THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD: APRIL 21, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
In Jesus’ day, there would be times when multiple shepherds would bring their flocks together. Whether by accident or on purpose, they would gather them in a paddock, an area that was walled off to keep the predators out of the flock. The sheep would mingle together and do all the things sheep do. Now that presents a problem for the shepherd. How do you tell your sheep apart from the other shepherd’s sheep? When the shepherds would leave the paddock, they would call out to their flock. The sheep would hear their shepherd's voice and would follow. The shepherd's voice is key. The...
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RESURRECTION RESISTANCE: APRIL 14, 2024
Holy Trinity Ankeny
The resurrection of Jesus reveals that God’s way is the way of life, light, love, peace, hope, and wholeness. Whenever these things break through the darkness of the world it is a moment of resurrection. Sadly, we don’t see it, nor do we often want to accept this eruption of new life. We are resistant to the resurrection.
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RESURRECTING COMMUNITY
Holy Trinity Ankeny
We live in the age of the individual. We are a lonely, fragmented people often at each other’s throats. The resurrection of Jesus binds people together in love to stand against the individualism that makes everything about “me.” “Doubting” Thomas struggled in despair and doubt because he was not with the others when Jesus first appeared. The church in Jerusalem in Acts “held” all things in common and lived in joy. Readings: Acts 4:32-35 John 20:19-31
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EASTER SUNDAY: UNSATISFACTORY ENDING
Holy Trinity Ankeny
The Gospel of Mark ends at chapter 16, verse 8 (other endings were added much later). It is an odd, perplexing end that leaves us with an empty tomb and three women who say nothing to anyone. Yet, maybe Mark was less concerned with what happened then and more concerned with what happens now. The resurrection means that God is loose in the world, unrestrained and persistently confronting us with life, love, and grace. What do you say about that?
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GOOD FRIDAY
Holy Trinity Ankeny
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MAUNDY THURSDAY
Holy Trinity Ankeny
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HOSANNA
Holy Trinity Ankeny
I grew up thinking that the word hosanna meant something triumphant. Knowing that it means something else entirely changes how I see Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Mark 11:1-11
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MARCH 17, 2024: THE CROSS
Holy Trinity Ankeny
The cross is the chief symbol of our faith, a sign of the saving work of Christ. What does it mean “to be saved?” Some would say it is assent to beliefs. Others point to a religious experience. Those are not, however, works of Christ. They are things we do. In John’s gospel, Christ’s work on the cross is bigger than forgiving sins. It is to judge the world, drive out the evil, and draw all people to himself.
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GUEST PREACHER FROM MOSAIC
Holy Trinity Ankeny
Pastor Twila Schock, Vice President for Church Relations and International Programming for Mosaic, one of our mission partners, is our guest preacher. Mosaic empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their unique pursuit of happiness.
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THE LION, THE TABLES, AND THE WARDROBE
Holy Trinity Ankeny
We often have an image in our head of what Jesus looks like and how Jesus should act. The Jesus of John’s gospel is not the safe, tame, domesticated Jesus of my childhood. A domesticated Jesus doesn’t have anything to say about how we live our lives and would never flip any tables. This Jesus is the undomesticated Jesus who isn’t afraid to flip the tables in our lives that get in the way of following Jesus. Exodus 20:1-17 | 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 | John 2:13-22
info_outlineWe live in a world driven by money and possessions. Our financial desires and accumulations can do harm to our relationships with God, loved ones, neighbors, and creation. Jesus tells three stories about this phenomenon in Luke’s gospel. Each tells us that money and possessions cannot raise us from the dead. Each call us to cling to that which is eternal. His name is Jesus.