Edgewood Lutheran Church - ELCA

06/08/2026

May this week bring moments of grace you didn't expect, strength for the work before you, and reminders that you do not walk alone.

God's presence goes with you into every meeting, every conversation, every challenge, and every opportunity to serve.

Peace for the journey ahead.

06/07/2026

Welcome to Edgewood Lutheran ELCA in Fruitport, MI for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost on June 7, 2026. Pastor Ellen Schoepf preaching and presiding.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License # A-739813. All rights reserved.

Welcome to Edgewood Lutheran ELCA in Fruitport, MI for the 2nd Sund...

06/07/2026

Join us for worship at 10:00 AM this morning.

Jesus called Matthew not after he had everything figured out, but right where he was.

Again and again, Jesus meets people where they are, offering mercy instead of judgment, welcome instead of exclusion, and hope instead of despair.

May we follow Christ's example by creating spaces where all people know they are seen, valued, and loved, and by serving our neighbors with compassion, courage, and grace.

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice." — Matthew 9:13

06/03/2026

Recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the United States

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I find myself reflecting on our nation’s founding ideals: that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that governments exist to protect those rights through the consent of the governed; and that people have the right to change a government that fails to do so.

At the same time, our history reveals a persistent gap between these ideals and reality. Indigenous peoples were displaced from their lands. Slavery denied millions their humanity and freedom. Many communities have faced exclusion and discrimination because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, and other aspects of their identity. Ongoing debates about voting rights, representation, healthcare, and economic opportunity remind us that the work of equality and justice remains unfinished.

As Lutheran Christians, we are called not only to profess our faith, but to live it. In our baptismal promises, we commit ourselves to serve all people and strive for justice and peace in all the earth. These promises call us to stand with those who are marginalized, challenge injustice, and speak when our neighbors are harmed.

As God’s hands, feet, and voice in the world, we cannot remain silent in the face of policies, systems, or movements that exclude, diminish, or oppress others. We are called to confront White Christian Nationalism and any ideology that distorts the Gospel by elevating power over love, dominance over service, or exclusion over the radical welcome of Christ.

As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation, we must ask ourselves: What kind of country do we want to be? How can we help create communities where all people are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to live and flourish?

As people of faith, we are called to help build communities that reflect God’s love, justice, and concern for all people. The choices we make today will help determine whether our nation more fully lives into its promise of liberty and justice for all.

As we approach July 4, 2026, my celebration is not centered on the nation as it is, but on the people who have worked and continue to work to bring our country closer to its highest ideals. I honor those who have courageously struggled for equality, freedom, and justice for all people in the United States and its territories. Their witness calls us to continue the work of building a nation that reflects the dignity, worth, and God-given humanity of every person.

Sister Dottie Almoney
Directing Deaconess

06/02/2026

June is Pride Month.

As followers of Christ, we celebrate the sacred worth and belovedness of every person. We give thanks for LGBTQIA+ people whose gifts, leadership, faith, and witness continue to enrich the church and the world.

In a time when many still experience exclusion, we recommit ourselves to practicing radical welcome, cultivating belonging, and affirming the dignity of all God's children.

May this month be marked by joy, courage, community, and the assurance that every person is created in the image of God and deeply loved.

06/01/2026

Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry has issued his first in a series of monthly messages that will continue through the end of this year under the title "All Together in One Place."

Each message will share a pastoral word, rooted in Scripture, that witnesses to God’s presence today, our rich theological tradition and the social teaching that connects us.

Read the full message through the link in the comments below.

05/30/2026

“You have turned my mourning into dancing.” — Psalm 30:11

This verse does not deny the reality of sorrow. It proclaims that sorrow does not have the final word.
The God who meets us in grief also leads us toward healing. The God who walks with us through loss also invites us into renewed life.

Today, may you find comfort in knowing that God is still working, still restoring, and still creating moments of joy.

05/29/2026

“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community…” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Healthy community requires humility.

It asks us to release unrealistic expectations and make room for grace, honesty, forgiveness, and belonging.

That work is sacred work.

05/28/2026

Love is more than a feeling.
It is the daily work of showing patience, compassion, forgiveness, and care for one another.

In anxious and divided times, love becomes holy resistance against fear, cruelty, and isolation.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” -Colossians 3:14

May we bear Christ into the world by loving well: neighbors and strangers, communities and ourselves.