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A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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RevMerle: Musings and Mutterings on what I see God up to in this world.: RevMerle

“Come Away” Mark 6:30-34; 53-56

As an introvert, I understand and appreciate this directive of Jesus. “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” I like nothing better than to get away from bustling, crowded places. My idea of relaxation is to have a leisurely lunch in quiet place, read a book, listen to […]

“A World Without Jesus” Mark 6:14-29

What are we to do with the Gospel lesson today? Where is the “good news” in this story? The story of the fate of John the Baptist in Mark’s gospel comes as a kind of a rude interruption to the narrative flow. Jesus has just sent the disciples out two by two, and we’re told […]

“No Deeds of Power” Mark 6:1-13

It is apparently not good to know Jesus too well. Familiarity is precisely what prevents the hometown crowd from hearing his message. Jesus begins to preach the same message in his hometown that he had just given in Capernaum, where he had been received by throngs and had done amazing things, “great deeds of power” […]

“What Would You Dare to Do?” Mark 5:21-43

What would you dare to do for your own child? The Gospel lesson today is a story within a story. So much is going on here that it is very easy to get lost in it all. You can pick apart the details of Jairus, the woman, the matter of ritual purity, the actions of […]

“Of What Should We Really Be Afraid?” Mark 4:35-41

O.K., I’m from Nebraska where the ancient oceans receded millions of years ago. The largest body of water we have there is a man-made lake on the Platte River; a river which is otherwise known for being a mile wide and six inches deep. I do not know the sea. I have been […]

Sarah’s Sermons

Abundant Life

I read a story the other day about a person shopping at the grocery store, who overheard two unmasked men mocking people who were masked and talking about how they were too “tough” to wear masks. The person writing the story shared that when she got to the cashier, the cashier looked at her wearily […]

Where is God?

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” We often read these words as an indictment of Thomas. Thomas gets a bad rap: how many of us know him as “Doubting Thomas?” But I don’t think “doubting” is a fair descriptor of him. Sure, John’s Gospel records him saying that he would not believe unless […]

“Poised, Anxious Sorrow”

“This is a stillness, not of rest, but of poised, anxious sorrow.” N.T. Wright, an Anglican priest and New Testament theologian, wrote these words for an op-ed in Time Magazine this week, in which he thinks about many of the things we have been talking about these past few weeks:the way events in our world […]

Watch and Pray

I deleted the Facebook app on my phone this week. My account is still active; I just don’t have easy access at my fingertips to pull up Facebook any time I want. I’m trying to eliminate the mindless scrolling that just takes up time, occupies the top part of my brain, raises my stress level, […]

Sight and Faith

We are living in a strange time right now, aren’t we? A time when we are surrounded by suspicion and fear…and also a time when we are pulling together to care for and protect each other. A time when we doubt what our eyes and ears tell us…and also a time when we put our […]

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Recent Posts: St. James Lutheran Church

“Sparrows and Sparring” Matthew 10:24-39

I am a big fan of Chef Jacques Pepin. You may remember him from some memorable cooking shows on PBS with an elderly Julia Child, or from his cooking shows about “fast food my way” where he would show people how quickly and easily a really good meal could be prepared with just simple … Continue reading “Sparrows and Sparring” Matthew 10:24-39

Holy Trinity Sunday Matthew 28:16-20 “I can’t believe what I am seeing…”

“I don’t believe what I’m seeing…” There are a whole bunch of variations on that these days, aren’t there? Living now weeks into a pandemic and civil unrest, a point of conversation in nearly every interchange these days is some kind of comment on what we have seen. Partiers in the Ozarks over Memorial … Continue reading Holy Trinity Sunday Matthew 28:16-20 “I can’t believe what I am seeing…”

Stewardship Notes from the Pastor

Strategic Giving for Retirees Dana J. Holt People have been tithing for millennia. In Christian tradition, the aim of many is to give 10% of their household income to the church as offering to God. But how much should we give after we retire and don’t have a regular income from work anymore? And where … Continue reading Stewardship Notes from the Pastor

Study Opportunities

St. James offers a variety of options for adult learning and interaction, so take advantage of these that fit your schedule or interest. “Coffee with Jesus” Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at Perkins on North Oak, or Saturdays at 9 a.m. at Green Acres Market in Briarcliff. It’s a little comic, a little scripture, and a … Continue reading Study Opportunities

Church in the World Notes

The Clay County Clothes Closet is the charity chosen by Church in the World Committee for the month of April April 7th and 14th have been designated “Undie Sundays”. Besides gifts of gently used clothing we’re asking for donations of NEW underwear and NEW Socks, all sizes from children’s to adult. Or, you can make … Continue reading Church in the World Notes

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