Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song And Praise

This is a special musical performance of I've Got Peace Like A River which is a family choir special performance from Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Perhaps some of you, at some point in time, have heard the 11th Commandment.  It goes something like this, “Thou shalt not make any changes in the way we do things around here.”  Or, similar words like, “But, we have always done it this way before!”  Quite honestly, when this 11th Commandment is observed, when conventional thought and action are never challenged, when we are not open to being changed and being made new, there is hardly ever any growth. As we hear the Jesus story we know that throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, he continually challenged conventional religious structures, religious thinking and religious practices.  And, the example in today’s gospel lesson is no exception. Jesus’ words in today’s reading not only challenge us, they are also disturbing. As this gospel reading begins, Jesus is speaking to the crowd about tradition and conventional religious practices. He is speaking to all who hold tradition and ritual in high esteem and consider themselves to be the “in crowd” – the socially ac

This was a special musical performance at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan by Pastor Ellen Schoepf of Pathetique Sonata, Opus 13 Adagio Cantabile by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Fear!  Fear is a vital response to physical and emotional danger.   And, if we didn't feel it, we couldn't protect ourselves from legitimate threats. But often we fear situations that are far from life-or-death, and thus hang back for no good reason.  Sometimes, fear can actually be paralyzing and it can keep us from living into the fullness of life, living into life that truly matters.   Yet, exposing ourselves to our personal demons by facing our fears is the best way to move through them and past them.  In today’s gospel, we hear a story that not only addresses the fear that can literally overpower us, but we also hear a story of the even greater power of promise, telling us of a loving presence that will never let us go. At last, Jesus has finally been able to send the crowds away.  He has convinced his disciples to get in a boat and cross the lake ahead of him. Finally, he has found time to retreat and spend some time in prayer.  As we look at today’s gospel reading, Jesus is not a superhero who has retr

This is a special musical presentation of Softly and Tenderly by Thompson by Tammy Heilman today at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Jesus and his disciples have just received news of the brutal murder of John the Baptist.  And, they have just experienced a long day with large and desperate crowds of people.   They are grief stricken, exhausted, and seek to simply get away.  Mourning John’s death, physically and emotionally exhausted, Jesus tries to slip away in a boat, attempting to go to a deserted place, a place where there is nothing and no one present.  But, the crowd follows him anyway.  And, the disciples do what we would likely do, they tell the people to go away.  However, thousands follow and what does Jesus do?  He has compassion and begins healing the sick.  As dinner time approaches, the disciples are very ready to call it quits and send the crowd away.  But, Jesus invites the multitude to eat and, much to the disciples’ dismay, asks them to feed the thousands.  The disciples are shocked.  They are only able to find two fish and five loaves of bread.  So, they operate out of the perspective of scarcity and nothingness. “We hav

I am sure many of you are familiar with the country music song “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.”  The lyrics of this song came to mind as I was studying today’s gospel lesson. The words go like this: I was lookin' for love in all the wrong places Lookin' for love in too many faces Searchin' their eyes, lookin' for traces Of what I'm dreamin' of Hopin' to find a friend and a lover I'll bless the day I discover, Another heart- lookin' for love.             Obviously, this song describes a person’s quest as he or she is looking everywhere, looking in too many faces and all the wrong places, trying to find love.   He or she is trying to find someone who will fill his or her deepest desire – looking for that one person who will supposedly be the answer to one’s dreams.           This song came to mind because I believe these words can describe something else within each of us, something that is not just a quest for a significant other or soul mate.  These words can describe the way we who are human are l

This is a special music performance of Al Shlosha D'Varim by Naplan by the Women's Choir of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan. 

This is a special musical performance by Diane Hill of There is a Balm In Gilead by Hayes at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

I have always loved the music of folk musician and activist Pete Seeger.  He was a prolific song writer.  In his music, we gain insight into the many causes he supported, such as international disarmament, civil rights and care of the environment.  There is an authenticity and honesty present in his work.  As he observed culture and life he responded to what was happening in our lives and in the world by infusing his songs with cries for justice.  Voicing his passion for people’s rights through the music he wrote, he actively sought justice for our African American brothers and sisters.  In fact, Seeger was the musician most responsible for popularizing the spiritual We Shall Overcome which became the anthem of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement.  Seeger was also very aware of the fact that good and bad exist in tandem.  As he reflected upon American music, one of his statements is very profound in light of today’s gospel reading.  He said, “The good and bad are all tangled up together.  American popular music

This is a special musical performance by Christopher Lewis as he sings God and God Alone by McHugh today at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

I love having an herb garden in the summer so that I can just go out and pick the herbs I need for any recipe.  And, I love that time in Spring when it is warm enough to finally plant my herbs.  Now, for any of you who garden, you know there are some necessary steps that must be taken before planting.  The ground must be prepared.  The soil must be mixed with certain kinds of nutrients.  Then, you carefully dig the holes so you can place plants exactly where you want them.  There is a process one must go through if you want a successful garden, and preparing the soil is part of the process and a necessary first step. Well, that first important step apparently was not on the farmer’s mind in the story Jesus shares with us today.  Today, we hear Jesus telling the crowd a parable about a farmer who has gone out to sow seed.  And, I have to say, this farmer seems quite irresponsible in the way he goes about planting his field.  He has a very unusual process for planting, something that makes no sense to our 21st

I must admit something to all of you.  I have a hearing problem.  It is an issue I really don’t want to face, but I am going to have to deal with it.  I know I must address it because, at times, I misunderstand what people are saying.  At times, I misunderstand what my husband says, what Dorothy says, and probably what some of you say if you speak rather softly.  And, if I misunderstand you at times, I am sorry.  Anyway, my point in telling you this today is not so much about my hearing issue as it is about misunderstanding.  I think for all of us, the reality is that at some point in time we have been misunderstood or, we have misunderstood someone else.  As David Lose says, “To be…is to be misunderstood.”  In today’s gospel reading we hear Jesus share this little parable about children playing in the market place, and they are misunderstood.  The children play a glad, happy song for their friends, but no one dances.  Then, they play a sad, mournful dirge, but no one mourns or weeps.  Jesus goes on to say, t

An anonymous person once said, “If you celebrate Independence Day on just one day of the year, it goes on to show that you are not really free.  Learn to celebrate your freedom every day.”  I find this quote very interesting because it talks about our sense and understanding of not only our nation’s independence, but also our understanding of personal freedom or personal independence.  And, it alludes to the fact that in many ways we are not really free.  On this weekend when we celebrate our independence as a nation, we also find ourselves living in an age when personal independence and perceived personal freedoms have become idols.  And, any time we worship an idol we are not really free.  So, I find it fascinating that on this day we hear the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans, words that are both offensive and necessary.  It is true that, when Paul uses the word “slavery,” his understanding of this word was considerably different than ours.  He lived in an age when the relationship between slav

This is a special music performance of We're a Fellowship of Believers at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, MIchigan

This is a special musical performance of He Who Began a Good Work in You at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

In this presentation, Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos Michigan reaffirms and gets recognized for being a RIC (Reconciling in Christ congregation) from the ELCA church. Faith Lutheran Church's Welcoming Statement: We, at Faith Lutheran Church, welcome you as a child of God. As Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, “for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” (Galatians 3:26) We strive to be a place where everyone is welcomed and affirmed. No matter your age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, marital status, faith background, political leanings, or mental or physical ability - you are welcome as you are. As children of God, we are all one in Christ Jesus and rely on the unconditional nature of God’s love and grace to be our help and guide.

Before I begin, I want to dedicate this message, the service today, and the work we are doing to Stanley, Amanda, Oscar, Rodolfo, Antonio, Darryl, Angel, Juan, Luis, Cory, Tevin, Deonka, Simon, Leroy, Mercedez, Peter, Juan, Paul, Frank, Miguel, Javier, Jason, Eddie, Anthony, Christopher, Alejandro, Brenda, Gilberto, Kimberly, Akyra, Luis, Geraldo, Eric, Joel, Jean, Enrique, Jean, Xavier, Christopher, Yilmary, Edward, Shane, Martin, Jonathan, Juan, Luis, Franky, Luis, and Jerald. And to Josie, Mesha, Jamie Lee, JoJo, Jaqarrius, Keke, Chyna, Ciara, Alphonza, Chay, Kenneth, Sherrell, and Kenne. Also for Trayvon, Sandra, Kathryn, Sean, Eric, Rekia, Philando, Amadou, Mike, Kimani, Kenneth, Travares, Tamir, Aiyana, and Freddie. Next, I have to let you know that I don’t believe in God, I don’t believe Jesus Christ existed and died for our sins, and I don’t believe the Bible is the word of God. Now that pastor Ellen is questioning why she let me preach today and some of the congregation may be in shock, let me explai

This was a special musical presentation by the mens choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos Michigan as they celebrated Diversity Sunday. 

Martin Luther once said, "To try to deny the Trinity endangers your salvation, to try to comprehend the Trinity endangers your sanity." And, John Wesley, when talking about the Trinity said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a human being, and then I will show you a human being that can comprehend the Triune God!” The doctrine of the Trinity is difficult to comprehend and, consequently, as a church we have somewhat ignored giving the Trinity any significant focus. It is so much easier to think of a monotheistic God then try to understand God as three, and three in one. As a result, theologian Richard Rohr suggests the Holy Trinity has been “missing in action” for much of the past seventeen centuries. And, yet, we need to think about the Trinity to gain a better understanding of God. Episcopal Bishop and theologian, Frederick Houk Borsch, when talking about the Trinity and our understanding, or lack thereof, writes: There are probably a number of people who imagine that the idea of the Trinity was thought u