Proper 8 - OT - The Prophet Who Brings Peace

Jeremiah 28:5-9, Romans 7:1-13, Matthew 10:34-42

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today is the Old Testament lesson just read, especially these words, “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Peace is something that we always strive for in this world.  Its something we want and desire.  We will often times do whatever it takes for the feeling of peace.  However, in this world, Peace is not something that is easy to come by.  It is not something that is easily found, and in fact, it isn’t even something that is promised here in this world at all. 

But still it has always been something that people want and hope for, even in the most dire of circumstances.  Take our Old Testament lesson for an example.  The Prophet Jeremiah lived in one of the most tumultuous times of ancient Israel.  The nation that once had been militarily strong under David, was now weak and dependent.  The nation that once had prospered financially under the wise Rule of Solomon, now could hardly pay its bills and tribute to its enemies.  The armies of Babylon led by the king Nebuchadnezzar were marching on the much weaker armies of Jerusalem. 

The people of Jerusalem and Israel were afraid, and Jeremiah’s prophecies about the coming destruction of their once proud nation did not make things any better for them.  But in the midst of these difficult times, our text says a false “prophet” Hananiah comes and preaches a message not sent from God.  He proclaims a message pretending to be from God, and tells the people of Israel exactly what their itching ears want to hear. 

“Peace” Hananiah says, “not slavery to Babylon.  Victory, not destruction.  God will rescue us and give us peace in these days and restore the power and prestige of our great nation.  He will restore all the things that the Babylonians have stolen from us.  Peace will finally be ours!”  What a wonderful thought!  What a hope filled message!  What a lie!  God had not promised peace, but rather that Babylon would carry the Israelites away in the yokes of Oxen for their lack of faith and as punishment for worshipping false Gods.  Hananiah proclaims a false message of Peace, and because it sounds better than war, the people of Israel believe it. 

But Jeremiah, when he hears these false words, prophesies himself in our text.  “Oh that it were true” Jeremiah says.  “The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. And the same thing is what God says is going to happen to you because of your sin.”  Yes, one day there will be a prophet who correctly predicts peace, and when that day comes, you will be sure that it is truly a prophet from God.  But Hananiah was not that prophet.  Hananiah was just telling those people exactly what they wanted to hear. 

We too like to listen only to what our itching ears want to hear.  Don’t worry about what God says about it, just do what you want to, and it will be fine.  We want to hear that God will condone whatever we want to do, regardless of what scripture says.  If I want to cheat on my taxes, God will understand.  If I want to skip church to go to the fishing lake, God will forgive me.  If I want to do this, or do that, God will understand. 

Homosexuality, living together, cursing and swearing.  Yes God’s word says its wrong, but my itching ears don’t want to hear that.  Drinking excessively, fighting with family members, hating people who do something wrong to me.  Wanting money more than anything else.  Wanting the best house or car or cellphone.  God says no, look at me, but we say thanks but no thanks.  I want to do these things no matter what God’s word says.  And why do we act that way?  Because ultimately, it isn’t God we want to listen to, it is our own sinful natures that we want to listen to.  Just as those Israelites wanted peace rather than the promise of struggle and pain, so too do we want our own selfish desires rather than what God says we should.    

Friends, what do you want?  What things do you want to do?  Are they what God would have you do, or are they only what you have decided to do yourself.  Honestly look at yourself.  Don’t you too have some things you do that God says No to.  Don’t you have some things that you do that you know are wrong, but you figure, everyone else is doing it, why can’t I? 

So long as we listen to our own itching ears instead of to God’s word, we will never have peace.  So long as we obey men instead of God we will have struggles and fights in this life time.  It is the same for us as those Israelites in Jeremiah’s day.  Looking at our self leads only to sin, while looking at God leads to peace. 

And the God we look towards is the God Jeremiah prophesied about, the Prophet who truly brings peace in this world.  Jesus Christ is that prophet, Jesus who knew that we were selfish and sinful people, came to live among.  Jesus who knew that we listened to what we wanted to hear rather than the truth came and said boldly, “I am the way the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me.”  Jesus shows us what our itching ears should look to, his own bloody death on a cross for Forgiveness life and salvation.  There and there alone to we learn what true peace is, the suffering of Jesus. 

For as we see Jesus on the cross, and we know the price paid for our sin, we no longer listen to our sinful nature, for it is dead with Jesus in baptism.  As we see the body of Jesus hanging and dying from a tree, we know that is the body that we eat.  As we see the blood pouring from the side of Jesus, we know that it is that blood of which we drink for our forgiveness.    In Jesus, our itching ears are deafened to the cries of this world, and can only hear the voice of our God, “Come to me, and I will give you peace, come to me and I will give you eternity, come to me, and be forgiven forever.”

Friends, there is no peace in this world.  All the things we turn to and look at will never bring us satisfaction.  Even though our itching ears send us looking for all sorts of comfort in this world, the only true comfort is not here.  Instead we look to Jesus, and we know that there we have comfort there we have peace, there we hear the true voice, the voice that tells us not what our itching ears want to hear, but tells us about our salvation in Jesus.  Amen. 

Albert James Klepetka - 2011

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our texts today are the readings just read. 

Diane.  Sandy and Karen.  Family and friends in Christ.  It has been a long fight.  For three and a half years, Albert fought cancer.  Cancer that slowly spread through all of Albert’s body.  Cancer that continued to grow despite treatment.  Cancer that though Albert fought it bravely, slowly wore him down until this last Sunday morning, finally the battle was over for Albert.  No longer would he face the pain and suffering that he had been the last few weeks.  Finally, his life came to its end. 

As we look at this situation it would be easy to say, “Albert has lost his fight with cancer,” or to say “The battle is over, and cancer finally won its fight against Albert.”  But I tell you the truth, this battle was not lost.  That is a bold statement, even as we are gathered here to mourn the passing of a husband, father and a grandfather, but I will say it again, Albert’s battle was not a loss.  For Albert looked to something bigger than himself.  He trusted in something that gives victory even in the face of loss.  That gives triumph even in the face of sin and death.  He trusted in Jesus and was baptized into His holy name for the forgiveness of all of his sins.

Albert showed this belief faithfully over the last few years, even as cancer began its attack on his body.  In the midst of it, Albert regularly attended church and still volunteered often to help people around town.  It is the same faith that Job confesses in our Old Testament lesson.  Just like Albert, and just like us, Job suffered in his life.  Job lost all of his possessions and family but even in the midst of these things Job confessed, “I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”  For this is the same faith Albert had and confessed, that in the face of death Jesus lives.  In the face of suffering and disease, we may look to Jesus for healing and help.  And that because of Jesus’ life death and resurrection, all who share in this baptismal faith will one day see God with their own eyes. 

For our Lord knows the fight that we are in.  Our Lord knows that this world is not a happy place.  He knows that every day we wake up and face anew the pains and struggles of this sinful life.  Jesus was there with Albert as Albert fought sin in his life.  He was there as Albert fought cancer and other struggles brought about by our sin.  He was there, and did not leave or forsake Albert. 

In the same way Jesus knows you and I too are at battle with our sin and with death.  We face hurt.  We face anguish.  We struggle to survive, and we hurt as we watch loved ones pass away.  We battle death, and are unable to overcome our own sin. 

But even though it may seem we are losing, we are not.  Even though it looks like we are fighting a losing battle, we know the strife is over, the battle is won.  Jesus, “the way, the truth and the life”, on the night he was betrayed said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;  believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  That is our promise, that where Jesus is, there we will be also.  And that is the promise that Albert is experiencing right now:  Resting with Jesus in victory.   

That Victory was won nearly 2000 years ago on a bloody cross.  It was a victory won as Jesus purchased Albert and yes you as well with his Holy Precious blood, innocent suffering and death.  There on the cross of Calvary, Albert’s Victory was made complete. 

And in that victory, Albert no longer deals with this sinful world.  No longer does he struggle against Cancer, but instead is comforted by Jesus.  No longer is there pain and suffering for him, no longer are there medications, but there is peace and joy in the arms of his God.  Jesus has won the victory, because he gave up his own life in our place on a Friday we call Good.  There he was pierced for all of your sins and for all of Albert’s sins and for the sins of the whole world.  There He gave up his life into the death we deserve in our sin, and there He won life for all who believe in him.  In the cross of Jesus we see what love is, “not that we love God, but that God loves us, and gives himself up for us.”

God’s love sends His Son to die for us.  His love washes us in Christ’ blood in baptism, just as Albert himself was.  God’s love feeds us with the very sacrificed body and blood of Jesus for our sins, as Albert received it a few days ago.    God’s love always gives, and Albert faithfully received grace and forgiveness as he continued his battle. 

In God’s love, He adopts us that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  …we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is,” We shall see him as the crucified and Risen lord Jesus, just as Albert sees him today in paradise.  And when we are there, we too shall see Albert again as well. 

Friends, for Albert, the strife is over.  The battle is won.  For in Jesus Christ’s holy and precious blood, he has been purchased.  “He is now before the throne of God, worshipping him day and night in his temple.  He shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike him nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be his shepherd, and Jesus will guide him to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from his eyes.”  For Albert the battle is over, the victory is won.  He now rests with Jesus.  Amen. 

Trinity - 2011 - OT - Who is Our God

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our texts today are all three readings, focusing on our God, the Trinitarian God.  Thus far our texts. 

Dear friends in Christ.  Before the beginning, there was only God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  One God in three persons, three persons in one God.  They exist in perfect harmony, love, and understanding of one another.  They have one substance, one will, one desire and always have been and always be the true God of all things. 

This God, so full of love and passion and care wished to share it with you.  So in the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.  All three persons of our Trinitarian God were present.  Moses tells us in Genesis one, that God the Father created the entire universe through the Word, his Son our Lord Jesus.  And while creation was happening, the Spirit of God hovered above the newly created waters. 

“Let there be Light”, the Father spoke, and instantly his Word and Son brought forth beautiful pure light.  For when your Trinitarian God speaks, he speaks things.  “Let there be day and night”, and there was.  “Let there be sky and sea,” and it appeared.  “Let there be dry land.  Let there be plants, let there be animals in water and on land, let there be stars and sun and moon.  Let there be a safe place for humankind to receive my gifts.”  And as God speaks his Word, it happens. 

For Six days, your God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit worked, creating all that you know.  Writing the laws that govern existence, and in the thousands of years since, we have hardly been able to even begin to understand them.  And on that last day, you God – the three in one God – made your first relative.  He scooped up the freshly made earth, and he carefully and lovingly with his own “one day to be nail scarred hands”, shaped and formed a man in his own image.  He designed your heart and lungs to provide you with breath.  He gave you your brain to think and reason.  He gave a mouth to smile, and arms and hands to hold on to things.  Your God, made you.  And having formed the body of that first man, he leaned close, and breathed the breath of his Holy Spirit into that body, the breath of life entered our flesh, and we became alive. 

All that God made was good – very good.  He himself said so.  The world was good, the universe was good.  It was a safe place, because your God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit was always close to you, always protecting you, always providing for you.  It was good, and in this good world, we would have lived forever in a perfect relationship with our God, just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were in perfect relationship with one another.  

But things would not stay good.  By our fault, our own fault, our own most grievous fault, we turned our back on God.  By telling him that even in the midst of this wonderful created world that he gave us, that we did not have to listen to his rules about how His creation should work.  Our first relative, Adam did the only thing God told him not too, and by doing so brought death into God’s good world.  In an instant, the perfect relationship between Creator and Created was shattered, with the creation going its own way doing its own thing.

Friends, we still do this same things.  We still disobey God.  We ignore God’s words “You shall not steal, murder, curse, lie, or hate.”  There is war in our world.  There is pain in our world.  This world, because of your sin and mine, is no longer very good.  It no longer runs smoothly.  It no longer is a safe place, because we abandoned the One God who brought security to this world. 

For thousands of years, in our sin our ancestors have died.  For thousands of years, in our sin, we have felt pain and loss.  The pages of scripture record it clearly for us, and we can see ourselves in the pages.  Adam’s own son murdered his brother.  Noah’s word was destroyed, and then he passed out drunk in the tent.  Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt and then his daughters commit incest with him.  Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery.  Friends the story of our lives and the story of our world goes on and on in the same fashion even today.  Sin is everywhere.  You are guilty of it.  And with Sin comes its punishment, death to all who turn their back on the God who gave life.

But your God loves you so much, He cares for you so much, that He would not separation from Him be the end of the story.  He would not let your life be a meaningless adventure on a doomed rock floating around the Sun.  Your God loves you so that he would give up His own perfect relationship for you. 

God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit decided to rescue you, and the only way that it could happen was for God to become man, to take on your flesh and pay your punishment.  That Trinitarian God will rescue His creation.  And so the Father sent His son to be born of the virgin Mary.  The Godhead to human flesh into itself, never to let it go.  From now until eternity, the Son will be not only God, but man.  And that God-man came and went to Golgotha, to the cross, to death so that you might have life and life to the full.  He took your sin with Him.  All your guilt, all you pain, all your suffering, even your death, Jesus bore to the cross.  And there on the cross, a miracle happened.  While Jesus, the God-man was dying, the Father turned His back on Jesus.  He suffered the separation of Hell.  He was alone, “My God my God, why have you forsaken me.”  And finally, when it was all complete, He gave up His Spirit. 

Do you see what the God who created all does for you?  Do you see what gift He has given?  He gave up Himself so that He might have you to be His own.  He Himself has died on a cross to give you life.  And He Himself has overcome sin death and the devil by His resurrection into eternal life. 

And today, still, your Trinitarian God comes to you.  In Baptism, Matthew writes that you are connected to your God and Creator, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  In Baptism, you belong to him through the work of the Son on the Cross.  Baptism restores that perfect relationship to your God, and you are given forgiveness life and salvation.

Your God is an amazing God.  He is three persons in one God and One God in three persons.  He came and took on Human flesh in the God Man Jesus, and He now gives to you eternal life, restoring you to the new creation of eternity without pain or suffering or death.  Your God gives to you.  Amen. 

Pentecost - 2011 - E - Why Does the Holy Spirit Come?

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the reading from Acts, especially these words, “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Thus far our text.


Dear friends in Christ. Today is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, as described in our second reading today. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as they sat, starry eyed and nervous in the upper room 10 days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. You can picture them sitting there can’t you? “Well Peter, what are we supposed to do now?” “How am I supposed to know John? I’m just a regular guy like you are.” “Well shouldn’t someone know?” These apostles, chosen by Jesus were just sitting around. They were wondering what to do! They didn’t know how to do this Ministry that Jesus had asked them to do. Where do you start? So much for brave and holy apostles.

But as they are sitting there, the Holy Spirit comes, as a flame blowing through the house. He separated into 12 different flames and landed on each one of them. It was only then, that they knew what to do. It was only then that through the Holy Spirit, they were able to fulfill the mission that Jesus had called them to do: To tell the world about Jesus’ life death and resurrection, to preach the word.

After all that is why the Holy Spirit has come, to point us always towards Jesus Christ and Him crucified for your sins great and small. To come and give you the Good News that in Him you need not worry about eternal death, but instead to look forward to eternal life with Jesus. The Holy Spirit never points to himself, but only to Jesus. He never toots His own horn, but he always works faith in you, so that you might receive from Jesus.

But that isn’t what we think of the Holy Spirit, and so often today that’s not how we speak of the Holy Spirit. Today, we often make the Holy Spirit into some sort of divine decision maker. “What would God like me to do today? Should I wear the plaid shirt, or the striped?” We expect the Holy Spirit to tell us what choice we should make so that we can be more holy, and please God with our actions. God should I go on vacation to Hawaii, or California, can you let me know? Should I marry person A or person B? Should I have chicken or beef for dinner?

Friends, it’s not bad to ask God to bless your decisions in these matters, but when we ask the Holy Spirit to divinely tell us what the right answer is, we have taken the Holy Spirit away from His true job. We have separated Him from what he has promised to do, to point us to Jesus.

And what’s worse, so often we allow the Holy Spirit to become the excuse for what we want to do. We see this all over the place. God made me gay, so its ok for me to do what I want. God will forgive me if I sleep with the person outside of marriage. God won’t care if I cheat on my taxes or steal from my neighbor. I have even heard a song that proposes that God has bigger things to worry about than the little sins I do, because he has people like Hitler and Osama Bin Laden to worry about.

Friends, when we do this, once again we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to point us to Jesus, because we aren’t allowing ourselves to realize our own condition and how much we need God. We aren’t allowing ourselves to hear how we are poor miserable sinners, by our own fault, and how we need the forgiveness of Jesus, how we need His mercy and grace. Instead, we don’t even look past our own selves and desires.

But today on Pentecost, we hear why Jesus and His Father sent the Holy Spirit, so that we might learn of Jesus. Remember those apostles, who were sitting nervous and confused in that upper room, wondering what to do? When the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they no longer doubted what to do? They no longer were nervous of the consequences or how to begin. But boldly they went out among the crowds of Jerusalem, and began preaching the Gospel. Through the Holy Spirit, they begin pointing people to Jesus, and they themselves trusted in Jesus.

It wasn’t on their own desire. It wasn’t there decision, but it was a gift that God poured out through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. So as the Holy Spirit worked through the Apostles He began to point people to Jesus. He began to proclaim salvation in His holy name. He fulfilled what the prophet Joel wrote, “that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” For the Holy Spirit causes people to call on Jesus’ name. He says look to that cross there, for on it your sins died. Look to that empty tomb of Easter, for there is your assurance that Jesus is raised from the dead. Look to the right hand of God where Jesus lives and reigns, for there you one day will join him in eternal bliss and contentment.

Friends, the Holy Spirit comes to you, just as He did to the Apostles. He comes to you in baptismal waters, where you are washed in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. There, in plain old water combined with God’s word the Holy Spirit gives out freely faith in Jesus. It is as if he grabs your head and turns it to look at the cross of Jesus, completely apart from your own will and desire. There your old sinful nature daily drowns as the Holy Spirit holds him underwater, leaving your Holy perfect in Jesus self to live for all eternity.

The Holy Spirit comes to you, just as to the Apostles as you come here and hear God’s Word. The Holy Spirit promises to always work with that word to create and sustain faith in your hearts. In the weekly bible readings, the Holy Spirit comes to you. In faithful preaching, you are pointed to Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith. And in your own personal bible study, the Holy Spirit feeds and sustains that faith created in your baptism.

The Holy Spirit also comes to you as you receive the Lord’s Supper. There he brings to you and feeds you on Christ’s very body and blood, so that you might have life and have it to the full. Friends, you don’t need to go searching around to try and find the Holy Spirit, He is always at work in you, and He is always exactly where he promises to be: In the Word, and in the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And because he points you to Jesus, because he creates faith within you, you have freedom in Jesus. You have freedom to wear plaid or stripes and know that either way, Jesus has forgiven you for the Holy Spirit tells me so. You have freedom to avoid the sins of the world, to avoid stealing, to avoid cursing, to avoid living together and sexual temptation, because the Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus who did not give into these sins on your behalf.

Faith comes through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus. The Holy Spirit ever declares, you are forgiven, not because of your works, but because of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is like a giant roadside billboard that says, “Look there at Jesus, for in him, and him alone do you have forgiveness, life and salvation.” The Holy Spirit ever points you toward Jesus, and because of that, all who call on the name of the Lord will be forgiven. Amen.

Easter 7 - G - 2011 - Jesus Prays for you

Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text today is the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, “9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them”. Thus far our text.

Dear friends in Christ. Did you hear what Jesus does in our text for today? Jesus prays for you. The text for our sermon today was spoken by Jesus just a few hours before He was arrested. Jesus knows what is about to happen. He knows he is about to be beaten and bloodied, pierced with nails and killed, and so what does He pray for? For you and for your lives that you live here in this sinful world. Jesus prays, and you need his prayers.

Jesus prays for you because he knows what you will face in your lifetime, after all he lived a life here on Earth as well. Jesus knows you will face pain and suffering. He knows about illnesses and sicknesses. He knows about cancer and strokes and heart attacks. He knows the pain of loss as a loved one leaves behind this sinful life. He knows because his entire life he dealt with people in these situations. He knows because He is there with you in your situations.

Jesus prays for you because he knows that in this life you will face many temptations. He knows that you will question God’s word at times and wonder, “Did God really say?” He knows that you will be faced with temptations to steal, temptations to lie and swear, temptations to hurt those around you, and temptations to commit adultery or worse. Jesus knows you face these trials, and in our text He says he prays for you because of it.

Jesus prays for you because he knows that sometimes you just feel tired and weary, and you wonder how in the world you will make it another day, how you could possibly face another problem. Jesus prays for you because He knows the fatigue that comes from our sin, and how we need peace and rest and relaxation, but how we will never find that here in this world. He prays because he knows this place is not happy all the time, and he knows our struggles.

Jesus prays for you because he knows you cannot do it on your own, you cannot make it through this life into eternity by your own will or determination. He knows your sin is just too great, he knows the punishment is too much for you to bear. Jesus knows, and so he prays as he heads to Calvary.

Friends, Jesus prays for you. In this text, as He prepares to be humiliated and crucified, as He prepares to have his blood drained from countless wounds as he hangs on a cross, his worry is with you. He worries about your sin, and the price that it costs. For in your sin you deserve death, and Jesus does not want that for you. He doesn’t want it for you so much that sets his eyes on Jerusalem specifically so that he can take your place, so that by his death you might belong to your sin no longer, but instead belong to God.

And as Jesus prays for you, your heavenly Father listens. Jesus says to God, “do not hold this sin against, them ‘For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.’ And because they believe in me, I have taken their place.” Jesus prays, and asks God to count your sin against his account. Jesus prays that he might become the biggest sinner the world has ever know, and bear each of your sins, each of my sins, every sin that ever was committed in this world. And having born them, we now belong to Jesus, to God the Father, to eternity.

“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.” Jesus says in our text. And Jesus is glorified in you, because the one who died on the cross has overcome your weariness. He has overcome your temptations and sent Satan packing. Jesus has overcome death and the grave and instead given life to all who believe in him. And Jesus is glorified in you, not because of good things you do, not because you are a nice person, but because of all the things he has done for you.

This past week we celebrated the ascension, where the resurrected Jesus rose into the heavens to the very right hand of God. Do you know what that means? Jesus still prays for you. Jesus sits next to God always with you in his mind, praying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He pardons your sins before God, and will for all eternity. He is the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord of all things and all people.

Dear friends, Jesus has prayed for you today. He has asked for you to be forgiven, and he has paid the price so that it may be so. You are his, and he is yours. You belong to him, and he continues to care for you for all eternity. Amen.

June 2011 News and Views from the Pews

Below is a link to the June Immanuel and St. John's Newsletter.

Click Here for the Newsletter

Included:

God Grant it

Sourkraut Hotdish

What is Pentecost?

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