Sunday, June 28, 2009

The Saving Touch of Christ

Greetings in the name of our ever present God-in-the-Flesh, Jesus Christ Our Lord!

If you would like to hear, "The Healing Touch of Christ," the sermon
preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 4TH Sunday after
Pentecost, click here
.

Then click on the mp3 link provided.

The audio begins with the Hymn of the Day, "In the Very Midst of Life." The sermon begins at the 4:40 mark.

Thank God for the continued loving touch of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Peace! Be Still!

Greetings in the name of the head of the Church, even Jesus Christ Our Lord!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 3RD Sunday after Pentecost, click here to go to LCMSSermons.com.
http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1343
Then click on the mp3 link provided.

The audio begins with the Hymn of the Day, "Evening and Morning." The sermon begins at the 3:25 mark.

Have a blessed and still week living in the peace of our Lord.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

How Does Thy Garden Grow?

Greetings in the name of the head of the Church, even Jesus Christ Our Lord!

If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for the 2ND Sunday after Pentecost, click on the title of this post or go to this link:
http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1339

The audio begins with the Hymn of the Day, "O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth." The sermon begins at the 3:55 mark.

Have a blessed week living in the Garden of The Lord.

Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Layton, Utah

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

What's the Answer, Missouri?

For those who are convinced the election of a confessionally solid man like Matt Harrison is the answer to Missouri’s problems, there remains the issue of whether the LC-MS has the stomach for a purge (pun intended) of the false teaching and practice with which it is infested, no matter who the president might be.

Confronted with this issue, one layman asks. “What, then, is the answer? Are confessionals to continue to be under attack and subversion by those for whom doctrinally sound, confessional, liturgical Lutheranism is to be disdained and derided? The forces who wish to abandon our polity and doctrine for the sake of lusting after growth and power will not cease. They seek to worship Christ with the precepts of men and that is not what the faithful are to do.“

I would submit that, if such is the case, Paul's exhortation to the faithful at Corinth seems to apply insofar as being joined with specific areas of unbelief--which is what false teaching and practice amounts to. To wit:

O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:


“ I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

Therefore

“ Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
“ I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”--1 Corinthians 6:11-18 [
Emphases are mine.]

Like the Corinthians, we Missourians are restricted by our own affection for Missouri. We consider it ours to have and to hold and to wrest back from those who have taken it captive. But it is the faithful confession and practice of God's Word that we have been given to have and to hold, not the Missouri Synod.

The truth is, regardless of whom we elect as president of the LC-MS, we cannot force recalcitrant members of Missouri into compliance with doctrinely sound, confessional, liturgical Lutheranism and removing them is something which requires the initiative and cooperation of our elected leaders. Even the “good” ones are reluctant, at best, to undertake such a painful and costly procedure.

So, “What, then, is the answer?”

I think we all know. However we may have become so used to living with the problem that we prefer not to endure the pain of the cure.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

The HOLY TRINITY

Greetings in the name of the Holy Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
If you would like to hear the sermon preached at Trinity Lutheran Church in Layton, Utah for Holy Trinity Sunday, click here:
TheHolyTrinity.2009.mp3

The audio begins with the Epistle lesson, and includes the singing of the Hymn of the Day, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The sermon begins at the 8:14 mark.

Have a blessed week in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

What's Happening at Trinity, Layton

Greetings in the name of our Crucified, Risen, and Ascended Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ!

Following my signature is an article that ran in today's Standard Examiner regarding Layton Grace Presbyterian's effort to purchase our Trinity Lutheran Church property on Golden Ave. in Layton, Utah.

My understanding is that they will be meeting a week from Sunday or so to assess the progress of their fund raising efforts.

Meanwhile, our property committee continues to investigate rental properties to which we can move if/when the sale funds. We currently are considering properties just south of the Clearfield Municipal building in the Towne Square Shopping Center; just north of the Layton Hills Mall and across the street from the America West Credit Union on Hill Field Road; and just North of the Golds Gym building in Layton on Fort Lane.

For now our preschool continues to take registrations and make plans for the 2009-2010 school year, and we continue to assemble here at 385 W. Golden Ave. for the Divine Service every Sunday at 10 am with Bible Study preceding at 9. Also Wed. Vespers services at 7pm.

Please stay tuned for updates and keep this in your prayers so that our faithful Lutheran practice of the faith may continue here in the high desert wilderness.

Your appreciative servant of the Word,
Rev. Kurt Hering, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Layton, Utah

Layton's Grace Presbyterian Church seeks its own chapel
Standard-Examiner staff
LAYTON - Grace Presbyterian Church of Utah has been active in Layton
for more than 10 years. According to a recent news release, the church has
met in several different locations but has not had a home of its own. The
congregation is now embarking on a fundraising campaign to purchase a
permanent meeting facility.

The property, near I-15 south of Hill Field Road, is owned by Trinity
Lutheran Church, which has agreed to sell it provided Grace can raise the
necessary funds by July 14, the news release states.

Grace Church of Utah serves the Northern Wasatch front, including
airmen and civilians stationed at nearby Hill Air Force base. The
congregation of Grace believes it is important to have a physical, as well
as a spiritual, presence in the community, the release states.

To reach this goal, Grace Presbyterian Church of Utah is attempting to
raise $425,000, mostly through pledges from current and former members,
and also is approaching donors from outside Northern Utah to help the church
minister to an area that has historically had relatively few evangelical
congregations. According to the release, the congregation hopes to be
celebrating the dedication of its church building this fall. Grace Pres
byterian Church of Utah is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America.