But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.
It is often the most precious treasures that we take for granted. The gift of faith is unparalleled in its value, yet we it is easy to relegate it as an afterthought while giving greater attention to less important aspects of our lives. Faith has often been, in practice at least, deemed an insurance policy. People frequently function as though faith (or God) is available in emergencies but of no use in the meantime. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is every single one of us needs God all the time. There is no meantime.
We were created by God to be in relationship with Him and one another. We were made to be connected. Jesus came into this world, lived, died, and rose to facilitate that connection. That connection, that relationship, is True Life. Life is faith. It cannot be set aside or relegated to the bottom of the priority list in life. Without faith, without God, there is no life.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” You have been given Life. You have been blessed with the greatest treasure in heaven and earth. God gives you the treasure of faith.
Someone cared enough about you to share with you the Good News of Jesus Christ. God used them to connect to you – to give you faith. Thanks be to God for those beautiful feet that walked into your life. May your feet be beautiful to those around you as you share that precious gift of faith.
The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,
Pastor Carla

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.
It is often the most precious treasures that we take for granted. The gift of faith is unparalleled in its value, yet we it is easy to relegate it as an afterthought while giving greater attention to less important aspects of our lives. Faith has often been, in practice at least, deemed an insurance policy. People frequently function as though faith (or God) is available in emergencies but of no use in the meantime. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is every single one of us needs God all the time. There is no meantime.
We were created by God to be in relationship with Him and one another. We were made to be connected. Jesus came into this world, lived, died, and rose to facilitate that connection. That connection, that relationship, is True Life. Life is faith. It cannot be set aside or relegated to the bottom of the priority list in life. Without faith, without God, there is no life.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” You have been given Life. You have been blessed with the greatest treasure in heaven and earth. God gives you the treasure of faith.
Someone cared enough about you to share with you the Good News of Jesus Christ. God used them to connect to you – to give you faith. Thanks be to God for those beautiful feet that walked into your life. May your feet be beautiful to those around you as you share that precious gift of faith.
The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,
Pastor Carla

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:8-9)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.
During worship on September 9th, seven young people will affirm the faith that began when their parents brought them to the font. They will stand before friends, family, and other believers, confessing their faith in the on True God. They will publicly announce their intention to ‘run the race’ of faith.
Affirmation of Baptism is a commissioning rite. These young people are being commissioned to go forth into the world as disciples. They are commissioned as adult workers with us in the Gospel. They are take on new responsibilities, continue to grow, and to remain in communion with the church.
Commissioning has a long tradition. Joshua was commissioned to lead the Israelites after Moses. Kings and prophets throughout the Old Testament were commissioned to lead. The disciples were commissioned to heal the sick and drive out unclean spirits. The apostles, like Paul and Silas, were commissioned to continue the mission of the church. Bishops, priests, deacons, and evangelists have been commissioned throughout the history of the church to use their God-given talents to further the Gospel. Each of us is commissioned to follow Christ and proclaim Him to the world.
We are workers together. God gathers us to do His Will here on earth. He calls us and enlightens us with His gifts to make Himself known to a hostile world. None of us works alone. None of us worships alone. None of us runs the race alone. Being commissioned means to work ‘with.’ Our mission is to bring others into the mission – to commission the world in the name of Christ – baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We affirm our own baptism along with the confirmands. We too confess our faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.
The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In Christ,
Pastor Carla

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. (1 Corinthians 9:23-24)