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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

“Someday You’ll Have To Do This…” Acts 1:6-14, Luke 24:44-53.

For a long time, (I must confess,) the ascension story simply eluded me. Jesus’ farewell, his being taken up into the heavens from the disciples’ presence on a cloud, the farewell, — it never really made much sense to me. It was always a strange, “other worldly” kind of event. It was a story […]

“Chosen” John 15:9-17

We feel increasingly like a “Throw Away Society.” There used to be small appliance repair shops where you would take your mixer, your toaster, your tools to be reconditioned or repaired. You don’t find those kinds of shops much anymore. I remember the annual trip my father would make to the blacksmith’s […]

“When Life Disappoints” John 15:1-8

In his little book “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I learned in Kindergarten” Robert Fulghum asks a searching question. Why is it that if you walk into a room full of kindergartners and ask them if they can do something, their little hands will spring up immediately and without hesitation want to […]

“The Work of a Shepherd” John 10:10-18

This is “Good Shepherd” Sunday. Every year at this point in the Easter Season we have an opportunity to hear Jesus talk about his role as the shepherd. We hear him tell us what he will do for us as the flock. The problem, of course, is that many who hear this Gospel will […]

“It Can Be Scary” Luke 24:36-48

can be scary when Jesus shows up. That appears to be the take-away from this gospel story. “They were startled and terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost.” That’s how Luke puts it. The scene is the gathering of disciples who are listening to Cleopas and that other unnamed disciple as they talk about […]

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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