Devotions
Midweek Online Worship: Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Midweek Message: Sermon, A Foretaste of the Future, Ephesians 3:1-13, July 22, 2020 Message Text to Read
Audio Sermon
Sunday Online Worship: Seventh Sunday of Pentecost, July 19, 2020
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Service Parts Welcome and Prayer of the Day Confession and Forgiveness of Sins First Reading: Isaiah 44:6-8 and Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Scripture Text to Read Sermon, Let the Weeds Read more…
Devotions
Midweek Online Worship: Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Midweek Message: Sermon, Breaking Down Walls, Ephesians 2:11-22, July 15, 2020 Message Text to Read
Audio Sermon
Sunday Online Worship: Sixth Sunday of Pentecost, July 12, 2020
Sixth Sunday of Pentecost Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Welcome, Prayer of the Day, Confession and Forgiveness of Sins First Reading, Isaiah 55:10-13 Scripture Text to Read Second Reading, Romans 8:1-11 Scripture Text to Read Gospel Reading, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Scripture Read more…
Devotions
Midweek Online Worship: Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Midweek Message: Sermon, Ephesians 1:1-14, June 24, 2020 Scripture Text to Read Message Text to Read
Devotions
Sunday Online Worship: Third Sunday of Pentecost, June 21, 2020
Third Sunday of Pentecost Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Welcome and Prayer of the Day Special Music: Contemporary Contemporary, O How I Need You O Praise the Name Confession and Forgiveness of Sins First Reading, Jeremiah 20:7-13 Scripture Read more…
Audio Sermon
Sunday Online Worship: Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday Order of Service Click each bullet link to view: Organ: “Variations on ‘Holy, Holy, Holy” by Piet Post Welcome and Prayer of the Day Special Music: Contemporary Christ Be Magnified It Is Well Confession and Forgiveness of Sins 1st Read more…
Devotions
Traversing the Weeks From Mother’s Day to Father’s Day
[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h1″]Pastor’s Thoughts[/x_custom_headline] As we traverse the weeks from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share a bit of my journey into motherhood. I am the middle child of six, so I had this vision of having a houseful of my Read more…
Devotions
The Open Gate
[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h1″]Protection?[/x_custom_headline] The security gates in Ethiopia are a curious lot. They are located outside most hotels, government agencies, and other places of importance. Security gates are not uncommon in the US either. They serve as a means of protection and mark a delineating line between the protected Read more…
Devotions
Brokenness, Restoration, and God’s Mosaic
Kintsugi is a beautiful form of Japanese art. It is very counter cultural to our American sensitivities too. In American culture we go to extreme lengths to cover our blemishes and brokenness. We are master make-up artists. We put on false exteriors and push down our wounds deep into the Read more…
Devotions
Impossible Obedience
Genesis 22 tells the astonishing story of impossible obedience. It is the story of Abraham and the (almost) sacrificing of his son Isaac. This one is mind blowing to me. Abraham is faithful and faith-filled. And it is terrifying. “Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you Read more…
Devotions
Ummata–Community
[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h1″]Community in the Streets of Ethiopia[/x_custom_headline] There is a deep sense of community within the people of Ethiopia. The Oromo word for Community is Ummata. As my wife heard the word for the first time from the lips of our dear friend, Wadi, she heard her say, Read more…
Devotions
Withness
[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h1″ looks_like=”h1″]Witness by our Withness[/x_custom_headline] “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” John 1:8 John the Baptizer came as a witness. His role was to point to Jesus; to reflect the light; to prepare the way of the Lord. He Read more…
Devotions
Waiting…
There is a safe in the basement of our church. It is beautiful. Massive. And really old. “They don’t make ’em like they used to…” is the cliche that comes to my mind. As the church council had discussed a variety of changes to our building, we spent time looking Read more…
Devotions
A Drop from the Well
Reading and engaging the Word of God-Daily-is a vital aspect of growing in faith. It is our very best fertilizer. But it is a challenge. The bible is thick and written to a different culture. it is intimidating to pick it up and run. I understand this. So…. here is Read more…
Devotions
The Stone Has Been Rolled Away
[x_image type=”none” float=”none” src=”https://www.stjohnsgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Gen29-8.jpg” alt=””…The stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well…” Genesis 29:8″ info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover”] “… the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. then we will water the sheep.” Genesis 29:8 According to the shepherds at the well–the sheep Read more…
Devotions
A Bible App For Your Smart Phone
There are more cell phones in the world today then toothbrushes. The average goat-herder in the plains of Africa—who has a smart phone (most of them do; some have 2)—has access to more information than President Bill Clinton did in his first term of office. We live in a different Read more…