Pastor's Message

November 2025

God’s beloved people,

This part will sound familiar if you heard my sermon on Luke 17:11-19 about Jesus healing the 10 men with leprosy back on October 12th.  The reformer Martin Luther was asked, “What is true worship of God?” And Luther replied simply, “The tenth leper turning back.”  For Luther, the tenth leper turning back to kneel at Jesus’ feet and praise God when he realizes he is healed, is true worship of God.  And I posed the question, “Are we living daily in gratitude to God? Or are we mostly taking God for granted?” And to be honest, all of us take God for granted sometimes.

But when we stop and think about everything (Everything!) God has first given us, we become more aware and more grateful of all God’s good gifts to us.  In confirmation class right now we are studying the Apostles Creed and of course using Luther’s Small Catechism.  The first article of the creed says, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”  And Luther writes this in his explanation.

“I believe that God has created me together with all that exists.  God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties.  In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock and all property—along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life.  God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil.  And all this is done out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all!  For all of this I owe it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him.  This is most certainly true.”

Stewardship is one of the emphases in November: stewardship of my time, my talent and my treasure (money).  We stop and think about what God has first given us and how we will offer back in gratitude to God a portion of that for the mission of Jesus’ church and to help our neighbors in need.

Some pastors have posed the blunt question: Do I wear a bib or an apron?  If I wear a bib I am basically expecting to be served.  But if I wear an apron I am ready to serve others.  Do I wear a bib or an apron?  There are so many people at First Lutheran who are wearing aprons and serving God and neighbor in so many different ways.  Thank you all for serving!

I have a bunch of old Thrivent T-shirts which say “Live Generously!”  I have always liked that motto.  As Christians let us live gratefully and generously and share our gifts of time, talent and treasure to work for a world where all the hungry are fed and housed, people live in peace and freedom, and all have the opportunity to know of salvation and everlasting life through Jesus our Savior.

 ~ Pastor Dennis