This week is the first Sunday in Advent, which is December 3, 2023 and the good word comes from Mark 13: 24-37.  In this story, Jesus promises that God will show up in big ways, but before that there will be signs that point us towards God’s presence.  At the beginning of this season of Advent we are invited to express our longing for God to show up in big ways in our world and to notice the signs of God’s presence with us already. 

The prayer at the beginning and end of the sermon comes from enfleshed, a worship and liturgy resource. Check out enfleshed and support their incredible, creative work at https://enfleshed.com

This is Christ the King Sunday which is November 26th 2023 and the Good word comes from Matthew 25: 31-46.  The festival of Christ the King is a relatively recent addition to the liturgical calendar and marks the end of the liturgical year and a transition into the beginning of a new liturgical year with the season of Advent, which begins next Sunday. If you close your eyes and imagine a king you’ll likely imagine exactly the opposite of the historical Jesus.  On this Christ the King sunday, our gospel story offers us Jesus’ vision of true, eternal power rather than what human greed and imperial will can tantalize us with for a moment.

At the end of the sermon, I invite you to listen to the hymn Crown Him With Many Crowns and put it in conversation with my message. You can listen to one version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksd_vOBFAd8

This week is the 25th Sunday after pentecost which is November 19th, 2023 and the good word is from Matthew 25 : 14-30.  A continuation of last week’s Gospel, Jesus tells another parable, this one about stewardship of gifts and resources.  This parable invites us to know and trust in God’s love and forgiveness, to not hide ourselves and our gifts out of fear, but to share and multiply them so that all may experience God’s abundance. 

This is the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, which is November 12th, 2023 and the Good Word comes from Matthew 25: 1-13.

This week we celebrate All Saint’s Sunday, which is November 5th  2023, and the Good Word comes from  Revelation 7: 9-17. The book of Revelation is written to seven churches in western Asia Minor during a time of great oppression. Today’s reading is a response to the question asked in 6:17: “Who is able to stand?” The writer gives the faithful the assurance of God’s protection and a vision of victory.

This week concludes our month-long 125th Anniversary celebration of Immanuel's ministry. The Bishop of the Montana/N. Wyoming Synod, Laurie Jungling, was our guest preacher and was gracious enough to sit down with Pastor Rebekah for a few minutes before her sermon to share about her role as Bishop and about the connection between individual congregations and the Synod!

The Good Word for this Sunday comes from 1 Peter 2:1-9.  While it’s not from the Revised Common Lectionary, it helps us conclude the celebration Immanuel’s 125th Anniversary and calls us forward to continue following where the Holy Spirit is leading us into future ministry.  Next week we will be back to readings from the Lectionary and sermons from Pastor Molly and Pastor Rebekah.

This week the Good Word comes from Luke 24:13-25. It’s not from today’s Revised Common Lectionary, but it helps us celebrate Loving God through Worship and Music. After Jesus’ crucifixion and death, two of his followers travel from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Their road trip conversation ponders Jesus’ teachings, the events surrounding his death, and the shocking report that Jesus rose from the dead and has appeared to some of the other disciples. At some point, Jesus joins them; he is surprised that they don’t understand the events that happened to him.  Jesus explains the scriptures to them, but they do not recognize who Jesus is until he breaks bread before them during dinner.  

This week's Good Word comes from Matthew 25: 31-46 and helps us celebrate one of our branches of ministry: Transforming Lives Through Mission and Service! Pastor Terry Oliver, who was the intentional interim pastor at Immanuel from 2001-2002, visited us this Sunday and shared a message to encourage us in this good work of mission and service that has been essential to Immanuel's presence in the community for so many years!

This week's Good Word comes from 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26 and is not from the Revised Common Lectionary, but was chosen because it helps us celebrate creating community care and connection, which is one of our four branches of ministry. Pastor Aprille Jordan, who was Pastor at Immanuel from 2002-2013, joined us in worship this week and shared the sermon you'll hear in this podcast.

This week's Good Word comes from Pastor Eric from Emmaus Campus Ministry at the University of Montana! During the month of October, Immanuel is celebrating our 125th Anniversary in worship by sharing scripture and sermons that draw our attention to the four branches of ministry. The Gospel for this Sunday comes from Luke 2: 22, 39-52 and helps to highlight Immanuel's ministry of Forming Faith Filled Followers. In his sermon, Pastor Eric tells stories about his experiences with the Emmaus community and how God shows up in unexpected situations.