First Lutheran Church Calgary
7102 14 Ave SW T3H4G7 Calgary, AB, Canada

Q: Why did Jesus go to the Japanese restaurant? A: Because he loves miso.

Pastor Kevin shares some thoughts on grief during a pandemic.

Our tax clinics for 2021 have begun!

Sermon for Easter 4B

Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, asks What is this? after each commandment. And it’s a good question. What ARE the commandments for? Why do we still give them a privileged place in church teaching? After all, aren’t we justified [declared innocent of sin] by faith and not by works prescribed by the law? (Romans 3: 28) That’s true. Our relationship with God is through Jesus and not through any works, prayers, or right beliefs. In our lives today we don’t worry about ...being faithful to the Ten Commandments because we have to for our salvation. We observe the Ten Commandments because that is who we are as God’s people. The Ten Commandments are how we Love God (Commandments 1-3) and love neighbour (Commandments 4-10). The Ten Commandments are about maintaining strong and healthy relationships. Both with God and with each other. So, I invite you to read the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-17 or Luther’s Small Catechism) out loud. Listen to what God is saying to you in your life and relationships. What needs strengthening? What is being affirmed? What are your areas of growth that need tending to? Then offer to God in prayer those areas of your life that need strengthening. And give thanks for those places that are already strong. And keep building those healing and strong relationships.

Service of the Word from CLWR: Gifts of the Magi https://vimeo.com/484643572/6436e5b904

Gordon shares the story of when Jesus, as a boy, was lost. And he was found in the strangest place!

The 9th Day of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing: Wassailing There were many different wassailing traditions. In areas of England where cider was made, folk would drink and sing to the health of the apple trees in hope of producing a good harvest and to chase away evil spirits.... Here is an old wassailing rhyme: Wassaile the trees, that they may beare You many a plum and many a peare: For more or lesse they will bring, As you do give them wassailing Robert Herrick (1591-1674) from Ceremonies of Christmas Eve Ideas: Go and wassail a tree near your home. May bring along some hot cider! Plant a seed indoors and tend it until it can be transplanted. Make a prayer tree or a peace tree. Look at the trees in your neighbourhood and learn their names. Read a book about trees (an excellent one is The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Learn about our local forests and their role in the ecosystem. Ponder the beauty of God’s creation through the trees. Rev. Natasha Brubaker St. Martin’s Anglican Church

I don’t know why we don’t give more air time to the beatitudes. These blesseds give us a deep look into God’s heart because God is looking into ours. What Jesus calls blessed we generally turn away from. Blessed are you who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are gentle and small, those who yearn for a better world but aren’t sure it will ever arrive. But when Jesus looked out at the crowds he saw people longing for a new life, both for them and their commun...ity. Jesus saw their broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken spirits. And while his heart broke with theirs, he knew that it is in poverty and pain that we begin to see new possibilities - God’s possibilities in our lives and world. We don’t fix what isn’t broken. We don’t pray for that which is going right. We don’t yearn for that which is already among us. Jesus arrived as a frail, limited, vulnerable human child so that God could experience the tragedy of human experience from the middle of its mess. And in doing so, God blessed our pain and limitation, so that we can grow more fully human. And as we grow more fully human, we grow closer into God’s image, in which we were created. That which makes us human also makes us holy. Today, I invite you to read the beatitudes out loud (Matthew 5: 1-11). Where are you in them? Where is your poverty of spirit? What are you grieving? What does the new life for which you are yearning look like? As you answer these questions when you read, offer them to God in prayer, trusting that you will be blessed in your broken yet beautiful humanity.

The 7th Day of Christmas New Year’s Eve: 7 Swans A-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, fortitude, piety, counsel, knowledge, and awe of the Lord. It’s New Year’s Eve. And what a year 2020 was. We all hope that 2021 will see the return to life somewhat more as it was. The past year has reminded us of how vulnerable we are and how much we rely and need each other. The past year has startled us with pow...erful truths about continuing inequality and need. The past year has given us time to be with ourselves as perhaps we never have been before, discovering who we are and who we would like to become. Instead of a list of self-improvement resolutions dashed off and then forgotten by January 27, how about taking some time to think/pray/meditate about where you are called to grow this year and how it might look. What are the tangible steps to take? Take this idea and then make it into a piece of art: a drawing, a piece of prose, a carving, a sculpture, a dance, a prayer, or something that is more than just jotting a few notes down on a piece of paper. Put it somewhere you can see it daily. Share it with one other person and tell them about this year’s journey of growing more into the person God is calling you to be. Invite them to share theirs. Be travelling companions this year. -Rev. Natasha Brubaker, Saint Martin’s Anglican church

NOTE: Coffee With Pastor Kevin is CANCELLED for today. I have a funeral this afternoon. Looking forward to gathering again next week.

"The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows," ~ Brené Brown Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

REMINDER: There is NO in-person worship service this morning due to spiking Covid numbers. Watch this space for updates in the coming days and weeks. Stay safe and healthy! Wear a mask, wash your hands, keep a distance when out, and stay home as much as you can. We’ll get through this together!

Gordon tells the story of the sheep and the goats

Helen tells us about Jesus' parable of the Talents.

Great is your name, O God of all creation, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ. As we give you thanks and praise in this gathering of your people, we pray that you would adjust our vision and align it with your own your vision for a world made new that we may fervently pray for it and work for it in the days that lie ahead. This we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.

Synod-wide worship with Bp. Larry Preaching

Although Halloween is over Pastor Kevin shares what sometimes keeps him up at night.

NOTE: After consulting the church council and staff, it was decided to suspend in-person worship until January, and will evaluate along the way to determine if a change is needed. Unfortunately, this will include Christmas. Please pray for our community during this time of rising Covid rates and deaths.

"Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light," ~ Brené Brown. Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

In today's Mid-Week Meditation (see video at the bottom of the page) I talk about what Brene Brown calls "Day Two" of the pandemic. Day Two is where we feel the exhaustion of pandemic living most acutely. And then I discuss how to move from Day Two to Day Three, and how we can use the last 100 days 2020 to move toward a hope-filled 2021. Let me know how you're going to use these last 100 days to greet 2021 with hope and faith

"Whoever you are, you are human. Wherever you are, you live in the world, which is just waiting for you to notice the holiness in it," ~ Barbara Brown Taylor. Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

REMINDER: Coffee With Pastor Kevin is today at 1:00 via Zoom. If you don't have the link and want to pop in for a chat just send us a DM and we'll get you the link.

Gather us, O God, into the household of grace, the fold of your love. We recognize your holy presence and are turned toward a new day by the rising of the light of Christ. Help us to face this day, and all of our days, with the hope and promise, made full for us in the person of Jesus Christ, as we unite ourselves with him once more and receive his holy Word; for these and all of our prayers we lift to you in his name. Amen.

Gordon shares Jesus' story "Pay Day at the Vineyard!"

"...during the COVID lockdown, many of us started to see value differently. The term essential worker took on a different tone. We realized what we could live without and what we needed to keep the ship of life afloat."

"Faith is not the supposition that something might be true, but the assurance that someone is there," ~ Kallistos Ware. Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

Join our National Bishop who unites us together during times of physical distancing by sharing a hymn and prayer and inviting you to pray along. Lets be a community connected by song and prayer! #myELCIC

"Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse," ~ Barbara Brown Taylor. Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

Bishop Larry shares some Fall greetings on behalf of the synod.

We seldom notice how each day is a holy place Where the Eucharist of the ordinary happens, Transforming our broken fragments Into an eternal continuity that keeps us. - John O'Donohue

Coffee With Pastor Kevin starts in less than an hour at 1:00 (mtn) via Zoom. If you'd like to pop in and chat but don't have the link, send us a DM and we'll get it to you.

Gordon shares Jesus' message of the importance of forgiveness

You have brought us again to new life, O God, and gathered us in this community to be your people as we work and witness in this world. Feed us today with the presence of our risen Christ, and breathe into us your Spirit, that we may be enabled in all we say and do to glorify your name. Amen.

Forgiving yourself means looking deep within yourself, and asking, What do I really want from life? And then looking deeper and asking, Who am I really? Are my dreams really mine, or have they been imposed on me? Am I giving into society and cultures understanding of the good life? Do I want something else?

REMINDER: We're having an OUTDOOR service tomorrow, September 13, at 11:00 am. The usual precautions will be in place: physical distancing, masks, children staying with family, no sharing of food. Also, if you'd like to sit in one of the squares in the front of the church, be sure to bring your own lawn chair. There will be our regular online worship as well for those who can't attend or who don't feel comfortable worshipping in person.... Looking forward to gathering again as a church family!.

We come to you, O God of wonder, because you first came to us. You have known us long before we came into this world, and you have searched for a relationship with us and with all your children. Draw us back into the wonder of searching for a deeper connection with you. And in that searching, may we come to better know ourselves as we truly are, and as you would want us to be. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen

Gordon tells us how we love one another in Jesus' name.

Bp. Larry Kochendorfer is our guest preacher today

Gordon tells us how to love our enemies, just as Jesus taught us.

O God, your desire has always been that each of your children might be made whole, and live abundantly and freely in your presence. Centre our hearts and minds that we may be prepared to receive the gifts you so freely give to all, and empower us to share with others from grateful hearts, so that all may know your love and gracious provisions. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Guest Preacher: Rev. Jerry Borkowski Assistant to the Bishop (Southern Region), Saskatchewan Synod Matthew 16: 21-28

May we all receive blessing upon blessing. And may we realize our power to bless, heal, and renew one another. - John O'Donohue #yyc #yycchurch #makingfaithmatter

#PrayTogether #StaySafeTogether "Loving and compassionate God, ...We bring before you and into our hearts and minds: Those whose work and income are uncer...tain. Those who are isolated. Those who are fearful of an unknown future. Those who are homeless, and all those who offer them support and care..." We continue our weekly series of intercessions for our one human family at this time of crisis adopting the words of sisters and brothers from different parts of the world. Today we invite you to pray with the Uniting Church in Australia. Continue reading at: www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/covid-19/pray To find additional resources for this time of crisis, please visit: www.oikoumene.org/corona

"Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection," ~ Brené Brown Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more

"It's not about right belief; it's about right practice," ~ Cynthia Bourgeault. Support the FLC mission in the community at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/6999/donation ... #MakingFaithMatter #inspiration #inspirationalquotes #HolySpirit #God #Lutheran #Christian #church #yyc #yycliving #yycca #strathconayyc #Aspenyyc #Wentworthyyc #Cougarridgeyyc See more