As we celebrate Easter and our Lord’s resurrection, may we also take time to appreciate and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. We give thanks for Pastor Vern, our congregation, friends and family, and pray that you and yours are blessed at Easter and throughout the year!
It’s easy to see the events of Holy Week from our perspective as believers. But imagine the perspective of the disciples and others central to the story of our Lord’s last week before his glorious resurrection. What a challenge they faced as the week unfolded! Lord may we also examine our trials through the lens…
Pilate was the Prefect of Judaea, best known today for his part in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. When he was faced with a crossroads, why did he choose to set Barabbas the murderer free rather then Jesus, whom he admitted had done nothing wrong?And how do we handle crossroads in our own lives…
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, he faced an almost insurmountable challenge: to resist and prevail.
At his transfiguration, Jesus told his disciples not to tell what happened. Once the events of Lent and Holy Week occurred, that changed for for them and for us. Today, His exhortation is to tell the world. Help us to spread His word and share the Good News with those around us! At the 11:30…
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 We are commanded to love not just our neighbors, but our enemies as well. We may not succeed all the time, but we have to try and ask for help when we fall short. Spreading God’s love to…
When we think of movies with sequels, we need to look at the entire series to gain the proper perspective. Our reading of Matthew today may seem like a sequel, but it is part of the whole. We’ve seen the sequel of the Sermon on the Mount and we know that we are free from…
Matthew discusses the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, and how we must exceed their level if we hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a pretty high bar. How can we ever hope to do this? Thanks to Christ we are children of God, and we receive His perfect righteousness. Thanks to…
In the Sermon on the Mount we are blessed and we are challenged. In our poorness, mourning, persecutions and our trials may we be uplifted to find blessings and mercy!
The arrest of John the Baptist marked the beginning of the end of John’s ministry. Jesus stepped up and delivered God’s word bringing the light to a people in darkness. May we, like Jesus, be ready to be the ‘next one up’ when we are needed and called to serve!