One of the small but interesting features of many cathedral and monastery churches in Europe and other places is presence of misericords. A misericord is a small wooden shelf attached to the underside of a folding seat in a church, often in the choir area. Misericords physically supported people at worship during long periods of standing during extended prayer and other services when sitting was not permitted. The term “misericord” means “pity of the heart.” That word is part of the church phrase Misericordia Domini, a Latin term for describing the acts of mercy of God to His people. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, constantly and consistently shows acts of mercy to us as His people. His care comes straight from the heart!
Worship Service for April 21, 2024
April 21, 2024 • Rev. Daryn Bahn • John 10:11–18
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Worship Service for May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024 • Rev. Daryn Bahn • Acts 2:1–21
The Day of Pentecost is more connected to Easter than to the Sundays after Pentecost. It is the fiftieth day of Easter, marking the new dawn under the guidance of the Spirit. The Lord works through the preached Gospel and our life together as the baptized around His Table to deliver what He has promised. Thus, the ministry of the Spirit is not some ethereal reality experienced in our feelings, but the concrete reality of the Word spoken into our ears to bring forth faith and the body and blood of Jesus received by faith in Holy Communion. This is the way the Spirit continues to work in us and for us and we continue to receive His ministry by faith and to celebrate this with great joy.
Worship Service for May 12, 2024
May 12, 2024 • Rev. Daryn Bahn • John 17:11–19
This Sunday is a bridge between the Ascension of Our Lord and Pentecost. Upon the Lord’s Ascension, the disciples were not left alone. They had the Word of the Lord and the promise of the Spirit to make known to them all that Jesus said and did. With the testimony of God’s Word and the witnesses to the Lord’s resurrection and ascension, the Church learned to trust in what the Lord had accomplished for their salvation and to be bold in witness to the truth of this Gospel. The Lord is still working in us through the testimony of His Word so that we may be His witnesses emboldened by the Spirit.
Worship Service for May 9, 2024
May 9, 2024 • Rev. Daryn Bahn • Luke 24:44–53
While the Ascension is often underappreciated, it is a very important feast, and its message is deeply profound. We tend to think of Jesus’ ascension as an ending point, and no one likes to wave goodbye. Even the apostles felt a sense of apprehension. But our Lord prepared them by opening the Scriptures to them so that they might know where to hear His voice even as His visual appearance would not be with them. We know that they understood this, because they returned with joy and not fear, celebrating this event as a new beginning and not an end.