Faith Lutheran Church

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Monday, February 1, 2021

February 2021 Sermons

No Service - Weather

2/7/2021

No Service

2/14/2021

Jesus' Journey To Jerusalem the Ash Wed Service

First Sunday Of Lent

2/21/2021

Jesus At Bethany the 1st Sunday of Lent

2/28/2021

As a child in grade school, I remember Valentine’s Day. Each year a box was decorated so we could place valentines in it for others in our class. Then on Valentine’s Day we would have cupcakes and other snacks made by parents, as we gave out the valentines. The “rule” was if you gave valentines you must have one for every member of the class so no one felt left out.

Even at that age there were some in the class that you may not particularly want to send a valentine to, but you did anyway. In those cases you usually checked carefully what simple message was on the card. Usually they were mostly general phrases anyway.

The night He was betrayed, Jesus gave His disciples the command to “Love one another” and in I John 4:8 we read, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” It is evident in Scripture that God wants us to love all people. As sinful humans this is a real challenge. People who offend us in some way or do evil, we feel are not worthy of our love.

Maybe we need to process our thoughts in a different way. Is it the person we don’t like, or his or her actions that we find offensive? I know it is hard to separate the sin from the sinner. Yet remember what we know as truth – “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” Under the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we are able to disagree and not condone the actions of others, but yet show love. We can remember to pray for those who do wrong, that the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts also. “God so loved us that He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” and the sins of all.

Lent begins this month. Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Each Sunday following, leading up to Good Friday and Easter, our services will be special emphasizing the various places Jesus went before He was crucified. The season is a season of repentance. This is a good time to invite others to join us in worship. Continue to show love to others.

Rev. James W. Rhiver, Pastor

Monday, January 4, 2021

January Sermons

Defeating Satan's Power

Defeating Satan's Power Part 2

1/31/2021

A New Career As A Christian Part 1

A New Career As A Christian Part 2

1/24/2021

Jesus Has Also Called You

1/17/2021

Jesus Baptized, Why?

1/10/2021

God's Eternal Plan

1/3/2021

Sunday, January 3, 2021

January Pastor's Article

A BLESSED NEW YEAR

At this time of the year my nostalgic thoughts often go back to my childhood. Although I was an only a child, we shared the same yard with five other young cousins. My two uncles and their families lived in a two family dwelling and we lived in a small house in the back. New Year’s Eve was when we all got together to “welcome in the New Year.” My parents and I would be the last to be there since we attended a New Year’s Eve worship service first.

The evening consisted of playing games like Monopoly, Sorry, or Canasta until midnight. At midnight it was traditional to make a lot of noise. We would have noisemakers and my uncles would shoot a gun or two in the back yard. Everyone would hug and kiss and wish each other “Happy New Year” after which we would have sandwiches, etc., talk a little and go back to our own homes around one or two A.M. This was in the distant past.

This year is far removed from family parties and get-togethers due to the pandemic.

But, the New Year of 2021 is certainly upon us as we anticipate what it may bring. As God’s people in Christ, we certainly want to trust in Him to be with us and know we have His promise of strength and peace. With that hope, I share with you a song/ prayer that I wrote:

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

We ask you, Lord, for Your blessings in the new year.

Keep us and all we love within Your grace,

Guide us as we live to Your great glory,

Until we meet with Jesus face to face.

We don’t know what the New Year will bring us,

Whether joy or sorrow, hope or despair,

But we know that you will always be with us.

You promised we can cast on You our care,

Because of Jesus’ dying and His rising

Our sins have all been washed away.

Eternity’s been promised for the faithful

And we will go to live with Him someday.

Although we often fail to love, or remember

To follow Your guidance and Your will.

In repentance we can turn back to Your love,

And Your grace opens up to us still.

All glory to the Father, Son and Spirit,

All glory to the great Three in One.

All we ask for in the New Year

In great faith, Thy will be done.