Sunday’s Readings: Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10; Psalms 131:1, 2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12

Sunday’s Readings: Exodus 22:20-26; Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Halloween – Secular or Sacred? – October 31rst is Halloween. Many people, especially Christians, dismiss Halloween for what it has become. Fact is though; we are the ones who invented it, or rather, in ancient days ‘converted it’ as we did many other pagan festivals. Halloween is an ancient festival with roots in Celtic pre-Christian times. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalms 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21

…from your Pastor’s Desk – MISSION-MINDED? – “…so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides Me.” —Isaiah 45:6
Today is World Mission Sunday. The second collection this weekend is for the Missions. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10

…from your Pastor’s Desk – The First Reading says that the Lord of hosts will provide a feast for His people, a feast of choice wines and rich and juicy food. Rich food is the kind that our culture warns us against. …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalms 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Philippians 2:1-11 OR 2:1-5; Matthew 21:28-32

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Here is a question I am often asked: Why do bad things happen to good people? There are clues. First, how many people do you know who are completely good or completely bad? …

Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalms 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20:1-16a

Sunday’s Readings: Sirach 27:30—28:7; Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35

…from your Pastor’s Desk – Love and Forgiveness – In the Gospel reading, Peter wants to know how many times he has to forgive someone who sins against him. What is the number of times, Peter wants to know, that he has to forgive that sinner? But this question is confused. There is no such number as the one Peter is looking for. There is no limit on the number of times we have to forgive someone who has sinned against us. …

Sunday’s Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

…from your Pastor’s Desk – If somebody does you wrong – do you wrong them right back, or even greater? Well, maybe you do – but the Gospel today shows us how, in great detail, we are to do otherwise, especially those within our own community, be it faith or family. This includes slander, public shame, taking what is rightfully yours, and all the other commandments they may have broken ‘on’ you. …

Sunday’s Readings: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

……from your Pastor’s Desk – “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny him-self, take up his cross, and follow me.” To understand today’s Gospel we must look back to a time in our lives when, in retrospect, we see that something, or someone we wanted, and didn’t get – turned out to be the very best in the long run. Garth Brooks has a great song called ‘Unanswered Prayers’ about this very thing. I think we have all had that experience at least once. And – that is part of ‘Taking up your Cross’. Even if by hindsight. …