Oh, how wretched we Christians can often seem! Through the waters of baptism, the Holy Spirit creates spiritual life in us, through which we are born from above (John 3:3-6). Yet, this spiritual birth is but the beginning of a constant conflict between our sinful nature and the Spirit of God. The Apostle Paul calls […]
The Lord’s Supper: Christ’s Life-Giving Gift, “Often” Received
September 21, 2011 by
This is our pastor’s newsletter article for October, 2011. The picture is also of our pastor praying the Proper Preface, which is part of the liturgy for the Sacrament of the Supper. Recently during Sunday School, someone asked this question: “Why don’t we have communion every Sunday since that’s been the Church’s practice from the […]
Eleanor King’s Funeral Sermon, John 10:27-28
September 19, 2011 by
Dear family and friends of Eleanor King: 1918 was a treacherous year. World War I was still far from over. Many men were dying from machine-gun fire and poison gas. Yet, despite the carnage in distant lands, love still thrived in this fallen world. Harry Moline and his wife, Florence, loved each other. And so […]
Eleanor King’s Funeral
September 19, 2011 by
Eleanor King’s funeral will be at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church on September 19th, 2011, 10:00 AM. Eleanor died on Monday, September 12, 2011. She is survived by: 2 sons, 1 sister, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. After the funeral, her burial will be at Pinecrest Cemetery. Her family suggests that memorial contributions be […]
The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:23-37
September 18, 2011 by
In Jesus, God stepped into our fallen world wearing the robe of our humanity. When the set time had fully come, common men would see and hear the Messiah prophesied from of old. They became His disciples, and later, even His apostles. And in seeing and hearing Jesus, they didn’t just see a man, they […]
Minnesota South District votes to sell the University Lutheran Chapel
September 14, 2011 by
Please pray that the Minnesota South District leadership will change its position. They are selling a faithful congregation’s building without their consent. The pastor of this congregation is David Kind, the son of Donna Gappa, a member of our congregation. Minnesota South District Votes to Sell ULC Property and Allow the Lord’s Place to […]
God’s Law and Gospel: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
September 11, 2011 by
The Christian faith is a matter of God’s revealed, life-creating and life-changing truth. In matters eternal, research and scholarship can only offer added insight or information. For research and scholarship cannot give eternal life. It is God’s Spirit working through Word and Sacrament that give us such life. The Apostle Paul and Pastor Timothy tell […]
Genesis 4:1-15: Eve, Cain, and the Messiah
September 4, 2011 by
Luther’s translation of the German Bible rushes in where other translations fear to tread. We see that in the first verse of our Old Testament reading for today. There are two basic ways to understand that verse. The most common is what I read to you a few minutes ago: “I have gotten a man […]
Sermon: Luke 19:41-44
August 28, 2011 by
“Familiarity breeds contempt,” so the saying goes. It means that we can be so familiar with something that we begin to consider it of little value. This can even happen in our faith-life, where God becomes routine for us, and we begin to consider Him of little value. Of course, the problem is not with […]
What are we to do as a congregation?
August 23, 2011 by
What are We to Do? By Pr. Rich Futrell Every Christian congregation has a worship service (if not, it’s not a “church”). Usually, there’s also some Bible study. Congregations also have, as part of their congregational lives, funerals, weddings, confirmations, and so on. But beyond that, what should we do as a congregation? Apart from […]
