Author: Pastor Aleese Kenitzer

Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11| Visions of hope, and peace, and life pepper our Advent readings, urging us to trust God’s faithfulness to God’s promises. And yet, amidst the barren wilderness, it can be challenging to witness – and trust – the promise of God’s life. In our lives, our world, and even in the church, we may not see grand displays of God’s majesty. And yet, amidst the mundane, ordinary, and sometimes dry and dusty landscapes, God is doing something and God is bringing life out of what seems dead. So as we inch closer to welcoming God’s grand arrival in our midst at Christmas, join us for worship as we recognize and give thanks for the flowers of Christ’s life for the world that are emerging …even out of the blue.

Sunday, December 14, 2025, Third Sunday in Advent

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788. Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835. Text and Music: © 1978, 2006 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Light Dawns on a Weary World. Text and Music: Mary Louise Bringle, William Pl Rowan. Text and Music: © 2000, 2002 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: In a Manger. Text and Music: Edward Broughton. Text and Music: © 1989, 2006 The Lorenz Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: Come to Us O Lord. Text and Music: Eric J. Marshall. Performed by Young Oceans. Text and Music: © 2012 Young Oceans (Admin. By Eric Marshall.) Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: All Earth is Hopeful. Text and Music: Alberto Taule, James E. Bobb. Text and Music: © 2017 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription.

Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13 | With snow continuing to fall in the Midwest, it’s likely we aren’t experiencing a lot of road construction. And yet, in the life of the church, as we experience the season of Advent, it’s like we’re put on God’s road construction crew. Hearing the message of John the Baptist, we are told to prepare the way of the Lord through repentance. But what is repentance? And what does it tangibly look like to prepare for God’s Kingdom, coming to us even out of the blue? As we continue to look in hope for God’s arrival, join us this weekend for worship as we give thanks for Christ’s work on our behalf, and as we are sent to pick up our orange construction vest to continue God’s work in the world.

Sunday, December 7, 2025, Second Sunday in Advent

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: Now the Heavens Start to Whisper. Text and Music: Anne Krentz Organ. Text and Music: © 2021 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Prepare the Royal Highway. Text: Frans Mikael Franzén, 1722-1847; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship. Music: Swedish folk tune, 17th cent.. Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin, Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: The First Noel. Text and Music: Jerry Ray. Text and Music: © 2004 Alfred Sacred. Covered under One License subscription. Communi on Song: On that Holy Mountain. Text and Music: Joseph Mattingly. Performed by Fr. Kent O’Conner. Based on Isaiah 11;9. Text and Music: © 1990 World Library Publications. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: People Look East. Text: Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965. Music: French carol; arr. Barry Rose, b. 1934. Text: © Miss E. Farjeon Will Trust, by permission of David Higham Associates. Arr.: © 1999 Novello & Co. Ltd., London. Covered under One License subscription.

Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44 | This Sunday the church begins the sacred season of Advent. While many stores have already been filled with greens and reds, glitter and bells, for the next four weeks, the church assumes hues of blue and songs that are still a bit more subdued. Why? Because in these sacred weeks, we have the opportunity to wait, and to keep watch, for how God is coming into our lives, and into our world, seemingly “out of the blue.” So as you begin to prepare for the coming of Christ, join us this weekend as we attune our eyes together to how God is coming, bringing beauty into the darkness.

Sunday, November 30, 2025, First Sunday in Advent

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: Come NOw, O God. Text and Music: David Bjorlin. Text and Music: © 2018 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: We are Waiting for Jesus. Text and Music: John Helgen. Text and Music: © 2013 Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming. Text: German carol, 15th cent.; tr. by Theodore Baker, 1851-1934, alt. Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesänge, Cologne, 1599. Michael Praetorius. Text and Music: © Public Domain.Communion Song: Wake Up. Text and Music: David Leonard, Don Chaffer, Leslie Jordan. Text and Music: © 2011 Gentleman Adventurer’s Songs (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.]) Simple Tense Songs (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.]) Integrity’s Praise! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) Little Way Creative (Admin. by Integrity Music). Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1983 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.

Luke 23:33-46; Colossians 1:11-20 |As we close the church year, we confess and proclaim “Jesus is King!” And yet, in a culture that isn’t accustomed to “kings” and thrives on living independent from outside authority, what does it mean for us – as followers of Jesus – to live as though Jesus is our King and our Lord? Join us this weekend as we dare to claim this confession of faith that has been the confession of the Christian church throughout the ages, and as we live in hope for God’s Kingdom over all that is.

Sunday, November 23, 2025, Christ the King Sunday

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: He is Exalted. Text and Music: Twila Paris. Text and Music: © 1985 Jubilee Communications Inc. (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Mountain Spring Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Holy God, Holy and Glorious. Text: Susan R. Briehl, b. 1952. Music: Robert Buckley Farlee, b. 1950. Text and Music: © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: In Christ Alone. Text and Music: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend. Text and Music: © 2001 Thankyou Music Ltd (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Crown Him with Many Crowns. Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800-1894, Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903. Music: George J. Elvey, 1816-1893. Text and Music: © Public Domain.

Luke 21:5-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 | Amidst challenges, and especially when we can’t see the end of the road (let alone the road itself sometimes!) it can be difficult to endure…to keep going. Often, endurance is cracked up to something that we need to do. To that end, a common image may be “white-knuckling” our way through a situation. But what if endurance wasn’t solely up to us and our ability? As we consider what is asked of us by Jesus to “endure,” join us this weekend as we hear again God’s promised faithfulness to us, and as we are given what we need to not grow weary in doing what is right.

Sunday, November 16, 2025, Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: O God, Our Help in Ages Past. Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt. Music: William Croft, 1678-1727. Text and Music: © Oregon Catholic Press. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. Text and Music: African American spiritual. Text and Music: © 2016 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: When We All Get To Heaven. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Company Covered under CCLI subscription. Communion Song: It is Well with My Soul. Performed by Audrey Assad with full permission. Text: Horatio G. Spafford. Music: Philip P. Bliss. Text and Music: © Public Domain. Sending Song: Trading My Sorrows. Text and Music: Darrell Evans. Text and Music: © 1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Covered under CCLI subscription.

Luke 20:27-38 | The resurrection. It’s central to the Christian faith. And yet, how do we describe it? And, how do we live as though it’s actually true? This morning, we hear a group of Sadducees attempt to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection. Truth be told, those Sadducees didn’t care about the resurrection as much as they were trying to trick Jesus. But for us today, what the resurrection is, and what it means for us, is an honest question. So as we look to the end of the church year, inhabiting the truth of God’s Kingdom among us even as we await its fullness, join us for worship as we claim the promise of God’s Good News and as we look – and work – in hope for the recreation and renewal of all things.

Sunday, November 9, 2025, Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: I Know that My Redeemer Lives. Text: Samuel Medley, 1738-1799, alt. Music: attr. John Hatton, d. 1793. Text and Music: © Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: Sing with All the Saints in Glory. Text: William J. Irons, 1812-1883, alt. Music: William Bradley Roberts, b. 1947. Music: © 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Give Thanks. Text and Music: Henry Smith. Text and Music: © 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Covered under CCLI subscription. Communion Song: Breathe. Text and Music: David Gungor, John Arndt, Lisa Gungor, Michael Gungor. Text and Music: © 2015 Ame Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Remaining portion is unaffiliated. Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Soon and Very Soon. Text and Music: Andraé Crouch, b. 1945. Text and Music: © 1976 Bud John Songs, Inc./Crouch Music, admin. EMI Christian Music Publishing. Covered under CCLI subscription.

Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31 | On All Saints Day, we celebrate the promise that we’ve been created, redeemed, and chosen as saints of God. Through Christ, we are seen as children of God, and have received the inheritance of God’s life with all the saints in light. But now, as people called as saints, this identity as “saints” is more than just a title. It’s a commission and a call to live as God’s holy people. So as we remember the saints who’ve gone before us, and the saints whom we’ve added to our number in the past year, join us as we reclaim Christ’s promise over our lives, and as we live as God’s representatives in the world.

Sunday, November 2, 2025, All Saints Sunday

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: For All the Saints. Text: William W. How, 1823-1897. Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958. Text and Music: © Oxford University Press. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Give Thanks for Saints. Text: Martin E Leckebusch, b. 1962 Music: C. Hubert H. Parry, 1848-1918. Text: © 2003 Keving Mayhew Ltd. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Lord, I Lift Your Name on High. Text and Music: Rick Founds. Text and Music: © 1989 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.). Covered under CCLI subscription. Communion Song: Jesus With Your Church Abide. Text and Music: Alanna Glover, Tenielle Neda, Thomas Benson Pollock. Text and Music: © 2023 Emu Music Ltd (Admin. by Integrity Music). Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Oh When the Saints Go Marching In. Text and Music: African American spiritual; arr. hymnal version. Arr.: © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription.

Luke 17:11-19 | When was the last time you heard, or said, “thank you”? Chances are that it hasn’t been too long. Societally, we’ve been trained to say “thank you” as a common courtesy. But has this cheapened our response of thanksgiving? And, is the act of saying “thank you” something that’s simply become a habit instilled in us over time, or is thanksgiving something that flows naturally from a personal experience of God’s grace? This weekend, we invite you to join us as we dig deeper into what gratitude and thanksgiving really boils down to in the Christian faith, and as we gather once again around the table where Christ is our host: offering himself and his grace to us, and to the world.  

Sunday, October 12, 2025, Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: Great is the Lord. Text and Music: Michael W. Smith & Deborah D. Smith. Text and Music: © 1982 Meadowgreen Music, admin. EMI Christian Music Publishing. Covered under CCLI. Hymn of the Day: Give Thanks. Text and Music: Henry Smith. Text and Music: © 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Covered under CCLI. Offering Song: Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup. Text and Music: Jeremy Young, b. 1948, refrain; With One Voice, stanzas, based on Ps. 34. Text and Music: © 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License. Communion Song: Thank You Lord. Text and Music: Don Moen and Paul Baloche. Text and Music: © 2004 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: Lord I Lift Your Name on High. Text and Music: Rick Founds. b.1954. Text and Music: © 1989 Maranatha Praise, Inc., admin. Music Services. Covered under One License.

Luke 17:5-10; 2 Timothy 1:1-14 | Ever get to the point that you wonder if you’re equipped to do what’s being asked of you? As we turn to our Gospel this weekend, this seems to be the reality of Jesus’ disciples. Uncertain of their ability to fulfill what Jesus is asking of them, they boldly ask Jesus to increase their faith. But in response, Jesus suggests that the measure of their faith is not the point. Rather, their trust in God’s faithfulness, and their willingness to rely on God as they do what is commanded of them, is what Jesus seeks. So this weekend, whether you’re feeling as though your faith is in tip-top shape or is faltering a bit, join us for worship as we’re reminded of the gift that God has implanted within us, and as we are pushed (or shoved) by the Spirit to “fly out of the nest” for the sake of Christ and Christ’s Kingdom.

Sunday, October 5, 2025, Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: God of the Fertile Fields. Text: Georgia Harkness, 1891-1974, alt. Music: Felice de Giardini, 1716-1796. Text: © 1955, ren. 1983 The Hymn Society, admin, Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License. Hymn of the Day: O Jesus, I Have Promised. Text: John E. Bode, 1816-1874, alt. Music: Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch, Meiningen, 1693. Text and Music: © Public Domain. Communion Song: Faith of a Mustard Seed. Text and Music: Colten and Claudia May. Text and Music: © 2021 WorshipMob Recording Retreat. Sending Song: Build Us Up, Lord. Text and Music: Mark Glaeser, b. 1956, and Donna Hanna, b. 1952. Text and Music: © 2003 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License.

Luke 16:19-31; 1 Timothy 6:6-19 | God created us to live as one. And yet, so many chasms exist, and our response to them only continues to divide us: rich and poor, conservative and liberal, male and female, heterosexual and homosexual, old and young. As followers of Jesus, we likely “know” that these divisions are not God’s vision. But beyond a lesson in morality, telling us what we “should” do, what drives us to move from where we’re at to bridge the divide? Join us this weekend for worship, as we remember God’s action in entering the chasm of death for our sake, and as we are prompted by the Spirit to act as bridge builders of love.

Sunday, September 28, 2025, Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Gathering Song: We Come to the Hungry Feast. Text and Music: Ray Makeever, b. 1943. Text and Music: © 1982 Ray Makeever, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License. Hymn of the Day: Canticle of the Turning. Text: Rory Cooney, b. 1952, based on the Magnificat. Music: Irish traditional. Text and Music: © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License. Offering Song: Wonderful Peace. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2013 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License. Communion Song: The Greatest Commandment. Text and Music: Paul Zach. Text and Music: © Integrity’s Alleluia! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) Paul Zach Publishing (Admin. by Integrity Music). Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: Lord of Justice. Text and Music: Larry Olson. Text and Music: © 1989 Dakota Road Music. Covered under One License.