Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In yesterday’s gospel lesson the Pharisees and Herodians approached Jesus with a trick question about paying taxes. Jesus wisely responds that we are to “Pay Caesar what is Caesar’s and God What is God’s.” God desires us to love Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind and to…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Jesus shared the parable of the “Wedding Banquet” to demonstrate God’s grace and how He continues to extend His invitation to all people to join Him in His kingdom. By grace, through faith, we can accept the gift of Christ’s righteousness and enter the great feast forgiven. Matthew’s gospel…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Today we had the opportunity to hear of God’s grace and mercy and His desire for us to be “fruitful” in His kingdom. Here is the SoundCloud Audio link: Here is the You.Tube link: Attached please find a file with the order of service for the 19th Sunday after…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Yesterday we had the privilege to hear God’s Word and receive His Sacrament for the nourishment of our souls and renewal of our faith and hope. We praise God that His Son completing the work of salvation on the cross and the promise to return on the Last Day…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Yesterday’s gospel lesson reminded us of the extravagant and sometimes “offensive graciousness” of God. He gives forgiveness and grace to all who believe, whether that is life-long Christians or those who have recently accepted His gift of mercy. May His seemingly “unfair grace” be humbly received in our hearts…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Jesus continues to teach His followers to have the mind of God, not on themselves. This past Sunday Jesus “reorientated” the disciples thinking about forgiveness. What an amazing and gracious God we have! We have accumulated an insurmountable debt of sin, yet He graciously forgives us and urges the…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As Jesus tells His disciples He’s going to suffer, die, and rise again (for the second time), He also redefines “GREATNESS.”  Greatness is not what the world defines but greatness in God’s kingdom means having the faith of a child. A child trusts and depends on their parents and…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Matthew’s recording of Jesus ministry makes a special note as Jesus begins to prepare for the time when He will not physically be on earth. Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to go to Jerusalem where He will suffer, die, and rise three days later. Peter and…

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, Jesus asks His disciples two questions; “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And more importantly, “Who do YOU  say that I am?” Being a follower of Jesus involves listening to Him and following Him, but it also involves listening to what the world says about Him.…

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Other non-Jews received healings, and these miracle-events illustratively preached the Gospel each time. Certainly, Jesus will jump on this opportunity to heal a Canaanite woman’s daughter, right? Wrong…at least for the moment.  Jesus will use this occasion to enlighten and correct His disciples of their wrongful Kingdom perspectives to…