Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the reflection I shared with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17 12 Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”  16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. This Sunday we celebrate the Holy Trinity, the only feast concerning a doctrine of the church. I must admit that at first glance, I didn’t exactly see the connection between the T...

  This is the message I preached on Pentecost Sunday, 5/20 at  St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  The text was  Romans 8:22-27 . Today is Pentecost, the day we celebrate the beginning of Christ ’ s church. However, Pentecost is far more than simply the birthday of the church, though it is that too. It was but the beginning of God ’ s work after Jesus had ascended to his Father in heaven.    Especially in the Book of Acts we read of many miracles being done through the apostles as the Holy Spirit worked through them. Miracles also continue today as God the Holy Spirit works through God ’ s people.    Bishop John  Macholz  has designated today as Companion Synod Sunday. The Upstate NY Synod is in a companion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Zimbabwe and Zambia. In our affiliation, we follow a model of accompaniment. We walk  with  our brothers and sisters. Our relationship with them is not a ...