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Written by Julie Blum
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This year, 2010, is the five year mark of our ten year strategic plan. We have accomplished many of the goals we laid out for ourselves and some are still before us. Below is the basic outline of that plan. |
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Written by Julie Blum
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How will you live your life as a Christian this year? Sometimes we Christians think that the only “Christian” thing we do all week is go to church on Sunday morning. Some think that if you are not a pastor or theologian then you are not really doing God’s work through out the week. But really, every aspect of our life – including our roles as parents, spouses, children, family members, teachers, students, neighbors, citizens, employers, employees, volunteers, and friends – belong to God and are ways we proclaim and bear witness to Christ through loving service to the world. Occupations and callings are not higher or lower, better or worse, or more or less connected to God’s work in the world. All work is a calling from God and an opportunity to serve..... |
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Written by Julie Blum
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As you all know, I love coffee. No big surprise there. I know that you know because for Pastor Appreciation month I received about 15 Starbucks gift card from you. THANK YOU! When I went to Starbucks to start using these cards it was about the time that they come out with their famous red holiday cups. I’m sure I was not the only one to think “Really? Christmas in October?” Regardless, I do enjoy seeing these cups every year. I like to see what words and images they are decorated with. Here’s what are printed on the cups this year: “We invite you to listen to your desires and to renew your hope to see the world not as it is, but as it could be. Go ahead. WISH. It’s what makes the holidays the holidays.”
I have been pondering.... |
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Sermon from All Saint's Sunday 2009 |
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Written by Julie Blum
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Sermon disclaimer: Before you read the following sermon, read this. People often ask me for copies of my sermons. I don’t really like to give them out, and I'll tell you why: I write sermons to be heard not to be read - As you will notice with the lack of correct grammer, puncuations and perhaps even correct spelling : ) I write them for a particular context and time and a specific people, not for the world in general. Also when I give a sermon it ends up not to be exactly what I've written down. Yes, I go off script. In fact, sometimes I don't even use a script and thus don't have "a copy of "my sermon to share. With all that in mind, here's my sermon given at Maple Leaf Lutheran church on All Saints Sunday 2009....
I love the fact that the story of Lazarus is the assigned text for All Saints Sunday. The reason I love it is because I believe the main saint in this story is indeed Lazarus himself! - The one who did nothing, said nothing, and accomplished nothing. That gives me hope. Dead Lazarus could do nothing for himself or for God. He could only passively receive the new life God gave him. That’s what it takes to be a saint! Nothing!
We aren’t even told what Lazarus did after he was raised from the dead.
There’s a very little known play by Eugene O'Neill entitled "Lazarus Laughed” that images what might have happened to Lazarus after he was raised.
The play picks up, where the Biblical story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead leaves off. |
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Written by Julie Blum
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In any given month I hear several opposing comments like “We don’t have enough organ music” AND “We have too much organ music.” Or opinions like “I don’t like it when we wear albs” AND “I don’t like it when we don’t wear albs.” I’m not making this up; I really do hear these types of paradoxical comments on a regular bases. Two of these contradictory remarks I recently heard on the exact same day. The remarks were: “I think our worship service is too casual” AND “I think our worship service is too formal.” I hear these terms of comments al the time: Some people want the Communion wine served ... |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 06 November 2009 )
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