Rodney Stark’s 1996 book The Rise of Christianity shows how the early church made a strong impression on the people around them by the willingness of Christians to stick around and care for the sick when the plague came to …

I’ve been reading 1 John and finding no place to hide. The author writes to a Christian community with this straightforward declaration, one of many like it: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who …

Please excuse me if I use my space this week to plug an app. I just want to make sure people have heard of the YouVersion Bible app. This app offers an apparently limitless number of reading plans to help …

Hello, Esperanza Lutheran Church! I’m excited to be beginning my ministry with you as your interim pastor. In case you’re not familiar with that term, an interim pastor takes on all the responsibilities of a “regular” pastor and also supports …

Dear friends,   It’s hard to believe but my time as your “fill-in pastor” is rapidly drawing to a close. My last service as preacher and presider will be on Christmas Day. I want to thank you for your patience …

Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:5-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11 Dear Friends, One of the things that drew Cherie and me to Esperanza seven years ago, in addition to Pastor Steve’s stimulating sermons, was the amazing choir that we heard regularly at …

Dear Friends, I guess I really am a prophet! My prediction for worship numbers last Sunday was right on! But come to think of it, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to predict that folks would react to Thanksgiving and …

Dear friends, When I was serving a congregation full time I never particularly liked the years that Thanksgiving showed up just four days before the First Sunday in Advent. Not only did parishioners wear themselves out with holiday feasting, large …

This week’s lessons: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 Dear friends, The cultural calendar is familiar to most everyone and operates pretty much on a linear basis. It starts with New Year’s Day, and is followed in rapid …

This week’s lessons: Malachi 4:1-2a Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 Dear Friends, Like the rest of you members of Esperanza I received a commitment card in the mail a couple of weeks ago with instructions to return it …

Job 19:23-27a Psalm 17:1-9 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38 Dear Friends, It was reported that last Sunday former president, Jimmy Carter, after a lengthy absence following a fall, returned to his church in Plains, Georgia to deliver his regular …

A note from the Congregation Council: This Sunday will be our first since Pastor Steve Hammer’s retirement. We are pleased to announce that Pastor Steve Holm has graciously agreed to lead worship through Christmas. He has also agreed to share some …