This is a special musical presentation of Shout Amen! by the Singing Sinners at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Even after the cutting and pruning we talked about last week, Jesus still comes back to love. The cutting and pruning is about letting Jesus clean up our lives in order that we can be more intimate, have a stronger connection with him. In today’s lesson, Jesus uses the example of the love that he has with God. From the Inclusive Bible we hear “As my Abba has loved me,. So have I loved you. Live on in my love.” What kind of love is this? It is of course the agape or sacrificial love that...

Easter 5 B – 04 28 2024 In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for his departure. This part of the Farewell Discourses. Jesus knows he will be going home, and he wants his disciples to be prepared. This is a pastoral moment, reminding them that they will not be alone, as he says “I am the vine and you are the branches. Vine and branches – connected to each other. They are intertwined to the point that you have to work hard to tell one from the other. Jesus and...

This is a special musical presentation of Partnership of Faith by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:45-48 But what had to happen in order for the disciples’ minds to be opened? Jesus had first addressed them with ‘Peace be with you’. This peace in Hebrew is...

This is a special musical presentation of Gaelic Alleluia by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of Run, Mary, Run by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

In a few of the churches that I have served for a period of times during worship, people were given an opportunity to share God moments. God moments were where they had seen God at work in the past week. Another way we can ask the question is to ask, “Where have you seen Jesus this past week?” Often, what we hear and see news today it is often negative, it doesn’t help  through the day. It may make us angry, sad or depressed. We know the news does not always give us the good news. Although,...

This is a special musical presentation of See What a Morning! by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.  

Where are you finding and hearing ‘good news’ today? We are hearing it here today through the Word, music and Sacrament. But what about out in our world today? There are some days that we really need to strain to find it and hear good news. As our country gets heated up between now and November, we need to keep straining to find and hear the good news. We here at Faith Lutheran will continue to provide God’s word, God’s presence here in this beloved community. We will continue to hear God’s...

Manudy Thursday – 03/28/2024             Tonight, I am going to wash at least one foot symbolizing Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Thus, it is important for us to understand at least partially why Jesus may have washed his disciples’ feet. This is not a practice at all churches on this night. Many people say, “I don’t want people seeing my feet”.           I had never done it until I went to Ishpeming a few years ago. Tonight, I will invite anyone who wants to come up. Jesus’...

This is a special musical presentation of All the Room Was Hushed and Still by Ryan Thompson at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical presentation of Hosanna, Hosanna! by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Last time I was here was the weekend of the birth of my Grandson – 6 years ago. So much has happened since then. Covid – change in pastors, and so much more. Through it all we pray and hope that Jesus has walked with you and me and that we have noticed his presence and we have shared him with others. I don’t often share personal memories in sermons but today there is a relevant thread. I started seminary in the fall of 1976. Young, newly married, first apartment, and starting...

This is a special musical presentation of Mercy by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Join us for the Lenten Service this evening.  

What Wondrous Love Is This?! “This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, we will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it…” For me singing this simple song is sometimes a helpful antidote in the days when my mind and heart seems dominated by harsh, sorrowful, cynical, judgmental, or angry thoughts and emotions.  Sometimes my thoughts and feelings about myself or about my family, or about our governmental leaders, or about pretty...

Join us for our Lenten Service at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

This is a special musical presentation of There Is A Green Hill Far Away by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Worship is about connecting with God in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament there were a number of temples in Jerusalem. God gave King Solomon the task of building the first temple. It was a sacred place that specific sacrifices were carried out to God by a priest. It was where God was believed to be present, where God wanted to connect with people. As temples were demolished and built up God’s presence was not confined to the temple. The temple of course was still a meeting place for God’s...

This is a special musical presentation of Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Lent 2 – B 02/25/2024 Most of us have played the game, “Follow the Leader”. It involves making choices whether to follow a person or not over and through things. There are some whom you can trust to keep you safe, there are others whom you need to be careful with. We have many people today who say, come, follow me.   What kind of criteria do we set up for whom we decide to follow? Number one, it is a good idea to look at their history and what kind of choices they have made in the past....