July 10, 2016. We can talk about love. We can believe in love. We can do lots of loving. But if the systems are unchanged, the problems that cause hurt won't go away. Today, Pastor Keith preaches on the parable of the good Samaritan. How often do we avoid those in need because we don't see them as our neighbors? Jesus embodied mercy to us. But how can we live out this mercy? Working one-on-one, working within organizations, or working to change the system, God gives us the eyes and ears to recognize need. We only need to be willing to do something about it. *** [Keywords: Babylon Black and Blue play Dorothy Day Epworth Gateway 180 Gerizim Hammond, IN Humanitri Jefferson City Jesus Jewish Levite Lord have mercy Luther Seminary Lutheran Family and Children's Services Metro St. Louis Muslim Pastor Keith Holste Philando Castile St. Paul, MN Syrians agency avoid those in need awful people believe bind mercy together burdens change the system cheering community compassion cross democratic process died discern do something about it drawing close dying a very death like ours ears to hear earth education embodied mercy employment ethnicity expectation eyes to see full human beings good Samaritan hate by the Jews healers healing power of God health care heart high school student inn intermarried jeering justice least of these left at the side of the road live out love love our neighbors as ourselves loving mercy mind misery need neighborhoods oil one-on-one open their eyes parable person of mercy persuasion potential threats prayer priest real estate recognize need redemption revolt rich and successful Jew salvation scripture skills for living social workers soul statistics strength suffered sympathy put into action systems are unchanged tends to his wounds the way of mercy those in need unclean underserved uprising upside down vigil vulnerability what must I do to be saved who is my neighbor willingness within organizations]

June 26, 2016. Sometimes we can miss the big picture if we're looking at the details. Today, Pastor Penny preaches on the story in Luke 9:53-62, in which Jesus is rejected by the people in a Samaritan village and the disciples ask whether they should destroy them. Jesus tells them they don't understand the spirit of what they're doing. They're missing the big picture. Today, Jesus is inviting us to go all in, helping him to do the work of the kingdom of God. *** [Keywords: Christ is with you Jesus Keith Lord's Prayer Luke 9:53-62 Noah Hornbeck Papua New Guinea Pastor Penny Holste Samaria Samaritan village Webster Groves retired police officer abandoned accepted us animal safety ask baptism bringing bury my father call down the fire of Heaven and destroy them came out came to save people not destroy them cartoon carved heart with their initials children comfortable and safe environment cultural expectation of men details disciples disheartening troubling response do it completely do the work don't count the cost elderly couple embrace those who create evil environment extension of kingdom of God father of gay man father's burial feeling what we feel felt scorn follow foster children heart leading here on earth homosexuality how can we say no human being incarnate introduction invitation to join Jesus in work inviting us to go all in killed him looking for something love and forgiveness love of God marched mentoring adults missing the big picture never heard message before nonprofits not a very friendly place for Jews peace and justice people permanent place to live political scene of day pride parade raised third day rebuked them rejected remote area seminary sent ahead to prepare lodging sexual orientation show support spirit of what they're doing spotty internet taking message out teaching trunk of large tree underprivileged up against the authorities want you beside me always white single woman willing to give up willing to take risks women not as important work we do together you don't understand spirt of what we're doing]

June 12, 2016. Storyteller Roger Rose presents an ending to the Gospel story of Jesus being anointed by the sinful woman in the home of Simon, and Pastor Penny relates it to how we can be tempted to use the very advantages God has given us to shelter us from having to face sins of the heart. How nice it would be to feel the sense of forgiveness the woman in the story had. If Simon had been able to feel the same forgiveness, how might his life look different? *** [Keywords: Amos worked in orchard Bible scholars David humble shepherd Egyptian murderer God renounced right to punish us Gospel story Harry Potter Hunger Games James Bond Jesus being anointed Katniss Everdeen Moses Pastor Penny Holste Pharisee Princess Leia Roger Rose Spirit drawn us here today Star Wars The New Simon absolution admit our sins admit sins of the heart advantages alternate ending approval love of God authority of Temple in Jerusalem basket of food bling bowl of water bows of respect bread and wine community confession conversations country bumpkin crashed party decision has already been made defiled different life disapproval dramatist faith forgive means forth giving garb and tattoos go in peace head table host house humble status belie divine nature ice breaker if you could be any character in famous book or movie impudent upstart inferior inner city drive joy love contentment utter peace judgement kissed feet lawn landscaping crew learned scribe less visible sins of the heart lifestyle loose woman model citizen monied and educated motorcyclist no desire or power to punish ongoing problems only speak one language open doors party guests passion of woman priest prostitute receiving full impact of forgiveness reclining around low table reputation saggy jeans scandalized scorn sense of forgiveness sent by God shelter sit down by Jesus' feet smiling look of love and joy songs we sing speak English status storyteller temptation tempted touched sinful woman's elbow true peace unnamed woman voices that have judged contradicted scorned us walked through market warm climate washed feet with tears what would change look like wiped feet with hair words we hear workshop wrong about healer from Nazareth your sins are forgiven]

May 29, 2016. Pastor Keith preaches on the story of the Roman centurion in whom Jesus found faith even when the Jews had been rejecting him because he forgave sins in the name of God, and healed people even on the Sabbath. But we know Jesus is for all. He brings the kind of world where nations can be seen as one, where all are equal in the eyes of God, and where the spirit can work in all kinds of ways to bring healing to the whole world. *** [Keywords: Acts Americans Capernaum Christ Christians are not to be feared Cyrus Elisha God Sightings God through and in all people God uses all people God's agent Gospel writer Luke Israelites captivity in Bablylon Japanese man at Hiroshima Jesus Jesus is for all Jew nor Greek Jewish slave girl Jews Jews against him Jews can be okay Judaism Matthew Memorial Day weekend Messian in midst already North Israel Not even with the Jews have I found such faith as with this man Original Sin Partnership for a Missional Church Pastor Keith Holste Paul President Obama Roman center Roman centurion Sabbath Sea of Galilee Sermon on the Mount Syrian general Naaman able to be whole able to recognize grace accepting belief accepting of others act out of kindness affection all are equal and one in eyes of God another centurion army ascended to Heaven bomb city book knowledge both Jews and Romans called by God caravans ceremony city with regional center coming to fruition compassion on slave connections with other people crippled devout Jews distance divisions are melting don't come to my house dying on cross economic benefit endears people to him equal on same level examine faith believe properly faith of Roman soldier faith of the Roman centurion fishing village foot of cross foreign leaders foreigner had faith forgive enemy forgiveness gender color ethnic language backgrounds gentler approach great faith heal from wherever you are healed many people healing to world held dear by God help those who have been hurt helping his slave get well hierarchy historian how much God has done for us in charge of peace instead of rejoicing instruments of God keep the rules kindness rather than force law was broken lay on hands live law perfectly love your enemies lowered man through roof magnanimous main characters male nor female messages sent between messed up the law ministry miracle nationality new leader Jesus no account for Jesus no doubt not worthy of ourselves notified families occupation force only God can forgive sins orders of difference gone outlying area paralyzed hand people furious phone it in places in society police in charge postpone coming Messiah prisoners of war killed prohpets prompting collective religious memory of community raised from dead reach out to others reaches out to all ready to forgive receive health bring healing reception in nearby cities recite creed remote healing restored in relationship with God and one another selfish on our own sin was erased sins are forgiven slave is ill slave nor free soldier someone who appreciates healing spirit works in all kinds of ways swords and spears synagogue tax collector theology tough guy approach trade route to Far East truly this was a good man wants slave to be healed wash in river we can be closed to way God is working in world]

May 15, 2016. What does Pentecost mean? On the first Pentecost, the followers of Jesus asked Peter, who expanded on the words of the prophet Joel, and told them that they would be prophets themselves. We are modern day prophets. Emboldened, inspired, and ignited by the Holy Spirit, we too can share the importance of our faith. In Pastor Penny's message today, she talks about how we can see the hand of God at work in difficult times, and how we can convey our message of hope to people even when they aren't asking the question. *** [Keywords: Auschwitz Holy Spirit I'm willing Mac Man's Search for Meaning book Nazi prison camps Pastor Penny Holste Peter Troy Viktor Frankl ability to see achieve and they will prophesy are you okay avoiding going home back on track barbecue coach son's baseball team coffee comment under his breath concerns cosmopolitan crowds courage crowds of people discovery donuts shop downturn in economy early Christians emboldened even slaves everyday faith made life meaningful feelings felt good financial problems finding meaning in difficult times first Pentecost first grandchild born flooding down on us forgiven gift granddaughter saved my life hand of God help us what we're going through high school his old self how God is working to relieve our pain how to convey to people ideas ignited inspired interpretation invite to Lutheran church inviting jokes joy took some pain away leader lost clients meaning in our lives meetings modern day disciple modern day prophet mug on desk no meaning in life anymore not asking questions not enthusiastic not getting along office meetings one person at a time pamphlet parents love their children phenomenon pour out my spirit prayer precious to God predicted new era priests promise given us in baptism prophet Joel purpose pursuit of happiness or power question most religions tried to answer rabbis recognizing reluctant restaurant scribes scripture living vehicle selling something sit down with you small office some people survived speaking languages they had not been taught spirit of understanding stayed at work late tell the future tells people who don't already see it terrible circumstances tongues trouble try church turned back on his father uneducated followers of Jesus unprecedented democracy use me voices of support we are God's children we are alive we are important we are prophets what God is doing right now what does Pentecost mean what does life mean woman lost husband words in church words of hope words of the prophets workers world wrong wrong crowd]