By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 I had a professor at Concordia – Wisconsin who was adamantly opposed to the phrase “please rise” when used during worship. To him, this phrase meant “please float above the ground.” He insisted that his students say “please stand” instead when they were assisting in worship.…
By campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Psalm 70 As a child, I loved being outdoors. Every morning during the summer I would run out to the sandbox in our backyard or beg my mother until she took me to the playground down the street. I had so much fun – but being a kid, I…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Amos 5:18-24 During our staff meeting last week, Pastor Jay, Matt and I made many a joke about this Amos passage. We were looking for the Gospel and didn’t find much. Our repeated refrain was, “Don’t read Amos!” And it’s true, this passage is rather depressing. It includes the…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Matthew 5:1-12 This past Sunday, we celebrated All Saints Day. As our prayer explained, “On this Holy Day, O Lord, we remember the faith of those who have gone before us.” I was overcome by emotion as this prayer was read, which doesn’t happen very often. I realized that…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on 1st John 3:1-3 When a baby is born, there’s nothing more exciting for a mother or father than meeting that baby for the first time. It’s a moment of utmost joy and excitement. However, there’s another moment that’s very similar – when that baby is baptized. After baptism, that baby…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley based on Psalm 149 “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song!” This is the first verse of Psalm 149. As I read it, I started humming a tune. The words “new song” had sparked up a memory. Eventually my humming turned to singing: “Earth and all stars, loud…
By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley, based on Rev. 7:9-17 “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This, of course, was the refrain on Palm Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly as King. The crowds welcomed him with lavish praises and spread palm branches before him as a symbol of victory. “Hosanna” was…