First Lutheran Church, Ridgway, PA

I am reposting this message from a colleague. My notifications were also restricted. Facebook has changed 'Notifications' for all groups again. They have automatically switched members of many groups to receive "Highlights" instead of all posts. This means you will only see about 1 in 10 posts on the group you're in. To manage these settings go to the group page (you need to do this for every group you're in) then; 1. click the 3 dots in the top right-hand corner of the gr...oup page. Just below the 'Invite' icon! 2. click notifications/manage notifications. 3. change from "Highlights" to "all posts" You may want to pass this on to other groups you are in See more

The Christmas message in July! Hooray! Luke 1:39-56 John the Baptist leaps inside the womb of his mother. It is a real leap, a joyful leap. It is the leap of faith, infant faith, not-even-born-yet,-fetus-still-in-the-belly faith. Elizabeth has faith too: faith in a promise kept and fulfilled. Her child will be the frontrunner. Mary’s child will be the Savior. Her child shall make straight the paths, and Mary’s will walk those paths all the way to the cross. And Mary cert...ainly has faith as well. She sings a song of praise, a song of faith. For the Lord lifts up the weak and puts down the strong. He raises up the humble and fills the hungry with good things. He keeps the promise made to Abraham by fulfilling it in the fruit of her womb. All these wonderful workings of our God are given to generation after generation, purely by grace and mercy. Thanks be to God. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Today we read a piece of Scripture that is only fulfilled in Christ: Romans 12:14-21. That is not to say that Paul does not write this for us, as a good Law that may be placed in front of us to fulfill, and emulate. But, we must also realize that the bar that he sets is far too high for us to clear. That, and the simple fact that Jesus did as much when He proclaimed from the cross, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. The marks of the Christian are the i...mpossible things of love for our enemy. But they are the mark that we ought to bear because they are the marks that we see in the hands and feet and brow of our crucified Savior. The same sort of marks should be upon our flesh. Not marks for salvation, of course, but marks of service and love for our neighbor, even our enemy. Christ Jesus, let us not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Just a reminder...as we look forward to worship this morning at 9:30.

A reading to round out your 5-day work week. Acts 9:1-18. Our God converts people. We should remember this and rejoice. Saul, the Christian-killer, the Sanhedrin-authorized terrorist, the most dangerous and wretched evil man living, was converted. From a human perspective, from the perspective of Ananias and the Christians in Damascus hiding from Saul for fear of their lives, Saul is the last person you expect to confess Christ and be baptized. But Saul became a Christian, ...and a pastor, and the last of the apostles who bears the name of Jesus to the Gentile world. Our God converts people. We all know people who are far from the kingdom of God, who curse the God they deny exists, who have left the church. This is our comfort and confidence: God converts. O Lord, convert the unbelievers to Your name. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Oh yes, let us read from the Gospels this morning. Turn to Luke 1:57-80: Are you ready to tackle the subject of the incomprehensible mind of God? How does God think of you? We know how He should think. We know our sins, at least some of them. We know our failures. We know the commandments we have broken. We know guilt and shame. We feel our own sin boiling inside and we feel the sins of others like a film of dust in our eyes and on our lips. We know that God should be angr...y with us. But is He? Zacharias sings of John the Baptist who would give people knowledge of God by the forgiveness of their sins (1:77). God is filled with tender mercy (1:78) toward you, a compassionate kindness, a heart-felt undeserved kindness. God knows us as His own blood-bought, blood-washed children. He loves you. Blessed are You, Lord God. You have visited and redeemed Your people. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.