Pastor Otterstatter • January 28, 2024

A Time to Prioritize

In his "City of God", St. Augustine talks about rightly ordered love. Augustine calls God the "highest good." He makes the point that if we love anything or anyone more than God, even good gifts, those things become evil because we can not properly show love for others if we do not properly love God first. That is such a challenge! Especially when you consider the list of relationships, responsibilities, & blessings that God places into our lives, like spouse, children, friends, people in need, work, hobbies, recreation, etc.


We have another name for rightly ordering love. We call it prioritizing. Prioritizing is an important skill to have personally & as a congregation. Today we'll see that it's God's love for us in Christ-the love that led him to leave his heavenly home to come and save us sinners-that helps us rightly order our love. Remembering that we pray with St. Augustine. "Set love in order in me, Lord."

Jesus Is the Christ, the Anointed One

By Pastor Quinn • January 11, 2026
“Christ” is not the family name of Jesus. It is a title. The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean the same thing: “The Anointed One.” Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid over the head of someone to signify selection for some special task. When the Lord had someone anointed, he also poured his Spirit over them. It was the fulfillment of promises made over centuries.

Epiphany: Loves Pure Light Beams from Thy Holy Face

By Pastor Quinn • January 4, 2026
The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and January 6. What is special about January 6? It is the day when the Christian Church celebrates the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning “reveal.” When the Savior was born, he was first revealed as love’s pure light to Israelites: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds. Today we see the Lord miraculously guiding foreigners across countless miles so the Savior’s holy face could be revealed to them as well. The Festival of Epiphany is sometimes known as Christmas for the Gentiles. We Gentiles (non-Jews) rejoice in the good news that this Jewish baby is a gift for all people, Christ the Savior of the world

Son of God

By Pastor Quinn • December 28, 2025
Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts are given, memories are made. But the memories might not all be good. Sometimes there are Christmas hurts or even tragedies. We live in a world still affected by sin. The sinfulness of the world cannot rob us of the peace God intends to bring through his Son. Christ the Savior is born, and through his life, God brings us into the family. He gives us the rights of redeemed sons and daughters, the privileges of inheritance.
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