I've had an Epiphany!

Luke 7:1–10  After Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people who were listening, he went into Capernaum. 2 A centurion’s servant, who was valuable to him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5 because he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6 Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, because I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I am also a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it...

Artwork: Resurrection of the Widow’s son from Nain Artist: Lucas Cranach the Younger Worship Theme: Last Sunday we heard that faith trusts God’s power completely. This Sunday’s lessons sound the depth of that faith. Can our faith trust completely, even when faced with death itself? Facing our own mortality, or that of our loved ones, brings out the weakest parts of our character. And so, today the Church prays: Be gracious to us in our weakness and give us strength… Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:17-24    17 After these events, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. The illness became worse until he stopped breathing. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “What is the issue between us, man of God? Have you come to remind me of my sins and to kill my son?” 19 He said to her, “Bring your son to me.” Then he took him and carried him to the upstairs room where he was living, and he laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord , “O Lord , my God, have ...

Artwork: Pentecost Artist: Jean II Restout Date: 1732 Worship Theme: The fifty days have passed and the promised Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Bride of Christ. The once-hidden gospel is no longer the possession of a chosen few. For the Spirit enables the message of salvation to enflame hearts for bearing witness to the ends of the earth. Old Testament: Genesis 11:1–9    The whole earth had one language and a single vocabulary. As people traveled in the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used mud brick instead of stone for building material, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let’s build a city for ourselves and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves, so that we will not be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that ...

John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." “Make every effort...

Romans 8:37-39   37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This past Monday was Memorial Day. On Memorial Day, I think of my Grandpa Parchim who fought in World War II. I knew he had been in the army, but like most in the greatest generation, he didn’t talk about the war. So I was surprised at my grandfather’s funeral to learn that he had been part of D-Day. I was honored to learn he had stormed the beaches of Normandy. My Grandpa Parchim was a conqueror. Terry was never in the military. He didn’t storm any beaches. He wasn’t in any foxholes. Yet, he was still a conqueror through Christ. Jesus Christ, the Commander o...