This is special music from the service on March 13, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is the sermon from the Faith Lutheran of Okemos, Michigan church service based on the Gospel reading in John 12:1-8

A investigation of reconciliation as we consider where we are and the issues that we face in our world today as it relates to being faithful stewards for God's creations.

Special music by the Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos, Michigan's Chancel Choir on March 6. 2016

A special performance by the Flutes of Faith at the service on March 6, 2016. The Faith Lutheran Church of Okemos, Michigan ensemble performed: 

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” by Maker; “o sacred Head, Now Wounded” by Hassler and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” by Dykes

God is not the enemy of the lost. God is the finder of the lost. You can never get away from the love that will never let you go. And, the older brother standing there in the courtyard is never going to get away from the Jesus who seeks him and wills to raise him from the

And so it is with us. When we find ourselves wandering and lost, God is always there ready to welcome us home, embrace us and love us. So, come home and join the party. This is the party where the deepest joy in life is found!

Our place in the universe is that we are but a spec in the greater sense of things. We are at a crucial point in the earth and human relationship and it is our role to be faithful stewards of the Earth, it's resources and more.

Prelude from First Cello Suite by J. S. Bach performed by Coulton Theuer on viola on February 28, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Special music by the Faith Lutheran Chorale of Okemos, Michigan

Special music by the Faith Lutheran Bells Choir on February 28, 2016

Asked about current tragic events, Jesus turns a lesson about whether suffering is deserved into a hard call to obedience. He then tells a parable that holds out hope that the timeline for ultimate judgment will be tempered by patience.

In our baptism, we are marked with the cross of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We are named as Christ’s own forever. And, we are charged with the call to love with a fierce, trusting and vulnerable love. We are called to love like that mother hen who opens her wings wide and exposes her heart to the foxes of the world, because that is the love we have been shown in Jesus the Christ. Vulnerable love like this is a sign of true courage, and it is the mark of true leadership.

Special music, Call to Lent arranged by J. Jerome Williams performed by the Chancel Choir of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Special Music - 2-14-16 - My Jesus Walked by Lyn Holley Doucet & Arranged by Mary McDonald

I am sure all of you recognize these words as the refrain of that dearly loved hymn I Love To Tell The Story. This refrain kept going through my head as I studied our Bible readings for today, especially our reading from Deuteronomy. I kept thinking about the stories and narratives that are gifted to us in scripture. A narrative is a retelling of something that happened. A narrative is not the story itself but rather the telling of the story. Narratives are important because they shape history, they give identity and they shape us as people.

Special music from January 31, 2015 by the Chancel Choir of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan

Today's sermon is based on the Gospel of Luke 4:21-30.

In this verse: 

People in Jesus’ hometown are initially pleased when he says that God will free the oppressed. Their pleasure turns to rage when he reminds them that God’s prophetic mission typically pushes beyond human boundaries so that mercy and healing are extended to those regarded as outsiders.

In this week’s gospel reading we get what former radio personality, Paul Harvey, would have called, “the rest of the story.” If you remember last week’s gospel reading, Jesus had gone to his hometown synagogue and read words from the great prophet Isaiah, saying: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to preach good news to the poor.” Then, he sat down. The people’s eyes fixed on him, and he said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The first public word spoken by Jesus himself in Luke’s gospel is the word “today.” That word is a favorite of Luke’s. It appears twelve times in Luke’s gospel. “Today” conveys a real sense of immediacy. Furthermore, Jesus says the words of Isaiah are “fulfilled in your hearing.” Hearing Jesus’ words, connecting them with the fulfillment of scripture, seeing Jesus’ ministry of “release” on behalf of the poor—all of this Jesus claims is taking place right now, today, in and through him.