I would like to share something with you all that you probably already know, but it’s always good to write out. I take a lot of pride in being able to make a good worship service. I want to make the service meaningful in some way. And what better way to do that than to write a captivating, informative, and thoughtful sermon. It is the part of the service for about 10 to 15 uninterrupted minutes when I have everyone’s attention on me.
Katharina von Bora. That is the name of the woman who Martin Luther ended up marrying during the Reformation. Ordinarily, when one thinks of the Reformation, one may end up thinking primarily about people like: Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Melancthon, King Henry the VIII, and so on. Far too often, women take the back seat in our history books and thoughts (I know they do for me). So for this newsletter, let’s explore Katharina’s life and legacy in the Reformation.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”
You may have heard some version of this when watching any version of A Christmas Carol. This quote is spoken by Ebenezer Scrooge to the ghost of Christmas future, who shows him some quite unsavory realities that may come to pass if he does not change.
God the Father creates and sustains you. Jesus Christ saves you through his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit binds you together in love and gives you peace. The Spirit of God helps you in your weaknesses, intercedes for you, and knows you. The rushing wind of God, the Holy Spirit, breathes onto you and gives you the gift of life in Christ. The first Sunday of this month is Pentecost Sunday.
God has formed and changed me through the ministry of Ewalu Bible Camp. The first time I attended Ewalu Bible Camp, I was nine years old. I remember that as soon as my parents left me in this strange wilderness with a bunch of strangers to take care of me, I felt alone, afraid, and ready to go home. However, God is present in every place of need. God was present with me in my first week at Ewalu.