Christmas Joy!

The other day I checked in with a family from Alleluia who is going through a job transition. The husband lost his job 6 months ago. Fortunately, the wife has a very good so they are making it financially. He continues the hunt for a new job.

The wife commented to me, "It's going to be a very simple Christmas this year." "A very simple Christmas."

Maybe this year will be a renewing experience for this family and others in transition. A challenging but beneficial time of reassessing to true meaning of Christmas and time with family.

This Friday, Christmas Eve, we will gather to worship the newborn baby Jesus at Alleluia! We will slow down to focus on the meaning and message of God's love given to us through the Christ child.

How simple will your Christmas be this year?

Taking Time to Slow Down...

Advent time in the church is a time to slow down and focus on the arrival of Jesus. Yes, as hard as this might seem, I would suggest God is calling on us to slow down and reflect on all we've received from God and all we will be receiving from him.

In church this morning the eyes of our children were wide open as we lit the first candle for Advent, the candle of hope. I invited our children to go home and get their advent wreath out or make a wreath.

Are your eyes wide open to Jesus? Wide open to the arrival of Jesus? Together as we slow down this time of year may our God of grace fill us with expectation and with hope.

A Free Gift for You!

"Here, this is for you." Do you remember the last time you heard these words spoken to you as someone gave you a gift? "Here, this for you."

God's grace for us in Jesus Christ comes like this. God says, "Here, this precious gift of grace is given for you."

How can this happen? It happens through the grace of God we know and experience in Jesus Christ through the waters of Baptism.

So, what are we to do with this gift? Receive it with open hands. Celebrate it in the joy of Christ. Share it with others.

Now, how does that sound to you?

Celebrating God's grace, Pastor Durk

Money Matters

Yes, my friends money matters! It matters to Jesus and to our kingdom mission!

How are you doing these days handling your finances? How well are you doing in planning for your future financially?

These two questions came to mind this last Sunday as I was preaching on the parable of the dishonest manager from Luke's gospel.

As shocking as this parable is- that Jesus would use a crooked manager- to teach about the kingdom, there are two things we might learn from the manager as he rushed off to close deals with two of his owner's clients.
1. He was very quick and creative with finances once he knew he would be fired for mismanagement.
2. He was very aware of his need to create a future for himself. He nurtured at least two relationships by working out attractive debt settling deals before his firing.

Just some food for thought and for money as you live in the kingdom....
Pastor Durk

It's Time to Renew!

Time to Renew

With fall fast approaching, we have an opportunity to change things up and take a look at our priorities and commitments.

At Alleluia Lutheran we will be challenging everyone to Renew their Commitments to our Lord Jesus through the congregation and its mission. This will happen through the following:

Frequent Worship
Generous Giving
New Learnings
Loving Service
Connecting Prayer

What new challenges will you take on this fall in your life of following Jesus?

Peace,
Pastor Durk

The Faith of our Children

Last week at Vacation Bible School at Alleluia the eyes of our children were wide open with excitement! Their enthusiasm for Jesus and being together to learn and have fun is so contagious.

Jesus told the disciples and others to let the children come to him because "it is to such as these that belong the kingdom of God."

My prayer is that we can be open to God's Spirit and being disciples of Jesus as his children- humble, inspired, open to his guidance and His leading.

Blessings children!

Pastor Durk

Refreshment!

What do you do in order to get refresh or rejuvenated? What "fills your cup?" This last week-end my family and I had some time to slow down and hang out at home. No tight schedules to keep. No pressing deadlines or projects to meet. A change in pace and schedules was just what we needed.

At the start of each day our Lord refreshes us with love, renews us with forgiveness, and rejuvenates us with the love of Jesus. This can and does happen for us because of God's deep love for us in Jesus Christ.

Take a moment today to thank God for the gift of Jesus. Jesus who died for us and was raised for us. Jesus in whose name we were baptized. Thank God for the many ways in which we are renewed and given new life through God's loving care.

Peace,

Pastor Durk

New Life in Christ!

The other Sunday a young couple brought their 10 day old baby boy to church at Alleluia! Yes, they looked tired from lack of sleep-dark circles under their eyes and a tinge of redness in their eyes, but their smiles were bright and joyful. I could tell in talking to them for just a few moments that they were so happy and thankful for the healthy birth of their boy.

"When can we have him baptized?" they asked me toward the end of our conversation. "Any Sunday, either service," I replied.

New life through birth followed by new life in Christ. What a holy pattern and journey for our life in Christ!

Whether you are surrounded by newborns on a regular basis or not, the love of Jesus will always make you new=- a "new creation" as the apostle Paul writes. By the waters of baptism this new life in Jesus washes over us each and every day. From death and sin we move to life and forgiveness.

Blessings to you on your new life in Christ,

Pastor Durk

An Amazing and Inspiring Night....

This evening we gathered at Alleluia Lutheran in St. Michael for a Good Friday service. Two rows of chairs circled a wooden cross that was dimly light with candles. A small mound of rocks enfolded the candle light.

We focused on Jesus' death on the cross through prayers, songs, a meditation, and the reading of St. John's Passion. A simply, but powerful service.

Our eyes gazed upon the cross in the darkened room. At the same time our eyes search for light, the bright light of a new day with the risen Christ.

Easter on its way....

Pr. Durk

How Precious Is Life?

The other night I received a phone call from the Maple Grove Police Dept. in need of a chaplain to speak with a woman whose nephew committed suicide. On the drive over to her house I prayed for her comfort and for my ministry of being present with her to listen and to pray.

As soon as I entered her family room she shook my hand and said, "Jesus will take care of us." I was surprised by her immediate and confident witness. "Jesus will take care of us." What a strong testimony to the foundation of her life that was with her in facing such terrible news.

What do you say to someone who has lost a love one to suicide? Not aware of his life situation and what may have led him to the point of taking his own life, I find myself still challenged as a pastor to offer care in such a painful and tragic situation.

Jesus is "the resurrection and life." In Jesus is eternal life and an eternal relationship with God.

My prayer for this woman who lost her nephew is a pray of hope, comfort and strength. It is my pray that only comes from the Holy Spirit that gives us the words when we think that there is no way we will find them.

Amen to New Life!

This morning I was privleged to visit Aurie Grace McCoy and welcome her into the world with prayer. Her parents, Derek and Libby, were overjoyed at her birth and her beaming health.

It was miraculous as always to observe her finely formed fingers and nose and eyes and ears. And, yes, it was even beautiful to hear her sneeze!

Psalm 139 reminds us of how our Lord fashions us in our mother's womb. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Aurie was formed and nurtured in her mother's womb and now has entered her journey of life.

On the day she will be baptized, Aurie will become a child of God. By God's grace, she will be welcomed in to God's family and filled with all the blessings and benefits of baptism- forgiveness, deliverance, and the promise of everlasting life.

God bless the McCoys and their new baby girl, Aurie!

Peace,

Pastor Durk