As I begin this week’s newsletter, I need to print a “retraction” of sorts. During the first service on Sunday, I mistakenly said that when a father holds up the “afikomen” during a Jewish Passover Seder, he says, “This is my body broken for you; take and eat.” The result is that it made it sound like Jesus’ words of institution at the Last Supper. I knew it wasn’t right at the time, but got lost ...  Read More

And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15-16As Jesus was introducing his disciples and us to the Lord’s Supper, he gave us an imaginative clue about the future. One day, Jesus said, he will be feasting again with all of his disciples. After all the...  Read More

Have you ever arrived at a ban­quet or a special event and been surprised at the beauty of the table that has been set up for the occasion? Sometimes, a decorative “centerpiece” draws your attention. Sometimes, it’s the place settings. And, sometimes, it's the food itself.In Psalm 23, we are reminded that the Lord prepares a banquet for us. There is a sense of intentional care and hospitality, as ...  Read More

“The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7Every culture gives a special place to weddings. They are celebrations of beauty and life. They declare not only the love between a man and a woman but also the community's hope for the future. Great time and effort are invested in planning and preparations. Family and friends travel from great distances to ce...  Read More

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16As you read John 3:16, I don’t know what comes to your mind. I don’t know what’s on your heart. I don’t know what you believe.What I do know is that the world we live in is full of pain and strife. We turn on the news or read our feeds and we see images of c...  Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in a sermon that surveys show that the number one question people would want to ask God if given the chance is, “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” We then spent time talking about the “why” of sin and suffering. However, closely related to that is the question that makes it more personal, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Or perhaps said mor...  Read More