Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 73 - Until

Does the world around you seem unfair? Are there people in your life (family members, co-workers, classmates) who aren’t getting what they deserve for the wrongs they’ve committed? Furthermore, does God seem distant and unconcerned about it? If so, Psalm 73 is for you! Here the psalmist lays his jealously, resentment, and disappointment squarely in God’s lap. This is what the psalms of disorientation do for us. They give space for us to whine. Listen to Sunday’s message to learn how the psalmist copes with his unfair world. You can listen to the message here or watch the entire service on our YouTube channel.

Psalm 90 is a our “Psalm of the Week.” Read it every day, at least once a day. Then join us on Sunday for a deep dive into this powerful psalm of communal lament. I look forward to learning and worshipping with you.

Yours for Christ,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 1 - Planted

Our Summer in the Psalms kicks off in earnest this week with Psalm 8. Read Psalm 8 at least once each day. Perhaps you’ll want to read it twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening. Or even three times(!) morning, noon, and evening. Remember, the righteous person “delights in the law of the Lord.” (See Psalm 1:2). Let’s plant roots deep in God’s Word this summer!

If you missed yesterday’s message, listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel. 

Yours for Christ,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Table Memories

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and CLPC’s year-long emphasis on Worship, during the month of May we’re focusing on Worship as Remembering. Tending to our memories is an important aspect of emotional well-being. And worship is an act of remembering. This Sunday we reflected on the remembering we do at the Lord’s Table. At the Table, we remember we’re forgiven. At the Table, we remember we are family. At the Table, we remember the best is yet to come. 

If you missed yesterday’s message, listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

 
Yours for Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Walking and Worship

We’re all on a path, a road, a journey somewhere. In Luke 24:13-35, Cleopas and his friend are on a path when Jesus makes an appearance. As they walk, Jesus opens the Scriptures and shares a meal with them. These simple acts change everything – “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:31). The resurrected Jesus is still making appearances. He shows up every time we worship. In worship, Jesus opens the Scriptures and at the communion table he shares a meal. These simple acts of worship, week in and week out, can change everything. 

If you missed yesterday’s message, listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel. 

Yours for Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Invited to Prepare

We’ve been preparing for Holy Week since Ash Wednesday, nearly six weeks ago. This is a special week of remembering the crucial events of Christ’s ministry that stand at the heart of everything we believe as Christians. Many of us have prepared for this week with fasting, special prayers, and readings. Decorations and visual symbols in our homes are other ways we prepare. 

But what does it look like to live our whole lives prepared for Jesus? Jesus’ invitation to the disciples in Matthew 21:2 can serve as a framework. Using the verbs from this verse (Go, Find, Untie, and Bring) yesterday’s message encourages us to see all of life as holy moments where God is at work.

If you missed yesterday’s message, listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel. 

Preparing for Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Invited to See

Everyone sees the man born blind as a problem (see John 9:1-41). The townspeople see a beggar. The Pharisees see a nuisance. The Disciples see a sinner. But Jesus doesn’t see a problem. He sees a person. Jesus sees someone to be loved, healed, pursued, and restored. When I see others the way Jesus sees others, I begin to see myself like Jesus sees me. 

What are you seeing today?

If you missed yesterday’s message, listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel. 

Seen by Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org

Invited to Believe

Believing in a God we can’t see, and following a God whose voice we don’t (often) audibly hear, can be difficult. In noonday heat, at a watering hole near the town of Sychar, Jesus invites a Samaritan woman to believe. Yesterday, I spoke about five ingredients of belief found in this famous story in John 4. Does God feel distant to you today? Are you struggling to believe there is a God who is present and at work in your world? If so, you may find this message helpful. You can listen to it here or watch the entire worship service on our YouTube channel.

Yours for Jesus,

Pastor Steve

steve@clpc.org