Last week's readings from God's Word acknowledged that even in the best of families there are still moments of tension, or seasons where the family seems to be more dysfunctional than otherwise.  But we also see that even in these moments and seasons the hand and will of our loving Heavenly Father is still guiding His children, and bringing about His long-term intention of love for us and for all people even if, in the short term, it's hard to see.  As we continue our month-long focus on Family as one of the things we value here at Christ the King, our readings from God's Word today look more at that long-term picture, and show us that even on the worst of days we might still catch glimpses of His incredible love.

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

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On October 31 we Lutherans celebrate the festival of the Reformation.  It's the anniversary of the day in 1517 when Martin Luther posted on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, his "95 Theses" against the sale of indulgences.  It's also one of three days in the Church Year in which Lutherans commonly celebrate the Confirmation of young people (the other two are Palm Sunday and Pentecost).  In our 1045 service today we recognize that in the Confirmation of three of our youth they are confirming the faith that was spoken on their behalf by their sponsors / godparents at their Baptism.

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

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In November we turn our attention to another of our values here at Christ the King:  Family.  

When people think of how to describe the church (whether it's the church in general, or a local congregation), sometimes they say it's like a business, sometimes like an organization, sometimes like a social club.  But God's Word uses different images to describe the church: in St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he calls it "the body of Christ"; in the Book of Revelation, St John calls it "the bride of Christ"; and in many other places both in the Old and New Testaments, the church is called "the family of God."  Today we begin a month-long look at what this phrase means, and particularly how it all plays out at Christ the King Lutheran Church.

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

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So far this month, we've heard hints that, because Jesus' death and resurrection forgives all sins for all people, our value of "acceptance" at Christ the King means that (1) we acknowledge that each and every one of us has been accepted by God the Father as His child; that (2) in order to welcome and embrace others we might need to let go of some thoughts and habits that seem important to us; and that (3) all our "needs" in life pale in comparison to God the Father's acceptance of us as His children.  In today's Gospel lesson, we'll learn how another account of a healing by Jesus is also a pattern for how we can accept others.

This is the fourth of five worship services this October that focus on the Value of "Acceptance."  

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

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Here's something to think about:  What is so important to you that you "can't get enough" of it?  For some people, maybe that's money.  For others, maybe it's "Friends" or "Likes" on social media.  For still others, it's the need to be understood; for still others, maybe it's a sense of security.  But here's another question:  why do you think you "can't get enough" of whatever it is that's so important to you?  And this one: what might your life be like if you could actually "get enough"?  Today's sermon is an invitation to accept the "enough" that only God has to offer.

This is the third of five worship services this October that focus on the Value of "Acceptance."  

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

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This is the second of five worship services this October that focus on the Value of "Acceptance."  

In order to accept something (a gift, a handshake, an embrace) it's sometimes necessary to let go of something else.  In order to accept a person, it's sometimes necessary to let go of a prejudice, a suspicion, or a fear.  In order to accept the invitation to follow Jesus, it's sometimes necessary to let go of a need to cling to things, to others, or even to ourselves.  But the invitation to follow Jesus means that to accept the promise of the Kingdom of God with its gifts of peace, love, and joy, is worth letting go of everything else.

#values,#caring,#acceptance,#family,#joy

If you have a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker who you think might benefit from listening to this episode, why not share it with them?

You can follow Christ the King Lutheran Church on Facebook and Instagram @ctkodi; you can subscribe to the Christ the King YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtyvkXh49DQsfPowk5_xUiw; and you can follow Pastor Cahill on Twitter @revcahill.  You can reach Pastor Cahill by email through the Christ the King website at www.christthekinglodi.org.

For up-to-date information on our ministry projects and events, check out our special website here https://ctkseasonofgrace.mystrikingly.com/

Route 42 Theme music from Pixabay