God Pause

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10/29/2026

Mara Stillson, ‘24 M.A.
Deacon, Church on the Street, Sioux Falls, SD

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus heads up a mountain and sits you down, you know something is up. It’s not surprising that what he has to say flips our script. Changes our perspectives. Goes against our norms. For those keeping track, this gospel text from Matthew was also included in the Revised Common Lectionary back in February of this year. I’m not sure how often this happens, but it seems like a good one to keep going back to. We need a constant reminder of Christ’s mountaintop, topsy-turvy ways. Sometimes this means we need to step away as well. We need to be reminded of Christ’s new way of living, a life of blessings that are not what the world gives, but a life where we are joined with Christ and with our neighbor. These are words we can keep coming back to time, and time again.

Christ on the mountaintop, shift our perspectives so we see our blessings as you speak them into our lives. Return us to your words and upend the powers of this world. Send us forth, living in your promise of new life and a new way of encountering blessings. Amen.

10/28/2026

Mara Stillson, ‘24 M.A.
Deacon, Church on the Street, Sioux Falls, SD

1 John 3:1-3

I remember singing the song “Kids of the Kingdom” in our church’s children's choir. When I read today's text, that was the first thing that popped into my mind. I had to do a little internet search to see if I was recalling the song correctly, and of course, there is an old recording you can listen to on YouTube. Listening to it made me chuckle a bit—the things that stick with you through the years. It was the mid-1980s when I would have sung it, but the promise has stuck with me. We are God’s beloved children, that’s what we are. Unfortunately, that is not the promise everyone hears. Too often, the world tries to offer other labels. If I adapt the words of this simple song, “Children of God, that’s what we are. Children of God, that’s what we are.” That is how we live, knowing and trusting that we are beloved children of God, transformed to see our neighbors as the same.

Loving God, transform our hearts and minds to remember who we are and whose we are. Send us into the world with your love and reveal to us the belovedness of our neighbor. Amen.

10/27/2026

Mara Stillson, ‘24 M.A.
Deacon, Church on the Street, Sioux Falls, SD

Psalm 34:1-10, 22

I have been serving at Church on the Street in Sioux Falls for a little over two years now. It still surprises me when someone stops me in the middle of whatever is happening, needing prayer. Whether on the street, in the laundromat, in the food pantry, or at the local shelter, the intense need for prayer in that moment is humbling. The psalmist writes in verse 4, “ I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” While we live in the reality of sinfulness, pain, brokenness, oppression, and more, we come to God in prayer for moments of peace and the reminder that, in all times and in all places, God is present. So we continue to pray, and give thanks for moments when our fears subside through the love of God, and for those who surround us and remind us of God’s presence here and now.

God of Goodness, calm our fears. Remind us of your steadfast presence. Show us your peace amid chaos. Give us glimmers of the good you bring into this weary and aching world. Amen.

10/26/2026

Mara Stillson, ‘24 M.A.
Deacon, Church on the Street, Sioux Falls, SD

Revelation 7:9-17

Before I started serving at Church on the Street, I underestimated how many people feel unworthy of God’s love and salvation. I never feared that those around me weren't part of the great cloud of witnesses. This is not the reality of the unhoused and underhoused folks who are our beloved neighbors in Sioux Falls. So many believe they are not worthy of God’s love, and that they need to do something to earn a place in God’s “kin”dom. This text is tricky, especially in a world of perfection and ideals assigned to “being Christian” that control our lives. As people of faith, we are reminded that God’s gifts are greater than we can imagine. More than we can attain on our own. And more than just the desire for personal salvation. As we enter this week marked by All Saints Day, we are reminded of those who came before us and those who continue to live in and through us as we are one body of Christ.

Merciful God, guide our hearts and minds to trust in your expansive love and mercy. May we boldly live out of your promises and continue to live out of love for our neighbors. Amen.

10/23/2026

Heather Hansen, ‘04 M.A., ‘15 M.Div.
Associate Pastor, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas

Matthew 22:34-46

In season one of the TV series Ted Lasso, Ted speaks words of wisdom: “Be curious, not judgmental.” While Jesus never says these words in the Bible, he often uses this tactic in dealing with the Jewish leaders of his time. When a Pharisee or Sadducee asks a question to entrap Jesus, he often answers with another question. Instead of judging the questioner or answering in a way that may get himself unfairly convicted, he simply turns the question around and the antagonist must end up judging themselves when they get caught in their motive. Jesus doesn’t argue himself into a corner. In fact, he doesn’t argue at all. He simply turns the discussion back to curiosity rather than judgment or a conviction.

Love invites curiosity. Curiosity invites fair justice. Remaining calm and standing firm engages curiosity rather than judgment or hate. Following Jesus’s example, Christians can be curious, not judgmental.

God of all knowledge, you call us to curiosity. Use our natural curiosity to help us listen and love better. Amen.

10/22/2026

Heather Hansen, ‘04 M.A., ‘15 M.Div.
Associate Pastor, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas

Matthew 22:34-46

One common thread found in all of this week’s lectionary readings is the theme of love: loving God first and loving the neighbor is Jesus’ two-fold summary of God’s law. This scriptural perspective takes on the face of fair, unbiased judgment, putting God first in order to stand tall in the face of adversity, and remaining gentle and calm, even when persecuted, for the sake of preaching God’s word and being heard.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus affirms all that we have learned in one simple command: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. Love is the overarching command that makes all the other commands fall right into place. When you are loving someone, it is harder to judge them, harder to listen to wrong, and easier to desire a gentleness for them over fear when preaching the gospel. Love is the greatest commandment because it informs everything else we do.

God of compassion, one word sums up all your commandments—love. Show us how to love you and our neighbor each and every day. Amen.

10/21/2026

Heather Hansen, ‘04 M.A., ‘15 M.Div.
Associate Pastor, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Even in the face of adversity, Paul describes the manner in which he and his partners have shared the gospel, being “gentle…like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.” Paul has faced persecution over the proclamation that Jesus is King and Lord yet shows gentleness and not forcefulness in the way he proclaims Christ.

Like the cypress trees on a river’s edge, standing firm does not have to be loud and argumentative. In fact, in most cases where there is argument, you are more likely to have true influence over someone if you aren’t yelling at them or degrading them.

The world today, and particularly American culture, seems to live in a state of perpetual disagreement. This may not be so different from any other time in history. However, the way conflict is handled can become divisive. Forcefulness rarely changes a person’s convictions, but gentleness invites love and relationship which in turn open the door to a converted heart.

God of gentleness, you invite your people into a life of witness with gentle love and compassion. Help us to share your word even in difficult circumstances with gentleness and grace. Amen.

10/20/2026

Heather Hansen, ‘04 M.A., ‘15 M.Div.
Associate Pastor, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas

Psalm 1

The Guadalupe River in Texas is lined with bald cypress trees that reach heights of 50-100 feet. Even in recent catastrophic flooding, many of these trees have remained, tall and unmoved. Those left have watched houses, vehicles, road wreckage, and other trees float by, and yet still they stand.

In Psalm 1 the strength and faithfulness of those who do not cave to the advice of “the wicked” are described as “trees planted by streams of water.” In the face of great adversity, like a catastrophic flood, those who are rooted in faith are able to stand tall and continue to bear good fruit and prosper.

Being deeply rooted in faith, like a deeply rooted cypress tree, does not exclude God’s faithful followers from experiencing tragedies and hardships. However, being rooted in faith does keep the faithful standing firm in the face of those hardships.

Sustaining God, keep us steadfast in your word. Draw us to you every day and keep our hearts and our eyes fixed on you and the path you set before us that we may bear good fruit in love. Amen.

10/19/2026

Heather Hansen, ‘04 M.A., ‘15 M.Div.
Associate Pastor, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas

Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

Often today the gospels are used to teach God’s “preferential option for the poor.” While this is modeled by Jesus as an important call in the lives of Christians, our reading today from Leviticus also reminds us that preferential option for the poor does not mean inequality of justice for any person. God is clear in verse 15 that justice is a balance that requires a lack of bias.

In a world where sin happens and people get hurt, it is easy to form generalized opinions about people and groups of people. These opinions often help us be wary or protect ourselves from harm. However, these generalized opinions can also cause us to have bias when it comes to justice.

We are reminded by God in verses 17-18 that each person must be treated with love and non-judgment, just as we would treat ourselves. This love for our neighbor is a part of what it means to be holy.

God of justice, even in your preferential treatment of the poor, your justice is equal for all. Guide us in our lives that we may grant your fairness and love to all we meet. Amen.

10/16/2026

Deborah Jorgens, '19 M.A.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN

Matthew 22:15-22

Whenever our young grandchildren stay overnight, we have a bedtime ritual which includes reading a book or two, praying together and finally, blessing one another. Making the sign of the cross on our grandchild’s forehead and calling her (or him) by name, we remember the promise: “Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” And then our grandchild turns to my husband and me and blesses each of us. It is a holy moment and a beautiful reminder of the image we bear.

For first-century Jews, the image of Caesar on the denarius served as a constant reminder of their subjugation by the Roman Empire. Human beings have always lived under some kind of earthly authority. But it is the one, true God to whom we belong—the One who calls us by name and who enfolds us in love throughout this life and throughout all eternity.

Faithful God, you have claimed us as your own, and nothing can ever separate us from your love in Christ Jesus. May we live in such a way that others will see your image in us. Amen.

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