Speaker: The Rev. Nathan Stomberg

Today we celebrate Christ’s Ascension into Heaven. This final miracle of His earthly ministry offered a glimpse of Jesus’ power and majesty. How great is Jesus’ power, and what does it mean for our life and ministry here and now?

Sermon given by the Rev. Nathan Stomberg on 5/2/2021 (5 Easter). We’re always told the secret to love and happiness is to “follow your heart.” But what if there was a better way? The Rector discusses the true nature of God’s love for us, agape love – love that is self-sacrificing.

When we choose to walk in the light, and not in darkness, we experience deeper fellowship with God and each other. And even in the smallest choices of daily life, we must decide between living in the Truth, or living in darkness. In Christ, we are assured that a Light will always shine in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.

Christ’s Death and Resurrection secured salvation for all God’s people throughout all time and history. Anyone who puts his or her faith in Christ will too be saved. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Christ’s Passion, His final hours before the Cross, form the climax of all human history. An honest reading of the Passion narrative shows us the incredible weight of Jesus’ great sacrifice. Our challenge, then, is this: Do we live as if this is true?

Elder Nathan discusses the Christian struggle between the “Already” (our salvation in Christ) and the “Not Yet” (our final sanctification). What are we supposed to do when we continue to sin, even though we truly want to please God?

How are we to approach our own struggle with temptation? Watch as Elder Nathan discusses how we should treat temptation with great seriousness, and how Christ’s victory over temptation protects us.

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian season of Lent, a 40-day journey of reflection, penitence, and self-discipline, leading up to Holy Week and Easter. If we don’t properly examine ourselves, we will not grow spiritually during this or any season. Watch as Elder Nathan explains how we can prepare for Lent with self-examination.

In our cultural moment, a great deal of our attention (perhaps the majority) is spent fixated on the headlines produced by a 24-hour news cycle. As access to, and the ability to share, information has dramatically increased, a prevailing skepticism has emerged. And the underlying question is this: How do we know which news to trust?