Prince Of Peace

(Natalia Terfa) It’s fall kick-off, and while the lectionary doesn’t follow the school year calendar, it feels like it today. In the Gospel today Jesus addresses some questions about what it means to be church - and how we can be church together, While a lot has changed since Jesus answered these questions, much of what he says can be applied to our own congregation today.   Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20 Song: Cleopatra by Ooyy Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Peter had different ideas about what it means to call Jesus the Messiah. It’s not about power and control and ruling and victory. It’s more about serving, giving, blessing, and hospitality. So when it comes to Paul’s advice to the church, it’s always Opposite Day!  Scripture: Matthew 16: 21-28, Romans 12:9-21 Song: Video Knights by Spring Gang Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Welcome to the Natalia Terfa lectionary. We’re in a text today that is never included, not once, in our three-year lectionary cycle. But, as I come back from three months away, I want to talk about Hagar today, and how significant she is, and how much it matters that she names God for all of us.  Scripture: Genesis 16 Song: RGBA by Chill Cole Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The woman we meet in the gospel today had no business believing that Jesus would bother to help her in her time of need. Remember that humiliated woman who snuck up behind Jesus just to reach out and touch the hem of his garment? Yeah, this is not that woman! The Canaanite woman we meet today demands a blessing. The disciples are so annoyed they ask Jesus to send her away. But Jesus sees something in this foreign woman in need, something he has been searching for. Something he wants you to have as well. Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28 Song: Rullar Upp by Ikhana Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Let’s say you think you see Jesus coming and are allowed to ask only one question to verify that it is the Lord. What question would you ask? Well, this scenario is just what we have in front of us today and you won’t believe the question chosen. It may have been the last question that would have come to my mind. That is before I saw what happened next! Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 Song: Deep Sea Walk by Lama House Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker) In a culture that often shames those who are in need, Jesus calls to all of us who thirst and hunger - reminding us that as we acknowledge our own need, we’re offered in return abundance and community and opportunities to share. Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 Song: Jakarta by Bonsaye Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Grace LaTourelle) Hear how the transformative experience in the Colorado mountains has left a lasting impression on our youth. Like a modern-day Transfiguration, their journey to the Colorado mountains has reshaped their perspectives, leaving them inspired. Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 Song: Mountain Air by Cody Francis Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker) We live in a society and economy that often assumes all that grows is blessed. But Jesus reminds us that the weeds grow alongside the wheat. What does this mean for the Church? Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Song: The Farmhouse by Silver Maple Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The parable of the sower and the seed is so familiar, our minds tend to jump to the moral of the story before the lector is done reading. There may yet be something new this old story is trying to teach us. There may be truth hidden in the dry, cracked earth we walk on. Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9 Song: Wildlife Explorer by Marc Torch Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker & Chad Brekke) As we do from time to time, we put the usual preaching schedule on hold while we explore public theology together. We will again field questions from the congregation around the theme of things that cause us to doubt or question. Song: Happy-Go-Lucky by Victor Lundberg Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker) How to celebrate the Fourth of July this week while rejecting the lies of Christian Nationalism - and remembering the lessons of the theology of the Cross Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 Song: Life of the Party by Maybe Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Lutherans love to focus on God’s grace rather than what is often called “works righteousness.” But what about becoming a better, more compassionate and caring person? Should I even try? Let's walk right into this tension together and look around! Scripture: Jeremiah 20:7-13, Romans 6:1-11 Song: Bigboys by Ingrid Witt Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker) Churches tend to recognize Mother’s Day more than Father’s Day. On this Father’s Day, we step away from the “Hallmark holiday” and commercial ideas about “dad,” to look at three Bible texts that lift up aspects of a God of fatherly love, remembering that father figures aren’t limited to biological dads or even one particular gender. Scripture: Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35-10:8 Song: Nocturnal Sun by At The End of Times, Nothing Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Katie Rykal, Riley Ping, Grace LaTourelle) As we gather to celebrate our graduating High School Seniors, we hear their words, their stories and bless them as they step out on their own. Whether they are heading to college, tech school, directly into the workforce, or taking some time to figure things out, we will send them out with the reminder that we, as a Church, will always be there for them. Seniors, let your lights shine so others may see your good works and glorify your God in heaven. Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Timothy 4:12, Matthew 28:16-20 Song: Satellite Call cover by Amy Courts (Sara Bareilles) Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Angela Denker) On Holy Trinity Sunday, we have the opportunity to step back and try to see the world through God’s eyes. Creation - including us - is still endowed with majesty, beauty, and grace. And still, we are reminded that God’s power functions very differently than the world’s power, which is why we worship a Triune God. Scripture: Psalm 8 Song: Evergreen Fields by Tape Machines Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Many of us are intimidated or shamed even by the thought of living out our Christian faith in public. Discouraged because we may not feel “qualified or equipped”, and shamed because we feel like we should probably be more open and honest about our beliefs. I think there is some really Good News for all of us this Pentecost Sunday! Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 Song: Last Odyssey by ELFL Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) We don’t often spend much time in the story of the Ascension - but I love the moment when Jesus has disappeared from their sight and they keep standing there looking up, hoping that he might come back. Change his mind? It can be so easy to look at the wrong place and hope we see Jesus - but no worries, the angels have some truth to share with us at this moment.  Scripture: Acts 1:6-14 Song: Goodbye Earth by Sum Wave Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) Have you ever had a stranger start asking you questions about your belief in God? Or even worse, has anyone ever cornered you to find out which candidate you plan to vote for? It is considered common courtesy to stay away from these two topics in polite company. I guess St. Paul did not get the memo. Today he goes straight to these topics right in the middle of the public square! Scripture: Acts 17:22-34 Song: Drone Views by The Big Let Down Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Natalia Terfa) Peter “the rock” teaches and preaches to his audience about being living stones, very intentionally connecting them to the story of Jesus. These words are for us on this day as well, as we wonder together what it means to be a living stone in the church of God.  Image Referenced Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Song: Perfect Match by Tape Machines Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website

(Chad Brekke) The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one of the most beloved metaphors in scripture. But where does that leave you? Should you accept being thought of as one of the sheep? Should you try to be something more or better than that? Is getting lost inevitable? Scripture: John 10:1-10 Song: Make U Mine by Dasloe Support our podcast here Watch the Livestream Follow us on Instagram Visit our Website