Midweek 3 Lenten Service: Three Words of Truth, March 20, 2019
God of love and faithfulness, you showed your favor to your people by sending your one and only Son to be our Savior. Help us to trust in him as our gracious Redeemer and so enjoy the peace he came to bring, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Pastor Ryan Heiman
Second Sunday of Lent, March 17, 2019
When Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem, it was a resolute decision that he was not going to change.
It was only because of his resolution that such a journey happened.
Jesus was rejected by all and had no personal incentive to finish the journey to Jerusalem and yet, despite the widespread rejection, he still went to complete his goal of our salvation by dying on the cross and rising from the grace on the third day.
He is also resolute to gather all those who have rejected him under his wings for protection and comfort.
It is only by God’s grace that we no longer reject Jesus and remain under his wings for all time.
Amen
Pastor Timothy Patoka
Midweek 2 Lent, March 13, 2019
Pastor David Parsons
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
First Sunday of Lent, March 10, 2019
The devil tries to entice us with temptation. We don’t do so well against the devil’s temptations; he outsmarts us by coming to us in our weak moments or in ways we may not realize are dangerous.
Jesus is the triumphant champion. Because he is, we have nothing to fear from the devil. When we repent of our sins and our failures to say “no” to temptation, we go to a Savior who has been tempted like us.
May the Lord strengthen us in his Word so that we may defend ourselves from the devil’s temptations and may the Lord bring us joy in repentance knowing that we have a tried and true champion on our side. Amen
Pastor Timothy Patoka
Ash Wednesday - Three Words of Truth, March 6, 2019
Is it I?
Yes, it is I whom God calls to repentance.
Yes, it is I for whom the Savior willingly goes.
Pastor Timothy Patoka
Transfiguration of our Lord - Last Sunday after the Epiphany, March 3, 2019
Some situations, some experiences are so amazing and profound that words fail to capture them.
It was just so for the disciples on the mountain of transfiguration.
It was good for James, John, and Peter and it is good for us to see the glory of Jesus, too.
It assures us that because of who Jesus is and what he has done for us, heaven is our home. Forever.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, February 24, 2019
So what does loving forgiveness look like?
It looks like Joseph treating his brothers well after they had so seriously mistreated him.
It looks like Jesus dying for a world of sinners who have rebelled against him and his heavenly Father.
It looks like you and me living lives that reflect Christ’s mercy and love toward others.
May God grant such a loving and forgiving attitude to all of his children. Amen
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 17, 2019
Prepare for what will likely happen.
Receive Unexpected Blessings
Listen to the Warnings of woe
May we keep our focus on what is to come so that we may correctly enjoy what is before us. Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 10, 2019
The Miraculous Catch of Fish
The Comforting Catch of Peter
The Continuing Catch of People
May the Lord have us trust all that he says in his Word so that we may be comforted by and catch people with this good news. Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 3, 2019
Jesus sent his followers out in his name and with his authority to baptize and proclaim the gospel. That goes for you and me, his followers today, as well.
We speak with the authority of Christ as we proclaim the promises of God and speak in his name.
This is a sobering responsibility but it’s also comforting to know that we’ve got Jesus backing us up and doing the real work on hearts and souls.
Pastor Ron Koehler
Mission Festival Sunday, January 27, 2019
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Pastor Dan Koelpin
Second Sunday After The Epiphany, January 20, 2019
We weren’t there to taste the best wine served at the wedding at Cana but we have the testimony of those that were:
We have the message of the power and the love of Jesus.
We have his promises that he will use that power and love for the good of the whole world.
And we have the confidence that he has kept his promises to use his power and his love for our benefit.
Trust in Him.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
First Sunday After The Epiphany, January 13, 2019
Jesus Alone is The Christ:
Jesus is equipped for eternal judging.
Treasure your baptismal blessings.
Pastor Tim Patoka
The Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6, 2019
As we celebrate Epiphany today, we are celebrating the unwrapping and revealing of a secret.
God promises the forgiveness of sins, life, and eternal salvation to all who believe his Word.
It is not something we can earn or deserve.
God, in Christ Jesus, gives us all of his richest promises.
It is a mystery for us to know, and it is a mystery for us to share. May we cherish it and share it with others, by God’s grace and to his glory.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
New Years Eve Service, December 31, 2018
As the world chases after everything new and shiny, let’s remember to stand on something that endures forever: the Word of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord works as it always has—-to show us our sins, but also to comfort us with our Savior.
God’s comforting word, his eternal Word will guide us and sustain us.
Pastor Ryan Heiman
First Sunday after Christmas: December 30, 2018
Wouldn’t you love to know more about what Jesus was like growing up? Scripture gives us only very few details about the life of Jesus until he was about thirty.
Let’s find Jesus in his Father’s house. No, we don’t have the Temple to which we can run, but we have a church where his Word is taught.
We can find Jesus doing his Father’s business as we study the Bible together and as we meditate on it on our own.
Keep singing your praises, keep offering your prayers, keep giving him your best, who gave himself for you.
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Christmas Day Service: December 25, 2018
The Word Became Flesh to dwell among us.
Jesus’ dwelling is our Christmas Joy
Jesus’ light is our Eternal Light
It is because of the Christ’s birth in Bethlehem that we ultimately celebrate Christmas. As our Savior would show us in the 33 years following his birth, he gives to us the light that casts away sin’s darkness.
May the Lord lead us to celebrate in the coming days, weeks, months, and years the blessings we have from the Word who became flesh.
Amen
Pastor Tim Patoka
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 2018
Light and darkness are polar opposites. Where one advances, the other must retreat.
Thus, they parallel the ultimate of polar opposites — good and evil, holiness and sin.
Ever since mankind fell into sin, God promised to send a great Light to pierce the darkness of sin and death.
Let there be Light, from Genesis 1 and 3, Pastor Tim Patoka, Youth and Family Pastor
Light has Come, from John 3, Jay Wiechmann, Financial Secretary
Day of Darkness, from Joel 2, David Farley, Elder of Education
A walk in the Light, from 1 John 1, Jason Watson, Elder of Member Ministry
The Lord is my Light, Psalm 27, Jeff Weinstein, Trustee
A Light has Dawned, from Isaiah 9, Pastor Nathan Kassulke, Tucson Lead Pastor
The Birth of Christ, from Luke 2, Eric Hanson, Congregation President
Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Gift of Love: December 23, 2018
A Wondrous Sign Shows Wondrous Love
Wondrous love is freely given
Wondrous love is always given.
As we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, let us remember Revelation’s words so that we may see the wondrous sign that shows God’s wondrous love. Amen.
.
Pastor Tim Patoka
Mighty Messages from Micah: Third Midweek Advent Sermon, December 19, 2018
Christmas is about the Father sending his Son to save the world from sin and certain eternal death.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem just as Micah foretold, just as God had promised, just as God’s people trusted.
God the Father accepted his unblemished life and his blood shed at the cross as payment for our sins.
As our Mighty Ruler, Jesus brought us peace with the Holy God.
May God move you and me to share this Mighty Message of Micah so that others may come to know this Mighty Ruler who came from a Lowly Place—the Savior of all people Amen
Pastor Ron Koehler