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How do you recognize that Christ is with you?

Announcing a challenge to all this week – entries due by Saturday, April 25th. Submissions may be a video, or a snapshot with a caption, or in writing  that you email to me at the church (phughes@holycrosslutheran-salem.org). 

Here’s the challenge – How do you recognize that Christ is with you? or said another way – How do you know you are not alone in these unusual and frightening times?  Tell us!  Is it your lifelong faith, built brick by brick throughout time, is it the evidence of Christ’s love in the spring flowers you see? How do you recognize that Christ is with you?  Get busy and send those entries in! Continue reading “How do you recognize that Christ is with you?”

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Being Fearful; Thomas and the disciples deal with change

Change is exciting, unless of course you are the one changing. Internally, change shakes us up, leaves us questioning. Sometimes when I see a change, my first reaction is to say, ‘the old way was better’. Not because the old way was better, you understand, but because change is scary. Perhaps you will find something to encourage you in this sermon on the gospel for sunday April 19, 2020 – John 20:19-31, preached from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon – Pastor Patricia W Hughes

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Being scared – a Thomas story

This week our gospel reading is from John 20 – the account of what happened after Mary Magdalene saw the risen Christ and told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

Everyone can identify with getting scared.  Just today my son had a dragonfly fly right in his face, and it scared him for a minute.  All the disciples were scared after Jesus died, because the powerful people who had killed Jesus, might be after them! so they hid, and were scared. Jesus came to them, and breathed on them, letting them know that they did not need to be afraid.  Continue reading “Being scared – a Thomas story”