WORSHIP Sunday 9:15am
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  • Welcome
  • Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Worship Video
    • Sermon Podcast
    • Return to In Person Worship
  • Good News
    • Worship video
    • Pastor's Reflections & Various Sermons
    • Contemplative Sit
    • Bible study
  • Facebook Page
  • This Month
    • This Week
    • Subscribe
  • Give
    • Give Now
    • Listen, God is Calling
    • Thank you!
  • Contact Us

Pastor's Reflections & Various Sermons

Monthly faith reflections and other ponderings and sermons from the pastor.

Faith Question for the Week

9/28/2019

 
“Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony,” said Abraham to the rich man in Jesus’ parable.

In life, the rich man held God and Lazarus at a distance, out beyond his wall, and he “feasted sumptuously everyday.” In death, he found that same distance excruciating; that same barrier, oppressive; that same feast, utterly empty. This is not punishment, as we usually think of it. God gave the rich man exactly what he wanted.

Heaven is union with God, pure and simple. Communion, because as we find ourselves in God, we also discover ourselves in community with all people and all creation. Communion, because union always includes sharing food and all of life’s material necessities.

“Life,” Richard Rohr says, “is all about practicing for heaven. … Everyone is in heaven when he or she has plenty of room for communion and no need for exclusion. … The more you exclude, the more hellish and lonely your existence always is.”

What is God asking you to do, be, or change, so it would be “on earth as it is in heaven”?

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Sunday Worship 9:15 am

Church Office
563-242-4102
[email protected]
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to
​12:30 pm
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St. Paul is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Southeastern Iowa Synod.
All Are Welcome to join us in worship and participate in any of the ministries of Saint Paul's that you feel called to participate in! 

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715 South Third Street, Clinton, IA  52732

at the foot of the south bridge
Photo from frankieleon