December 30, 2007 -- "Born into a Rough Neighborhood"

Pastor Steve Cook reminds us that Jesus was born into the real world with all its darkness and despair. Jesus' birth is an expression of God's love for the world even at its ugliest!

Texts:
Isaiah 63:7-9
Hebrews 2:10-18
Matthew 2:13-23

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December 23, 2007 -- "It's All in the Name"

Today we hear the Good News from Matthew's Gospel and learn the meanings of the names given to the child born to Mary & Joseph: "Jesus - God saves," and "Emmanuel - God with us." May you be blessed by the Good News that God in Christ is with you - this Christmas and always.

Texts:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25



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December 16, 2007 -- "A Time for Joy"

It is not often easy to find joy in the trying times of life. It is when the darkness of life's circumstances cloud our vision that God's light shines brightly. Joy, a promised gift to all disciples of Jesus Christ, is right here. Pastor Janine Olson asks: "Is there time for joy in your life?"

Texts:
Isaiah 35:1-10
Matthew 11:2-11

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December 9, 2007 -- "About Face!"

In the reading from Matthew for this Second Sunday in Advent, we hear John the Baptizer's call to "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven has come near." Pastor Dee Pederson reminds us that God's reign in Jesus Christ is so good, so sweet, it turns us around in our tracks and causes us to do an "about-face" so that we might live and share the Good News.

Texts:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

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December 2, 2007 -- "Wake Up!"

The watchword for Advent is to be awake, alert, on watch. On this first Sunday of Advent Pastor Steve Cook lefts up Romans 13:11-14 and Mathew 24:36-44 so that we hear the voice of Paul and Jesus inviting us to shine in the darkness of our world for healing and hope is are hand.

Texts:
Romans 13:11-14
Mathew 24:36-44


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November 25, 2007 -- "Truly, A Powerful King"

Christ the King Sunday is the time set aside for the Church to lift up our Lord Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This week we focus on the cross to help us find the true source of power. This week Pastor Janine Olson helps us focus on the cross to help us find the true source of power.

Texts:
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43

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November 18, 2007 -- "By God's Grace, Together We Have What We Need"

On Bethlehem's "Generously Living" Stewardship Commitment Weekend, the worship area was filled with quilts that will be sent to people both here in St. Cloud, and around the world through Lutheran World Relief. The quilts are a reminder of how Jesus does miraculous things with the gifts we generously offer because in Christ, we are connected to others. In the readings, Jesus feeds 5,000 through the generosity of a little boy who shared 5 loaves and 2 fish. In the reading from Acts, Barnabas gives encouragement to the other early Christians through his generously and sacrificial giving. Today, people of Bethlehem offer their commitments because we want to live what we believe: "By God's grace, together we have what we need." (SW MN Synod Mission Statement.)

Texts:
Acts 4:32-37
John 6:1-13

Sermon Audio

November 11, 2007 -- "The Day Love Came Home"

Grace is a funny thing. When sinners get a gift instead of what they deserve it is both funny and life changing. This week's sermon is a glimpse of the aftermath of one such grace filled moment. Zach Zacchaeus - the most hated man in town - explains to his wife the life change that will happen because Jesus invited himself to their home for the night. It is in the form of a chancel drama, 'The Day Salvation Came Home' written by Pastor Steve Cook, based on Luke 19:1-10, and performed by Ed & Solveig Krafnick.

Text:
Luke 19:1-10

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November 4, 2007 -- "When Duty Becomes Delight"

On All Saints Sunday Pastor Steve Cook asks who have been the examples of faith for us? These are the ones who have let the duty they owe to God and to their neighbors become their delight to do.

Texts:
Ephesians 1:11-23
Luke 17:11-19

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October 21, 2007 "Don't Lose Heart"

Prayer is difficult for many modern people. Today Pastor Steve Cook talks about this reality. Preaching from Luke 18:1-8 we learn that we just "lose heart" in the promise of God who has overcome in Jesus. The heart of prayer is always the petition "Your Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven."

Texts:
Genesis 32:22-31
2nd Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8

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October 14, 2007 -- "Total Healing"

In the Gospel reading this week, Jesus heals 10 lepers; only one returns to give thanks. It's really a story about three kinds of healing: healing for bodies, healing of vision - giving eyes of faith, and healing of hearts - that reach out to reach others.

Texts:
2nd Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
2nd Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

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October 7, 2007--"More Please"

The role of a disciple is no walk in the park. Pastor Janine Olson reminds us that as disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to care for God's people and God's world in ways that can sometime seem daunting. We are not left alone in this task, however. God has richly poured into us the gift of faith, with which we can do the seemingly impossible.

Texts:
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
2nd Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:1-10

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September 30, 2007--"The Good Life"

In today's sermon Pastor Dee Pederson asks: "Which is it easier to do: clench your hands and say, "Mine, mine!" or to open your hands and share?" The rich man in today's story exemplifies what we and our world would call "The Good Life," but he is bound by his need to feed his greed and his comfortable lifestyle. Lazarus exemplifies those who are on the outside, who are bound because their needs are forgotten and ignored. When those who are comfortable figure out ways to open their hands and bridge the gaps that exist between us, two wonderful things happen: The giver experiences the joy of giving while living, and the recipient is freed to live. This is the life for which Jesus freed us when he opened his hands to the nails of the cross and gave it all - his very life - so that we would know the REALLY Good Life.

Texts:
Amos 6:1a, 4-7
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-31

Sermon Audio

September 23, 2007--"Reality Check"

The center of this sermon is the Parable of the Dishonest Manager - one of Jesus' most difficult and troubling stories. Pastor Steve Cook suggests that this story is a call to examine our priorities around wealth, power and privilege and to trust that God has written off all the debts we owe God, for the sake of his Son Jesus.

Texts:
Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13

Sermon Audio

September 16, 2007 - "Breaking Rules"

This week's Gospel lesson from Luke 15, although very familiar, presents a good question. Who are we in the story of the lost sheep? Are we the one lost or are we the 99 who are left behind? This week Pastor Janine Olson reminds us that the answer is - YES! We are the 1 AND we are the 99!

Texts:
Exodus 32:7-14
1st Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

Sermon Audio

September 9, 2007 - "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever"

Pastor Dee Pederson reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus redefines the way we see family, our selves, and our possessions. When the things we hold dear fail us, as they will, Jesus Christ is the only One who never fail or leave us. This promise frees us to go into God's world and follow the way of the cross - the way of costly love, the way of true life.

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September 2, 2007 - "Who's In Your Circle?"

Pastor Janine Olson challenges us to examine who we are inviting into our circle, into our community, and how this compares to circle Jesus calls us to have. Our Gospel text reminds us that God's kingdom has no divisions or separations - all are welcome to God's table of grace! While we know this, it is not something that we practice as a community. Jesus constantly challenges us to examine our routines and willingly let go of practices that would keep anyone out of the Kingdom of God.

Texts:
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

Sermon Audio

August 26, 2007 - "Freed to Stand Up Straight"

In the Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus heals a woman who could not stand. In her sermon this week Pastor Dee Pederson call us to consider how Jesus comes to heal the church, raise up our heads to look beyond our own two feet, and frees us for God's mission in the world.

Texts:
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17

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August 12, 2007 - "Kingdom Economics"

In this week’s sermon, Pastor Steve Cook points out an interesting connection in the gospel reading. Jesus notes that we become fearful when our sense of safety and security is threatened and since we place our trust for safety and security in our possessions, power and privilege we become easily afraid. “Have no fear, little folk, for the Father gives you the Kingdom.” In the economics of this New Kingdom of God we are set free from fear for lives of service.

Texts:
Genesis 15:1-6
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Luke 12:32-40

Sermon Audio

August 5, 2007 -- "The Barns We Build"

Pastor Janine Olson preaches a word based on The Parable of the Foolish Rich Man. We are so blessed to have full barns (bank accounts, homes, toys), yet God is calling us out of our barns and into community. This is especially true when the community is experiencing hurt, suffering and need. The community was blessed by many folks who left their barns in order to serve others in the aftermath of the 35W Bridge collapse.

Texts:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21

Sermon Audio

Sermon for July 15, 2007 - "Radical Love"

Love your neighbor is a nice phrase, but what does it really mean? Pastor Janine Olson looks at how a question asked over 2,000 years ago continues to be relevant today.

Text: Luke 10:25-37

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Sermon for July 8, 2007

In the Gospel for this week, Jesus sends out the disciples as "apostles" to announce the good news of the presence of God's kingdom. This sermon, preached by Pastor Dee Pederson, helps today's disciples imagine how we are sent to be part of God's mission in our world right now, in the places we go each day.

Texts: Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11

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Sermon for July 1, 2007 "Called to Freedom"

What is freedom? What is freedom for? Pastor Steve Cook points out that true freedom comes in the call to follow Jesus as a disciple, and is expressed in our love of our neighbor.

Texts: Galatians 5:1,13-25 & Luke 9:51-62

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Sermon for June 24, 2007

Pastor Steve Cook preaches on the naming of John the Baptist from Luke 1:57-80 in his sermon entitled "Visions of Mercy." Pastor Steve looks at the various visions that surround the story of John the Baptist. These visions offer grand examples of God's great mercy!

Sermon Audio