WHAT IF.... MARCH 9, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
What if Jesus had said yes? What if the story had gone differently? And what if his temptations aren’t so different from our own? Deuteronomy 26:1-11 | Romans 10:8b-13 | Luke 4:1-13
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WHO IS JESUS? MARCH 2, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
The season of Epiphany begins at Jesus' baptism with a heavenly announcement, “You are my son, the beloved.” The season ends with an announcement from the cloud, “This is my son, the Chosen. Listen to him.” Epiphany is about the multi-faceted revelation of Jesus' identity. “Who is Jesus?” is the prime question we must sort out before we can follow him.
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DIFFICULT WORDS: FEB. 23, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Jesus says hard things a lot. Perhaps no words uttered by the Lord are more difficult than “Love your enemies.” His call to forgive those who harm us and bless those who curse us are not mainstream. No Liam Neeson movie would garner an audience if he went around forgiving. No, we like revenge and retribution. We like to hold on to grudges. The question is, how does the reign of God – a reign of mercy dawn in a world based on revenge? Maybe it doesn’t.
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SEEN AND KNOWN: FEB. 16, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Have you ever felt invisible—like you could walk through a crowd and no one would notice? We all long to be seen, to know that we matter. But what if the one who sees us best is the one we least expect? Jeremiah 17:5-10 | 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 | Luke 6:17-26
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A FISH STORY: FEB 9, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Holy Trinity welcomes Bishop Amy Current of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA as our preacher. She shares a story of grace where the big story is not about the fish.
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THE GOD I NEED: FEB. 2, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
The doctor tells me I have cancer. That can make one stop and think. To walk the path ahead, I find myself thinking about what kind of God I need. A god who planned my cancer? Maybe one who will supply a miracle when all hope is lost? No, I am convinced that the God I need is the one who created a world where radiation and radiologists, scalpels and surgeons bring to bear the grace of creation. More important, I need a God who is not aloof and far off, inscrutable and impassive, but one who knows my sufferings and shares them. That is the God revealed in Christ and his cross.
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THE JESUS AGENDA: JANUARY 26, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Washington and Wall Street, magnates and millionaires all have agendas for the shaping of the world in their own image. The changes and fads come and go and most often create chaos. Jesus announced his agenda in his home synagogue. He came to give good news to the poor, release the captives, give sight to the blind, lift up the oppressed and set the world right. With each healing, teaching, and his rising from the dead he pursued that agenda. What does that have to do with us?
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THEY HAVE NO WINE: JAN. 19, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
When the world cries out for answers, what does it mean to tug on the sleeve of Jesus? From empty wine jars to the cries of grief, moments of scarcity meet unexpected abundance. What happens when we plead, 'Do something about it? Isaiah 62:1-5 | 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 | John 2:1-11
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THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD: JAN. 12, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
So, why does Jesus need to be baptized? If he is sinless, what forgiveness is needed? Why does the Son of God submit to John’s baptism when even John claims he is unworthy to “untie the thong” of Jesus’ sandals? These are questions that have vexed the Church for centuries. Luke’s unique way of dealing with these questions places John in prison and flows the baptism with a family tree. The result is the gift of baptism given to us as children of God.
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TWO KINGS, THREE GIFTS: JAN. 5, 2025
Holy Trinity Ankeny
When we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, we tell the story of astronomers from the east who bring three gifts. Christmas pageants and hymns portray these visitors as three kings. There are however, only two kings in the story. The fake one named Herod sitting on a throne in Jerusalem and the real one, Jesus, lying in a manger in Bethlehem. Isaiah saw the day when the nations would worship Israel’s kings, bringing gold and frankincense. The myrrh in Matthew’s story adds a substance used for burial and the cross looms. Jesus is not just a personal savior but a ruler who brings a new kingdom...
info_outlineIn today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of plucking out eyes and cutting off hands—but what if we’ve misunderstood? What if true wholeness comes from letting go?
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 | James 5:13-20 | Mark 9:38-50