands in line with the prophets of old as he reminds people that we cannot serve both God and money

16th Sunday after Pentecost -- Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Cross

Reading:

Luke 14:25-33

Jesus discusses the nature of discipleship and uses the example of calculating the cost ahead of time. In the end, the cost is not ours. 

Recorded at Bethel Lutheran Church, Latrobe, PA. 

15th Sunday after Pentecost -- Labor and Honor

Readings: 

Hebrews 13:1-16

Luke 14:1,7-14

Jesus exhorts his hearers to not worry about taking positions of honor and to invite those to banquet who cannot return the honor of the invitation. 

14th Sunday after Pentecost -- Human Nature and the Gospel

Readings:

Luke 13:10-17

Jesus is challenged by religious authorities who in their zeal to follow God fall prey to fallen human nature. 

Love Does Not Compel -- 5th Sunday of Easter

Reading: Revelation 21:1-6 Amid all the strange and disturbing images in the book of Revelation is this image near the end when God comes to dwell with his people. An image that is beautifully gentle and which resonates with much of God's dealing with us throughout history.

Hearing Voices -- 4th Sunday of Easter

Readings: Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Discerning different voices calling to us is not easy. But Jesus continues to call to us because he knows us and loves us.