Author: Pastor Aleese Kenitzer

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Worship: Jesus and Traffic Lights

Matthew 5:21-37 | For many of us, we hop in a car on a daily basis, traveling from point A to point B. While driving, we may be in our own little world: listening to music, thinking about where we’re going, or planning out our day.  But all the while on the road, we also have a responsibility to other drivers. Much in the same way, Jesus teaches his disciples and the crowds in his Sermon on the Mount about the importance – and implications – of living with one another in God’s Kingdom. Join us this weekend for worship as we become aware of how we have – and haven’t – paid attention to those around us, and as we hop behind the wheel – taking the risk to live together in God’s kingdom come near.

Sunday, February 12, 2023, Sixth Sunday after Epiphany 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. Prelude: Shall We Gather at the River. Text and Music: Robert Lowry. Text and Music: © 2014 Alfred Sacred. Covered under One License subscription. & On Eagle’s Wings. Text and Music: Michael Joncas. Text and Music: © 1979 OCP. Covered under One License subscription.
Gathering Song: All Are Welcome. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1994 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.
Hymn of the Day: Bind Us Together. Text and Music: Bob Gillman, b. 1946. Text and Music: © 1977 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Covered under CCLI subscription. Offering Song: My Savior’s Love. Text and Music: Charles Gabriel. Text and Music: Public Domain. Communion Song: Will You Let Me Be Your Servant. Text and Music: Richard Gillard, b. 1953. Text and Music: © 1977 Scripture In Song, admin. Integrity Music. Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Bring Forth the Kingdom. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.

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Blog: Seeking

Last summer, I was invited to go mushroom hunting. Having never done so, I had no clue what to expect, and I needed the expert guidance of someone who knew what those little ‘shrooms looked like. At first, I was a bit tentative about this whole escapade because, often, it’s my natural tendency to set out on a journey with a very clear, designated path with a distinct destination. But as I started off into the woods, I found that hunting – seeking – mushrooms was oddly freeing. I wasn’t constrained by certain expectations of what I thought I was “supposed” to find, or by a spelled out road map of where I was going to go, or even by what I “thought” my experience was going to be. Instead, I was simply on the journey, seeking whatever it was that was to be found. 

In our lives, it’s likely that we often find ourselves seeking “something.” At times, we may be able to distinctly name what it is that we are seeking: clarity, connection, wonder, justice, balance, healing. But sometimes, we may not be able to name what we’re seeking. All we know is that there’s got to be something more out there…and simply being on the journey is enough. 

Well, this Lent, we invite you into such a journey of seeking. The point of our Lenten journey won’t be to “get” to a certain place, or to come away with a certain answer, or to have a prescribed “experience.” Instead, the point of our journey – individually and collectively – will be to seek, to explore, and to be drawn more deeply into the fullness of life and into the heart of God. 

By now, you may have heard about our upcoming Midweek Lenten Gatherings. These gatherings will be an intentional time to gather with God and with one another in Scripture, prayer, and conversation. It is our hope that these gatherings create a safe space for you to seek that “something more” that God has out in the woods for you. 

I, along with our Worship and Music Team, encourage you to consider joining us. And, to jump start our journey, consider joining us for our February GOLF Night when we’ll have a chance to look toward the coming season together. Take a look below for more information, and in the meantime, consider your own journey of faith….and journey of seeking. Because somewhere out in the woods, there’s still something more waiting to be discovered. 

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Worship Services

Worship: You are Salt

Matthew 5:13-20 | Salt is likely the most common, most used, and oldest method of seasoning a dish while cooking. Though in America we are often cautioned to watch our salt intake, and not add too much salt to our food, salt has numerous benefits – especially as a natural preserver and flavor enhancer. So then what does it mean for Jesus to declare that we are the salt of the earth? Join us for worship as we receive our commissioning from Jesus to join in his mission, enhancing God’s Kingdom on earth.  

Sunday, February 5, 2023, Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 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. Prelude: I Saw the Light. Text and Music: Hank Williams Sr. Text and Music: © 1948. Renewed 1975 Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing). Covered under CCLI subscription. & Eye Has Not Seen. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1982 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.  Gathering Song: Gather Us In. Text and Music: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Text and Music: © 1982 GIA publications Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Christ, Be Our Light. Text and Music: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957. Text and Music: © 1993 Bernadette Farrell, admin. OCP Publications. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. Text and Music: Kathleen Thomerson. Text and Music: © 1970 Jubilate Music. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: Go Light Your World. Text and Music: Chris Rice. Text and Music: © 1995 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing. Covered under CCLI subscription. Sending Song: Go, Make Disciples. Text and Music: Handt Hanson b. 1950. Text and Music: © 1996 Prince of Peace Publishing, Changing Church, Inc. Covered under One License subscription.

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Blog: Life Together

This past weekend we had the privilege of celebrating our shared ministry at Shepherd of the Cross, throughout the greater Muscatine community, and within the whole church. During our annual meeting, we shared the video above as a highlight of how we’ve lived together in 2022, and as a challenge to live together as one with Christ and one with each other into 2023. 

So moving into 2023, what would it be like for you to intentionally take up Christ’s prayer for his disciples to live as one with God and one with each other? 

  • Might it lead you to be a part of our upcoming midweek Lenten gatherings – offering an opportunity to nurture your relationship with Christ and with fellow believers?
  • Might it lead you to be a part of a Shepherding Team, fostering the shared work that we all share? (sign up here!)
  • Or might it lead you to broaden your perspective of what the purpose of the church really is as we explore new paths that – previously – weren’t even considered?

More and more, as the body of Christ, we need to work together. And more and more, we need to live together. Apart from God, we can do nothing. But caught in the vine of God’s grace, and in the web of God’s people, we will come to know the truth of Jesus Christ and we will bear fruit for the sake of the Gospel. 

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Worship Services

Worship: What does the Lord require of you?

Micah 6:1-8 | What does the Lord require of you? Some might make a list of the things we’re “supposed” to do as followers of Jesus. But as we hear from the prophet Micah this morning, it’s actually quite simple: to remember what God has done and to remember our call to walk, and live, as God’s people. Join us for worship as we hear God’s call and as we are made new by the ever-faithful promises of our Lord.

Sunday, January 29, 2022, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 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. Prelude: Higher Ground. Text and Music: Hayes/Oatman. Text and Music: © 2006 The Lorenz Publishing Corporations. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: All My Relatives. Text and Music: Larry What does the Lord require of you? Some might make a list of the things we’re “supposed” to do as followers of Jesus. But as we hear from the prophet Micah this morning, it’s actually quite simple: to remember what God has done and to remember our call to walk, and live, as God’s people. Join us for worship as we hear God’s call and as we are made new by the ever-faithful promises of our Lord.Olson, Karol Baer. Text and Music: © 1992 Dakota Road Music. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: We are Called. Text and Music: David Haas, b. 1957. Text and Music: © 1988 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: Sunday Joy. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2021 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Songs: Let Us Go Now to the Banquet. Text and Music: Guillermo Cuéllar, b. 1955. Text and Music: © 1988 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: Lord of Justice. Text and Music: Larry Olson. Text and Music: © 1989 Dakota Road Music. Covered under One License subscription.

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Blog: Follow Me

As I was driving north to church after being downtown, I thought of the invitation given by Jesus to his first disciples in our Gospel lesson from this past Sunday: Follow me. For most of my short drive, I was behind the same car. I wasn’t intentionally following this car, but it happened to be going in the same direction I was. Every time it would make a turn, I would make a turn. Every time it would change lanes, I would change lanes. 

Getting to church and hopping out of my car, it made me think about what it means to “follow.” Had I been intentionally following this car – perhaps to a new location I’d never been to before – I would’ve been much more attuned to the changes the car in front of me was making. And, from what I was seeing, I would’ve made changes in what I was doing to match the other car. 

I wonder if that is a bit what it’s like to follow Jesus. As we move through the rest of the season of Epiphany, we have the opportunity to watch Jesus – intentionally – and see what direction he’s going. Starting this coming Sunday, we’ll be hearing from Jesus’ long teaching narrative in the Gospel of Matthew: the Sermon on the Mount. Spanning three chapters, this teaching gives instruction of what it means to live in God’s Kingdom. But even more so, it gives us something to follow: taking note of the “direction” Jesus is encouraging us, as his disciples, to go. 

So as you continue into your week, consider what it means for you to “follow” Jesus. If Jesus were in front of you, what would Jesus be doing? And how would you reflect the things Jesus does? And the direction Jesus is going? 

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Blog: An Invitation to Come and See

In the past week, I’ve heard from many people the demands of work, school, family and outside responsibilities. For many of our Shepherds, life is busy. The thought of adding another meeting, appointment, or commitment might be too much to consider. With this in mind, I was struck by a recent conversation I had with some colleagues. In reflection on this past Sunday’s Gospel, we were discussing what it meant to be a “come and see” church. As people who have been invited to come and see Jesus for ourselves, experiencing the depth of God’s promises, how are we to invite others to similar experiences? 

Early in my ministry, I thought that the magic answer was to invite people to events. Invite people to worship. Invite youth to a dynamic youth program. But the more I’ve listened to those around me and the wisdom of colleagues, the more I recognize that many people are not looking for “one more thing” to add to their calendar. Rather, people are looking for an opportunity to be invited into relationship, into community, into service, and into experiences that have the potential to transform them. 

Might those things be found within worship? Sure. And might those things be found within a program? Sure. But I’ve wondered lately if restricting our invitations to such events limits our potential to be “come and see” people and to be a “come and see” church. Instead, I wonder what would happen if we testified to our own experience of Christ. I wonder what would happen if we prioritized relationship and acknowledged the presence of God even in that space. And I wonder what would happen if we shifted our invitations of “come see” to be less about coming to see what we’re “doing” as a church, or an organization, or a group…and more about coming to see Christ. 

As people invited into the grace of Jesus, we all have had the opportunity to come and see Christ for ourselves. So now what? Do we dare live as a “come and see” people and a “come and see” church…pointing to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and inviting people into the abundant life of our God?

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Worship: Come and See

John 1:29-42 | Ever had the experience of a young child beckoning you to come and see something? Often, we might not know what we might be going to look at, nor do we always know what we’re getting ourselves into! And yet, by accepting the invitation of that child, we’re often drawn into a moment that has the potential to expand our relationship with that child. This week, as we continue in the season of Epiphany, we hear Jesus offer to his first two disciples the invitation to “come and see.” Still today, that invitation to “come and see” is extended to us, summoning us to not only look AT Jesus, but to experience Christ for ourselves. Join us for worship as Jesus eagerly and lovingly invites us to come to him, dwelling with him, through Word and Sacrament.

Sunday, January 15, 2023, Second Sunday after Epiphany 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. Prelude: Morning Has Broken. Text and Music: Larry Shackley. Text and Music: © 2001 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: You are Holy. Text and Music: Per Harling, b. 1945. Text and Music: © 1990 Tom Vis Produktion AB, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. Text and Music: Kathleen Thomerson, b. 1934. Text and Music: © 1970, 1975 Celebration. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry. Text: Charles Coffin, 1676-1749; tr. composite. Music: European tune, adapt. Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621. Text and Music: Public Domain.
Communion Songs: Messiah. Text and Music: Larry Olson. Text and Music: © 1989 Dakota Road Music. Covered under One License subscription. Come to the Water. Text and Music: John Foley. Text and Music: © 1978 OCP. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: We Are Marching in the Light. Text: South African traditional; tr. Freedom Is Coming, 1984. Music: South African traditional; arr. Freedom Is Coming. Text and Music: © 1984 Utryck, admin. Walton Music Corp. Covered under One License subscription.

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Blog: New Year, New You?

Following the holidays, it doesn’t take long for exercise, diet, and nutrition ads to come out in full force, encouraging us to consider new habits for the new year. “Its a new year! It’s time for a new ‘you’!” ads seem to suggest. Which, isn’t all bad. Sometimes we need a fresh start in order to critically think about what we’ve been doing (or not doing) and how that impacts who we are and our relationships with others. 

But even as you consider possible resolutions or habits that might need to be tweaked, consider this: Jesus doesn’t desire a “new you.” You don’t need to be new and improved like the greatest Tide pod that just came out on the market. Instead, Jesus simply desires you to be the best “you” that you can be. And in Jesus’ eyes, that’s enough. In fact, it’s more than enough: it’s considered beautiful and honored and precious. Because as baptized children of God, we have already been made new by the grace of our Lord Jesus who came to live among us. 

So as we enter into the second full week of 2023, don’t feel as though you need to be someone you’re not. Rather, consider habits that would help you be even more who God already created YOU to be. But don’t think you have to do all that on your own. Instead, dedicate yourself to join with others in community as we remind each other of our identity in Christ, and push each other to grow more and more as disciples of Jesus. 

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Worship: What’s in a Name?

Matthew 3:13-17 | Each of us were given a name at our birth. For some, that name holds meaning, and for all, that name points to our unique identity. In addition to that name, through Christ’s birth, baptism, death and resurrection, we also have been given a name by God – beloved. Join us for worship as we remember Christ’s baptism, and as we remember our own baptism, calling us to intentionally pick up and live into our name.

Sunday, January 8, 2022, Baptism of Our Lord 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. Prelude: This Little Light of Mine. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2011 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Children’s Medley. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2011 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Gathering Song: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise. Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, alt. Music: Jakob Hintze, 1622-1702; arr. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750. Text and Music: Public Domain. Hymn of the Day: Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters. Text: Ruth Duck, b. 1947. Music: The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844; arr. Selected Hymns, 1985. Text: © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House, admin. The Copyright Company. Arr.: © 1985 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Offering Song: They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love. Text: Peter Scholtes. Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2006 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song: Spirit of Gentleness. Text and Music: James K. Manley b. 1940. Text and Music: © 1978 James K. Manley. Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: This Little Light of Mine. Text: African American spiritual. Music: African American spiritual; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer, b. 1935. Text and Music: © Horace Clarence Boyer. Covered under One License subscription.