Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

This is a special musical presentation of For the Beauty of the Earth, performed today by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir with Gwynne Kadrofske on flute at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of Keep Your Lamps, performed today by the Chancel Choir with Nick Hirshenberger on Percussion at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Today we are celebrating the resources that God has entrusted to us to use in the community. We have heard from three of those ministries. Our Noisy Offering that was taken today goes to support another important ministry and that is our Micro-Food Pantry. These ministries all are in obedience to the command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Unless we our visible in the community, it is difficult for people to see Jesus at work. I want to state that we do not do outreach to gain members. This may be a possible outcome, but not the reason we are called to be present in the community.

Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, we have been hearing the Kingdom of Heaven is like…. It is like sharing what God has entrusted to us with those who are in need. While we are waiting, this is what we have been called to do.

In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus talks about waiting. He tells a story about 10 bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom. Part of this waiting is being prepared. All 10 bridesmaids have lamps. But five have no oil as they did not think ahead that the bridegroom may be late. He is often late as he sometimes has to finish up the arrangements with the bride's family.

The five with no oil asked the five with oil if they could borrow some and they said no. They suggested that they go and find some themselves. The bridegroom came and the five bridesmaids who had the oil went in, and the doors were shut. When the other five returned, they could not get in as the doors were locked.

One could easily interpret this passage to say that this is an ends time message that if you are not ready you won't get into heaven. For us the good news is that Jesus has does the work for us to get into heaven. We are asked to acknowledge this in the way that we live our lives.

Jesus is challenging his disciples to be ready and that includes you and me. The ten bridesmaids could represent the church and being exhorted to do good works. This is only on the surface level. We could easily say that we are doing good works, thus we are ready.

I believe that we would be too easy. O Wesley Allen, Jr, in his commentary suggests that we ask the question, "In what ways are we not prepared to meet Christ ever anew?" as opposed to simply, "Are you ready?"

This is what we are called to ask especially during this time of transition. I believe to experience Jesus anew means change. Doing the same things over and over again doesn't challenge us to stay awake. Our leadership has looked at the system we have in place in which to do our ministry here. It is only the beginning. A report on this conversation will be in our December newsletter.

It has been said that the church is often 10 years behind the world around us. I don't believe that is where we are. Because we choose to share the Gospel in a way that welcomes and affirms all, we think and do things differently. But we need to have a plan in which to do this on a broader basis so that people in the community know this. This is where we can meet Christ anew.

Today we can celebrate the opportunities that God gives us to share the resources entrusted to us. This is what Jesus continues to challenge us to do as part of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are also challenged in our Gospel lesson to discover other ways to do this, that others may know of Jesus' love for them in order to meet Christ in new ways.

In order for us to do this, we are challenged to ask ourselves the question "In what ways are we not prepared to discover Christ anew over and over again?

This is a special musical presentation of Sing to the Lord, performed today by the Sinful Singers at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Today we gather to remember the saints who have lived and served faithfully. This body of Christ meant something to them, and this is what kept them active here. Today we have heard from present saints who have found a home here and are active.

On this All Saints Sunday, when we come to the table, remember that we will all be together around Jesus. My mother has always said that when she takes communion she is taking it with those saints who are already at home. We are the communion of saints gathering around Jesus to be strengthened, to be reminded that we have and continue to receive forgiveness, salvation and new life.

Everyone is welcome at this table. Today In our second lesson from Revelation we hear about one of John's visions. Picture this - There was a great multitude of people gathered before the throne. They were from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, robed in white with palm branches in their hands. What a picture of diversity and inclusion!

Gathering before the throne can be for us gathering around the altar. It reminds us that in Jesus' eyes we are all viewed equally. It is where we remember that God's agape, sacrificial love was poured out through Jesus for all of us. The white robes in this lesson can remind us of this. It is one of the reasons for the white pall that some churches use at funerals to remind us that Jesus sees all of us the same.

The altar is also a place where we can bring ourselves just as we are. It is where we can bring our joys and concerns. The place where we can bring it all, what we are confused about, people we are concerned about, victims of injustice. It is a place where the voices of suffering can be heard.

We can gather around the altar in solidarity with all of the saints. This is what it means to be the communion of saints, the body of Christ, the beloved community. As the people gathered before the throne, and for us the altar, we can all shout " Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

Can you imagine if for just a moment, if we could recognize the beauty in the diversity of God's creation? It is where we are centered on bringing worship to God in Jesus Christ on the throne, around the altar along with those saints who have gone before. This is what we are doing today!

So today we gather around the altar as the communion of saints. Those of us worshipping here today and those who have gone before us. Each of us, all together have come to worship Jesus. In this body of Christ, Faith Lutheran Church, we are strengthened by Jesus in the bread and wine, his body and blood, that we may go out and tell others about Jesus who offers all forgiveness, salvation and new life, to continue sharing the Gospel as our saints did who have gone home and they are now cheering us on.

This is a special musical presentation of Hear, Oh Israel, performed today by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Another incident of gun violence in Maine. Israel has begun stage 2 their ground attack. We have a new Speaker of the House. People have all different ways of viewing these things. Christians have different ways of viewing these things. Thus, what is the churches' role in all of these things.

Some would say stay out of it. Can we do that if we are commanded to love our neighbor when our neighbor includes everyone? Our neighbors are affected by gun violence, whatever decisions the House now makes, and innocent people are being killed and dying in the Israel/Hamas conflict.

I would not tell you how to act on these things, but I will suggest through what lens to view them. Feelings are involved in all of these things and as much as they can give energy, they can also skew our lens in which to view them. So, what role does the church play in these things? I do not believe that the church should tell us what to believe about these things, but rather who to believe in, in order to see what our role and view of them is.

In the gospel of John, Jesus tells us that the way to God is through Him. First of all, we are told that Jesus was from the beginning, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God and became flesh and stayed with us for a while. Jesus goes on to say that he is the way, the truth and the life and he is the only way to God. In today's Gospel lesson we are told that if we abide in the Word, we will truly be Jesus' disciples and we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.

There is a great deal packed into these two verses. Jesus is the Word, and we are called to abide in Jesus. When I think of abide I think of embracing. We can embrace in different amounts of strength and energy.

So today I would like us to think about embracing Jesus the Word with as much strength and energy as we can. Jesus has also told us that he is the way, the truth, and the life. With what kind of strength and energy do we embrace Jesus. It will be different in different times of our life and can be different every day and hour.

With the amount of strength and energy that we embrace Jesus, will be how clearly we are able to see what Jesus wants us to see and then act. This is an individual journey that then intersects with others in the body of Christ. As we share what we learn through embracing the word with each other, Jesus' vision for us as individuals and as a community of faith can become clearer.

It is in this relationship with Jesus, embracing the word, Jesus, that we can discover the truth and experience freedom to love our neighbor. We still may not view all things in the same way, but we will be at a better place to listen and see Jesus in our neighbors. Martin Luther taught this. This is what I believe allows us to love our neighbor better as we have been commanded to do.

For me embracing the Word is about a relationship with Jesus, both personal and corporate. Each one of us are in relationship with a number of people. We gauge how much we embrace these relationships. Those closet to us get more strength and energy in our embrace.

We all have experience embracing people. What does that look like for us? It has to do with amount of time and the quality of it. There is only so much time in each day, thus we do have to make choices. When it comes to family and close friends it also has to do with the time that we are not physically present with them. Are we thinking about them, does our behavior represent them well, let alone ourselves?

It is difficult to embrace someone fully without seeing them, but that is what God in Jesus Christ is asking us to do. God's history with God's creation says that we can trust this relationship. God has given us the tools we need to live with each other. Unfortunately, we need reminders of this all the time. We as human beings do not learn very well from history.

Since it is Reformation Sunday, it is always good to hear what Luther has to say about the Word. Martin Luther felt that the Word was the fundamental reality from which everything follows. For Luther this included tangible, material reality. As I mentioned earlier, he also said that we should see Christ in our neighbor.

This does not mean only our Christian neighbors. Thus, when we look at gun violence, world conflicts and work of our government, do we see Christ at work? To God in Jesus Christ, the shooters in gun violence, the new speaker of the house and people on both sides of the Israel/Hamas conflict are important to God in Jesus Christ. No matter what party you identify with, we are asked to see Christ in the new speaker of the house. Some will say yes of course, others may say not with his history on some issues, but God calls us to look for Christ in him. The conflict between Hamas and Israel includes many other people. We are asked to see Christ in all of them.

Through our human eyes we can't see Christ in everyone, but through Jesus' eyes and trying to see Jesus in our neighbor it is possible. I believe this is what will reduce the hate in this world, the insecurity in this world, the desire to always have power and control. We are called to embrace the Word, Jesus.

When we embrace the Word, Jesus, it will give us more of the ability to see the truth. The truth can empower us and show love to our neighbor. The ability to see more clearly also means then that we will be able to see what does not line up with Jesus through what we can see. When actions and words do not line up with loving our neighbor, it is sin.

This is where we need to be careful. We do not determine someone's salvation. We are not the judge either. God in Jesus Christ has already done this. We are, however, called to speak out about what we see, but in love.

I am asking you to view people and issues through Jesus' eyes. He is the Word. When we embrace Him through the study of the written Word and then ask and listen we can see more clearly what is right for us. It is important to remember it is still about living in community and what is best for it. We have been commanded to love our neighbor

This community of faith has, through Jesus' eyes, has seen, chosen and has stated that all people are to be loved and accepted. You have seen through Jesus' eyes as individuals and then as a community that this is what we are called to do. We have embraced the Word, Jesus, to come to this belief.

In looking at what is going on in our country and world, this then informs our role and view. When we look at our neighbor through the eyes of retribution, and taking away power and control and viewing others as less than, which puts our neighbor in a negative, non-loving light. As human beings we are capable of this.

I cannot fully tell you what to see in your view, but what I am asking you to do is to embrace the Word, Jesus. Spend time with Jesus the person and written word as it is all Jesus. This is what gives us more of the ability to see more clearly what our role is and the role of the church as we navigate such issues as gun violence, the government and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

I believe that we do have a choice of how we view our neighbor. It is not easy as our neighbors often say or do things that is not what we are seeing. Remember that we are someone's neighbor also.

Today I am challenging us to embrace the Word, Jesus Christ with great strength and energy and then we will be free to love our neighbor as we have been commanded to do by God in Jesus Christ.

This is a special musical presentation of Total Praise, performed today by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Join Bishop Craig A. Satterlee as he shares the sermon on October 22 at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos. Michigan.

When I can read for fun, I enjoy reading mysteries. I remember reading the Happy Hollisters when I was in late elementary school. It was about a family who figured things out. When I go on vacation I have read a number of books by James Patterson and Tess Gerritson. I like to figure things out. Some of these stories leave you until the very end before everything falls into place.

Jesus likes to tell stories that leave us scratching our heads, such as the parable of the wedding banquet which is our Gospel lesson for today. Over the years we have often tried to equate God in some way with one of the characters. That doesn't work this time.

When we try to compare God to the king, at first it seems to fit as the king was inviting everyone to the wedding banquet. The wedding banquet sometimes has been thought of as the final banquet where we all sit down with Christ. But people don't seem to be interested in coming.

This celebration and how it went reflected on the king. Thus, when people started refusing to come, needless to say, the king was not happy. He sent his slaves or servants out to entice them with what he was offering at the banquet. They made light of it and some even took his slaves, mistreated them and even killed them.

Now the king was enraged. He then sent his troops to destroy the murderers and burn their city. Now this is where it is difficult to compare the king to the God that we know. God's invitation to the eternal banquet is not shrouded in violence. God freely invites all people.

Then he sent his slaves out to the streets to gather all the people, good and bad. It was important for him to look good and thus he needed to fill the banquet hall. When the king came out to greet his guests, he noticed that one did not have the appropriate attire.

Now I am not sure what the king expected as the people that were there, were from the streets. I'm surprised that more were not appropriately attired, but then maybe the story only needed one to make the point. The king had expectations for this banquet, even though he had to basically have his staff go out and find people.

The point that we can take from this parable is that God invites everyone to the banquet. Everyone is part of God's family. This is why we cannot compare the king to God. God invites all and does not throw anyone out. God accepts us where we are at. Now that makes sense, but we had to dig through the parable to get there.

Jesus doesn't always make it easy. Jesus wanted to make sure that the people were listening, the chief priests and Pharisees and I'm sure others were paying attention too. He knew that culture may have said that the king had the power to do what he did. It was his party, and he was the ruler and there were expectations for the proper attire.

The chief priests and Pharisees were placing expectations on the people in regard to the law. Once again Jesus was trying to point out that they were not modeling it nor had the correct interpretation of the law. Could Jesus then be related to the rejected man as they were both not people's expectations?

What would have happened if the man who was not dressed appropriately would have stayed? Who was he going to hurt? It was really about the king's expectations and how the king would be looked upon by others. If he didn't make a scene, I guess people would have thought less of the king.

Remember last week Jesus quoted Psalm 118 and said that the very stone that the builders rejected was now going to be the cornerstone. Jesus was referring to himself. Jesus was upsetting the applecart. Jesus had a new interpretation of the law. One that saw the law out of the eyes of love.

Jesus saw the law as a way to give structure to the kingdom, the community. It seems that this is what God intended when he gave the law. It was now being used for the gain of individuals and not the community. Has it changed?

Last week I mentioned the black race and the horrific things that we as the white race did and continue to do to them. This is the same as with the Indigenous People. The true history for both of these races and our treatment of them need to be told truthfully.

As we learn the true history, we will be able to see more and more of the rejection of people because they were different than we are. Different does not mean less than. Unfortunately, this seems to be part of our human nature.

What I also see in history is that the world revolves around land and control. As history went on money was also included. History continues to repeat itself right up to today.

Could part of what we see in the Middle East be history repeating itself? Unfortunately, we cannot change what is going on in the Middle East. I believe what we can do is to learn the true history and to work on not repeating the rejection. Our anxiety gets in the way of listening to the stories of our brothers and sisters of other races. Most of them are not easy stories to hear, but they are all important.

As Christians, it is not our call to go and tell them what to do let alone that they must believe in Christ. So many people of other races have a distrust of the white race, they may not even trust us even if we choose to share our faith. Recently, I have been having conversations with my trainer, who is white, and he wonders about the church's rejection of races and minority groups in general.

I believe one thing that we are doing honors what we have learned from our Indigenous people and that is the work of our Green Team. The Indigenous People have known how to care for the land and so many in the past would not listen to their wisdom. We are being respectful of the land and using the natural resources that God has given us and this is honoring the wisdom of the Indigenous People.

As we continue to move through this time of transition, I challenge us to really listen first to each other. When we get to looking at the needs of the community, to try and find ways to welcome and affirm other cultures and races in our community.

In the kingdom of heaven which Faith Lutheran church is part of we are called to view and treat all races and cultures equally and affirm them and not reject them. God's love through Jesus is for all equally.