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Dear Friends in Christ
,
We invite
you to worship where you
will be graciously welcomed in the love
and hospitality of Jesus Christ.
Our
purpose is to worship God together,
share our faith, and spread the love of
Jesus through service to all.
We've
been a part of the growing Heath
Community since 1965. We are a
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America ( ELCA).
Here is
an opportunity for all ages to grow,
learn, share and celebrate the
love of God! Come and See!
We hope
you are inspired by our website and will
want to come and join us in worship next
Sunday.
February 28,
2009
The
Second Sunday in Lent
Jesus'
Sheltering Arms
It's a
hard and ugly world out there. Every day
there are new stories of greed and
hypocrisy, violence and abuse. All too
often those stories touch your life in
painful ways. You know far too much
about living with heart disease and
cancer, arthritis and HIV/AIDS. You know
far too well the pain of lost jobs,
divorce, addiction, and more.
Sadly, we
add to the pain in this world. We cause
pain to those around us through things
done and left undone. We cause pain by
things we say and by things we leave
left unsaid. Not only do we cause pain,
but we get hurt as well. The one we
worship, this God we pray to, knows our
suffering. When we suffer, God suffers.
When we grieve, God grieves.
Rather
than turn away from this pain, rather
than abandon this world, God sent Jesus
to live among us, to be one with us, and
finally to die for us. We see the love
of God for the world most clearly as
Jesus stretches out his arms on the
cross, embracing the whole world.
Through the cross we see the fullness of
God's mercy and love.
Luke's
gospel reminds us that God's love looks
like a loving mother placing herself
between her children and all that might
harm them. This is Jesus, wrapping his
arms around us, shielding us with his
body. As you worship today, look around
and see that same protection. The church
is Christ's body in the world, called to
walk with you, support you, pray for
you, and comfort you. The church, the
body of Christ, cares for this
pain-filled world, gathering all under
God's wings, into God's merciful
embrace.
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latest update
on
03/04/2010 09:36:09 AM
From Sundays and
Seasons.com. Copyright 2010 Augsburg
Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission
under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual
License #25987.
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