![A Fancy Italian Guys Night [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1775863536448-YJCSVI1EF7KHMSYMYMUN/664304659_1694581178369850_83058891898210950_n.jpg)
A Fancy Italian Guys Night [Photos]
There’s nothing like the 'Italian feistiness' of a big group dinner to feed the soul.
"They say Italians do it better, but this crew at Roma gives them a run for their money! What started as a casual dinner for nine turned into a full-on masterclass. Mick literally held court, menu in hand, making sure we didn't butcher the beautiful language of pasta.
Between Mick’s pronunciation drills and our favorite Thrivent rep, Rob, stopping by to join the fun, the energy was through the roof. The food was a total sleeper hit, absolutely stellar, and the conversation was exactly how it should be: loud, lively, and a little feisty. You definitely want a seat at this table next time!"
Easter 26’ Photos
Easter was amazing time for us at Grace.
Big Thanks to Everyone
Thank you to all who helped set up.
Thanks to all who came to the services.
Thanks to all who participated.
This year’s attendance was higher than in a long time.
247 total in person attendance
50 people on the livestream
Micah Chapter 2-3 Class 2 - Bible Study
In our Bible study on April 9, 2026, we reviewed key themes from the book of Micah, focusing on God's judgment against corrupt leaders, His call for justice and mercy over power, and the recurring pattern of judgment followed by redemption.
Micah Intro and Chapter 2-3
This is our 2nd class on Micah
This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.
Short Summary of the Class
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, our group dove into chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Micah. We began by reading the text, which details God's pronouncement of "woe" upon the powerful in Israel who were oppressing the poor by seizing their land and inheritance, a direct violation of how God had established their society. We discussed how these actions broke several commandments and how this theme of "might makes right" was leading them to self-destruction. The discussion highlighted the contrast between the first eleven verses of chapter 2, filled with judgment, and the final two verses, which offer a glimpse of hope and restoration. We then moved into chapter 3, which continues the condemnation of Israel's corrupt leaders, priests, and prophets who exploit their positions for money while falsely claiming God's favor. We explored the stark imagery of their destruction and the recurring biblical theme of law and gospel, where the law reveals our sin and points to our need for the grace found in the gospel.
Detailed Class Summary
Review of Previous Micah Study and Prophetic Themes
We then transitioned to the Bible study portion by reviewing our last discussion on the minor prophets, specifically Micah. Two primary themes were revisited. The first was the structure of the prophetic messages, which often present a strong word of judgment followed by a promise of God's salvation. This pattern was compared to the "law and gospel" preaching model.
The second major theme was the consistent message across prophets calling Israel back to God’s core requirements: "to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). The prophets condemned Israel for becoming obsessed with power and wealth while neglecting the poor, a theme echoed in the New Testament book of Revelation. We also recalled the clever "prophetic wordplay" in Micah chapter 1, where the Hebrew names of cities reinforce the prophecy of judgment.
Section Summary: We reviewed how Micah and other minor prophets follow a "law-gospel" pattern of judgment then salvation. We also discussed their unified message condemning the pursuit of power over God's call to practice justice and mercy, and the literary device of prophetic wordplay.
Bible Verses: Micah 6:8, Micah 1:8-15
Bible Stories/Concepts: Parallels with the book of Revelation.
Section 1: Micah Chapter 2 - Judgment and the Consequences of Greed
Our class on April 9, 2026, began with a reading of Micah, chapter 2. The chapter opens with a "woe" to those who plot evil and, because of their power, violently seize fields and houses, oppressing their own people. We noted that this greed and theft were direct violations of God's commandments, specifically those against coveting and stealing. It was pointed out that this practice of seizing land went against the redemption plan God had established for Israelite inheritances, as illustrated in the book of Ruth with the story of the kinsman-redeemer.
The phrase "careful what you wish for" was used to describe the consequences foretold in verses 4 and 5. The very people who were seizing land would have their own heritage taken from them, with no one left to even "determine boundaries by lot in the assembly of the Lord." This pursuit of wealth was a form of self-destruction, echoing the theme from the book of Judges where "they did what was right in their own eyes." The discussion also touched on the false prophets mentioned in verse 11, who would tell the people what they wanted to hear—prophecies of "wine and drink"—rather than God's truth. This was compared to the false prophets in Jeremiah's time who promised peace while the people were being led into captivity. The chapter ends, however, with a shift in tone. After eleven verses of judgment, the final two verses promise that God will surely gather the "remnant of Israel" like a flock, with their King and the Lord leading them.
Summary of Section 1: We discussed how the wealthy in Israel were ignoring God's laws by violently taking land from the poor. This greed, encouraged by false prophets promising good times, was leading the nation toward its own destruction, a judgment from which God promised He would ultimately rescue a remnant of His people.
Bible Verses and Stories Mentioned:
Micah 2: The primary text for this section.
Book of Ruth: The story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz (the kinsman-redeemer) was mentioned to illustrate God's original plan for land inheritance.
Book of Judges: Referenced for its recurring theme of "they did what was right in their own eyes."
Jeremiah 29:11: Discussed in the context of false prophets promising peace and prosperity, noting that this verse was originally spoken to people already in exile.
Revelation 21: Mentioned in passing regarding a sermon on the "Eighth Day of Creation."
Section 2: Micah Chapter 3 - Corrupt Leadership and the Call for Justice
We then proceeded to read and discuss Micah, chapter 3. This chapter continues the strong condemnation, this time aimed directly at the "heads of Jacob and you rulers of the house of Israel." They are accused of hating good, loving evil, and metaphorically cannibalizing their own people. The prophets are again called out for chanting "peace" for profit while preparing "war against him who puts nothing into their mouths."
A key point of discussion was the theme of "might makes right." The leaders, priests, and prophets were all corrupt, judging for bribes, teaching for pay, and divining for money. Yet, in their hypocrisy, they would "lean on the Lord and say, 'Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.'" They used their status as God's chosen people as a license to sin. Micah's response is a devastating prophecy: because of their actions, "Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins." We also explored the poetic use of "Jacob" and "Israel" in the same verses, concluding it was likely for emphasis, to encompass the entire nation from its past to its present. The theme of "Law and Gospel" was brought up, explaining that the law (like Micah's harsh words) reveals our sin and demonstrates our desperate need for the gospel (God's grace).
Summary of Section 2: This section focused on the corruption of Israel's entire leadership structure—rulers, priests, and prophets—who exploited the people for financial gain while hypocritically claiming God's protection. Micah prophesies complete destruction for Jerusalem and the temple as a direct result of their twisting of justice and perversion of faith.
Bible Verses and Stories Mentioned:
Micah 3: The primary text for this section.
John 8:44: Referenced when discussing how the rulers "twist everything that is straight," connecting it to Jesus calling Satan the "father of lies."
2 Corinthians 1:3: Contrasted with the harsh judgment, highlighting God as the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort."
Story of Jonah: Jonah was presented as an example of a prophet who, unlike Micah, did not want God's mercy to extend to others and embodied the selfish attitude Micah preached against.
Story of Rahab and Ruth: Mentioned as examples of Gentiles included in Jesus' lineage, showing God's plan of redemption was always for all people.
Final Summary
In our Bible study on Thursday, April 9, 2026, we examined the powerful prophecies of Micah in chapters 2 and 3. Our discussion centered on God's indictment against the people of Israel, particularly its wealthy and powerful leaders, for their systemic injustice and greed. We observed how they violated God's commands by violently seizing land, oppressing the poor, and creating a society where "might makes right." This behavior was enabled by corrupt priests and false prophets who offered messages of peace and prosperity in exchange for money, lulling the people into a false sense of security.
We discussed how this path of doing "what was right in their own eyes" was leading them to self-destruction, a stark warning that what they were doing to others would be done to them. Micah prophesies that their inheritance would become desolation, with Jerusalem and the temple itself being turned into a heap of ruins. A significant part of our conversation highlighted the hypocrisy of the leaders who sinned while claiming, "Is not the Lord among us?" using their chosen status as an excuse for evil. We connected these themes to other scriptures, such as the stories of Ruth and Jonah, and the teachings of Jesus against the Pharisees. Despite the heavy judgment, we also noted the glimmers of hope and the "gospel" promise at the end of chapter 2, where God pledges to gather the remnant of His people and lead them as their King, reminding us that even in His righteous anger, God's ultimate plan is one of redemption.
Main Points
The wealthy and powerful in Israel were using their power to oppress the poor and seize their land, directly violating God's laws.
This societal greed was a form of self-destruction; the very ruin they brought on others would be visited upon them.
False prophets were complicit, telling the people what they wanted to hear ("peace," "wine and drink") for personal gain.
Israel's leaders—rulers, priests, and prophets—were corrupt, commercializing justice and religious teaching.
The leaders hypocritically believed they were immune from harm because they were God's people, using their faith as a license to sin.
Micah's prophecy foretells the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as a consequence of their injustice.
Despite the overwhelming message of judgment ("the Law"), there is a promise of future restoration and salvation ("the Gospel").
Scriptures and Stories Mentioned
Bible Chapters:
Micah 2
Micah 3
Bible Verses:
Jeremiah 29:11
John 8:44
2 Corinthians 1:3
Revelation 21
Stories/Concepts:
The commandments against coveting and stealing
The kinsman-redeemer and land inheritance (Book of Ruth)
"They did what was right in their own eyes" (Book of Judges)
Jesus's condemnation of the Pharisees "devouring widows' homes"
The concept of Law and Gospel
The story of Jonah pouting over God's mercy to Nineveh
The inclusion of Gentiles (Rahab, Ruth) in the lineage of Jesus
Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
The Pax Romana ("Roman Peace") as a form of peace through coercion
Solomon's Temple
![[Easter] Creation Day 7 - Rest The Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1775074168095-82WENI1I4DA222SDE8UE/The+Week+7a.jpg)
[Easter] Creation Day 7 - Rest The Week
Jesus' cry of "It is finished" echoes God's seventh-day rest. Because the tomb is empty, the work of putting the world back together is complete. You can stop trying to fix your own brokenness and finally just breathe and rest.
Jesus' cry of "It is finished" echoes God's seventh-day rest. Because the tomb is empty, the work of putting the world back together is complete. You can stop trying to fix your own brokenness and rest.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 7 Rest
What is an "unfinished project" (literal or figurative) in your life right now that is robbing you of your peace and rest?
Read Luke 23:50-24:12. The women at the tomb were so focused on their grief and their incomplete tasks that they initially missed the miracle in front of them. The angel asked, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" How do we sometimes act like those women, focusing only on the dark, broken parts of life instead of the hope of Jesus?
It is powerful to realize that Jesus' final cry on the cross uses the same word as God finishing the six days of creation. How does knowing that the work of your salvation is 100% "finished" change the way you view your own daily striving and spiritual performance?
The world says we can only rest when everything is fixed, but the resurrection means we can rest right in the middle of our mess. How can you practically "breathe and rest" this week, even with unresolved circumstances?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] Loud Lips & Far Hearts - Foolish Wisdom](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1777585193440-H27BJHBXN2C272DK4Q5Z/FW2a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Temple Traps - Foolish Wisdom](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1777044373355-XL9DK44J8X46BSP6Z03N/FW1a.jpg)
![The Great Divorce [Thursday Bible Study]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/ec755559-0a12-48d7-a2e8-1ccec8e2fca7/Great+divorce.png)
![St Lucie Mets Game in April [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1777093305840-I0RWVD8ZHGWQ488Z8XZ3/IMG_1965.jpeg)
![[Good Friday] Tohu Vavohu The Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1774905300678-2BEG2XM429JZK7ZSGKCI/The+Week+GFa.jpg)
[Good Friday] Tohu Vavohu The Week
in the crucifixion of our lord its as if the creation itself is rolled back to the beginning.
Good Friday
Noon & 7PM
Noon Live Stream
in the crucifixion of our lord its as if the creation itself is rolled back to the beginning.
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![Seder Meals [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1775225315305-5SV8E94KSW22LKPR02L5/PXL_20260402_223316435.jpg)
Seder Meals [Photos]
This Maundy Thursday, Grace Lutheran PSL went mobile! We had 53 people gather across 6 different homes for Seder meals.
We kicked things off with a host prep session at the Pastor’s house, then headed into the holiday to celebrate the institution of the Lord’s Supper. By walking through a variation of that original meal, we were able to truly lean into what Jesus was saying to His disciples. It was a beautiful night of laughing, sharing stories, and being the Body of Christ in our own living rooms.
Thank you to our incredible hosts and all who joined in!
With apologies to those who attended Ed and Claudette’s house. (I forgot to shoot photos)
Thanks to our hosts
Pam, Bebe, and Kevin.
Paul and Nancy
Vance and Betsy
Kurt and Denise
Ed and Claudette
LWML Meetings - 1st Monday of Month - 1pm
Meetings will be paused for the summer. Please join us in the Fall on September 8th at 1:00 pm.
Join other Lutheran Women to talk about mission.
New Song for Easter, Living Hope
New Song for Easter 2026
Here is Grace’s Recording for Sunday
"As we conclude our 'Week of Creation' sermon series this Easter with a focus on rest, This song beautifully illustrates God’s work of salvation within the world He brought to life."
On April 5th 2026 we are singing
“Living Hope” (CCLI 7106807)
© 2017 Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs;
1.
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain we could not climb
In desperation we turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of our soul
The work is finished the end is written
Jesus Christ our living hope
2.
Who could imagine so great a mercy
What heart could fathom such boundless grace
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear our sin and bear our shame
The cross has spoken we are forgiven
The King of kings calls us His own
Beautiful Savior Your ours forever
Jesus Christ our living hope
(REFRAIN)
Hallelujah praise the One who set us free
Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ our living hope (x2)
3.
Then came the morning, that sealed the promise
Your buried body, began to breathe
Out of the darkness, said the Creator
hold back the sea, so that we may breathe
Jesus, Yours, is the fruitful tree
(REFRAIN)
Ending
Jesus Christ our living hope
You are God are living hope
Listen to the Original
(We Changed Some Lyrics)
![[Sunday] Creation Day 6 - Image of God, The Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1774573315831-KRAOI22SKZR6IVVGLBW3/The+Week+6a.jpg)
[Sunday] Creation Day 6 - Image of God, The Week
We shattered God's image by trying to be our own gods. But on the cross, Jesus took our brokenness upon Himself, dying and rising to restore the true image of God within us.
We shattered God's image by trying to be our own gods. But on the cross, Jesus took our brokenness upon Himself, dying and rising to restore the true image of God within us.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 6 Image of God
We shatter God's image when we try to be our own gods by serving our own desires rather than reflecting His love. In what areas of your life (work, relationships, finances) are you most tempted to act as your own god?
Read Matthew 27:45-54. On Palm Sunday, Jesus said if the people were silent, the stones would cry out. On Good Friday, as the Creator died, the earth quaked, and the rocks literally split. How does viewing the crucifixion as a cosmic, creation-shaking event change the way you read the Good Friday story?
Read Genesis 1:24-31. God gave mankind dominion on Day 6, but we abused it. Jesus, the true image of God, showed that real divine dominion looks like taking the posture of a servant. How does Jesus' example on the cross challenge the world's definition of power and success?
Because of the cross and the empty tomb, Jesus has breathed His Spirit into us, restoring the image of God in us. What are practical ways you can actively reflect the restored image of God to someone in your life this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Easter 2026 At Grace in Port St Lucie
April 5 -Easter Sunday: 6:30 AM (outside), 8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 service Live Streamed)
Easter 2026
HOLY WEEK
March 29 - April 5
March 29- Palm Sunday: 8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 AM will be Live Streamed)
April 2 - Maundy Thursday: Seder Meals at Various Homes
April 3 - Good Friday:
12:00 (Noon) and 7:00 PM (Noon service Live Streamed)
April 5 -Easter Sunday:
6:30 AM (Sunrise outside),
8:30 AM & 10:15 AM (10:15 Live Stream)
Easter Breakfast & Fellowship:
After Sunrise Service 7:30 - 10:00 AM
Egg hunt: 9:50 AM
Check out photos from Last year
Micah Intro & Chapter 1 Class 1 - Bible Study
During our Bible study on March 26, 2026, we explored the first chapter of Micah, focusing on God's impending judgment against both Samaria and Jerusalem for their shared sins of idolatry and self-righteousness.
Micah Intro and Chapter 1
This is our 1st class on Micah
This is an overview of Micah.
This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.
Short summary of the whole class
We read Micah—starting with Micah 1—and explored its Law–Gospel rhythm: sharp indictments of injustice, idolatry, and self-righteousness, followed by durable hope in God’s covenant mercy and a promised Davidic ruler from Bethlehem. Along the way we linked Micah’s themes to Revelation’s critique of power, Paul’s indictments in Romans, and Jesus’s prophetic actions (cleansing the temple; delivering the Gerasene demoniac), and reflected on how monetizing religion—from ancient Israel to indulgences to modern church culture—distorts worship and justice. We also examined translation nuances in Micah 1, poetic place-name wordplay, and the continuity between Old and New Testaments, concluding that divine judgment clears the ground for restoration.
Walkthrough summary with section-by-section notes
1) Opening reflections: Continuity between Old and New Testaments and the Law–Gospel pattern
What we discussed:
Scripture’s unity: the same human tendencies to power, domination, and wealth appear across the Testaments.
The “good news” looks forward and backward: God will set things right and, in Christ, has begun to do so.
The prophets, including Micah, follow a recognizable Law–Gospel rhythm—confrontation of sin followed by promises of restoration—and Revelation often recycles prophetic themes.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Revelation (general thematic reference)
General references to Joel, Amos, Jonah, Obadiah, Micah
Short summary of this section:
We framed Micah within Scripture’s continuity and a Law–Gospel pattern, noting that Revelation echoes prophetic themes of judgment and hope.
2) Reading Micah 1: God’s descent, idolatry, and lament
What we discussed:
God’s theophany: the Lord descends; mountains melt; valleys split (Micah 1:3–4).
Judgment on both Samaria and Jerusalem for transgression and idolatry (Micah 1:5–7).
Lament imagery—wailing, dust, shame, baldness, captivity—calling for sober grief (Micah 1:8–16).
Judah is not morally superior; no one is exempt from critique.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:1–16
Short summary of this section:
Micah 1 announces sweeping judgment over both kingdoms, exposing idolatry and self-assured religiosity and calling for lament.
3) Imagery echoes and the “harlot” motif: Exodus, Proverbs, and Hosea
What we discussed:
Exodus echo: Micah 1’s earth-shaking presence recalls God’s powerful interventions in history.
“Harlot/prostitute” language (Micah 1:7) connected to Proverbs’ seductive sin and Hosea’s symbolic marriage—idolatry as relational betrayal, a selling of oneself.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:7
Exodus (themes of theophany and deliverance; e.g., Exodus 14–15; 19 thematically)
Proverbs (harlot/prostitute motif; general references)
Hosea 1–3 (prophet’s marriage as sign-act)
Short summary of this section:
Micah’s imagery taps Exodus’s divine power and portrays sin, via Proverbs and Hosea, as an active, relational unfaithfulness.
4) Who is being confronted? Judah, Samaria, and the collapse of self-righteousness
What we discussed:
Micah 1:5 levels the field: Judah’s “high places” mirror Samaria’s; prophetic sarcasm punctures self-righteousness.
Ritual without justice is empty; idolatry undercuts religious confidence.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:5
Amos 5:21–24 (thematic link: God’s rejection of empty festivals)
Short summary of this section:
Micah dismantles Judah’s false security: religious forms without faithfulness and justice cannot shield from judgment.
5) “High places” and reverence—then critique
What we discussed:
High places historically evoke reverence (Sinai), but prophets condemn altars divorced from obedience and justice.
Amos’s rebuke reinforces that height and ritual mean nothing without covenant faithfulness.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1 (high places language)
Exodus 19 (Sinai theophany; thematic)
Amos 5:21–24
Short summary of this section:
Awe without obedience is hollow; God seeks justice and faithfulness, not mere elevated ritual.
6) Translation matters in Micah 1:16 and 1:15—“eagle” or “vulture”; “heir,” “conqueror,” or “dispossessor”?
What we discussed:
Micah 1:16: “Make yourself bald”—mourning and disgrace; the Hebrew term may be “eagle” or “vulture,” with “vulture” fitting lament’s tone.
Micah 1:15: the term variously rendered “heir,” “conqueror,” or “dispossessor”; the thrust is that rightful rule will dispossess pretenders.
Illustrations included study notes and a Robin Hood analogy (rightful heir displaces a pretender).
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:16; Micah 1:15
Genesis 15 (heir/possession language; thematic)
Robin Hood analogy (story illustration)
Short summary of this section:
Nuanced translation sharpens the text’s tone and theology: mourning is stark, and God’s rightful authority overturns false securities.
7) Place-name wordplay and omen-like warnings (Micah 1:10–14)
What we discussed:
Micah’s puns on town names amplify the message: surface beauty masks decay; fates align with names.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:10–14
Short summary of this section:
Poetic wordplay serves prophecy—names become omens exposing the gap between appearance and reality.
8) Power, captivity, and Revelation’s critique—then and in Jesus’s day
What we discussed:
Micah 1:16 ties pride to captivity; Revelation critiques false security in power and wealth.
Parallels to Pharisees and Sadducees protecting status and opposing Jesus.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 1:16
Revelation (general thematic reference)
Gospel-era accounts of Pharisees and Sadducees resisting Jesus (e.g., John 11:47–53 thematically)
Short summary of this section:
Pride breeds captivity; whether in Micah’s day or the Gospels, protecting power resists God’s true king.
9) Watching and processing an overview of Micah: accusation and hope
What we discussed:
Historical setting: Micah of Moresheth (Judah), contemporary with Isaiah; covenant-breaking in Israel and Judah.
Warnings: Assyria’s devastation of the north; Babylon’s later destruction.
Accusations: leaders and prophets enriching themselves; justice bent for the wealthy; land theft; prophetic corruption—Naboth’s vineyard as emblematic injustice.
Hope: God as shepherd regathers a remnant; exalted Zion with nations streaming; exile and return; a Davidic king from Bethlehem; final justice and blessing to the nations.
Micah 6:8 as covenant heartbeat; Micah 7:18–20 grounding hope in God’s character.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 3 (prophetic strength/accusation); Micah 4 (nations to Zion); Micah 5:2 (Bethlehem ruler); Micah 6:8; Micah 7:18–20
1 Kings 21 (Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard)
Assyria and Babylon as instruments of judgment
Short summary of this section:
Micah alternates tough indictments with sturdy hope: God confronts injustice yet promises a shepherd-king and covenant mercy.
10) OT “fire and brimstone” and NT continuity
What we discussed:
Is the OT uniquely “hellfire and brimstone”? The NT shares moral urgency—Paul’s indictments and Revelation’s prophetic cadence.
We tend to find what we seek; both Testaments carry sustained hope.
Tone shift: OT promises forward (“God will”), NT proclaims fulfillment (“God has done”).
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Romans 1–2
Revelation (prophetic pattern)
The Gospels as narrative continuity with the patriarchs
Short summary of this section:
Judgment and grace pervade both Testaments; the promises of the OT meet fulfillment in the NT without losing ethical edge.
11) Jesus and the economics of the kingdom
What we discussed:
Jesus confronts exploitative systems—cleansing the temple to restore prayer and justice.
Gerasene demoniac: deliverance at economic cost (drowned pigs) exposes resistance when profit is threatened.
Warning against “devouring widows’ houses.”
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Temple cleansing: Matthew 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46; John 2:13–17
Gerasene/Gadarene demoniac and pigs: Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39; Matthew 8:28–34
“Devouring widows’ houses”: Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47
Short summary of this section:
Jesus stands in the prophetic stream, prioritizing people over profit and provoking backlash from vested interests.
12) Commercialization of faith—then and now
What we discussed:
Prophetic rebukes (Amos, Micah) of wealth built on exploitation; parallels in church history (indulgences under Pope Leo X) and Luther’s revulsion at monetized piety.
Modern concerns: institutional self-preservation, staffing over care, public distrust, and the “chicken and egg” tension of wealth amid visible poverty.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Amos 2:6–7; 4:1; 5:11–24 (themes)
Micah 2–3; 6:8
Church history: indulgences; Luther’s pilgrimage practices and protest
Short summary of this section:
Monetizing faith corrodes justice and credibility—from Israel’s courts to medieval indulgences to modern church culture.
13) Returning to Micah’s heartbeat: judgment unto hope
What we discussed:
If Israel is to bless the nations, God must confront Israel’s evil; exile as consequence and cure.
Restoration through the Davidic shepherd from Bethlehem; God delights in steadfast love and casts sins into the sea.
Stories/Scriptures mentioned:
Micah 5:2
Micah 7:18–20
Genesis 12:1–3 (thematic: blessing to the nations)
Short summary of this section:
Micah’s rhythm—law then gospel—shows judgment as a pathway to covenantal restoration and global blessing.
Medium-length final summary (created on 2026-03-26 11:08:46)
Our study moved from Micah 1’s thunderous theophany and indictments of idolatry and injustice to the book’s larger Law–Gospel cadence: God confronts corrupt leadership, predatory economics, and hollow religiosity, yet promises to shepherd, regather, and renew his people through a Davidic ruler from Bethlehem. We connected Micah’s warnings (Assyria, Babylon) and hopes (Zion’s restoration; nations streaming; sins hurled into the sea) to Revelation’s critique of power, Paul’s indictments in Romans, and Jesus’s prophetic actions—cleansing the temple and delivering the demonized at economic cost. Translation nuances (eagle/vulture; heir/conqueror/dispossessor) and poetic place-name wordplay deepened our reading of Micah 1. We wrestled with how monetizing faith—from ancient Israel to indulgences to present church culture—distorts worship and justice. Throughout, we emphasized Scripture’s continuity: the OT’s forward-looking promises meet NT fulfillment without losing ethical urgency. Micah closes by grounding hope not in human reform but in God’s covenant character: he delights in steadfast love, pardons iniquity, and casts sins into the sea—judgment clears the ground; mercy builds the future.
Main points
Micah and the prophets follow a Law–Gospel rhythm: accusation of sin paired with promises of restoration.
God’s judgment falls on both Samaria and Jerusalem; self-righteousness and ritual without justice cannot protect.
Micah’s imagery echoes Exodus; idolatry is active betrayal (harlot motif via Proverbs and Hosea).
Translation nuances (Micah 1:15–16) sharpen tone and theology: rightful rule dispossesses pretenders; lament is stark.
Poetic place-name wordplay in Micah 1 underscores appearance versus reality.
Micah indicts corrupt leadership and predatory economics; judgment comes via Assyria and Babylon.
Hope interrupts judgment: remnant regathered, Zion restored, nations welcomed, Davidic ruler from Bethlehem.
The OT’s moral urgency continues in the NT (Romans, Revelation); Jesus embodies the prophetic critique.
Jesus confronts exploitative religion and economics (temple cleansing; pigs episode), prioritizing people over profit.
Monetizing faith—ancient or modern—distorts worship and justice and undermines credibility.
God’s covenant character has the final word: mercy outstrips judgment; sins are trampled and cast into the sea.
Scriptures mentioned
Micah: 1:1–16; 3; 4; 5:2; 6:8; 7:18–20
Exodus: 14–15 (thematic); 19 (Sinai theophany)
Proverbs: passages on the harlot/prostitute motif (general)
Hosea: 1–3 (prophet’s marriage as sign-act)
Amos: 2:6–7; 4:1; 5:11–24; 5:21–24
1 Kings 21 (Naboth’s vineyard)
Genesis 12:1–3; 15 (thematic)
Romans 1–2
Revelation (general thematic references)
Gospels:
Temple cleansing: Matthew 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46; John 2:13–17
Gerasene/Gadarene demoniac and pigs: Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39; Matthew 8:28–34
“Devouring widows’ houses”: Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47
Religious leaders resisting Jesus: John 11:47–53 (thematic)
Stories referenced
Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21) as a paradigm of judicial theft and corruption.
Hosea’s marriage (Hosea 1–3) as a living parable of unfaithfulness and restoration.
Exodus: theophany and mighty acts (parting waters; Sinai).
Jesus cleansing the temple (driving out commerce to restore prayer and justice).
The Gerasene demoniac and the drowned pigs (deliverance that challenges economic interests).
Pharisees and Sadducees resisting Jesus to safeguard power (e.g., John 11:47–53 thematically).
Robin Hood analogy: rightful heir displacing a pretender (illustrating “heir/dispossessor”).
Job | Lent Wednesday Services
Job | Questioning God’s Wisdom
Wednesday Lent Services
5:30 Dinner
6:30pm Service & Stream
March 25th
Click the Image to Watch Live Stream
Reading Plan
February 25th | Job Chapter 2
March 4th | Job Chapter 3
March 11th | Job Chapter 19
March 18th | Job Chapter 38
March 25th | Job Chapter 42
March 18th
Job Chapter 38
March 11th
Job Chapter 19
March 4th
Job Chapter 3
Feb 25th
Job Chapters 1-2
![[Sunday] Creation Day 5 - Washing Fish, The Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1773867107336-7QJMU6HUDIYD18DY4T9N/The+Week+5a.jpg)
[Sunday] Creation Day 5 - Washing Fish, The Week
God fills the chaotic seas with life and still comes in the midst of chaos to bring life and love.
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Main Theme:
The central theme of the sermon, delivered on March 22, 2026, is that God does not run from chaos but enters into it to bring life, order, and love. Using the fifth day of creation as a framework, the speaker illustrates how God fills the chaotic seas with life (fish) and the sky above it with creatures that soar on His Spirit (birds). This act of creation is presented as a pattern for God's redemptive work, culminating in Jesus, who enters the chaos of human sin and suffering to bring forgiveness and peace.
Key Biblical Passages:
Genesis 1:20-23: This is the core text, describing the fifth day of creation. God commands the waters to "teem with living creatures" and the sky to be filled with birds. This act is seen as God speaking life directly into the chaos (symbolized by the sea).
John 13:1-5, 34-35: This passage details Jesus washing his disciples' feet during the Last Supper. Its relevance is in showing Jesus entering into a chaotic situation—knowing his betrayal and death are imminent—and responding not with power, but with servanthood and love. He uses water, the symbol of chaos, to cleanse and serve. He then commands his followers to love one another, filling the chaos with a new purpose.
John 20: The speaker references Jesus appearing to the disciples in the upper room after the resurrection. He appears with his scars (the marks of chaos) still visible and breathes peace on them, connecting to the "breath" or "spirit" that keeps the birds aloft.
Exodus 19:4: "I carried you on eagle's wings..." This verse is used to illustrate how God lifts His people above chaos. The speaker humorously clarifies that the original word likely refers to a vulture or buzzard, emphasizing the point that God uses what is present to elevate His people on the "wind of the spirit."
Main Ideas:
Creation as a Redemptive Pattern: The sermon series, "The Weak," frames the creation story as a pattern for God's salvation. It begins with darkness and chaos (the unbound sea), which God systematically orders (Day 1: light, Day 2: sky, Day 3: land).
The Sea as a Symbol of Chaos: In the ancient Hebrew mindset, the sea represented chaos, danger, and disorder. Therefore, God's actions toward the sea symbolize His power over all that is broken and fearful in the world.
Day 5: Life in the Midst of Chaos: Unlike the first three days which bound the chaos, Day 5 shows God filling the chaos with life. He creates fish and great sea creatures within the chaotic waters, demonstrating that He works from the inside out, bringing fruitfulness even in difficult places.
Jesus Embodies the Day 5 Principle: Jesus is the ultimate example of God entering chaos. He doesn't avoid the pain and betrayal of Holy Week. Instead, He steps into it to serve, wash feet, and establish a meal of forgiveness (the Lord's Supper) right in the face of his impending death.
Two Responses to Chaos (Birds and Fish):
The Fish: Represent God speaking life into the very heart of our struggles, creating something good and fruitful where it seems impossible.
The Birds: Represent God lifting us above the churning waters of chaos, giving us peace and a new perspective as we are carried by the "wind" or "breath" of His Spirit.
Illustrations or Examples:
Avoiding Someone in Walmart: The speaker illustrates our natural human tendency to avoid chaos by describing seeing someone you're in an argument with at the store and immediately turning down another aisle (e.g., the bread aisle) to hide. This contrasts with Jesus, who moves toward the chaos.
Passover and the Red Sea: The sermon connects the Last Supper to the Passover festival, reminding the audience that Passover itself celebrates God rescuing His people from the chaos of slavery in Egypt and parting the chaotic waters of the Red Sea.
Looking Back on Life's Struggles: The speaker shares a personal reflection that while it's hard to see God's work during a chaotic time, looking back reveals how God placed life and fruitfulness within those past struggles, much like finding fish in the sea.
Call to Action/Practical Application:
The primary call to action is to emulate Jesus's response to chaos by filling it with love. Instead of running from difficult situations, we are called to enter into them with a spirit of service and forgiveness.
Receive God's Peace: Recognize that Jesus meets us in the middle of our personal chaos (anxiety, financial stress, family issues) to offer forgiveness and peace, just as He did for the disciples in the upper room.
Participate in the "Feast of Forgiveness": The Lord's Supper is presented as a tangible, physical reminder that Jesus prepares a feast for us in the presence of our enemies and offers forgiveness in the midst of our sin.
Love One Another: The new command to "love one another" is the way we continue to "fill out creation." When we face chaos in our lives and relationships, our mission is to bring love and forgiveness into that space, showing the world that we belong to Jesus. We are sent out to be agents of love in the midst of the world's deep hurts.
God fills the chaotic seas with life and still comes in the midst of chaos to bring life and love.
Questions for the Week: The Week: Day 5 Washing Fish
When have you assumed a situation, a ministry, or a relationship was "too messy" to get involved with, but God ended up doing something beautiful when you finally stepped in?
Read John 13:1-25. In the Upper Room, Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the Passover, specifically remembering how God rescued their ancestors by parting the chaotic waters of the Red Sea. Why is it so important for us to intentionally remember and talk about God’s past rescues when we are staring down a new wave of chaos today?
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, a feast of forgiveness, at the exact moment humanity was plotting to murder Him, Judas was betraying Him, and His closest friends were bickering over who was the greatest. How does Jesus' ability to offer grace before anyone even apologized challenge the way you handle grudges or conflict in your own relationships?
Jesus gives us a new commandment (to love one another). What is one practical way you can bring a sense of love into a chaotic environment (like a stressful workplace, a tense family text thread, or your neighborhood) this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Letter from Claubert
A letter of gratitude from Claubert.
Dear Members of Grace Lutheran Church,
Grace and Peace be with you from our Father through His Son Jesus Christ.
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your support and for voting for me in the election this past Sunday. I am truly honored and deeply thankful for the confidence you have placed in me. It brought me great joy to receive this news, and I want you to know how much it means to me.
I am now prayerfully preparing myself to come and serve alongside you at Grace. I look forward to joining you in ministry, growing together in faith, and working as one body in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Thank you once again for your trust, your kindness, and your warm welcome. I am excited for what God has in store for us as we walk this journey together.
With sincere gratitude and joy,
Claubert
Jonah Chapter 4 Class 3 - Bible Study
A lively Bible study on March 19, 2026 explored Jonah 4’s surprising ending, God’s mercy toward enemies (and even animals), Jonah’s anger, echoes in Job and Mark, and our own struggles with tribalism and forgiveness—inviting us to embrace God’s expansive grace.
Jonah Chapter 4
This is our 3rd class on Jonah
This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.
Short summary of the whole class
On March 19, 2026, our class read Jonah 4 and examined Jonah’s anger when God spared Nineveh after its repentance. We traced God’s object lesson through the plant, worm, and east wind, and considered how Jonah’s complaint weaponizes Israel’s creed about God’s mercy. We connected Jonah’s open-ended finish to Job’s probing questions and Mark 16:8, explored links to Jesus’ welcome of outsiders, and paralleled Jonah with the elder brother in the Prodigal Son. The conversation turned to modern mirrors—politics, “God is on our side” rhetoric, daily frustrations (traffic, lines), and church life—asking what we do when God loves our enemy. We concluded that Scripture calls us to share God’s pity for all creation and practice humble, enemy-loving mercy.
Walkthrough of the class with section-by-section summaries
1) Setting the stage: Jonah 3’s outcome and the pivot to Jonah 4
What we discussed:
Jonah’s reluctant warning to Nineveh (“Yet forty days…”) surprisingly worked; the city repented in a way Israel often didn’t under prophets like Amos and Joel.
God relented from disaster because Nineveh turned from evil, setting up the tension in Jonah 4.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 3:4–10
Prophets referenced: Amos; Joel
Short wrap-up:
Nineveh’s dramatic repentance prepares us for Jonah 4’s central conflict: a merciful God and a prophet who dislikes mercy for enemies.
2) Reading Jonah 4 and first reactions: anger and a divine question
What we discussed:
Jonah is “exceedingly displeased and angry,” praying that he knew God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,” and asking to die.
God asks, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah camps east of the city to see what will happen.
God appoints a plant to shade Jonah, a worm to kill it, and a scorching east wind—Jonah again wants to die.
God contrasts Jonah’s pity for the plant with His pity for 120,000 people who “do not know their right hand from their left—and much livestock.”
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:1–11
Short wrap-up:
Jonah’s anger collides with God’s compassion; the plant becomes a spiritual mirror exposing Jonah’s misplaced values.
3) Abrupt endings and literary echoes: Jonah, Job, and Mark
What we discussed:
Jonah’s open ending (God’s unanswered question) recalls Job’s conclusion with divine questions and the Gospel of Mark’s shorter ending (Mark 16:8), where the women flee in fear and amazement.
These unresolved finales function as invitations rather than tidy conclusions.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:10–11
Job (chs. 38–42 referenced for God’s questioning)
Mark 16:8
Short wrap-up:
Like Job and early Mark, Jonah leaves a question hanging—pushing readers to examine their hearts.
4) Why is Jonah so angry? Enemies, identity, and the scandal of mercy
What we discussed:
Jonah may fear Israel’s reaction if he “saves” Assyrian enemies, functioning as a stand-in for national sentiment.
He recites Israel’s creed (Exod 34:6) but uses it as a complaint—mercy for “us” is fine, not for “them.”
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:2 (echoing Exodus 34:6)
Broad OT backdrop: Israel and Assyria/Nineveh
Short wrap-up:
Jonah reveals the hypocrisy of celebrating grace for ourselves while resenting it for our enemies.
5) Jonah’s anger: the plant and the people
What we discussed:
Jonah stands in for Israel’s calling to bless the nations yet resents mercy to outsiders.
God asks twice, “Is it right for you to be angry?”—about Nineveh and the plant—placing Jonah’s self-interest beside God’s care for people.
Zeal alone doesn’t make a cause righteous; intensity isn’t legitimacy.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:4, 4:9
Illustration: the “willing to die for a brownie” quip highlighting that passion doesn’t guarantee righteousness.
Short wrap-up:
Jonah’s grief over a plant outweighs compassion for a city—his values are misaligned.
6) Jonah and Job: learning humility before God
What we discussed:
Job eventually confesses, “I have spoken too much,” while Jonah never explicitly reaches that humility in the text.
God’s “creation tour” in Job reframes suffering; in Jonah, God widens perspective to encompass people and animals.
Anger often grows in “small stuff” when we lose sight of God’s big picture.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Job 38–42
Jonah 4:10–11
Illustration: “middle school drama” image for how small irritations eclipse larger truths.
Short wrap-up:
Wisdom and humility come from seeing beyond ourselves to God’s vast purposes.
7) God’s compassion for Nineveh—and the “holy” number
What we discussed:
“More than 120,000 persons” who don’t know right from left underscores Nineveh’s size and God’s pity, challenging tribal boundaries.
Echoes to Israel’s symbolic numbers and Jesus’ ministry: welcoming outsiders and refusing sectarian control.
Parallels: Jesus weeping over Jerusalem’s rejection of peace; disciples upset about others acting in Jesus’ name.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:11
Luke 19:41–44; Luke 19:39–40
Mark 9:38–41 or Luke 9:49–50
Short wrap-up:
God’s mercy stretches beyond our lines; the question is whether we will rejoice when “outsiders” turn to God.
8) “Much cattle”: God’s care for creation
What we discussed:
The ESV’s closing phrase (“and also much cattle”) sparked reflection on God’s care for animals and the vulnerable.
In Jonah 3 even animals donned sackcloth—playful imagery (hamsters, cockroaches) made a serious point: mercy extends to all God made.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 3:7–8; Jonah 4:11
Short wrap-up:
Jonah widens our horizon: God’s compassion embraces humans and beasts.
9) Modern mirrors: politics, “God is on our side,” and public witness
What we discussed:
Jonah’s posture connects to contemporary “takedown” culture and drafting God to our side.
Outsiders often perceive Christians as unloving; while we can’t fix every perception, we can embody hope, humility, and mercy locally.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
No additional verses beyond Jonah 4 in this segment
Stories: media/political “takedown” culture; church’s public reputation
Short wrap-up:
Resist tribal victory narratives; recover a witness marked by mercy.
10) “What do you do when God loves your enemy?”—The gospel’s call
What we discussed:
Jesus commands us to love enemies; Scripture offends when it confronts our preferences.
Confined mercy—only for “our side”—distorts the gospel.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Matthew 5:43–48; Luke 6:27–36
Short wrap-up:
The gospel demands we extend to others the mercy we receive.
11) C. S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce” and choosing separation
What we discussed:
Some would rather reject heaven than share it with those they despise—mirroring Jonah’s “better for me to die” than coexist with forgiven Ninevites.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Story: C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce
Short wrap-up:
Grievance can isolate us from grace; God calls us back into shared joy.
12) The older brother pattern: forgiveness resisted
What we discussed:
Jonah and the elder brother both resent mercy shown to “the other.”
The Gospels crescendo in forgiveness and invite us to inhabit that goodness rather than cling to anger.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Luke 15:11–32
Short wrap-up:
Mercy for me but judgment for you is a heart disease both Jonah and the elder brother expose.
13) Violence, cycles of hate, and the prophetic critique
What we discussed:
Warfare narratives (Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Maccabees) show escalating hostility—even within Israel.
Jonah subverts the cycle with repentance and divine pity for a violent city.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Joshua; Judges; 1–2 Maccabees
Short wrap-up:
God prefers repentance and life over endless reprisals.
14) God’s object lesson: plant, worm, wind—and Jonah’s heart
What we discussed:
Possible ID of the plant (castor oil plant) with large leaves; God appoints plant, worm, and scorching east wind.
Jonah mourns the plant but not Nineveh; God’s question reframes pity to include 120,000 people and animals.
A personal windburn anecdote highlighted the east wind’s harshness.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4:4–11
Study note: castor oil plant as a candidate
Story: windburn experience
Short wrap-up:
The object lesson exposes compassion skewed toward comfort rather than human life and creation.
15) Everyday application: anger, traffic, and gratitude
What we discussed:
Practicing patience in traffic and lines by seeing each person as God’s image-bearer.
Church-life vignettes: some take extra pain meds to attend; some argue and still show up—prompting gratitude over harshness.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Thematic tie to Jonah 4; no specific verse cited beyond earlier references
Stories: Arkansas congregation moments; pastoral shift toward gratitude during offering
Short wrap-up:
Slow down, see people, and choose mercy; life already gives enough “law.”
16) Open-ended endings: Jonah, the Prodigal’s elder brother, and Mark’s women
What we discussed:
Jonah’s abrupt close parallels the elder brother left outside the party and Mark 16:8’s fearful women.
“The Lady or the Tiger?” illustrates how open endings force reader response.
Historical backdrop: the Roman world’s harshness in which early Christianity grew.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Jonah 4; Luke 15:25–32; Mark 16:8
Stories: “The Lady or the Tiger?”; Roman Colosseum context
Short wrap-up:
Scripture declares God’s mercy and leaves the next move to us: will we join the celebration?
17) God’s desire for life, not death
What we discussed:
God preserves man and beast, takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and desires all to be saved.
Our posture should be humble gratitude for grace given to us and available to all.
Scriptures and stories mentioned:
Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:3–4; Psalm 36:6; Jonah 4:11
Short wrap-up:
God’s heart is restorative; we’re invited to mirror that heart.
Medium-length final summary of the class
On March 19, 2026, we explored Jonah 4, where Jonah is furious that God spares Nineveh after its repentance. He recites Israel’s creed—God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger—yet wields it as a complaint when mercy reaches enemies. God stages an object lesson with a plant, a worm, and a scorching wind to expose Jonah’s compassion for comfort over people. We compared Jonah’s open ending to Job’s divine questions and Mark 16:8, seeing how Scripture sometimes leaves us with a question to answer. We linked Jonah’s themes to Jesus’ welcome of outsiders, the elder brother’s resentment in Luke 15, and modern tribal politics and media “takedowns.” The class also pressed practical discipleship: patience in traffic, gentleness in church life, gratitude for others’ sacrifices, and a commitment to love enemies. We noted God’s pity for “more than 120,000 persons … and also much cattle,” widening our view to include all creation. Jonah 4 ultimately asks: What do we do when God loves our enemy? God’s final word is pity; the invitation is to align our hearts with His.
Main points
Jonah 4 reveals a prophet angered by God’s mercy to enemies, exposing hypocrisy about grace.
The book’s abrupt ending functions like Job and Mark 16:8—leaving a divine question that aims at the reader’s heart.
God’s plant–worm–wind lesson uncovers Jonah’s misplaced compassion: comfort over human lives and creation.
Zeal or willingness to die doesn’t make a cause righteous; alignment with God’s mercy does.
Scripture consistently calls God’s people to love enemies; Jonah mirrors the elder brother’s resentment.
Modern parallels abound: partisan “takedown” culture and the impulse to conscript God to our side.
God’s pity extends to all—even animals—and invites us to share His compassion rather than cling to anger.
Practical discipleship means humility, patience, and gratitude in daily life and church community.
Scriptures mentioned
Jonah 3:4–10
Jonah 4:1–11; Jonah 4:2; Jonah 4:4; Jonah 4:9–11
Exodus 34:6 (echoed in Jonah 4:2)
Amos; Joel (prophetic backdrop)
Job 38–42
Mark 16:8
Matthew 5:43–48; Luke 6:27–36
Luke 15:11–32; Luke 15:25–32
Luke 19:39–44; Luke 19:41–44
Mark 9:38–41; Luke 9:49–50
Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11
1 Timothy 2:3–4
Psalm 36:6
Joshua; Judges; 1–2 Maccabees (contextual references)
Stories and works referenced
Nineveh’s repentance in Jonah
The elder brother in the Prodigal Son
Contemporary media/political “takedown” culture and the church’s public witness
C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce (choosing separation rather than shared grace)
“The Lady or the Tiger?” (open-ended narrative)
Roman Colosseum context (harsh backdrop for early Christianity)
Everyday life: traffic jams, checkout lines, impatience and tribalism
Church-life vignettes: congregants’ sacrifices to attend; pastoral move toward gratitude
Anecdote illustrating the east wind’s harshness (windburn)
Note on the plant (possible castor oil plant)
Vicar Claubert is Coming to Grace Lutheran PSL
On Sunday, March 15th,
the congregation voted to welcome Claubert as our new pastoral intern.
On Sunday, March 15th,
the congregation voted to welcome Claubert as our new pastoral intern.
Claubert is currently in his second year of seminary, with two years remaining in his program.
While at Grace, he will gain hands-on experience in pastoral leadership and ministry. Excitingly, he will also be leading the effort to establish a Haitian congregation within our church family.
Please stay tuned for more information!
This Sunday March 15th
9:40 am
at the regularly scheduled voters' meeting.
Please come and support the church b
During March 8th Meeting
New questions will be answered.
This is the largest question we go over the this week.
Concern that Pastor Cris and Grace will have the abilities and resources to perform the duties of the vicarage.
Concern about burn out.
Concern about Pastor Cris leaving because of bad program.
Concern About District Support.
March 1st & 8th
9:40am [In-between Services]
Please join us for an informational meeting between our two Sunday services to discuss Grace bringing in Claubert as a Vicar. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this new chapter in our ministry together.
We will be discussing:
Our goals for Claubert’s ministry here at Grace.
Pastor Cris’ responsibilities in supervising and mentoring a Vicar.
The seminary’s expectations for both the student and the congregation.
The fiscal cost to Grace and how we are preparing for it.
The timeframe of the program and what to expect.
...and so much more! Come discover the plan, ask your questions, and share your input as we prepare for this journey.
Why We Hold Informational Meetings
At Grace, we always aim to hold at least two informational meetings before any significant vote. This serves two important purposes:
To Listen and Adjust: We want to hear your feedback early so we can make any necessary adjustments to the proposal before the formal vote.
To Streamline Our Process: By answering questions and discussing details now, we can keep the actual Voters’ Meeting on March 15th focused and efficient.
Please join us to ensure your voice is heard and that we are all well-prepared for the upcoming decision.
![[Sunday] Creation Day 4 - Day or Hour, The Week](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1773356947484-4RY25WO3W0HU61E2NMU9/The+Week+4a.jpg)
[Sunday] Creation Day 4 - Day or Hour, The Week
God created the Sun, Moon, and Stars on Day 4 to bring order. But the sun went dark as the Creator took our chaos. You don't have to fix your life in the dark; the Lamb is your light.
God created the Sun, Moon, and Stars on Day 4 to bring order. But the sun went dark as the Creator took our chaos. You don't have to fix your life in the dark; the Lamb is your light.
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Sermon Series: The Week
Content Creation Date
March 15, 2026, 10:43:18
Sermon Context
Series concept: Interweaving Holy Week with the seven days of Creation to reveal God’s redemptive arc in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Jesus.
This sermon focuses on Day Four of Creation and its resonance with Jesus’ apocalyptic teachings in Matthew 22–25, the cross, and the hope of new creation.
Opening Prayer
Gratitude for God’s goodness, holiness, and presence amid chaos and distress.
Request that the sermon reflect God’s will for His people.
Review of Previous Weeks: Days 1–3 of Creation
God’s creative acts counter the “tohu vavohu” (formless and void; wild and waste) by bringing order and life.
Connections to Holy Week:
Day 1: “Let there be light” corresponds to Jesus’ entry into dark Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Day 2: Separation of waters corresponds to Jesus overturning the tables, opening the temple to the blind, hurting, and outsiders.
Day 3: Emergence of dry ground and fruitfulness corresponds to the fig tree incident, revealing the danger of appearing healthy without true fruit.
Day Four of Creation: Filling the Order with Lights
Scripture: Genesis Day Four.
“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them serve as signs to mark the sacred times, days, and years…’” — Highlighting cosmic order and governance by sun, moon, and stars.
Theological observation:
Days 4–6 “fill” the form placed in Days 1–3. Day Four “fills” Day One’s light with governing lights that establish order and sacred times.
These lights provide rhythm, breathability, and stability to human life.
The Question of Disorder: When Governance Breaks Down
Pastoral application:
Even small disruptions (e.g., time change) can unsettle us; how much more when cosmic order collapses?
Cultural anecdote: Floridians’ dependence on sunlight; Seattle’s low-light environment as an example of emotional impact.
Spiritual implication:
The apocalyptic teachings of Jesus in Matthew 22–25 warn of times when the cosmic order fails and chaos returns.
Jesus’ Apocalyptic Teaching: Matthew 22–25
Scripture: Matthew 24:29–31.
“Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky… Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man… and he will send his angels… and they will gather his elect…”
Key points:
The language of cosmic collapse echoes the creation themes and signals profound judgment and transition.
Jesus situates Himself within the prophetic tradition, not inventing apocalyptic imagery but fulfilling it.
Prophetic Background: Amos and the Day of the Lord
Scripture: Amos 8:9–10.
“‘In that day,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight… I will turn your religious festivals into mourning… like mourning for an only son.’”
Interpretation:
Amos frames darkness as judgment tied to sin and rebellion. The “Day of the Lord” is a reversal of Day Four’s order—lights fail, sacred times turn to mourning.
Historical Fulfillment: The Temple and Judgment
Jesus’ fig tree teaching and mountain/temple saying:
“If you have faith… you can say to this mountain… be thrown into the sea.” Interpreted as a prophetic sign regarding the temple’s fate.
Historical note:
The destruction of the temple (c. AD 70) occurred within a generation of Jesus’ words.
For the Jewish people, this felt like cosmic darkness—the collapse of the center of worship and order.
Personal Chaos: Modern Applications
Examples:
Medical diagnoses that plunge us into fear.
Relationship trauma that reawakens pain.
Temptations:
To fight in our strength (“war paint”).
To mislabel darkness as light—especially in politicized or militarized narratives.
Pastoral Warning on Calling Darkness Light
Contemporary note:
Social media giddiness about war or temple-related geopolitics as “signals” for Jesus’ return.
Caution:
We do not know the day or hour; beware of voices that monetize apocalyptic predictions.
Do not baptize destruction as light; remain grounded in the Gospel’s true hope.
The Cross as the Great and Glorious Day of the Lord
Scripture: Matthew 27:45; Psalm 22:1 (echoed by Jesus).
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.”
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Theological claim:
On the cross, creation “rolls back” into “tohu vavohu”—the lights fail, the clock stops.
Yet God the Father is not far from the Son. Jesus embraces chaos, dies for us, and descends into the darkness.
Resurrection: “Let There Be Lights” Again
Creation echoes:
The Spirit still hovers; the Father’s call renews the light.
Easter is the new dawn—Jesus rises as the true Light, reestablishing order and peace.
Identity and calling:
Who God is: Holy, present, sovereign over chaos, faithful to redeem.
Who you are: Beloved, carried by God’s Spirit, called to trust and be prepared.
How to live: Breathe, do not manufacture light, wait on God’s governance and grace.
Parable of the Ten Maidens: Preparedness in Darkness
Scripture: Matthew 25:1–13.
Ten maidens await the bridegroom; five wise bring oil and are ready for the delay and the night, five foolish assume perpetual daylight and are unprepared.
Clarification:
“Virgin” as a translation of “young maiden.”
Application:
Wisdom is readiness for darkness—trusting God’s provision when rhythms fail.
Foolishness is presuming endless daylight—neglecting serious engagement with faith and discipleship.
Final Hope: New Creation and the Seventh Day
Scripture: Revelation 21:22–23.
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon… for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
Eschatological vision:
The temple is fulfilled in God and the Lamb.
Sun and moon become unnecessary—Jesus is the Light, establishing eternal order and peace.
Applications for Today
When your life feels like “tohu vavohu”:
Breathe. God’s Spirit gives breath.
Do not try to manufacture your own light or baptize darkness as light.
Prepare your faith-life for seasons of darkness—practice trust, prayer, community, and Scripture now.
Remember: Jesus took the chaos upon Himself and rose to govern your days with His peace.
Key Points
God’s creation brings ordered light into chaos; Day Four fills Day One’s light with governing lights and sacred rhythms.
Jesus’ apocalyptic teaching echoes the prophets: the Day of the Lord is a reversal of created order, revealing judgment and the need to be ready.
The cross is the great Day of the Lord: darkness at noon signifies creation’s rollback; yet God remains faithful, and resurrection renews light.
Do not call darkness light—avoid apocalyptic speculation and politicized “giddiness” over conflict; cling to the true Light, Jesus.
Wisdom is preparedness: like the five maidens with oil, cultivate a faith that can endure the night, trusting God to say again, “Let there be lights.”
Our identity and hope: We are carried by the Spirit, governed by the Lamb’s light, and destined for a new creation where Jesus Himself is our lamp.
Closing Exhortation and Prayer
Exhortation:
“Breathe; He will carry you through. Everything’s going to be okay, even when it doesn’t seem like it is. Just breathe because He will say, ‘Let there be lights.’”
Prayer:
Thanksgiving for God’s abiding presence.
Petition for readiness in darkness and trust that God will lead us through by His light.
Questions for the Week: The Week: The Week: Day 4 - Day or Hour
A one-hour time change at Daylight Savings Time throws us off. Why do you think human beings are so deeply dependent on rhythm, routine, and the "governors" of our time to feel at peace?
Read Matthew 24:29-31. Jesus warned of a time when the sun and moon would go dark, times when life feels completely chaotic and time seems to stand still. Can you share a time in your life (like a sudden phone call or crisis) when it felt like the "clocks stopped" and everything went dark?
When we hit times of darkness, our temptation is to try and "fix it" by finding or creating our own light, which often just brings more chaos. What does "manufacturing your own light" look like in your life when you are stressed or afraid?
On the cross, Jesus took the total darkness of our sin upon Himself (Matthew 27:45) so that He could be our eternal light (Revelation 21:22-27). How does knowing that Jesus has already conquered the ultimate darkness change how you handle the "dark days" in your current life?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Dublin the Fun (Photos)
We had more than Dublin the Fun!
What an incredible time we had at "Dublin the Fun"! My heart is still so full from seeing everyone. The day was packed with laughs, starting with that super fun bounce house that was a hit all day long. And the food! We had so many baked potatoes and other yummy treats. I even spotted some Irish coffee creamer by the coffee station, lol!
We really went all out with the games, and they were such a blast. A huge congrats again to Pam for winning the Pot of Gold challenge! Watching everyone compete in Hot Potato and especially the 3-Legged Race (where there may have been some creative carrying involved) was hilarious. We even got a little help from the weather when the clouds came out right at 5 PM to give us some needed shade.
But honestly, what made me the happiest was just seeing everyone together, enjoying each other’s company. Watching old friends catch up and new friendships start, that’s how we live as the body of Christ together. A massive thanks to everyone who helped organize and to everyone who came out to make "Dublin the Fun" so special!
![Children’s Ministry at the Beginning of the Year [Photos]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1773366946881-LN5PTFM1X0S3NNO0TA2T/PXL_20260208_173254083.jpg)
Children’s Ministry at the Beginning of the Year [Photos]
It’s been a joy to see the kids so active at Grace lately
It’s been a joy to see the kids so active at Grace lately. From honoring our scouts on Scouting Sunday to the heart they put into making Valentines for their loved ones, they are truly living out that love.
Our new Wednesday kids program during the Lenten services has also been a highlight, giving them a space to grow together as the body of Christ. Seeing them enjoy each other’s company while learning that Jesus is their Savior is exactly what it’s all about.
A lively Bible study on May 7, 2026 explored C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce (Chs. 1–3), tracing the contrast between ghostly insubstantiality and heavenly solidity, the challenge of pride versus grace, and the costly journey of repentance and becoming “solid” in Christ in light of Scripture.