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Being a Light
2/6/2026
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13 Have you ever heard someone say: “I would be a Christian, but the main thing keeping me from Jesus is Christians.” That stings a bit, doesn’t it? Deep down, we know there’s some truth to it. We can be a stumbling block when we are quick to judge, act self-righteously, or fail to listen. Instead of being a beacon of light that helps draw people to Christ Jesus, we end up doing the opposite. As Christians, it’s our job to shine a light on God’s truth, on love, and on grace through our words and actions. It isn’t always about saying the right thing — it’s about living in a way that others can’t help but notice something different about us.
Blessed Are You
1/29/2026
“Bless you!” This is a familiar phrase when someone sneezes, or a common response given to someone who has experienced a tragedy. In this Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew, we hear the familiar passage called the “beatitudes”. Jesus begins each verse with “blessed are you…”, where he redefines what blessings are by showing us that true fulfillment comes from humility, mercy, and peacemaking, not worldly success.
Community Worship
1/22/2026
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" Psalm 19:1 We’re kicking off our Centennial year with a special outdoor worship community celebration this Sunday. You don’t want to miss this exciting day of worship, where we will gather all the ministries to share messages, music, and food. Worship starts at 10 am and continues until 2:00 or so. We’ll break for a free lunch around noon. Expect to hear English, Hebrew, Creole, and Spanish throughout the day. A taste of Pentecost!
Kicking Off the Next 100 Years
1/11/2026
It’s 2026, one hundred years since First United Lutheran Church was organized – later renamed First Evangelical Lutheran Church. We’re celebrating our centennial this year with some special events. To help us think about that, let’s take a peek back at what was happening in 1926…
FIRST WORD "Joy to the World"
12/19/2025
Christmas celebrations have evolved a lot over the years in America. In the 1600s, the Puritans were so horrified by the raucous celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas that they outlawed the holidays. In their experience, Christ was dishonored during the Twelve Days of Christmas more than at any other time of the year. Many other English dissenters followed them, keeping Christmas a relatively small holiday in the early days of the American colonies. Things began to change in the 19th century when Hessian soldiers decorated a Christmas tree in 1777 during the Revolution. Millions of German immigrants brought this and other customs with them as well. Then, in 1823 the poem “The Night Before Christmas” was published and introduced the story of Santa Claus into our culture. Perhaps just as surprising to know, is that Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1870, only 155 years ago!
FIRST WORD "Stand Firm"
12/13/2025
“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5:8 What is Christmas about? Do you ever get confused? I recently passed by a neighbor’s holiday display that summed up what we often experience this time of year. First, I came upon a beautiful creche scene – with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a stable, surrounded by wise men, shepherds and animals. It was the traditional Christmas story we all know and love.
FIRST WORD "A Branch"
12/6/2025
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 Isaiah’s prophesy comes true about 700 years later through Joseph and Mary, descendants of Jesse. Isaiah goes on to say that this lowly shoot will grow into a mighty branch that would bear fruit. He uses the metaphor of a nearly dead tree to tell us that God can and does use the least of us to do great things! First Evangelical is like that stump – a once mighty church that was nearly thought to be dead. But we’ve seen a shoot of hope pop up and grow! We’ve got a long way to go, but at least we’re making progress.
FIRST WORD "Father Forgive Them"
11/21/2025
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34 “I forgive him.” Millions heard those words a few months ago from Erika Kirk for her husband’s funeral service after being assassinated on a college campus. Would you be able to say those words, and really mean it? If someone had killed your husband, father, or child, would you be able to say these words? Yet, as Jesus hung on the cross, he did just that. He prayed to his Father in heaven to forgive the people who were killing him. He asked forgiveness…
FIRST WORD "For the Least of These"
11/13/2025
But Anthony shared that there isn’t the same kind of emphasis on exchanging gifts like Americans do. Instead, they use this time to remember the less fortunate and help those in need. Churches and charities organize events and activities to distribute food and clothes to the poor and homeless. The spirit of generosity and kindness even crosses the boundaries of faith, with Christians and Moslems gathering for celebrations that mix both tradition and culture. This is a good reminder for us to remember those less fortunate or in need. One way you can do that this year is through the Angel Tree and Toy Drive we are doing this Christmas season.
FIRST WORD "Reincarnation or Resurrection?"
11/7/2025
“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Luke 20:38 Many years ago I was teaching a Confirmation class where I had my ninth graders write a “faith statement”, an essay where they would describe their core beliefs. When completed, they would read it in front of the congregation on Confirmation Sunday. This was to be a powerful moment for everyone as they publicly confess their faith – something you want to get right. Parents were also encouraged to work together with them, a wonderful family faith building experience!
FIRST WORD "All Saints"
11/1/2025
Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Luke 6:20-21 The little country Lutheran church where I grew up had a cemetery right behind it. As a little kid, we’d often play around the tombstones – a great place for hide and go seek! It was a little bit spooky, but the names engraved on the stones were familiar. They were neighbors, friends, who had helped plant and grow that church since 1881.
FIRST WORD "It's Time for Reformation!"
10/25/2025
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 Reformation Sunday is a celebration in which we remember the actions of a German monk, Martin Luther, who long ago on All Hallows’ Eve, October 31, 1517, nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The theses presented his rationale for disagreeing with the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences, limitations of papal power, and the gift of salvation through faith alone.
FIRST WORD "Harvesttime"
10/9/2025
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:37 Next week I’m traveling to Minnesota for a few days to help my brother with harvest and visit family. He’s finishing up with the field corn right now – the kind you feed to livestock, make corn flakes, and ethanol. It is difficult to find laborers at harvest time, like Jesus says in this passage. My brother has a few neighbors he knows who he hires to drive truck or tractor for him. He can’t do it all by himself, he needs help. When I’m there, I often do the odd jobs that need to be done or simply speed up things by having more hands-on deck.
FIRST WORD "Faith"
10/4/2025
Jesus replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Luke 17:6 Most of us are familiar with this saying about the mustard seed. It is no accident that Jesus picks the mustard seen as an example of faithfulness here in Luke 17. Mustard’s reputation for being proverbially small (though not actually), is a wonderful example of how a seed sized faith is capable of accomplishing miraculous feats.
FIRST WORD "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep"
9/26/2025
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Did you grow up with the childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep?" I was little surprised to learn that it is a shortened version of an Old English prayer, which goes like this: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless the bed that I lie on. Before I lay me down to sleep, I give my soul to Christ to keep.
