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FIRST WORD "The Whole World"
1/30/2025
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
FIRST WORD “3 VS 3”
1/16/2025
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get…
FIRST WORD “Egypt Mission”
8/29/2024
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 (NIV) This week I’d like to share a recent update from our missionaries to Egypt, Anthony and Soyoung Sellari. I think it fits well with our reading…
FIRST WORD 1.2.25 “Grow in Wisdom”
1/2/2025
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52I have a lot of memories attending church when I was growing up. I was a very energetic child, what they’d call hyperactive, especially at church. It sure was hard to sit still for a whole hour during worship! Mrs. Stensland,…
FIRST WORD 12.12.24 “Madonna and Child”
12/12/2024
There is a story about a man who was standing in line at the post office. Standing in line was not one of his favorite things to do, especially during the busy Christmas season. This day was no exception. He waited anxiously for the postal clerk to weigh his packages and give him his stamps.…
FIRST WORD 12.27.24 “Lessons and Carols”
12/28/2024
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1This Sunday we’re enjoying a special Festival Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for worship. It was born out of the grief and horror of the First World War, which had ended only 6 weeks before Christmas Eve…
FIRST WORD 11.7.24 “Basketball”
11/14/2024
Some of you know the story of former basketball superstar, Larry Bird. Larry was the third of six children, five boys and one girl. His father was chronically unemployed and an alcoholic who ultimately took his own life when Larry was in high school. Larry's mother was a strong, proud woman who held her family…
FIRST WORD 10.17.24 “Harvest”
10/17/2024
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2 You’ve heard me share a few farming stories since I came here from Iowa. This coming week, I’ll be heading to Minnesota to help my brother with…
FIRST WORD 7.5.24 “Faith and Freedom”
7/5/2024
Did you celebrate the 4th of July? Our nation commemorates this day when we declared ourselves to be an independent nation, no longer a colony of England. The founders signed the Declaration of Independence, but that freedom did not come easily; only after several years of war would it be won. Our forefathers were determined to…
FIRST WORD 6.27.24 “Healing Power”
6/27/2024
“Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” Mark 5:22-23In the New Testament we find similar healing stories over…
FIRST WORD 6.21.24 “Wind and Waves”
6/21/2024
“They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41 I loved to take my grandfather fishing when I was in college. He’d had a stroke and walked with a cane, but we’d find a way to get him into a boat and go fishing…
FIRST WORD 5.16.24 “Holy Spirit Coming”
5/16/2024
Jesus said: “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” John 15:16 I remember a family in a previous parish that had adopted three little boys. The…
FIRST WORD 6.14.24 “Fathers Day”
6/14/2024
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 It's Father’s Day this Sunday, a day to honor the fathers among us. My dad’s name was Chuck, he was a husband, a father of four kids, custom cabinet maker and farmer. He passed away back…
FIRST WORD 5.31.24 “I Am Yours”
5/31/2024
“I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.” Psalm 119:94 (NRSV) Early on, Martin Luther was tormented by his inability to feel that he was accepted by God. His closest friend, Staupitz taught him to rely on Christ, quoting Psalm 119:94, “I am yours; save me.” In times of darkness, when life…
FIRST WORD 6.7.24 “Our Spiritual Family”
6/7/2024
“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35 NIV The Oxford Dictionary defines a family as: “a group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit,” or: “all the descendants of a common ancestor.” For me, I have a wife and two kids. Growing up, my family included my…
