Our extravagant and reckless God

The parable of the sower at the beginning of the parables discourse in Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew reminds us that we worship an extravagant and reckless God and there is no place and no one beyond the reach of God's grace, love and forgiveness.

Sunday, July 13, 2014
5th Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 65:1-13
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

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Who are the Saints?

 

On June 22, I was ordained and installed as pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Shelby, NC. The gathered leaders included Rev. Leonard Bolick, Bishop of the NC Synod; Rev. Dr. Mark Fitzsimmons, Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Arden; Rev. Ernest Ridenhour, Pastor Emeritus, Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Arden; Rev. Sara Ilderton, St.Luke’s Lutheran Church, Charlotte; Rev. Richard Handschin, Retired; Rev. Edwin Ehlers, Retired Bishop of New Jersey Synod; Rev. Dr. Mary Shore, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Brevard; Rev. Christopher Webb, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Asheville; Heather George, AIM, Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Arden; Rev. Beth Woodward, Rev. Josh Tucker and retired pastors Rev. Margaret Ashby, Rev. William Battermann, and Rev. Ed Barrett.

On my first Sunday morning in the pulpit, we remembered the martyred saints Peter and Paul, seeing how God is present in our lives even when we stumble along the way and even in the midst of our differences and divisions.

Sunday, June 29, 2014
Feast of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul
 Acts 12:1-11
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 
John 21:15-19

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If you are following the Revised Common Lectionary, these are the daily readings for the coming week (June 30 to July 5):
Mon., June 30     1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; Psalm 119:161-168 

Tues., July 1     1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 John 4:1-6; Psalm 119:161-168 

Wed., July 2     Jeremiah 18:1-11; Matthew 11:20-24; Psalm 119:161-168 

Thurs., July 3     Zechariah 1:1-6; Romans 7:1-6; Psalm 145:8-14 

Fri., July 4     Zechariah 2:6-13; Romans 7:7-20; Psalm 145:8-14 

Sat., July 5     Zechariah 4:1-7; Luke 10:21-24; Psalm 145:8-14