Mt Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church

Mt Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church We preach the historic Faith, we celebrate using the Church's classic forms of worship, and we show t

06/06/2026

It's back to "ordinary time," AKA "the Church's Half-year," AKA "the green season." But there's nothing really "ordinary" about this time, and every Sunday remains the "Lord's Day." However, having spent Advent through Pascha/Easter focused on all that Jesus did to redeem us and bring us life, we are now given to follow our Jesus' public ministry in order to learn better how to grow into the life we have received. And we begin this week at Matthew 9:9-13 with Matthew getting called to follow Jesus.
Join us for in-person worship tomorrow at 9:00am (Sung Divine Service), or 11:45am (Spoken Divine Service) if you are able. You can also watch the service live-streamed on our You Tube channel (https://www.youtube.com/.calvaryevangelicalluthe8130) - at 9:00 am Central *Daylight* Time, or catch the saved recording at your leisure (just go to our You Tube channel, and look under the "Live" section). The sermon by itself will be available at our webpage after Tuesday, just look under the "Media" section.

Here's the intro to tomorrow's preachment:

"As you are going, learn what this is: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'"

Learn it. Understand it - and live according to it.

In terms of Gospel readings, this brief account of Matthew's call and what followed is pretty clear. We know from Luke that it was Matthew's house where Jesus reclined at table with the tax-collectors and sinners. And the Pharisees, ever so strict in their efforts to maintain purity and the proper distinction between who's "in," and who's "out" with God - are scandalized. For, in the ancient world, who you ate with at table indicated who you considered to be a part of your social circle - who you claimed to have a common life with.

Hence - Jesus reclining at table with tax-gatherers and sinners was showing that He considered them to be His people - that He was willing to be counted among them and share their life. The Pharisees couldn't see that.

Catch the rest of this person tomorrow, or online when it gets posted. God bless!

05/30/2026

It's Trinity Sunday tomorrow! Yup, once a year we get to trot out the Athanasian Creed and contemplate a mystery that confounds even the angels - that God is One God, and yet is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why does this even matter? Well, quite apart from the fact that God has revealed Himself to us as the Triune God, this mystery also goes to the heart of our redemption in Christ. For if Jesus is not both perfect (complete) God and perfect man (human in every way except for sin) in one Person - then our reconciliation to the Father is real. But because in the mystery of the Trinity, we are given to confess that the fullness of God (the Son) dwelt in Jesus bodily - we know beyond doubt that His life, death, resurrection, and ascension is our salvation. Alleluia!
Join us for in-person worship tomorrow at 9:00am (Sung Divine Service), or 11:45am (Spoken Divine Service) if you are able. You can also watch the service live-streamed on our You Tube channel (https://www.youtube.com/.calvaryevangelicalluthe8130) - at 9:00 am Central *Daylight* Time, or catch the saved recording at your leisure (just go to our You Tube channel, and look under the "Live" section). The sermon by itself will be available at our webpage after Tuesday, just look under the "Media" section.

Here's the intro to tomorrow's preachment:

"Therefore, as you are going, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

So, once again we are confronted with the mystery of the Holy Trinity: that "we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance."

Whenever we are called to reflect on God's revelation of Himself as One God Who is also three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the dangers are many. We can turn a sermon into a lecture about the Trinity. Or, we can try to explain the Trinity - which almost always risks saying something wrong. Or, we can talk about what God does as the Living and Triune God and miss out on the Gospel.

So - what are we to do? Simply what the Church has always done: we confess the truth of the revelation of God as Triune, we acknowledge the mystery, and we rejoice in what God gives us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Catch the rest of this tomorrow in person - or online when it gets posted. God bless!

05/23/2026

Tomorrow is the Feast of Pentecost! On this blessed day, the Church remembers how on the 50th day after the Passover (when Jesus entered into His Passion that redeemed the world), God the Father poured out the Holy Spirit, through God the Son, to empower the proclamation of the Church and inaugurate the "Last Days." The ancient Church appears to have received Pentecost, along with Pascha and the Nativity, as the "principal" feasts of the Church. We'll be focused on the history of the Pentecost as read from Acts 2:1-42. Why does all this matter? Because "all who call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved!"
Join us for in-person worship tomorrow at 9:00am (Sung Divine Service), or 11:45am (Spoken Divine Service) if you are able. You can also watch the service live-streamed on our You Tube channel (https://www.youtube.com/.calvaryevangelicalluthe8130) - at 9:00 am Central *Daylight* Time, or catch the saved recording at your leisure (just go to our You Tube channel, and look under the "Live" section). The sermon by itself will be available at our webpage after Tuesday, just look under the "Media" section.

Here's the intro to tomorrow's preachment:

"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."

So, every so often, I asked: "What's the big deal about Pentecost?" We "get" why Jesus' birth gets lots of attention at Christmas. And we "get" why the resurrection is such a big deal at Pascha/Easter - even if the seven weeks of the Paschal season seems to drag on after a bit. But, Pentecost? The tongues of flame and the speaking in different languages is great and all - but why did the ancient Church elevate Pentecost to the same status as Christmas and Easter? I suppose part of our problem here is that we're a little shy in talking a bout the Holy Spirit for fear that we might run off and become charismatics....

Find out where these thoughts lead by joining us in person tomorrow, or by catching things online when they get posted. A blessed Pentecost to all!

05/16/2026

Aaaaaand, we come to the 7th, and last, Sunday of the Paschal/Easter Season. All good things have to come to an end.... and we know better is coming.... and He remains risen AND ascended. Alleluia! This week the appointed Gospel reading is From John 17, verses 1-11 to be precise. Every year the 3-year lectionary gives us a portion of Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer" to reflect upon as we move from the Paschal season to Pentecost and beyond. What's the upshot? Jesus is still with us, He prays for us, and He calls us to remain "one."
Join us for in-person worship tomorrow at 9:00am (Sung Divine Service), or 11:45am (Spoken Divine Service) if you are able. You can also watch the service live-streamed on our You Tube channel (https://www.youtube.com/.calvaryevangelicalluthe8130) - at 9:00 am Central *Daylight* Time, or catch the saved recording at your leisure (just go to our You Tube channel, and look under the "Live" section). The sermon by itself will be available at our webpage after Tuesday, just look under the "Media" section.

So, I'm at home and the sermon manuscript is on my desk at the church - hence, no formal intro to tomorrow's sermon. However, I'll start with these words from John 17: "I am praying for them."

The sermon will probe the question of what it is that Jesus prays for us, and what it means for us to be "kept in God's Name," and what our "oneness" is in Christ.

Catch it in person tomorrow, or online as it is available. God bless. Christ is risen!

Address

908 W Hanssler Place
Peoria, IL
61604

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm
Sunday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+13096884321

Website

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