Understanding Church

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss "at-one-ment" in other words, atonement. God promises us relationship with Him and He is faithful in doing so. But, we keep messing up--it is in our human nature. How do we reconcile or make repentance for such a situation? We don't have to because God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to do it for us. That's the Good News!! That's how much he loves us! A lot of learnin' going on in this one! Thanks be to God!!

Just in time for Easter! Pastor Dan and Wendy Farone explain the background and backstory of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday are described so that full meaning and understanding can be experienced in worship. This is a podcast you will surely want to listen to before and during Holy Week. "He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!" Pastor Dan will even explain what that call-response is all about!

This year our 8th grade confirmands reach their formal learning toward becoming official members of the church. They have participated in 3 full years of learning about the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the New Testament, and Lutheranism. During this discussion, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone chat a bit with the 2023 confirmands: Lauren, Blake, Ethan, and Tanner. We talk about the importance of being part of the church and how they can become even more involved with the engagements and activities within church leadership and membership. Congratulations to you all!!!

In this episode Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the Pastor's recent trip to Israel. A 13-hour trip to Tel Aviv, bus rides, security checks and travel in general seems to be worth the experience of visiting the Holy Land. Pastor Dan offers insight into what the people and landscape is like in modern day Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Sea of Galilee where the biblical story unfolds. Further, we discuss a visit to a Lutheran Church with international flare. We also play a little charades! 

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone answer many questions surrounding the true 'reason for the season' including: Why did Jesus have to be born in the first place? Why did God send Jesus as an infant? Why send Jesus into a place that is so lowly? What was God's hope for creation in sending Jesus? What is God's glorious design in this Savior? Think about what your life would be if Jesus was never born? How is God at work in the moment of Jesus' birth? We are hoping that this is an opportunity to understand the reason God sent Jesus into the world.  

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone summarize the key points from Part 1 and discuss the meaning and significance in the worship service. This includes the pillars of worship including the Gathering, Word, Meal, and Sending. The liturgy is designed in such a way that our spirit, from beginning to end, is reshaped, reformed, and renewed so that we can "Go in Peace, Serve the Lord."

Download a bulletin here and follow along or visit the website at www.belc.org and click on the Worship Bulletins button. 

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone walk through the first half of a worship service using the bulletin as a guide. Download a bulletin here and follow along or visit our website at www.belc.org and click on the Worship Bulletins button. You will be amazed by the intention and purpose of every minute of the worship service, the flow of the service, and meaning behind the Confession and Forgiveness, the hymns, and the prayers, the passing of the peace and even more! Bonus: Pastor Dan makes Wendy cry by explaining the Holy, Holy, Holy! Your heart can be moved as well as once you know you'll never experience worship the same way again! 

Have you ever said, "What have I done to deserve this? God must be mad at me?" Does God get mad at us and punish us for our behaviors? During this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone offer some guidance in this commonly misunderstood concept of God's character. 

We are free to choose, right? What are the consequences of our decisions? Are we making the correct ones? God gives humans the ability to choose. Therefore, humans do have free will. But, in our sinful, human nature, do we really make the ones that serve us and God well? In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss free will. The good, the bad, and the ugly! Further, explanation of Martin Luther's perspective that we are in 'bondage' to the will. We are free to choose salvation which is God's work in us. We are in bondage to our own human condition. 

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss what it means to 'get right with God.' Many believe that being a 'good person' or doing 'good things' makes one righteous. Lutheran tradition is that we have "justification by grace through faith apart from the works of the law." How do we get justified or aligned with what God expects of us? What are God's expectations for us? The Bible tells us how to be in right relationship. We will share that, too!