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Showing posts from November, 2013

Black Friday

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Frustration and Faith

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Luke 17:11-19 Now on his way to Jerusalem , Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee . 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” Do you hear the frustration in Jesus’ voice? Even the Great Teacher experiences what all teachers experience: some students

The kind of King we need

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Luke 23:35-43 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Pope Francis and I are

Worship Helps for Advent 1

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Artwork: The Deluge Artist: Antonio Carracci Date: 1615-1618 Worship Theme: Keep watch for the unexpected coming of Christ! Its unexpectedness, however, does not change its certainty or our prayer. Rather, the coming of Christ defines our present time because we know that he comes with unexpected judgment on the unbelieving world and unexpected grace for his people. We are filled with hope, with love, and with light. With anticipation in our hearts, we long for the fulfillment, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Old Testament: Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violenc

Thanksgiving Eve Worship

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There is no denying how hard the past few years have been. But at Epiphany Lutheran Church we know there are still many things in our lives for which we are thankful. We continue to give thanks to our almighty God for the freedom to worship Him without fear of retribution. We give thanks for the forgiveness of sins found only in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. And we give thanks for our Christian faith, placed in our hearts by the working of the Holy Spirit. Join us on Wednesday, November 27 at 6:30 pm for our Thanksgiving Eve worship service. We come together with grateful and content hearts for we know that if we have money, possessions and everything else, but do not have Christ, then we have nothing. However, if we lose money, possessions and everything else, but we have Christ, then we have everything! Join us and give thanks! You are invited to an ice cream and pie social in Epiphany’s church basement at 7:30 pm . Please bring your favorite pie to share.

Christ the King

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On this last Sunday of the Christian Church Year, we are given two different pictures of Jesus – the King on His throne in its glory and the King on His cross in its gore. In reality, they are the same picture and the same throne. Jesus now sits in glory at His Father’s right hand because He hung from Calvary ’s cross and endured the wrath of His Father. Do not look for a fancy, bejeweled throne. He who takes a carpenter for a father, a manger for a crib, Nazareth for a hometown, and tradesmen for followers, owns no riches. Actually, that’s not quite true. He owns all the riches of the world, for He made them all. But He covets them not. He covets only you. Your life, your soul, your good. And so for you He willingly trades all these things. The devil in the wilderness showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to Him (Matthew 4), but He did not have eyes for these - only for you. For you are His Bride. Worship Your Groom and King with us this Sunday. 

Saints Triumphant Prayer

Almighty God, in whose glorious presence live all who depart in the Lord and before whom all the souls of the faithful who are delivered of the burden of the flesh are in joy and contentment, we give You hearty thanks for Your loving-kindness to all Your servants who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labors. After each name is read, the date that saint was called home to heaven and an accompanying Bible verse, there will be a ringing of a chime and a moment of silence to thank God for allowing these faithful servants to be among us at Epiphany for such a short time and becoming a blessing to our lives.   Name:   Marilyn Acklam             Called to heaven: February 19, 2013 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.              (Job 19:25-26)   Name:   Glenn Sherwood                         Called to heaven: May 10, 20

Is There Life after Death?

IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH? I) Some people deny it II) Jesus describes it III) Scripture teaches it   Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.   “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.     Now there were seven brothers.   The first one married a woman and died childless.   The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too.   Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”   Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.   But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.   They are God’s c