St. Michael Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, PA

09/10/2023

08/28/2023

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died 430
Augustine was one of the greatest theologians of the Western church. A native of North Africa, he recovered from a debauched young adulthood through the influence of his mother, Monica, and Bishop Ambrose of Milan. Besides writing influential theological books, he served as bishop of Hippo, in present-day Algeria.

Moses the Black, monk, martyr, died around 400
Converted from life as a thief and a robber to Christianity, Moses was an Ethiopian who became a desert monk at Skete. The change in his heart and life had a profound impact on his native country. He was murdered when Berber bandits attacked his monastery.

08/24/2023

Thursday, August 24, 2023
Bartholomew, Apostle

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke include Bartholomew in their lists of the Twelve. Partly due to his connection with Philip, many scholars believe Bartholomew is probably the same person as Nathanael in John’s Gospel. Nathanael is one of the first disciples called to “come and see” (John’s version of “follow me”), and he is present on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius when the risen Christ invites his friends to “come and have breakfast” (John 21:12).

08/20/2023

August 20. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, 1153

Medieval reformer and mystic

08/15/2023

August 15. Mary, Mother of Our Lord.

The "Deeper understandings" article continues a series on texts and themes related to our common Lutheran worship. This month: Mary, Mother of our Lord.

08/14/2023

This is from an article in Newsweek, quoting an interview on NPR:

Evangelicals are now rejecting 'liberal' teachings of Jesus
Christian devotees of former President Donald Trump are denouncing Bible verses attributed to Jesus as "weak," according to an evangelical leader.
www.newsweek.com

Russell Moore, former top official for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) who is now the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, said during an interview aired on NPR's All Things Considered this week that Christianity is in a "crisis" due to the current state of right-wing politics.

"Multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting the Sermon on the Mount, parenthetically, in their preaching—'turn the other cheek'—[and] to have someone come up after to say, 'Where did you get those liberal talking points?'" Moore said.
"When the pastor would say, 'I'm literally quoting Jesus Christ' ... The response would be, 'Yes, but that doesn't work anymore. That's weak," he added. "When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we're in a crisis."

04/06/2023

12/23/2022

Dec 23 - O Emmanuel, our King and our law giver, anointed of the nations, and their savior; Come and save us, O Emmanuel.

12/22/2022

Dec 22 – O King of Nations, the ruler we desire, the cornerstone uniting all people; come and save us all, whom you formed out of the clay.

12/21/2022

Dec 21 - O Dayspring, splendor of everlasting light, and light of justice; come and shine on us who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.