Last night’s Tenebrae service was powerful and moving as it always is, but I need to make a note to myself (and hopefully, because it’s public, other people will remind me). That note: And Can It Be That I Should Gain doesn’t work even when sung to the familiar tune of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross because it’s just too long.

Rev. Rick Saylor will be filling the pulpit for Jenny and I on May 19, 2019. Jenny and I are using a vacation Sunday and will be out of town.

In last Sunday’s sermon, I talked about how fundamentalism/biblical literalism doesn’t actually work—the most revealing tell being that even the staunchest fundamentalist are fundamentalist about everything in the Bible (very few people have given away all but one coat). Everyone interprets the Bible, although not everyone admits it. In my sermon this coming Sunday, I plan to talk about one way of understanding biblical authority, or more accurately—since all authority on heaven and earth belongs to God—how God exercises some of God’s authority through the Bible. I’ve got the first draft down, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

Tomorrow (March 6, 2019) is Ash Wednesday. There will be two services, one over the lunch hour from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and one in the evening from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. There will be communion at the evening service.

This coming Sunday (January 27, 2018), I’ll be kicking off a new sermon series titled “Confirmation for Adults.” This being the first Sunday, I’m going to start with a sermon about the nature of the Triune God we worship. We’ll also have a piano special (at the 10:30 service) from Todd Gugler. Hope to see you there.

Jenny and I are happy to be back from the Orders and Fellowship Meeting in Kansas City. We’re gearing up for this Sunday (January 20, 2018) when I’ll be preaching about how Jesus turns water into wine in our everyday lives (my text is John 2:1-12). We hope to see you there.

We’re already well into Advent, but here’s the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Hymn Schedule for 2018-2019:

December 2, 2018 — First Sunday of Advent
202 People Look East
3047 God Almighty, We Are Waiting
211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vss 1-4)
196 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus

December 9, 2018 — Second Sunday of Advent
206 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
234 O Come, All Ye Faithful
211 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Vss 1, 5-6)
203 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

December 16, 2018 — Third Sunday of Advent
238 Angels We Have Heard on High
249 There’s a Song in the Air
2095 Star Child (Vss 1-4)
216 Lo, How a Rose Er Blooming

December 23, 2018 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
229 Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
220 Angels From the Realms of Glory
198 My Soul Gives Glory to My God
219 What Child is This

December 24, 2017 — Christmas Eve
240 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
246 Joy to the World
217 Away in a Manger
239 Silent Night

December 30, 2018 — First Sunday after Christmas Day
196 Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus*
227 The Friendly Beasts
230 O Little Town of Bethlehem
221 In the Bleak Midwinter
3052 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
228 He is Born, the Holy Child
218 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
219 What Child is This*
251 Go Tell it on the Mountain

January 6, 2018 — Epiphany of the Lord
220 Angels From the Realms of Glory*
237 Sing We Now of Christmas, vss 1, 3, 4, 5
254 We Three Kings
245 The First Noel

*Indicates a repeat hymn.