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

Special music from the Soprano and Alto Choir of the Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Adopting a life of discipleship cannot be a part-time or momentary commitment. It is a life-changing shift in direction and priorities in which our own human needs and wants become subservient to the call of our Lord, the call to share and LIVE God’s transforming love and grace in this world. And, those who embrace and are embraced by the radical love of God made known in Jesus and his cross must necessarily see this love is contrary to all human conceptions of love. Virtually everything – friendships, love of family, other people, work, community, love of country – everything looks different when viewed through the lens of God’s sacrificial love for the cosmos. And the reality is, that transforming love will sometimes take you to places where you never thought you would go, some of the toughest of places in life. It is going to take you to the toughest place where you must leave your old self behind and never be the same, the place where you will be forever changed! No, Jesus isn’t in a bad mood. He’s focus

Special music by Georg Philipp Telemann performed by Sara Heft on Flute at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

One impact that such understanding can have is to insure that the invited guest lists at our dinner parties do not show us to be labelers! Our guest lists at this table of welcome should never show us to be condescending, prejudiced or self-righteous. In our social circles, organizations and church communities there can be no exclusive circles, only inclusive ones. There is no one to whom we can condescend. If we know that with all our shortcomings and failures God’s extravagant love is great enough to accept even us, then we also know that somewhere very close to us there are feet waiting to be washed!

A special Faith Bells performance at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Special Music performed by Julianne Schrote at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Special Music by the Chancel Choir and Faith Bells of Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos, Music

In today's gospel Jesus' ministry bears witness to God's coming reign, where the lowly are shown mercy and the dead are raised. Here, Jesus ministers to a widow by raising her only son to life.

In Sunday's reading from Luke, the Judeans and, by extension, all of us are stopped short in our thinking because Jesus' actions and words shatter all of our efforts at "othering."

Special music by the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Special music by the Faith Lutheran church Faith Bells ensemble - You Know My Name.   

Pentecost is about God’s Spirit coming to us and that encounter is nothing less than the very presence of God in our lives. Pentecost shows us that what unites us is God’s Spirit, a Spirit that unites 6 us in love, and that is more important than anything that would divide us. And, we who follow Jesus are called and empowered by the Spirit to do nothing less than share that gospel good news and love with everyone we meet.

This is the sermon from the Church Service at Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos, Michigan. 

Special Music from the Faith Chorale of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan. 

Sermon from May 1, 2016 based on John 14:23-29 preached by Pastor Ellen Schoepf of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

This was a special performance of Gigue by Jacque Auburt by Clarinetist Michael Fox at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

This was a special performance of Five Pieces No. 3 by Gerald Finzi by Clarinetist Michael Fox at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

A performance of the Gospel Mass by Robert Ray by the Chancel Choir of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Special Music - Minuet in D by Haydn by the Flutes of Faith