Northwoods Table Talk

 I found this vignette, it was posted without an author's name. If I have stolen it from someone without copyright permission, I beg forgiveness. I reprint it here to begin the conversation about attendance at the Divine Service. I do so, for it is summer. And while something attendance at the Divine Service is something optional at the best of times, in the summer they take a vacation from even that regularity of attendance. This post is meant as encouragement. Here is the vignette. A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.   It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.   The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames aroun...

 Here is the sermon for Exaudi - 7th Sunday of Easter, (June 1, 2025). God’s Work To Make You Stewards of His Gifts   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.   One hour is all we have together, and in our society the sermon is relegated to no more than 22 minutes. It really is too bad. There is so much to consider these three texts – and to consider them together.   It would be nice to have a full hour just to sit and meditate deeply upon Scripture together. It is truly a joy to dig into God’s Word to better understand our life together in Christ.   Our Ezekiel text begins with God declaring that He's going to act for the sake of His Holy Name. He will do this because God’s own people have profaned His name among the nations.   Carefully take note of who has profaned God's Holy name? Not unbelievers – not the nations and people who do not believe in Him! It is God’s own chosen people who have profaned God’s na...