Duane Larson, Senior Pastor

 “Called from a Nightmare to Act on a Dream”
1 Sam. 3: 1-20; John 1:43-51. 

“The word of the Lord was rare in those days” (1 Samuel 3:1). It is clear why. Through their regular bad choices, the leaders had become deaf to the word of God. The head priest Eli was not only going physically blind. He chose to be blind to the chronic lying and corruption of his priestly sons. God would punish them. They would lose their place of presumed privilege. And God would find new ears to hear in the young boy Samuel. And to this Samuel, whose name means “God hearer,” God said “I will do something wonderful that will make your ears tingle.” Continue reading →

The Rev. Karin Liebster
Associate Pastor

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Mark 1:4-11

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

O Lord, give strength to your people; give them, O Lord, the blessings of your peace. Psalm 29:11 (ELW)

We live in an emotional, anxious time, dear sisters and brothers.

Chaos broke out in the Capitol building on Wednesday when the sacred order of the democratic process to elect a new president was thrown into mayhem after violence was incited. Lives were lost.

We have not experienced such a thing. We struggle what to say.

And here we are, it is Sunday, the pandemic precludes us from being together when we needed to be together, and yet are greeted by the beauty of God’s Word of creation that speaks order and meaning into the universe; we are greeted with John’s baptism of forgiveness and hear Jesus named as the Son of God, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Continue reading →