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In the Meantime…Coming Soon
Introduction This article is the December 2009 installment of my monthly message in the parish newsletter for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. Coming Soon One of the little pleasures I enjoy is watching a movie in the theatre. I even look forward to seeing the previews screened before the main feature. Some previews will…
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The LORD Answers, Regards, Perceives, Preserves, Delivers, Fulfills
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the November 2009 meeting. The Psalm for the upcoming Sunday is the reading for the annual Thankoffering service of the Women of the ELCA. Reading I…
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The LORD Answers
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the November 2009 meeting. The psalm is from the lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. Reading I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before…
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In the Meantime…With Joy and Thanksgiving
Introduction This article is the November 2009 installment of my monthly message in the parish newsletter for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. With Joy and Thanksgiving The grace of God pours down upon us like rain falling from the clouds. We cannot, with our wills or desires, squeeze the water from those clouds. We…
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Called to Serve Others
Introduction One of the opportunities I have as the interim pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., is to prepare a short column for a feature called “The Pastor’s Pen,” appearing in the Beatrice Daily Sun on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. Scripture “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to…
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Fear and Faith
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the October 2009 meeting. The Psalm for the upcoming Sunday is the reading. Reading Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your…
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Blessing of the Animals
Welcome We are glad you have come to Holy Cross Lutheran Church this evening to give God thanks for the gift of the companionship and service of our fellow creatures, to renew your commitment to care for them, and to ask God to bless our animals to his glory. Around the world, Christians gather in…
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In the Meantime…at the Crossroads
Introduction This article is the October 2009 installment of my monthly message in the parish newsletter for Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb. At the Crossroads Several times in September, we heard in the Gospel readings from Mark how Jesus taught his disciples that he would suffer, be killed, and then be raised from the…
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Dedication and Blessing of Bibles
Introduction In its worship on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27, 2009, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., will dedicate new pulpit and lectern Bibles and bless the Bibles that worshipers bring from home. This brief order comes in the liturgy before the first reading. Liturgy Our heavenly Father blesses his people with the gift of…
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Praying in Faith
Introduction The Congregation Council at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Neb., where I am serving as interim pastor, opens its monthly meetings with devotions. These are the thoughts for the September meeting. The Psalm for the upcoming Sunday is the reading. Reading I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.…