The GLOW SHOW: Episode Two

People of Grace,

Pastor Sarah Stadler and Vicar Beth Gallen proudly present the second episode of The GLOW SHOW. In this episode, Pastor Sarah and Vicar Beth confound our religious expectations on how the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were composed and compiled. Click the play button to explore who authored these books, why they differ in content and style, and to hear musings on the relationship between fact and truth.

Leave us your comments and questions right here on the blog! We’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy!

In Faith,

Pastor Sarah and Vicar Beth

The GLOW SHOW: Episode One

People of Grace,

Pastor Sarah Stadler and Vicar Beth Gallen proudly present the first episode of The GLOW SHOW. In this episode, Pastor Sarah and Vicar Beth confound our religious expectations on the book of Revelation. Click the play button below and you’ll hear a general overview of the book, it’s symbolic language and powerful imagery and finally a hearty discussion on the question we’re all asking: Are we living in the ends times?

Leave us your comments and questions right here on the blog! We’d love to hear from you.

Enjoy!

In Faith,

Pastor Sarah and Vicar Beth

Virtual Coffee Hour

Join Vicar Beth, Pastor Sarah, and others in our community for a virtual coffee hour on Sundays after worship! Below is the Zoom link.  Please pop in any time between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to catch up with Grace friends via Zoom.

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/828001533

Quarterly Pizza & Ministry Night

Please plan to join us for Quarterly Pizza & Ministry Night on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:30 pm via Zoom!  Ministry Night is an opportunity to both contribute to Grace ministry and ask questions about Grace ministry.  BYOP! (Bring Your Own Pizza) Below is the Zoom link. Please contact Adrienne in the church office, Vicar Beth, or Pastor Sarah if you need help setting up Zoom on your smart phone or computer.

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/224811068

Easter Lilies

Thank you to all who purchased Easter lilies for Grace’s Easter worship!

John & Linda Erickson / In memory of Palmer & Katherine Erickson
John & Linda Erickson / In memory of Esther Robbins
Cassie Harris / In memory of Fred Harris
Cassie Harris / In memory of Luke Fracker
Rita & Mike Holsten / In honor of DeLores
Ken & Evalyn Ehlen / In honor of our beautiful grandchildren

The GLOW SHOW

During this season of Covid-19, in lieu of a regular GLOW program, you are invited to subscribe to a new podcast called The GLOW SHOW with Pastor Sarah, Vicar Beth, and friends! For the remainder of April, we will continue our series “Confounding Our Expectations” with episodes on the book of Revelation, Hinduism, and Judaism, one 25-30 minute episode each Wednesday. In May, we’ll explore the theme of friendship.

To find the podcast, you can go to soundcloud.com or download the soundcloud app on your phone. Use the search tool which looks like a magnifying glass, and type in either “Pastor Sarah Stadler” or “Vicar Beth Gallen.” The GLOW SHOW should pop right up. We are currently working on getting the podcast to show up on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts too.

Daily Meditation

During the season of Easter, we normally read from the book of Acts and learn about the early Christian community in Sunday morning worship. With a simplified online Sunday morning worship, we are only reading the gospel. Therefore, each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:00 pm via Facebook live, we will offer a short (10-15 minute) Daily Meditation on the book of Acts. Please join us!

Grace Time Bible Study

All are welcome to participate in Grace Time Bible Study on Sundays at 9:45 am via Zoom! If you have a smart phone with wifi or data or a computer connected to the internet, you are able to participate. Please text or email Pastor Sarah if you would like to receive the link to participate.

Garden of Grace Produce & Volunteer Opportunity

The Garden of Grace is producing! If you are out getting groceries or completing other essential business, you are welcome to stop by the Garden of Grace to carefully harvest kale, chard, cilantro, or dill and/or to help with the weeding of the garden. In the Garden of Grace, weeds are easily identified as they are anything outside the white bags on the ground. All plants inside the white bags should stay there. If you need help identifying appropriate plants to weed or harvest, please call Pastor Sarah at 602-318-6876.

The vegetable in the photo is kale. :-)

Pandemic Prayer Partner: Quarterly Community Building Goal

Our Quarterly Community Building Goal is to either choose or have us assign you a “Pandemic Prayer Partner.”  You are invited to choose a Pandemic Prayer Partner yourself, or you can let Pastor Sarah or Vicar Beth know that you would like to be assigned a partner.  With your partner, you are invited to check in regularly and pray for one another—in whatever way you are most comfortable. 

Food Delivery

During this time of Covid-19, we are receiving a tremendous gift from All Saints Lutheran Church. Their Saturday morning food pantry is not able to function as normal, and after delivering to a few of their families, they are gifting the rest of their weekly food portion to us—most of it salads, bread, eggs, and cheese from Trader Joe’s! This past Saturday, five members of the Grace community delivered food to Grace members and neighbors. Believe it or not, people in our community have turned down receiving food! Most of the food that is left can be shared with folks on the street; however, some of it requires cooking and has had to be thrown away.

You may not need food right now, but we all likely know someone who could benefit from yummy, no-cost additions to their refrigerator. If you are willing to take food either for yourself or someone you know, please email Pastor Sarah.

Easter Lilies

Ten Easter lilies are available for purchase. They will be used for our live stream Easter Sunday worship and then delivered to your home later that day. The cost per plant is $11. If you would like to purchase, please

1. Email Adrienne in the church office your name and how many lilies you would like to purchase

2. Email Adrienne in whose memory or honor you are purchasing the lilies

3. Send in your check made out to Grace Lutheran Church for the appropriate number of lilies, or donate on the Grace website with a note that the donation is to be used for the lilies

Sermon for March 29, 2020

Lent 5A2020

John 11:1-45

Everyone who lives also dies.  In these Coronavirus days, we face this reality with more clarity than perhaps we ever have.  Of course, we have always known that people die—people all over the world, our friends, our grandparents and parents, perhaps our children, even we ourselves.  Everyone who lives also dies.  Though we understand death far better than people of any other age, we probably fear it more than people of any other age.

The people of the first century Mediterranean world, the people of the New Testament lived closely with death.  For Jesus and the disciples, death did not take place in disinfected hospitals, skilled nursing centers, or peaceful hospice homes.  For Mary and Martha and Lazarus and for their friends and neighbors, death was constant companion, a presence lurking as women gave birth to babies, as people navigated both violence and mysterious illness.  For Mary and Martha and Lazarus, illness meant not a trip to urgent care or the emergency room but suffering in the home in a world that didn’t yet understand viruses, bacteria, and hand washing.  The healing properties of certain plants were harnessed to relieve pain and recover wounds, but only in the 20th and 21st centuries have we discovered life-giving surgery and medication regimes whose benefits outweigh the risks. 

Nearly universally, we humans see death as enemy, as a force to beat, as an event to avoid for we are hard-wired by the creator of the universe to seek life and life abundant.  So, when someone we love succumbs to death, we feel shocked, betrayed, sad, angry at God.  Yes, we often feel angry with God when people we love die because we, like Mary and Martha, believe: If you had been here, God, my brother Lazarus—or my mother or grandfather or friend—would not have died.  If you had been here, God, none of this would have happened.  Where were you?  Where are you? 

Maybe we have this question today as we watch and listen to the news.  Maybe we wonder if God is present in our world, or maybe we wonder what God is doing.

Jesus receives a message from Mary and Martha: Lord, he whom you love is ill.  When Jesus arrives on the scene, Lazarus is already dead, and both Mary and Martha plaintively cry out: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  Mary and Martha imply that Jesus’ absence denotes a lack of care, a lack of love.  Yet when Jesus arrives at the home of Mary and Martha, the gospel of John tells us Jesus weeps.  Together with the community who gather to mourn Lazarus’ death, Jesus weeps.  And those who see Jesus weep proclaim: See how he loved him! 

In the original Greek language of this passage, the gospel writer John chooses a particular word for love for the phrase: See how he loved him!  In nearly all, if not every single instance but this one, when the New Testament speaks of love, the word agape is used.  Agape is the love that God has for us, a self-giving love, a divine love.  In John chapter 11, when those who see Jesus weep speak of Jesus’ love for Lazarus, they use the word philia, not agape but philia.  Philia is a brotherly love as in Philadelphia, human affection, deep feeling for another person.  Jesus loves Lazarus in particular, loves him as a friend, and thus weeps for him not simply because all loss is sad but because Jesus’ friend dies.  Jesus loves Lazarus. 

Even though Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead on this particular day, Lazarus will die again as all people die.  Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man keep this man from dying? We may ask along with those gathered to mourn Lazarus’ death.  Could not Jesus grant eternal life so that we could avoid death entirely?  Yes! And no.  Yes, Jesus grants us eternal life, life with him, life abundant, life that begins now and continues forever.  But even we who live eternally with God will die.  But God allowing us to die does not mean God does not love us. 

I recall the weeks and months of walking alongside Larry as he died.  A man of great faith, Larry struggled mightily with health concerns.  Going to see him in the hospital and then in a skilled care center, I wondered what I could say that would bring any measure of comfort.  One day, while flipping through the Bible, I hit upon these words from the apostle Paul: Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  Ah! Larry said.  That’s helpful.  Phew! I thought.  Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  We are the Lord’s people, and we are loved by God, as Lazarus was loved by Jesus.    

Read in our current milieu, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead awakens many questions for us.  The story risks minimizing our grief; indeed, Mary and Martha don’t find eternal life too compelling when their brother has just died.  This story perhaps even leads us to question: If Lazarus was raised, why not my loved one? 

I don’t know.  We read this familiar story in an unfamiliar period.  We will likely live with many more questions in this time than answers.  But what I do know is that God loves us, and whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Gospel Study for Sunday, April 26

Luke 24:13-35

Walk to Emmaus

Read Luke 24:13-35 below aloud—whether you are by yourself or with another person.  The passage below is the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible edited to reflect Jesus’ perspective, as if Jesus were telling the story of the Walk to Emmaus instead of the gospel writer.  Changes to the biblical passage are underlined.

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, I came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing me. 17And I said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered me, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19I asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." 25Then I said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, I interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28As they came near the village to which they were going, I walked ahead as if I were going on. 29But they urged me strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So I went in to stay with them. 30When I was at the table with them, I took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized me; and I vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how I had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

With your friend or family member or by yourself, consider these questions.

What did you learn of Jesus’ point of view and of his relation to others? 

Did you identify with Jesus? 

What emotions were involved? 

How did that reading change the emphasis of the story?

Do you think you ever encounter Jesus among strangers?  When?  How do you respond to Jesus in the guise of stranger?

Gospel Study for Sunday, April 19

John 20:19-31

Thomas Questions and then Confesses the Risen Christ

This form of Bible study is called the Skeptic’s Bible Study.  All questions and opinions are valid!

Read John 20:19-31.   

With a friend or family member, in person or over the phone, discuss: What do I like about the reading? 

Discuss: What do I dislike about the reading?

Read John 20:19-31. 

Discuss: Is there anything I don’t understand or would like more information on?

Discuss: What is this passage trying to tell us about what God is like?

Read John 20:19-31.

Discuss: What is the passage calling us to do?

Discuss: Is there a word, phrase, or image from the passage that you would like to stay with you throughout the next week?

Discuss your and your friend’s or family member’s prayer concerns, and pray for each other.

Gospel Study for Sunday, April 12

Matthew 28:1-10

Jesus’ Resurrection

Lectio Divina is an ancient spiritual discipline consisting of 4 parts: lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio.  This can be done in a small group as described below or alone by journaling for step #2 and praying for all those in need for step #3.

Lectio – Read or listen to the text: Matthew 28:1-10.

Meditatio – After a bit of silence, each person can share how a word or phrase touched her or his heart.

What does this passage say to our world, our nation, our community, our church, to me?

            What images come to mind?

            What feelings did I have?

            What challenges me in this text?

            What delights me in this text?

            What is God up to in this text?

            What new possibility is God offering me?

Oratio – Make sure you know the name of the person sitting to your right.  Going around the room, we will pray forone another by name.

Contemplatio – Contemplate and sit quietly in the presence of God for a bit.

Gospel Study for Sunday, April 5

Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Read Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV) below.

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
 5"Tell the daughter of Zion,
 Look, your king is coming to you,
 humble, and mounted on a donkey,
 and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
 "Hosanna to the Son of David!
 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
 Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."

What one word or phrase caught your attention?  Share it with a friend or family member, over the phone or in person.

--

Read Matthew 21:1-11 (Jerusalem Bible) below.

When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her.  Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, “The Master needs them and will send them back directly.”  This took place to fulfill the prophecy:

Say to the daughter of Zion:

Look, your king comes to you;

he is humble, he rides on a donkey

And on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.

So the disciple went out and did as Jesus had told them.  They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them.  Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path.  The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting:

Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest heavens!

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil.  “Who is this?” people asked, and the crowds answered, “This is the prophet Jesus form Nazareth in Galilee.”

Take two minutes to reflect on where this passage touches your life today and then share with your friend or family member.

--

Read Matthew 21:1-11 (SPARK Story Bible) below.

“Friends!” Jesus said to his disciples.  “I need to go to Jerusalem.  I’ve got some important things to do and I want to celebrate Passover with you there.  Will you come with me?”  “Sure” said the disciples.  “Passover is a great holiday!  Such good food!  And what a wonderful story Passover celebrates—the exodus of God’s people, the Israelites, from Egypt!  It’s good to be with friends and family at Passover.”  So Jesus and his friends started to go to Jerusalem.

When they got close to the city, Jesus said, “I’d like two of you to go borrow a donkey in the next village over.  Please tell the owner I need it.  He’ll understand.”  When the two friends came back with a donkey, Jesus climbed on its back and rode down the hill into the city of Jerusalem.  The disciples followed behind him. 

Suddenly, they found themselves in a parade!  People were singing and shouting, “Hosanna!  Hosanna!  Here comes God’s king!  Hosanna!  Praise God!”  People all over heard the shouting and singing and they joined the parade too.  Hundreds of people!  Thousands of people!  They started taking off their coats and laying them on the ground for Jesus and the donkey to walk on.  They pulled palm branches down from the trees and waved them as they sang.  Then they threw their palms on the ground to make a path for Jesus. 

The crowds gave Jesus a royal welcome as he rode into the city, just like a king.  But Jesus was a very different king—he was a king of peace.  Not everyone understood that.  Jesus was not at all what they were expecting. 

They thought the crowd was too loud and the parade was getting too big.  “Who is that man?” someone asked.  “What’s going on here?” asked another.  The crowd answered, “This is Jesus, God’s King!  He has come to save us!”  Some of the religious leaders murmured, “Hush! Jesus, tell your friends to be quiet—it’s way too loud here!”  But Jesus said, “We can try to make these people be quiet, but that wouldn’t make a difference because today the whole earth is celebrating!” 

Take two minutes to reflect on the following: From what I have heard and shared, what does God want me to do or be this week?  How does God invite me to change?  Share with your friend or family member. 

--

Discuss your prayer concerns and that of your friend or family member, and then, pray for each other.