Pastor John Scheuermann

Is there a gift, perhaps from a Christmas or birthday when you were a child, which still brings a smile to your face, or is something you still possess? I have a photo of Christmas Eve from about 1968, showing my family (minus Mom, the photographer!), gathered around our “open one gift on Christmas Eve (after the Christmas Eve worship service)” tradition. The Christmas Tree is lit, and my brother and I are each playing with a new toy. Dad has also opened one gift for the sake of the picture....

By the time you read this, the Romans quote which follows has been read from the lectern, and included in the sermon, yet will be treated just a bit differently here. Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For me, this has always been a word of hope. But perhaps not in the obvious way. The obvious is that God plans for our ultimate good, our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. What is less...

Blessings for Ebenezer from our Lord and for His Kingdom are happening again (still?!). Within two weeks’ time, I received five visitor cards with the ‘interested in church membership’ box checked. Each of them represents local, or not too distant, individuals or families looking for a church home. I have had similar numbers in the past, yet this was the first time I was able to reach out to each of them in one week and then receive a response showing continued interest from each contact....