Back in 2015, I had the opportunity to travel to Prague in the Czech Republic during the 600th anniversary of July 6th 1415 when John Hus was burned at the stake. Moravians around the world still remember this day every year, and some churches including Friedland celebrate Holy Communion on the Sunday closest to July…
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:1-2 We continue to pray for all who have been affected…
As we enter Friedland’s anniversary month, I want to share some words written on the fireplace in the church pavilion: “ORIGINAL SITE OF FRIEDLAND MORAVIAN CHURCH, ESTABLISHED 1775. THE NEW CHURCH OCCUPIED DECEMBER 1952. OLD CHURCH DEMOLISHED IN 1959. Stones from the foundation of the old church used in building this pit, fireplace, and chimney.”…
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes…
Pastor John Writes: Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.…
In the past few years I have discovered the joy of sea shanties. Sea shanties are the short songs that were sung by crew members of sailing ships back in the day. Today we might think of these songs simply as catchy entertaining tunes, but they served a practical purpose to the sailors who originally sang…
Pastor John Writes: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Ecclesiastes 3 is a passage people often read at the transition from one year to the next, in part because every year, whether we like it or not, brings the things listed in Ecclesiastes: birth and…
In a recent sermon, I talked about how the church is like a Viking Ship. I want to re-visit this concept as we prepare to wrap up 2021 and embark into 2022. Now before Covid 19, I felt like our ship had some pretty good momentum going. But when everything in the world shut down,…
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Pastor John Writes: In 1978, Henry Smith wrote a song entitled, “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart” which reminds us: “Give thanks with a grateful heart; Give thanks to the…
When I lived in Pennsylvania, my wife and I both worked at St. Luke’s hospital, which was named after Luke because he was a physician himself. October 18th happens to be the feast day for St. Luke. “According to Christian tradition, he was a Syrian from Antioch, a doctor by profession and neither Jewish nor…