This jam-packed service begins with a special word from our Wisconsin Conference Minister, Franz Rigert, followed by an update concerning the India Gala. In today’s message, Jesus reveals the two commands at the heart of his teaching: Love God supremely, and love others as we love ourselves. All other divine commands are simply a footnote to these two commandments. Opening Hymn: Sun…

After experiencing God’s renewed commitment to journey with wayward Israel, Moses asks to see God’s glory. God promises to reveal the divine glory, but warns that Moses cannot see the Divine Face, for such an unmediated gaze on the Divine would be lethal to Moses. God then promises to protect Moses from this direct gaze. Moses then receives a revelation of God’s…

Days after entering into covenant with God, the people of God craft an idol while Moses is away on Mount Sinai. God threatens to destroy the people, but Moses intercedes on their behalf and God relents. This story has much to teach us about our proneness to idolatry and about what faithful and faithless leadership looks like. Opening Hymn: For the Beauty…

There is a great difference between what we can do, will do, and should do. What we “can” do reveals our freedom to choose between either good or bad options. What we “will” do expresses our ability to volitionally make decisions for ourselves. What we “should” do stems from an entirely different foundation – it has to do with an ethical guideline…

In today’s story, Jesus seeks to overcome the “confirmation bias” of his interlocutors who seek to trap him with their “gotcha question”. Confirmation bias is the tendency to take in only data that confirms a prior conviction and to discount information that does not conform to what we already believe. We are all guilty of this at times, and the danger is…

All of us are in exile. Some (if not most of us) are in the wilderness. The fears and the frustrations of the desert quickly lead to complaints and murmurings. In today’s story, the people of God grumble in the wilderness and God responds, not with anger, but with the gracious provision of manna. Though the wilderness is not comfortable, easy, or…

Differences of opinion and practice can wreak havoc on unity if left unchecked. In today’s reading, Paul addresses a community where differences have done just that, leading to condemnation and condescension. Paul argues that differences should not lead to these things, but rather, be an opportunity to welcome the other and witness to the Gospel. Opening Hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness Closing…

At the burning bush, God calls Moses to the nearly impossible task of liberating God’s people. Moses responds with a series of excuses that begins with “Who am I to do this?” Moses’ sense of inadequacy is met by God’s reassurance of the divine presence. Opening Hymn: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Closing Doxology: Glory Be to the Father