What Is Love?

What is love? From time immemorial, poets have pondered this question. And all of us have some kind of answer. We talk about love based on our feelings, our experiences, or what we’ve learned from others.

But what does The Bible have to say about it? And what does it mean, that “God is love”?

In this series, we will walk through the letter that contains those words: “God is love.” The book of 1 John talks more about love than any other New Testament letter. Join us, as we hear from “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and explore what love really is.

"God Is..."

You are more than what you do. You are more than what others say about you. You are more than what you look like on the outside. And so is God. 

But are we able to articulate who God is? We can recite what He’s done for us (He died on the cross!). We may say things like “God is love” or “God is holy” – but are we able to flesh out what they mean (lest they be misinterpreted by our hearers)?

In this series we will look at various attributes of God described in the Bible. By diving into these attributes we will discover - not only the One to whom we can pray - but who He is - for us.

In Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples come to Him with a simple request: “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Unlike other places in the Gospels - where Jesus’ shrouds His teaching in parables or cryptic sayings - here Jesus gives a straightforward answer: “Pray then like this…”

While the resulting prayer - “The Lord’s Prayer” - is well known (it’s recited every Sunday in Worship, daily for many Christians, and is referenced in movies, music, and other media) - the depth of these words are often missed. This prayer has the power to transform your understanding of God, the world, and your place in it.

For the next 8 weeks we will dive into these life-changing words of Jesus. Join us as we echo the disciples’ plea to Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Now that we have read through the Gospel of Mark with our eyes on Jesus, we’re going to take one more pass through this Gospel in light of the initial words of Jesus to his disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). There are three verbs in this sentence: follow, make, become. For the next three weeks, we will explore the Gospel of Mark one more time to see how this promise to Peter and Andrew are fulfilled in their lives, and how, ultimately they are fulfilled in our lives as well. 

During these 40 days of Lent, we will be spending our time studying the Gospel of Mark. From Wednesday evenings, to Sunday sermons, Sunday Bible class, and daily Bible readings, you will experience the Gospel of Mark in different ways. The Gospel of Mark is uniquely different from the other portrayals of Jesus told by Matthew, Luke, and John. Most specifically, Mark is unique in his intentional literary style. Most scholars agree that Mark wrote his telling of the Gospel story in a way that was to be spoken out loud to an audience. The Gospel of Mark moves quickly, his details of story are rich and vivid, and many of the verbs in the original Greek language are in the present tense - which demonstrates frenzied activity. Jesus is shown in the Gospel of Mark to be moving immediately from one city to another, from one situation to the next. Much of this narrative style does not come through when we sit and silently read to ourselves this Gospel in our modern English language. But, as you read, imagine that you are listening to this story being told by a storyteller. Listen, as the disciples and other characters are introduced to you. Hear, as Jesus speaks sternly to demons and calmly to troubled souls. Take note of the conflicts that Jesus and his enemies engage in. And finally, listen - Jesus is alive! Engage with every page of your journaling Bible during the study of Mark this Lent.

From January 7th - February 11th, open your Bibles and be introduced to practical wisdom from Biblical people. The Bible is full of people who ordered their lives according to the ways of God and not always conforming to the ways of the world. In order to have true wisdom, our source has to be out of this world. In this series, we'll be studying the lives of these Biblical people and learning how the wisdom of God is much needed in our lives to guide us in this mixed up world. 

With clarity and power this series of sermons carefully walks through the first eleven verses of Isaiah 40 to unpack their dearly loved Advent themes. You will see God as a comforter, as a mighty warrior, and even as a loving shepherd. Through this series, you will be prepared to welcome your Savior when he is born on Christmas morn. 

Ruth Sermon Series

We will be studying the Book of Ruth at Saints Peter and Paul from October 29th-November 26th, 2023. 

The book of Ruth tells of a young Moabite widow who, out of love for her widowed Israelite mother-in-law, abandoned her own culture, declaring, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (1:16). Though she was destitute and needing to rely on the kindness of others, Ruth’s disposition and character captured the attention of Boaz, a close relative of her deceased husband. Boaz fulfilled the role of kinsman-redeemer and took Ruth as his wife. Ruth serves as a wonderful example of God’s providential care of his people, and of his willingness to accept Gentiles who seek him. Ruth was an ancestor of Christ. The author is unknown, but the genealogy at the end suggests that it was written during or after the time of David.

We're studying the 7 core values at Saints Peter and Paul this September and October. Join us as we consider what it looks like to live in community according to these Christ-like characteristics. 

Summer Series - 2023

This summer at Saints Peter & Paul - we're going to be delving into the questions we have for God. Have you ever had a question you wish you could ask God? Whether it's something we read in the Bible, a tough season we find ourselves in, or the latest "idea" circulating in our culture - we are faced with many tough questions.

Thankfully, we have a God who gives us answers. We don't always get precise answers to the particular challenges facing us - but through our communal study of His Word - we find answers to much of the chaos and confusion of life. Ultimately, it is all answered in Jesus!

So what's your question? Let us know, and we'll be spending our summer digging into these tough questions and the real answers God provides for us. Looking forward to strengthening our faith with you as we seek Him together! 

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

...but what does this mean for today?

The Resurrection of Jesus is the centerpiece of the Christian faith. It is the zenith of the Gospel stories - their narratives all working towards it. It is the foundation of the New Testament - energizing the spread of Christianity throughout the greater Roman world, inching ever further towards "the ends of the earth." As prolific New Testament author N. T. Wright has said: "Get rid of the Christmas Story and you lose a couple chapters in Matthew and Luke. Get rid of Easter...and you lose the entire New Testament."

There's no story to tell without it! As Paul said elsewhere: "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1 Corinthians 15:19). Yes, new life exists - beyond this life.

But what does that life look like? What is the hope that the disciples of Jesus were clinging to that Easter morning and beyond? And is it a hope only for the future...or does it have implications for today?

We're going to be exploring all this (and more!) in our next sermon series: "Surprised By Hope." This sermon series runs from April 13th - June. 

We look forward to unpacking the Resurrection with you and discovering all that it means...for the future and for today!

Services in Lent

Ash Wednesday: Feb. 22, 2023

 March 1st -  March 29th: [free] Dinner at 5pm followed by worship at 6pm.

Palm Sunday: April 2nd

Maundy Thursday: April 6th @6pm

Good Friday: April 7th @ 1pm and 6pm

Easter: April 9th 

In this Epiphany sermon series, we will be looking at the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians as we learn that the Kingdom of God is Upside Down. 

What is Up, comes down. What is Down, is brought up. 

Jesus comes down. He brings the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. 

We who are down, low, despised, poor, sinners, are lifted up. 

The Kingdom of God is upside down from the ways of the world. It looks different. It's a whole new reality. 

We invite you to join us as we find ourselves having our reality shifted by the Upside Down Kingdom of God. 

In 1925, Rev. Phillip Wambsganss, the 3rd pastor to serve at Saints Peter and Paul, reflected back on his very first Christmas Eve as pastor, 50 years earlier in 1875. 

It's a joy to read this story!

Feeling busied, hurried, or all our stressed? 

Come and spend some time with us this Advent as we reflect on the comforting words of Psalm 46. 

Be still. 

We have worship services at our regular times on Sunday mornings (8:30am and 11am). 

Join us for reflective worship on Wednesdays in Advent where we will ponder, and put into practice the themes from Sunday in a unique way. 

Wednesdays are 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21. 

There is a soup supper at 5pm and worship at 6pm. 

The letter to the Philippians stands out from the Apostle Paul's other letters. In this letter, Paul is grateful for the church and their love and support of him and his work in the Gospel. 

Paul writes this letter to the church in Philippi while he is in prison, but they have continued to support him with financial gifts and encouragement. 

Gratitude is a wonderful way to live. In this letter, we will see Paul demonstrate a life of gratitude no matter what life throws his way because he knows that he belongs to Christ in life and in death. 

As we walk through Philippians together, we will be encouraged to take on this spirit of gratitude in our own lives as well. 

October 30th - November 20th.

The Bible is full of good words. 

Good words are words/metaphors/images that the Bibles uses to describe the salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. Over the course of seven weeks, we will be looking at seven Good Words. 

They are: Life, Property, Adoption, Marriage, Cleansing, Victory, Sent.

We had a great time at the LCMS Youth Gathering in July. Take a look at our highlight video! 

What sort of disciplines do you keep in your life to continuously grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus? 

Maybe you don't even know how to get started. 

In this six week series, we're going to get very practical about disciplines that you can implement in your own life or family life to Live the Story. 

Summer Outdoor Worship

Join us on June 26, July 31, August 28, and September 11 for outdoor worship. 

On these dates we will have one combined service @10am and it will be outside. 

Bring a camping chair or picnic blanket to sit on. We will have some available if you don't have one. 

Stay after the service for pulled pork sandwiches and drinks provided by the church. We encourage you to bring additional picnic sides for your family to enjoy time together as the Body of Christ!