This past Sunday, Joyful Life began classes for our 2021-2022 confirmation program. Five youth gathered after church and enjoyed Frito Pie and some other yummy snacks, then played a name game to get to know one another. Next, we jumped into our lesson for the day – an overview of the bible. I do notContinue reading “SPRING 2021 CONFIRMATION CLASS (4/11/21)”
Author Archives: Joyful Life Lutheran Church
Easter Sermon – Pastor Amanda (4/4/21)
Mark 16:1-8 The Resurrection of Jesus 16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 TheyContinue reading “Easter Sermon – Pastor Amanda (4/4/21)”
Maundy Thursday Message – Pastor Amanda (4/1/21)
The Gospel according to John 13:1-17, 31b-35 The story of the last supper in John’s gospel recalls a remarkable event not mentioned elsewhere: Jesus performs the duty of a slave, washing the feet of his disciples and urging them to do the same for one another. 1Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knewContinue reading “Maundy Thursday Message – Pastor Amanda (4/1/21)”
Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/31/21)
Blessed Holy Week! We have entered into one of the busiest, and most exciting times of the year in our church calendar. As Lent comes to a close, we prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter by remembering the many days and events that led to the death and resurrection of Christ. Some of these commemorationsContinue reading “Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/31/21)”
Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/24/2021)
It is officially Spring, and Cole and I have our Spring garden in the ground. As I drove to Magnolia on Sunday, I noticed little light green buds on many of the trees along the way. Signs of life. Signs of the earth’s cycle of annual resurrection. We have filled our raised bed, turned upContinue reading “Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/24/2021)”
Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/17/21)
In Sunday’s gospel, we heard Jesus liken his crucifixion to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness so the Israelites might be saved from the venom of desert snakes. In doing so, Jesus communicates that he came so we might look at what is killing us. He came to shine a light on thatContinue reading “Reflections – Pastor Amanda (3/17/21)”
Sunday Sermon – January 17, 2021
People ask me often what it was like growing up in Hawaii. Kids have asked me if I rode a dolphin to school, if I had to buy normal clothes to visit other states (assuming all I owned was grass skirts and coconut tops). I’ve been asked if Hawaii has zip codes or area codes,Continue reading “Sunday Sermon – January 17, 2021”
Sunday Sermon – January 10, 2021
As we look to Jesus’s baptism by John and our own experiences of baptism on this Baptism of Our Lord Sunday, we find that the act of baptism changed something for Jesus, and it changes something for us. Baptism inaugurates a new life and a new way. It did for Jesus, and it does forContinue reading “Sunday Sermon – January 10, 2021”
Sunday Sermon – December 20, 2020
“Do not be afraid” Simple and perhaps terse words for the world-altering news Mary was able to hear. Like elsewhere throughout the Bible, an angel of God cautions their hearer before continuing. A brief reminder that what is about to happen should not cause fear. In our own world of unknowns and fear we wouldContinue reading “Sunday Sermon – December 20, 2020”
Advent Sunday Sermon – 11/29/2020
I once heard a story of a father who took his son to Toys-R-Us, and he and his son got separated. This was his first child, and had never happened before, so the father started to panic. Yet, because he could see the doors, he knew that his son hadn’t exited the building. He pacedContinue reading “Advent Sunday Sermon – 11/29/2020”
Joyful Life Lutheran Church 