Our offertory today is an arrangement of the hymn, “Be Still My Soul,” which was written by Katharina von Schlegel of Germany in the mid-1700s. At this time there was a movement occurring in the Lutheran church that focused on religious pietism and emphasized themes...
Preparing for Worship
Back in August my daughter started kindergarten, which means she also started joining us in the Sanctuary for worship. She had spent the previous year watching her brother go to “big church” and was so excited when it was finally her turn. She was wide-eyed and a bit...
Preparing for Worship
In looking over this morning’s service, I was immediately struck by the words our Youth Choir will be singing in the Call To Worship: “In the midst of pain, I choose love … in the midst of war, I choose peace … when my world falls down, I will rise.” These words are...
Preparing for Worship
By Katie Murray. Today is Christ the King Sunday. A relatively recent addition to the liturgical calendar, it was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Pius wrote in his encyclical "Quas primas" (In the first), addressing the new feast day, that God “must reign in our...
Preparing for Worship
Last week we began a three-week emphasis, “The Stewardship of Memory,” and Timothy asked us to think about our favorite Wilshire memories. My mind has been wandering ever since and recalling moments from my time at Wilshire and throughout my life of faith. Many of my...