Connect and reconnect

After the final hymn, the congregation began to move towards the front door. Pastor John stood in the Narthex, shaking hands and greeting the members. One churchgoer, a long-time member, approached him with a concerned look on his face. "Pastor, I noticed something wrong in the service today," he said. "Really? What was that?" Pastor John asked with a curious smile. "Right after the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie, we didn’t have the Gloria in Excelsis." Pastor John replied, "You are right—we didn’t. What did we have there instead?" The member paused for a moment. "I think it was a hymn, if I remember correctly." "Yes, it was a hymn that performs the same function," the Pastor replied. "But it wasn’t the Gloria in Excelsis," the member insisted. "I think we must follow tradition, otherwise we would be wrong." "You are right, it wasn't," Pastor John acknowledged. "But you know, this reminds us

 "Some say that coffee is not just a beverage for the body, it is also for the soul, in the way it brings memories, coziness, reporting us to good moments. Jesus is the real food our soul needs, the light in our path, the warmth for our heart. He is the One that both boosts and calms us. That makes us both more awake and makes us rest. The one that grinds sin under his cross and offers us fresh, warm forgiveness and peace to our hearts. As we move toward the end of the year and approach another Christmas season, let’s not forget that God’s gifts are not just for special occasions. They are for every day. Just as you might enjoy a cup of coffee each morning, we are invited to wake up to God’s mercies, which are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23)" Source   ______________________   Sermon – October 13 th , 2024 Hope Lutheran Church, Port Coquitlam BC Text:   Luke 17:11-19; Philippians 4; Psalm 67 Theme: “Thanksgiving every day” _______________________

  CFW Walter, The Mission Society Established by God   In this sermon, written for a special festival occasion, Walther does a good job of affirming the Church as the Missionary Society established by God. In a century when missionary societies were sprouting and spreading around the world, he calls the Church to own her responsibility of bringing the Gospel to sinners. Every Christian is a royal priest who carries the kingdom of heaven in his or her hands. Therefore, they should not forget to use it to open heaven for those who are on the outside. Walther delivers a fiery criticism of lukewarm Christianity, which sits in the shadows of altar and pews, focusing only on those already connected to Christ, while bypassing opportunities to reach those in darkness. These missed opportunities, Walther warns, may represent the eternal condemnation of many. He emphasizes that God’s mission through the Church will always accomplish its purpose because it is His work, not ours. Howe