Third Sunday after Epiphany January 21, 2018 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Churches Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Mark 1:14-20   I. Like many I enjoy the Bible verses that speak of a trusting and loving friendship with God. The ones where it is clear God or Jesus is the […]

Second Sunday after Epiphany January 14, 2018 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Churches Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor John 1:43-51   I. If you have ever had one of those times when you just could not wait to tell somebody something then you can imagine the excitement felt by Phillip. […]

Christmas Eve December 24, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Churches Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Luke 2:1-20   I. “Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David […]

Third Sunday in Advent December 17, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Isaiah 61:1-11 Mark 1:1-8   I. Isaiah is proving to be a prophet for the physical season and the hope of the season.  As the days get shorter and colder and the nights […]

Second Sunday in Advent December 10, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Isaiah 40:1-11 Mark 1:1-8   I. What a difference a week makes. Last Sunday the prophet opens with “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains […]

First Sunday in Advent December 3, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Mark 13:24-37; Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9   I. “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence – as when fire […]

Christ the King November 26, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Matthew 25:311-46   I. Christ the King, the date we now end the season after Pentecost, is a hard one for us to get excited about. While Christ as king fits our understanding, there […]

24th Sunday after Pentecost November 19, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Matthew 25:14-30   I. One of my favorite silent movies is 1924’s The Thief of Bagdad starring Douglas Fairbanks. In this The Arabian Nights style adventure I enjoyed the story and was impressed […]

23rd Sunday after Pentecost November 12, 2017 St. Jacob’s and Trinity Lutheran Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor Matthew 25:1-13; Amos 5:18-24; I Thessalonians 4:13-18   I. It is interesting how people can look at the same thing or event and see two very different things. Take those pictures that either […]

All Saints Sunday November 5, 2017 Matthew 23:1-12 St. Jacob’s (Spaders), Trinity Rev. Kirk Shipley, Interim Pastor   I. Today is not only the twenty second Sunday after Pentecost but it is All Saints Day. When I first had some idea of the definition, the word saints conveyed particularly holy […]