Special music by the chancel choir.

Jesus’ parables are layered stories that teach us many lessons. They are usually provoked by a question or a challenge, and in this case that challenge is key to understanding the story. Parables are meant to make us a little uncomfortable and to shift our perceptions. In one instance Jesus is teaching somewhere, and soon he was surrounded by tax collectors and “sinners”. There in the crowd, maybe off to the side, certainly bunched up together away from the “sinners,” were some Scribes and Pharisees. What were they doing? Well, they were grumbling and saying to one another, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” But Jesus always knew what was in people’s hearts, and so he responded by telling them three stories. We are excited to welcome our own Debbie Pallack, Certified Lay Servant, to the pulpit this week to share more about these three stories and their impact on our life and faith!

Special music by the chancel choir.

Prayers of the People by Pastor Mike.

Many people come to the United States seeking the opportunities of the “American Dream,” the ideal that anyone can achieve prosperity, success, and a higher social status through hard work, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. While there have been challenges to the reality of this ideal, especially for groups that have been traditionally marginalized for various reasons, many people have found opportunities here that they could not find in their country of origin. However, one negative consequence of this mindset is the emphasis on the perceived value of a person’s contribution. The compensation given to those with unique skills or talents can be excessively disproportionate relative to those born with attributes that are not marketable for their day or may even be considered a disadvantage. In effect, people are assumed to have a particular value based on the economic net worth of what they can produce.

This week, we will look at Jesus’s teaching on creating value. In this passage from Luke, Jesus warns his followers that they must bear fruit, or they suffer terrible consequences. The punishment described by Jesus for failing to bear fruit is presented in a metaphorical way that sounds much worse than getting demoted or being fired, but the real question is the meaning of “bearing fruit.” Join us this Sunday as we consider the value Christ places on each of us and how we are expected bear fruit from our relationship with him.

Special music by Kimberly Ladage and Janice Sneller.

There seems to be a great deal of fear in the world today. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the thinly veiled threat of nuclear war the Russian president announced to the rest of the world as a means of intimidating anyone who might help defend the Ukrainian people, we have been bombarded with messages of gloom and destruction. Coupled with other ominous messages of economic crisis, global ecological threats, and the recent pandemic, we have endured a long, sustained barrage of events that have spawned a climate of anxiety. Coping with these threats can be exhausting. While we may be tempted to resign ourselves to expect only more bad news as a means of guarding against disappointment, a more helpful approach may be to open our eyes to the broader vision of the circumstances we find ourselves in, particularly with respect to the abiding presence of God.

This seems to be the approach of the ancient Israelites which we see in many of the Psalms. When faced with calamity, which happened many times, the Israelites sought God’s protection and expressed faith that God would eventually see them through whatever tragedies they were enduring. The beginning of Psalm 27 provides a perfect example, announcing statements of faith followed by rhetorical questions, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Join us Sunday when we will reflect on Psalm 27 and consider the sense of hope this writing engenders as well as how we can apply the truths of this ancient writing to our modern circumstances.

Special music from the Chancel Choir.

Prayers of the People by Pastor Mike.