Two Worlds: Pentecost 21: 18 October 2026

11 Oct 202612 Oct 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

Henry Nouwen: Sent by the Community

“There are many ways of being a peacemaker. We need to experience our own humble task as part of the Body of Christ and encourage others to accept their task. Whatever it is we do, we need to feel sent by the community rather than working as isolated individuals. And we need to pray for one another, for our common life and for our common task. Such intercessory prayer is a basic to Christian community.”

From the Henri Nouwen Society’s Daily Meditations, 9 October 2026. ACCESS THE SITE HERE!

Navigate the Blog Here

Two Worlds is a digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations. The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin (ELCA). The blog lands more naturally on a larger screen. Also, hyperlinks are included for further information — they are bolded and italicized.

Pentecost 21 Readings

Luther on Bible Reading

“In truth you cannot read too much in Scripture; and what you read you cannot read too carefully, and what you read carefully you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well.”

Isaiah 45: 1-7

Psalm 96: 1-13

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10

Matthew 22: 15-22

Readings are Linked

Common Themes/ Connections

The readings for Pentecost 21 center on God’s sovereign authority and the faithful response it calls forth. Isaiah proclaims that God alone directs the course of history, even working through unexpected figures like Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. Psalm 96 expands that sovereignty into a cosmic call to worship, inviting all creation to rejoice in the Lord’s righteous rule. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul celebrates a community whose faithful witness flows from God’s power at work in them, while Jesus in Matthew teaches that true allegiance belongs to God, whose claim surpasses every earthly authority.

Image of the Week

Mattia Preti’s Tomyris Receiving the Head of Cyrus tells a stark and emotional story with the bold light and shadow that define his Baroque style.

Preti, an Italian painter active in the 1600s, was known for taking dramatic historical moments and giving them a strong visual punch. Here he shows Queen Tomyris receiving the severed head of Cyrus the Great after he attacked her people and caused the death of her son. The way Preti arranges the figures makes Tomyris’s grief and resolve easy to read, even without knowing the full story. The whole scene carries a heavy, somber weight, as if Preti wants us to feel both the cost of Cyrus’s ambition and the strength of Tomyris’s response.

Tomyris Receiving the Head of Cyrus by Preti
(1613-1691)

Four-Minute Homily: Pentecost 21

“Hope from Unexpected Leaders”

Dr. Herman Larsen looked at me over his glasses and said, “It’s always important to contemplate the role of God in human history.” I was sitting in his office — a nervous freshman at Concordia, giving an oral report on a Luther biography. He stopped me cold with that line. Only later did I learn that Larsen — St. Olaf and Yale trained, brilliant, disciplined — had survived three years in a Japanese prison camp during World War II while serving as a missionary in China. He never boasted about it, but he clearly believed God had carried him through. I thought about him again this week while reading Isaiah’s astonishing claim that God would work through Cyrus, a foreign ruler who did not know the Lord, to free Israel and rebuild Jerusalem. (Sidenote: Larsen was an intimidating presence in class and taught me the importance of preparation!).

How did this Persian King’s story intersect with the Jewish people? Cyrus the Great, as he was called, ruled the Persian Empire with a reach unmatched in his day, stretching from modern Iran into Turkey. Scripture names him twenty‑three times and, remarkably, calls him “messiah” — the only non‑Israelite to receive that title. Isaiah insists that God will “grasp his right hand,” break down barriers before him, and use him to set the exiles free. Ezra later records Cyrus’s own decree: God has given him the kingdoms of the earth and charged him to rebuild the temple. In other words, God can work through people who stand far outside the expected circle of faith.

Here are two things we can take from this story. First, Larsen was right: we must reckon with God’s work in history. God acts in ways we cannot predict, often through people we barely notice, to accomplish purposes we scarcely grasp. History in real time feels like a blur, yet that truth has steadied God’s people across generations — including now, as the Middle East endures violence, war, and wounds handed down through generations. Isaiah reminds us that God can raise unexpected leaders and open unlikely moments that bend the world toward justice and peace. We pray such leaders rise in our own day.

Second, Isaiah’s witness steadies us in a fearful time. Even when the world feels dangerous or hopeless, when events spin beyond our control, God surrounds us with steadfast love and calls us to step into that world with courage, grace, and strength — trusting that God still works through surprising people to bring freedom, justice, and hope. The words of Isaiah 58:12 come to mind: we are a people called to mend what is broken and make the world livable again: “you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets to live in.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

**Note: The Isaiah 58 reference in my last paragraph was sparked by a sermon Wendell Davis preached on Sunday, October 11, during a joint worship service that brought together several congregations — the United Church of Christ parishes from Tomah and the Ho‑Chunk Mission east of Black River Falls, along with the United Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA) parishes of Black River Falls. Davis, known as Papa Makua, serves as senior minister of the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches (AHEC), a UCC body that weaves Hawaiian cultural heritage with Christian faith. He and several colleagues from Hawaii have been visiting our area in recent days.

Musical Reflection: Deep River

Deep River grew out of the spiritual tradition of enslaved African Americans, who used the Jordan River as a bold symbol of freedom and God’s saving power. The Fisk Jubilee Singers carried the song into wider public life in the late 19th century, and Harry T. Burleigh’s early‑20th‑century arrangements brought it into churches and concert halls. Its plea to “cross over” speaks directly to courage, longing, and trust in God’s presence. Isaiah 45 echoes that hope by proclaiming a God who breaks down barriers and leads people out of captivity, opening a path toward liberation. Psalm 96 adds another layer, calling all creation to sing of God’s justice — a justice that hears the oppressed and promises deliverance, just as the spiritual itself has done for generations.

The version of the song included here comes from the University of North Texas A Capella Choir under the direction of Allen Hightower.

Lyrics

Deep river
My home is over Jordan
Deep river
Lord, I wanna cross over into campground

Oh, don’t you wanna go to that gospel feast?
That promised land where all is peace
Walk into Heaven and take my seat
And cast my crown at Jesus’ feet

Deep river
My home is over Jordan
Deep river
Lord, I wanna cross over into campground

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

We have three commemorations this week. You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Week of 12 October

Thursday 15 October
Teresa of Avila, teacher, renewer of the church (d. 1582)

Saturday 17 October
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr (c. 115)

Sunday 18 October
LUKE THE EVANGELIST

Further Information is Linked!

*Saint Peter of Alcantara shows Saint Teresa of Ávila the Way to Paradise*
by Francesco Fontebasso 1765

Going Beyond

Digital Media: The Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast — produced by Faith+Lead at Luther Seminary — helps Christian leaders navigate the real challenges facing congregations today. Each episode blends theological insight with practical wisdom, focusing on how churches can cultivate deeper discipleship, adapt faithfully to cultural change, and strengthen community life. It’s a thoughtful, accessible resource for anyone committed to helping the church grow in clarity, courage, and spiritual maturity.

Their most recent effort centers on DISCIPLESHIP and is excellent! The episode linked below explores why discipleship is challenging in today’s church and argues that everyone is already being shaped — by culture, media, and personal habits — long before they encounter Christian community. The hosts note that churches often rely on information and programs instead of the slow, relational work that actually forms people in faith. They call for a clearer vision of what a mature disciple looks like and for intentional practices that counter the powerful forces shaping people’s identities. Ultimately, the conversation encourages congregations to reclaim discipleship as their central mission and invest deeply in life‑on‑life formation.

ACCESS THE PODCAST HERE

Faithful Conversations

We’ve spent the past year at ELC discerning how best to offer adult study in a way that’s both flexible and consistent, and that work has led to a simple rhythm: Faithful Conversations, our weekly gathering on Sundays from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. This space offers a rotating mix of lectionary discussion, Lutheran theology, spiritual disciplines, and congregational history—open to anyone, with no prior knowledge needed and no pressure to read or share.

We are currently doing a book study of Michael Foss’s Real Faith for Real Life. Session 3 (of 4) is on 18 October at 11:00 a.m. in the church sanctuary, continuing our exploration of practical Christian discipleship. Whether you have been there or not . . . .

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Two Worlds: Pentecost 20: 11 October 2026

4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

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Henri Nouwen:
Crises and Power

“Every time we see a major crisis in the history of the Church, such as the Great Schism of the eleventh century, the Reformation of the sixteenth century, or the immense secularization of the twentieth century, we always see that a major cause of rupture is the power exercised by those who claim to be followers of the poor and powerless Jesus. What makes the temptation to power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.“

From the Henri Nouwen Society’s Daily Meditations, 27 September 2026.

Pentecost 20 Readings

Isaiah 25: 1-19

Psalm 23

Philippians 4: 1-9

Matthew 22: 1-14

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

Isaiah’s vision of God’s decisive rescue sets the tone for a Sunday centered on divine provision, echoed intimately in Psalm 23, where the Lord shepherds, protects, and prepares a table for his people. Paul’s counsel in Philippians 4 urges the community to stand firm in this same trust—rejoicing, rejecting anxiety, and practicing a peace that comes from God’s nearness. Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22 extends the theme by portraying God’s invitation to a banquet of grace, while also warning that genuine participation requires a life shaped by that grace. Together, the readings emphasize God’s faithful initiative, the call to respond with steadfast trust, and the transformative character of those who accept God’s invitation.

Luther and the lectio divina

Luther’s approach to lectio divina grows out of the Augustinian conviction that Scripture is understood only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, received in humble prayer. In the monastic tradition, lectio divina developed as a four‑step path — reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation — aimed at drawing the believer into quiet union with God. Luther retained the early Augustinian emphasis on oratio and meditatio, but he reshaped the practice by replacing contemplatio with tentatio, the spiritual struggle that arises when God’s Word confronts human weakness. For Luther, this struggle is not a distraction from devotion but the very arena in which the Word becomes alive and formative. His adaptation transforms lectio divina from a contemplative ascent into a cross‑shaped encounter where Scripture, prayer, and trial work together to shape faith.

Image of the Week

“History must be imagined before it can be understood.” David Blight’s line has stayed with me this week as I revisited Paul’s brief but striking mention of Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4:2–3. These two early Christian leaders left no visual record — no portraits, no icons, no descriptions — only their names and the memory of their shared labor in the gospel.

That silence makes imagination essential; it’s the doorway into their world. Though this final AI image feels a bit uncanny, it offers a foothold for picturing Philippi under Roman rule, a diverse Christian community finding its way, and two women whose ministry mattered enough for Paul to address their conflict directly.

As I continue to navigate AI in my current teaching environment, I’m finding that — used carefully — it can help kindle the historical imagination, giving shape to what cannot be recovered and deepening our sense of their place in the unfolding story of the early church.

Five-Minute Homily: Pentecost 20

“Practices for an Anxious Church”

Before getting into this, I must confess that I wanted to tackle the parable from Matthew this week but am still grappling with it — I find it especially challenging! Let me, instead, offer this regarding the Second Reading. Philippians is often associated with JOY, but the context of the letter is critically important. The words were not written in comfort. Paul, in fact, wrote from prison, chained, unsure whether he will live or die. We know the end of the story, but he certainly did not. And he writes to a church under real serious social and economic pressure. Both Paul and the Philippians are being pushed to back away from their proclamation of Christ crucified and risen. His words are forged in the midst of crisis. Sit with that for a moment.

Paul begins with real affection for his Philippian neighbors — “my joy and my crown” (4:1). Their relationship is marked by mutual courage and trust. They have stood with him, and he stands with them. Then Paul turns to the strain within the community. Euodia and Syntyche — two faithful leaders — have been having a dispute of some kind. I am always intrigued by these figures that show up in scripture for what we might describe as “cameo” appearances — we are offered little background and no details about the argument between these women. Paul doesn’t shame them or dictate a solution either. Instead, he calls the community to come alongside them (4:2-3) and reminds every one of the pattern they already know: the mind of Christ described earlier in the letter (2:1-5). A mind that moves from power toward vulnerability, from status toward service.

Paul then offers the Philippian church — and perhaps us — a set of practices for living faithfully in anxious times. Each one is anchored in the text.

“Rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4). Not because everything is fine, but because joy is a discipline that keeps us grounded in God’s presence.

“Let your gentleness be known to everyone” (4:5). Everyone is frayed right now—including you. Gentleness is Christlike strength.

“The Lord is near” (4:5). Not far off, not abstract—near.

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything… let your requests be made known to God” (4:6). Bring your fear and your gratitude together. Honest prayer is the antidote to anxious spiraling.

“And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds” (4:7). A peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances and doesn’t require your understanding.

“Whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… pleasing… commendable… think on these things” (4:8). In an age saturated with negativity, Paul calls for disciplined attention. Look deliberately for what is good. Hold fast to it.

“Keep on doing the things you have learned and received… and the God of peace will be with you” (4:9). Look to the people whose lives embody this way of Christ. Imitate them.

Paul’s world was anything but calm. The early church lived with constant vulnerability — small, pressured, and unsure of its future. The anxieties of early Christians were real, and their witness was costly. In many ways, people today feel the same strain. We live with global instability, political tension, economic uncertainty, and a relentless stream of information that keeps us on edge. Communities of faith feel the weight of division and the challenge of staying hopeful. Paul does not offer easy reassurance. He offers a way of life: joy practiced as discipline, gentleness embraced as strength, prayer shaped by honesty, and attention trained toward what is good. He teaches a posture that refuses to let fear or cynicism set the terms of reality. His world was unstable. Ours is too. Yet his message endures: “The Lord is near.” Because Christ is near, we are not left alone. We are given practices that steady us and a peace that guards us — a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Philippians 4 is not a lullaby. It is a lifeline. A pattern of Christian resilience. A witness that God’s presence is real, God’s peace is strong, and God’s joy can still be chosen — even now. Let’s walk with that message in our hearts this week.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Note: I am indebted to the Reverand Dr. Jane Lancaster Patterson for her interpretation of the Philippians verses. She is a retired Emerita Professor of New Testament, Seminary of the Southwest, Austin Texas — an Episcopal institution. I stumbled on her wonderful writing in Working Preacher, an arm of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She offered me a different way of seeing this passage.

Musical Reflection

“Let Us Go Now to the Banquet” (ELW 523) grows out of the Misa Popular Salvadoreña, the 1980 folk mass Guillermo Cuéllar composed at the request of Archbishop Óscar Romero, who wanted music that honored El Salvador’s indigenous traditions while speaking honestly to a people suffering under military rule. A member of the Nueva Canción Salvadoreña movement, Cuéllar blended folk melody with political and spiritual hope — a combination that eventually forced him into a decade of exile. When the mass reached North American worship through translations by Bret Hesla and William Dexheimer Pharris, its vision of God’s banquet — where the poor are centered and the table is shared — found new resonance. In many ways, the hymn echoes Psalm 23’s promise of a table prepared in the presence of danger: God’s feast breaking in even when the world feels hostile. Singing it today keeps alive Romero’s conviction that God’s justice creates a community where all are fed and all are welcomed.

Lyrics

Let us go now to the banquet,
to the feast of the universe.
The table’s set and a place is waiting;
come, ev’ryone, with your gifts to share.

I will rise in the early morning;
the community’s waiting for me.
With a spring in my step I’m walking
with my friends and my family. Refrain

God invites all the poor and hungry
to the banquet of justice and good
where the harvest will not be hoarded
so that no one will lack for food.

May we build such a place among us
where all people are equal in love.
God has called us to work together
and to share ev’rything we have.

Note: The original lyrics were in Spanish.

ACCESS THEM HERE!

Visit the Lutheran Diaconal Association Website

The Lutheran Deaconess Choir is a long‑standing musical ministry connected to the Lutheran Deaconess Association (LDA), an inter‑Lutheran organization that forms and supports deaconesses and deacons for service in church and world. Historically, the choir emerged from the community life of LDA students and consecrated deaconesses, who gathered regularly to sing as part of their spiritual formation and public witness. Over time, the choir became a signature expression of the LDA’s identity—using music to proclaim the gospel, strengthen communal bonds, and represent the deaconess vocation in congregations and synodical events. While not a professional ensemble, it has served as a musical ambassador for the LDA, embodying the organization’s emphasis on service, compassion, and shared ministry. In this way, the Lutheran Deaconess Choir reflects the heart of the LDA: a community grounded in Word, song, and diaconal service.

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

We have two commemorations this week. You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Week of 5 October

Tuesday 6 October
William Tyndale, translator, martyr (d.1536)

Wednesday 7 October
Henry Malchior Muhlenberg, pastor in North America (d.1787)

Further Information is Linked!

William Tyndale was the English reformer who, inspired by Martin Luther’s German Bible, believed passionately that ordinary Christians should read Scripture in their own language. Translating directly from Greek and Hebrew, he produced an English New Testament and large portions of the Old Testament whose clarity shaped every major English Bible that followed, including the King James Version. His work was illegal in England, where church and crown feared that vernacular Scripture would weaken their control of doctrine — and Tyndale’s public opposition to Henry VIII’s divorce made him politically unwelcome as well. After years of exile, he was arrested and executed for heresy in 1536, essentially for translating the Bible without permission. His dying prayer, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes,” captures the legacy he left: Scripture for the whole people of God.

Going Beyond

Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue

Leaders of the Lutheran World Federation met with Pope Leo XIV on 1 October, celebrating six decades of Lutheran–Catholic dialogue and looking ahead to a shared 500th anniversary commemoration of the Augsburg Confession in 2030. LWF President Henrik Stubkjær emphasized that the Confession was originally an ecumenical proposal rooted in the apostolic tradition, never intended to divide, and now offers a framework for “telling a different story” of renewed communion. Pope Leo affirmed that deeper unity in faith, sacraments, and ministry remains the goal of this journey, with 2030 poised to be a “profound ecumenical experience.” The exchange of symbolic gifts—including the Lund Cross and a handcrafted pomegranate bowl from Palestinian students—underscored ongoing joint witness in service, reconciliation, and hope as both communions work toward fuller visible unity.

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE HERE!

Faithful Conversations

We’ve spent the past year at ELC discerning how best to offer adult study in a way that’s both flexible and consistent, and that work has led to a simple rhythm: Faithful Conversations, our weekly gathering on Sundays from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. This space offers a rotating mix of lectionary discussion, Lutheran theology, spiritual disciplines, and congregational history—open to anyone, with no prior knowledge needed and no pressure to read or share.

We’ll resume our book study of Michael Foss’s Real Faith for Real Life on 11 October at 11:00 a.m. in the church sanctuary, continuing our exploration of practical Christian discipleship.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Two Worlds: Pentecost 19: 4 October 2026

27 Sep 20263 Oct 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

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Luther and the lectio divina

Luther’s approach to lectio divina grows out of the Augustinian conviction that Scripture is understood only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, received in humble prayer.

In the monastic tradition, lectio divina developed as a four‑step path — reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation — aimed at drawing the believer into quiet union with God. Luther retained the early Augustinian emphasis on oratio and meditatio, but he reshaped the practice by replacing contemplatio with tentatio, the spiritual struggle that arises when God’s Word confronts human weakness.

For Luther, this struggle is not a distraction from devotion but the very arena in which the Word becomes alive and formative. His adaptation transforms lectio divina from a contemplative ascent into a cross‑shaped encounter where Scripture, prayer, and trial work together to shape faith.

Two Worlds is a digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations. The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The blog lands more naturally on a larger screen. Also, hyperlinks are included for further information — they are bolded and italicized.

Pentecost 19 Readings

Isaiah 5: 1-7

Psalm 80: 7-15

Philippians 3: 4b-14

Matthew 21: 33-46

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

Isaiah and the psalmist both use the image of a vineyard to name God’s longing for a people who bear good fruit, and the grief that comes when they do not. Jesus picks up that same vineyard theme in Matthew, sharpening it into a parable about leaders who resist God’s purposes and reject the very One sent to restore them. Paul, meanwhile, reminds us that genuine righteousness doesn’t come from pedigree or achievement but from knowing Christ and pressing on toward the life God intends. Taken together, the readings trace a movement from God’s hope, to human resistance, to the call for a renewed, Christ‑shaped way of living. Pentecost 19 invites us to hear these texts as a summons to bear fruit that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and steadfast love.

Image of the Week

St. Francis is shown here in simple, steady prayer — kneeling before a small wooden cross with an open book at his side and the quiet landscape stretching behind him. Instead of dramatizing the stigmata — the tradition that Francis received the wounds of Christ late in life — Cigoli focuses on the kind of everyday devotion that made Francis receptive to grace in the first place.

The artist, Ludovico Cardi (whom we know as Cigoli, after his Tuscan hometown), brings together the clarity of his Florentine training and a warmer Baroque naturalism, especially in the soft modeling of Francis’s face and the gentle light across the hills. It’s a picture of holiness rooted in humility and attentiveness rather than spectacle. As we mark St. Francis on 4 October (Pentecost 19) this year, the painting feels like an invitation to let quiet, faithful practices shape us too.

You can read more about the artist here!

Five-Minute Homily: Pentecost 19

“Faithfulness in a High‑Tech Landscape”

Artificial Intelligence has dominated the news lately — not only because of what it can generate, but because of the massive data‑center buildouts now reshaping communities, economies, and landscapes. We’re watching a live debate over power grids, water use, land stewardship, and the cost of feeding these systems. Like most thorny issues, it is complex.

The image beside us — an AI‑generated guess at what Jesus may have looked like based on ancient Middle Eastern features — drops us right into the tension of this moment. It shows how these tools can illuminate something we’ve wondered about for centuries, yet it also reminds us how easily technology can shape, or even distort, what we think we see. And underneath all that, it nudges us back to a very human question: how do we see clearly, make wise sense of the world around us, and stay grounded in the life God has entrusted to us?

Jesus, the master teacher, still speaks across time, and his use of story — often allegory — cuts straight to the heart. In this week’s Gospel, he responds to religious leaders who have just challenged his authority. They bristle at his popularity, his freedom, his refusal to stay within their lines. So he tells a parable that echoes Isaiah 5, exposing the disobedience of those who should know better and the consequences that follow. A landowner plants a vineyard, protects it, and watches it flourish. He leases it to tenants. When he sends servants to collect his share, the tenants kill them. He sends more; they meet the same fate. Finally — naively, it seems — he sends his son, assuming they will respect him. Instead, they murder him to seize the inheritance. It is a brutal story.

Jesus then turns the parable back on his listeners. Beginning in verse 40, he leads the elders into the chilling realization that he is talking about them. His citation of Psalm 118 cuts straight to their scriptural pride, and by verse 46 we glimpse their simmering response.

How do we hear this today? It’s easy to treat the story as a rebuke aimed at ancient leaders who rejected Christ. But that reading is too small. Jesus speaks to us as well. We must examine our own hearts. How do we respond to him? How do we tend the vineyard entrusted to our care — our land, our communities, our choices, our faith?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Musical Reflection

In my quest to find music that speaks to tenets of Christianity, Coldplay’s “Fix You” comes to mind. Written by Chris Martin (b. 1977) as a song of comfort after the death of his wife’s father, the song offers a fitting echo to this week’s readings. Isaiah and Matthew confront the vineyard’s failure to bear fruit, Psalm 80 pleads for restoration, and Philippians urges us to press forward in hope. The song traces that same movement — from quiet lament to a rising, communal resolve — capturing the longing for healing and renewal at the heart of these texts.

The cover of the song I included here comes from the Stellanbosch University Choir (South Africa). Regular blog followers know that this choir is a real favorite of mine! I hope you enjoy their version and the song’s powerful mesage.

The Stellenbosch University Choir is widely regarded as one of the finest collegiate choirs in the world, celebrated for its luminous blend, technical precision, and emotionally charged performances. Founded in 1936, it is the oldest university choir in South Africa, drawing about a hundred students from across the university each year. Under the long‑time direction of André van der Merwe, the ensemble has developed a distinctive sound that weaves classical clarity with the rhythmic vitality and multilingual richness of South African musical traditions. Their artistry has earned them sustained international acclaim, including years at the top of the Interkultur world rankings, and their performances—whether sacred works, folk songs, or contemporary compositions—carry a depth and immediacy that make the choir a powerful cultural ambassador.

Visit Their Website Here!

Lyrics

When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can’t replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you’re too in love to let it go
But if you never try, you’ll never know
Just what you’re worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Commemorations: Week of 28 September

Tuesday 29 September
MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

Wednesday 30 September
Jerome, translator, teacher (d. 420)

Sunday 4 October
Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church
(d. 1226)

Theodor Fliedner, renewer of society
(d. 1864)

*Saint Jerome by Domenichino*
*(1581-1641)*

Digital Ministry and Beyond

Sacred History: Reredos

If you’ve ever wondered about the carved structure behind our altar—or how our sanctuary came to look and feel the way it does—I’ve put together a story you might enjoy. It traces the origins of our reredos, Jacob’s Ladder, and introduces the remarkable people who shaped our worship space: a Marine‑pilot‑turned‑architect, a Scandinavian sculptor with a pastor’s imagination, and the local carpenter who guided the sanctuary’s construction. You’ll also learn the moving story behind the stained‑glass windows dedicated just days before a hometown soldier was laid to rest. It’s a rich, very human history, and it might change the way you see the space we gather in each week.

The Full Paper is Linked Here!

Faithful Conversations

We’ve spent the past year at ELC discerning how best to offer adult study in a way that’s both flexible and consistent, and we’ve settled on a simple rhythm: a weekly gathering called Faithful Conversations, held every Sunday from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. This dedicated space will offer a rotating mix of opportunities—lectionary discussion, Lutheran theology, spiritual disciplines, and congregational history—open to anyone at any time, with no prior knowledge needed and no pressure to read or share.

To launch this renewed approach, we began a five‑week study of Michael Foss’s Real Faith for Real Life (September 27–October 25), a practical and relevant exploration of Christian discipleship. I will be leading the sessions.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Two Worlds: Pentecost 18: 27 September 2026

20 Sep 202621 Sep 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

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Some good thoughts from Henri Nouwen

“Life becomes an unbearable burden whenever we lose touch with the presence of a loving Savior and see only hunger to be alleviated, injustice to be addressed, violence to overcome, wars to be stopped, and loneliness to be removed. All these are critical issues and Christians must try to solve them; however, when our concern no longer flows from our personal encounter with the living Christ, we feel an oppressive weight.

Here arises a key question: “Can we see Christ in the world?” The answer is, “No, we cannot see Christ in the world, but only the Christ in us can see Christ in the world.” This means that through prayer the Christ within us opens our eyes to the Christ among us.“

** Drawn from the Henri Nouwen Society website, Daily Meditations.

Two Worlds is a digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations. The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The blog lands more naturally on a larger screen. Also, hyperlinks are included for further information — they are bolded and italicized.

Pentecost 18 Readings

Ezekiel 18: 1-4, 25-32

Psalm 25: 1-9

Philippians 2: 1-13

Matthew 21: 23-32

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

The readings for Pentecost 18 converge around the call to genuine repentance expressed through humble obedience and transformed living. Ezekiel insists that each person is responsible before God and that true turning of the heart leads to life rather than blame or fatalism. Psalm 25 echoes this posture, lifting the soul to God in trust and asking to be taught the ways of divine mercy and truth. Philippians deepens the theme by urging the community toward Christ‑like humility—an obedience shaped not by compulsion but by self‑giving love. In Matthew, Jesus exposes the gap between words and actions, teaching that authentic repentance is revealed not in claims of righteousness but in actually doing the will of the Father.

Image of the Week

“Driving the Merchants from the Temple”
French artist, Jean Jouvenet (1644–1717)

Jean Jouvenet’s Driving the Merchants from the Temple shows Jesus stepping into a chaotic scene as he clears out the money changers, and you can feel the energy in the way people and animals scatter. Jouvenet was a major French painter of his time, known for strong, naturalistic figures and bold color choices that pull your eye right to the heart of the action. The painting was part of a larger set of religious works he created for Paris churches in the early 1700s, which helped cement his reputation. What stands out here is how he captures both the physical movement and the moral force of the moment. For Pentecost 18, the scene echoes the readings’ call for honest worship and faithful living—God pushing back against the ways we twist faith for our own gain and inviting us to return to what really matters.

Five-Minute Homily: Pentecost 18

“Where Grace Turns Us Around”

509 years ago, a 34‑year‑old Augustinian monk named Martin Luther shook the Christian world when he posted his 95 Theses on the Castle Church door in Wittenberg. His opponents quickly labeled his followers “Lutherans,” and the name stuck, eventually becoming one of the major branches of Protestantism. It’s worth remembering that Luther began his list with a simple but demanding claim: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended the entire life of believers to be repentance.” That line sets the tone for next Sunday’s readings — think “repentance.”

So, let’s dive in. This week’s “Image of the Week,” is a painting by the French artist Jean Jouvenet titled Driving the Merchants from the Temple. Jouvenet captures Jesus stepping into a swirl of motion as animals scatter, tables overturn, and the merchants scramble — a vivid picture of righteous anger and moral clarity (for some reason, that story so appealed to me when I first learned of it as a young boy!). It’s a helpful doorway into today’s Gospel, because this dramatic cleansing of the temple is the backdrop for Jesus’ tense exchange with the chief priests and elders in Matthew 21. They were rattled by his actions and his growing influence, and they demanded to know by what authority he taught.

Jesus responds with a question of his own and then tells the parable of the two sons — one who refuses to work in the vineyard but later goes, and one who agrees to go but never does. The point is unmistakable: the first son, the one who actually acts, is the one who does the father’s will. Jesus follows with a sharp reversal, telling the religious leaders that tax collectors and prostitutes — people they dismissed — are entering the kingdom ahead of them because they listened, repented, and changed their lives. Their refusal to turn around, to receive God’s messenger, had become a roadblock. Ezekiel’s voice echoes the same call: “Repent and turn from all your transgressions… get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.”

That’s the heart of this week’s Gospel message. Repentance isn’t a gloomy word—it’s a life‑giving one. It’s the daily turning of the heart, the quiet work of letting God reshape us so that our actions begin to reflect what we say. Every week we bring that work into worship through the confession of sin, speaking words that steady us and open us again to grace. Hear these words from the Book of Common Prayer (1979), that are part of our services in the ELW:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Those words matter. They humble us, they ground us, reminding us that faith is not just what we say but how we live. So as we move through Pentecost 18, hold Luther’s first thesis close: the whole life of believers is repentance — turning toward God, receiving a new heart and spirit, and stepping into the vineyard not with perfect words, but with faithful action.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Musical Reflection

Though not explicitly Christian‑oriented music, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “Why Walk When You Can Fly” carries a spirit that fits beautifully with the Pentecost 18 readings and their call to turn, trust, and live differently. The song leans into that moment when a person finally lets go of the old weight—fear, stubbornness, self‑protection—and chooses a new path. From there, it opens up a wider reflection on the Christian journey itself: how grace keeps nudging us toward the life we were meant to live, even when we’ve settled for something smaller. Carpenter’s refrain becomes more than a lyric; it becomes a gentle reminder that when we finally trust the One who meets us in our turning, we discover that walking isn’t our only option. We were made to rise.

Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American singer‑songwriter whose music blends folk, country, and Americana with a thoughtful, literary touch. Her warm, steady voice carries songs that often explore resilience, relationships, and the quiet work of becoming fully human. Over the years she has built a devoted following by writing with emotional honesty rather than flash, letting her lyrics do the heavy lifting. Many listeners describe her music as a companion for the long journey — reflective, wise, and grounded in everyday experience.

Visit her website here

Lyrics

In this world, there’s a whole lot of trouble, baby
In this world, there’s a whole lot of pain
In this world, there’s as whole lot of trouble but
A whole lot of ground to gain

Why take when you could be giving?
Why watch as the world goes by?
It’s a hard enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly?

In this world, there’s a whole lot of sorrow
In this world, there’s a whole lot of shame
In this world, there’s a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lot of ground to gain

When you spend your whole life wishing
Wanting and wondering why
It’s a long enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly?

And in this world, there’s a whole lot of golden
In this world, there’s a whole lot of plain
In this world, you’ve a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings

There’s a star on the far horizon
Rising bright in an azure sky
For the rest of the time that you’re given
Why walk when you can fly high?

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

We have one commemotion this week. You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Commemorations: Week of 21 September

Monday 21 September
MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST

St. Matthew is traditionally known as a tax collector whom Jesus called to become one of the twelve apostles, a shift that highlights the Gospel’s recurring theme of grace reaching into unlikely places. His background as a publican—someone often viewed with suspicion or disdain—makes his response to Jesus’ invitation all the more striking, embodying the power of repentance and the possibility of a transformed life. Matthew is credited as the author of the first Gospel, a work that emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s story and underscores the call to faithful discipleship. In Christian art and tradition, he is often depicted with an angel, symbolizing the divine inspiration guiding his writing.

*Saint Matthew Inspired by an Angel (Rembrandt, 1661)*

Digital Ministry and Beyond

We’re living in a moment when the tools of ministry have expanded far beyond the walls of any building. Digital platforms now allow Scripture, teaching, and community to reach people wherever they are. What once required physical presence can now be shared through video, messaging, and collaborative online study. This new landscape invites congregations to imagine ministry with a wider reach and a deeper sense of connection. At the same time, we need to find the balance with ongoing in-person efforts!

Try The Bible Project

The Bible Project is a nonprofit started by Tim Mackie and Jon Collins to help people see how the whole Bible fits together as one big story. Mackie brings the deep scholarship—especially in Hebrew Bible and Jewish studies—while Collins turns those ideas into clear, engaging animations and videos. What began as two friends trying to make Scripture more accessible has grown into a huge library of free videos, podcasts, and reading guides used around the world. Their work helps people read the Bible with fresh eyes, paying attention to its literary design, major themes, and the way it all points toward Jesus. Here is an excellent video overviewing the New Testament.

ELC In-Person Opportunities

As we turn the page into September, we’re refreshing our adult education opportunities at ELC as we continue creating spaces where members can explore Scripture and connect faith to daily life.

Our digital ministry—including Two Worlds, the weekly lectionary blog — remains part of that effort.

Beginning on 27 September and following, Sundays from 11:00–11:45 a.m. will be dedicated to Faithful Conversations, a renewed rhythm of study shaped by three strands: Lutheran Theology, History, and Spiritual Disciplines.

We will begin with a four‑week book study of Real Faith for Real Life (27 September–18 October).

If you are interested in ordering the book for our first go-round, follow the link below. We will also have several copies available. We will revisit a study the book from three years ago — it remains remarkably relevant.

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE!

Two Worlds: Pentecost 16: 13 September 2026

6 Sep 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

9-11:
A Crack in Time

Twenty‑five years ago this Friday, terrorists hijacked planes and turned them into missiles aimed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. History shifted in an instant. The day is etched in my memory not only because of the national trauma unfolding on the screen, but because it was our son Jake’s 17th birthday — a moment that, in part, shaped his life’s trajectory. Ironically, I was mid‑lecture on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation when a colleague burst into my classroom: “Turn on your TV — something terrible is happening in New York City.” My history students (including my son) and I watched the unimaginable together. Experiencing that shock with young people sitting in front of me — many of whom would later enter military service — remains one of the flashbulb moments of my teaching career. Like their grandparents and the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, 9/11 brought history into starker view.

This week’s lectionary readings center on forgiveness, and the anniversary presses the question with force. How do followers of Christ respond to evil? Can we imagine forgiving the young men who carried out those attacks in 2001? And what would Jesus ask of our hearts as we wrestle with such memories? Pentecost 16 invites us to remember, to reflect, and to listen for the call to mercy.

*WTC Tribute in Light, New York: 11 September 2010*

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Christina Ray Stanton is a New York City author, veteran tour guide, and nonprofit founder whose work grows out of firsthand experience with major crises. A Florida native who settled in Manhattan in 1993, she became known for her award‑winning memoir Out of the Shadow of 9/11, recounting her evacuation from her home near Ground Zero. She later wrote about surviving COVID‑19, continuing her focus on resilience and faith. Her essays appear in national outlets and often highlight overlooked stories in New York’s history and humanitarian work.

Read her article about the impact 9-11 had on her faith journey.

Two Worlds started in February 2023 as a simple extension of an Intro to Bible Study class and a desire to dig deeper into the Revised Common Lectionary. Today it’s a small digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations. The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

Note: The blog lands more naturally on a larger screen. Also, hyperlinks are included for further information — they are bolded and italicized.

Pentecost 16 Readings

Genesis 50: 15-21

Psalm 103: (1-7) 8-13

Romans 14: 1-12

Matthew 18: 21-35

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

The readings for Pentecost 16 draw us into the costly, grace‑filled work of forgiveness. Joseph’s mercy toward his brothers, the psalmist’s portrait of God’s compassion, and Paul’s call to refrain from judging one another all press the community toward a posture shaped by God’s own generosity. Jesus’ parable in Matthew exposes how quickly we forget the mercy we’ve received and how urgently we are called to extend it. Together, these texts remind us that forgiven people are meant to become forgiving people.

Image of the Week

“The Unforgiving Servant” 1629 (French)
Claude Vignon (1593–1670)

Claude Vignon’s The Unforgiving Servant (1629) shows why he remains one of the most eclectic voices in the French Baroque. His quick, restless brushwork pushes the moment toward us, giving the confrontation an almost urgent immediacy. That urgency fits this week’s lectionary, where forgiveness isn’t an abstract virtue but a lived demand. Vignon’s scene makes the parable feel present tense—a reminder that mercy can evaporate in an instant and that the fallout of withholding it is never small. Born in Tours in 1593, Vignon built his reputation on speed, range, and a willingness to mix styles others kept separate. He traveled widely, worked across genres, and returned to France as one of the most prolific painters of Louis XIII’s era. When he died in Paris in 1670, he left behind a vast body of paintings that still feel energetic and unpredictable.

Five-Minute Homily

Pentecost 16: “When Forgiveness Becomes Freedom“

Thomas Cranmer,
Archbishop of Canterbury
(1489 – 1556)

We pray the Lord’s Prayer every Sunday — sometimes so often we forget how strange and bold it really is. Our familiar (traditional) version — “trespasses” and all — actually comes from the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, not directly from Matthew 6 or Luke 11. That explains the occasional worship‑committee debates over whether we should be praying about debts or trespasses — turns out we’re mostly arguing with Thomas Cranmer, not the Gospel writers. Still, the heart of the prayer remains the same: we ask for daily bread, mercy, and protection from the turmoil we make.

The Fifth Petition — Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us — sits at the center of this week’s theme. Luther’s Small Catechism puts it plainly: we ask God not to count our sins against us, even though we “daily sin much,” and then we turn around and extend that same mercy to others. It’s a confirmation‑class classic: “What does this mean?” It means forgiveness flows in two directions, and neither direction is easy.

That brings us to Jesus’ parable of the Unmerciful Servant. Peter wants to know how far forgiveness goes, and Jesus answers with a story that leaves no wiggle room. A king forgives a servant an impossible debt — years of wages wiped clean in a moment — only to watch that same servant choke a man who owes him pocket change. The king’s fury is justified, and the lesson lands with force: mercy received but not given becomes its own kind of prison.

Most parables unsettle us, and this one surely does. We know forgiveness is central to the Gospel, yet our instincts lean toward payback, score‑keeping, and the kind of rhetoric that fills our newsfeeds. Jesus pushes us in the opposite direction — toward a radical, countercultural mercy that mirrors God’s own heart. When we forgive, something miraculous happens: we remember whose image we bear, and we discover that forgiveness frees both the giver and the receiver. May we keep praying for that miracle — and practicing it!

Soli Deo Gloria

Musical Reflection

**Elgar by Charles Frederick Grindrod, 1903**

Edward Elgar (1857-1934) is an intriguing character. He came to prominence later in life, after years of feeling like an outsider in Britain’s musical world. He was largely self‑taught, the son of a shopkeeper, and he built his career through persistence rather than pedigree. When he wrote the Enigma Variations in 1899, he used the people closest to him as his raw material — fourteen musical portraits that revealed how deeply he relied on friendship and encouragement. “Nimrod,” the variation honoring his friend August Jaeger, became the emotional heart of the set.

John Cameron (b. 1944) turned Elgar’s beloved “Nimrod” into Lux Aeterna in 1996, giving the melody a new life as a choral prayer. His background as a versatile English arranger helps explain why the piece feels both faithful to Elgar and freshly expressive. In short, Cameron’s version lets voices carry the quiet strength of “Nimrod,” turning a personal tribute into something communal and deeply fitting for moments of remembrance.

As we mark twenty‑five years since 9‑11, this version lands with a quiet honesty. It lets memory rise the way Elgar’s melody rises — gradually, with room for grief, resilience, and the stories that still shape us. Lux Aeterna offers a way to carry those names forward with light.

Lyrics

Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine cum sanctis tuis
In aeternum:
Quia pius es
Requiem aeternam dona eis
Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis
Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum quia pius es

Translation:

May eternal light shine upon them, O Lord, with Your saints for ever, for You are merciful.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them, with Your saints for ever, for You are merciful.

The Toronto Mendelssohn Singers are the chamber‑sized ensemble drawn from the larger Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. They work with a smaller roster, which gives them a clean, flexible sound that suits everything from early music to contemporary pieces. Led by Jean‑Sébastien Vallée, they appear regularly in the Choir’s season and in collaborations across the city. Their performances highlight precision, warmth, and the kind of blend you only get from seasoned choral musicians.

Visit Their Website Here

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Commemorations: Week of 7 September

Wednesday 9 September
Peter Claver, priest, missionary to Colombia (d. 1654)

Sunday 13 September
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople (d. 407)

Utilize the links for further information!

St. Peter Claver (1580–1654) was a Spanish Jesuit who spent nearly his entire ministry in Cartagena, where slave ships arrived by the thousands. He became famous — and sometimes controversial — for boarding those ships the moment they docked, bringing food, water, medicine, and whatever comfort he could offer to people who had endured the Middle Passage. Claver had trained in Spain and was shaped by the Jesuit push toward missionary work, but in the New World he took that calling to an extreme, referring to himself as the “slave of the Africans forever.” He didn’t just care for people in the harbor; he followed them to plantations, advocated for humane treatment, and baptized tens of thousands. His life left such a mark that he’s now remembered as the patron saint of slaves, of Colombia, and of ministry to African Americans.

*St. Peter Claver, Church of San Ignazio, Bogota, Colombia (18th Century)*

Digital Ministry and Beyond

Who is Tim Mackie?

Tim Mackie (b. 1976) is a biblical scholar and pastor best known as the co‑founder and main teacher behind The Bible Project, where he turns dense biblical themes into clear, engaging explanations. Several of our members at ELC have been introduced to these through a current Bible Reading challenge we are walking through.

Before earning his Ph.D. at UCLA, he completed his undergraduate and master’s work at UW–Madison, which helped spark his deep interest in Hebrew Bible studies. Mackie blends academic rigor with an easygoing, conversational style that makes ancient texts feel surprisingly accessible. He’s especially drawn to the literary design of Scripture, ancient languages, and the world of Second Temple Judaism. At his core, he’s a guide who helps people see the Bible as a unified story that still speaks with power today.

Tim Mackie is prolific and a simple search will verify that!

Access a series of Mackie’s sermons here!

In-Person Opportunities

As we turn the page into September, we’re refreshing our adult education opportunities at ELC as we continue creating spaces where members can explore Scripture and connect faith to daily life. Our digital ministry—including Two Worlds, the weekly lectionary blog — remains part of that effort. Beginning in September, Sundays from 11:00–11:45 a.m. will be dedicated to Faithful Conversations, a renewed rhythm of study shaped by three strands: Lutheran Theology, History, and Spiritual Disciplines. We’ll begin with a four‑week book study of Real Faith for Real Life (27 September–18 October), followed by a one‑day Reformation session on Martin Luther (25 October), a four‑week exploration of the lectionary (1–29 November), and a five‑week study of the Augsburg Confession (10 January–7 February 2027).

Two Worlds: Pentecost 15: 6 September 2026

30 Aug 202630 Aug 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

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Reflect on This . . .

“Luther revolutionized the understanding of the laity and clergy and introduced the concept of vocation and the understanding of “everyday worship”, where one serves God through one’s daily tasks and work, for the good of the community. He did this by highlighting that everyone is called to serve God with their lives and work.”

Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt
Lutheran World Federation

Note: I drew this quote from an address delivered by Dr. Burghardt in South Africa, August 2026. The full text is linked at the end of the blog.

Pentecost 15 Readings

Common Themes and Connections

The common thread running through these Pentecost 15 readings is a sober but hopeful reckoning with sin—not as a topic for shame or avoidance, but as a reality that calls for truthful speech, renewed desire, and communal repair. Ezekiel names sin plainly as the path that leads to death, yet God’s desire is always that people turn and live, which makes honest warning an act of love rather than judgment. Psalm 119 internalizes this struggle, portraying sin as the pull of “selfish gain” and misplaced desire, countered by a heart taught and shaped by God’s way. Paul and Matthew both press this into daily life: Romans insists that love is the antidote to sin’s distortions and urges believers to “wake up” from the numbing habits that keep them from God, while Matthew frames sin within community relationships, where confrontation, forgiveness, and reconciliation become the means by which Christ remains present among his people.

Ezekiel 33: 7-11

Psalm 119: 33-40

Romans 13: 8-14

Matthew 18: 15-20

Readings are Linked

Image of the Week

Rembrandt’s Saint Matthew Inspired by an Angel feels almost like you’ve walked in on a quiet moment: Matthew is hunched over his writing, and an angel leans in close, as if sharing a last‑minute tip or gentle nudge. The whole scene has that late‑Rembrandt vibe—earthy colors, loose brushwork, and a focus on mood rather than fancy details. By 1661, Rembrandt had weathered plenty of personal and financial trouble, and you can sense that introspective, human-centered approach in the way he paints Matthew as a thoughtful, slightly weary man doing his best to capture something divine. Today the painting hangs in the Louvre, still radiating that mix of mystery and tenderness that Rembrandt was so good at.

Five-Minute Homily

Pentecost 15: “When Truth Meets Compassion”

“There’s never any shortage of sin in the world.” My father, Thor “Unk” Rykken, used to say that with a grin that suggested he’d seen plenty of evidence. He certainly wasn’t wrong. Sin is always nearby, and we usually spot it in someone else long before we recognize it in ourselves. This week’s readings don’t let us dodge the topic — they show us how God confronts sin and how we’re called to do the same.

Ezekiel knew what it meant to name sin out loud. God asked him to warn Israel during the Babylonian Captivity, a job most of us would avoid — how would you react to someone shouting at us on the church steps about repentance? Yet Ezekiel 33:11 reveals the heart behind the hard words: God takes no pleasure in anyone’s downfall but longs for us to turn and live. Luther loved that verse because it exposes the grace beneath the judgment — God doesn’t want us stuck in misery or wandering in the dark. Even when sin is real and its consequences unavoidable, God’s desire is always life. Paul’s message in Romans 13 shifts the focus from warning to transformation. For people shaped by 613 commandments (can you imagine?), the idea that love fulfills the entire law must have felt like switching from a thousand‑page manual to a sticky note. The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” wasn’t new, but Jesus embodied it so completely that Paul could say love dismantles sin’s power. Sin shrinks life; love expands it. Sin isolates; love wakes us up and pulls us into community.

*Jesus Eats With Sinners and Tax Collectors (Alexander Bida, 1875)*

Finally, Matthew’s Gospel brings sin into the daily life of the church, where conflict is inevitable and usually uncomfortable. Jesus doesn’t treat conflict as a scandal to hide but as a place where honesty and dignity must meet. His three‑step process is practical and surprisingly calm: speak privately, then with witnesses, then with the community. And if reconciliation still fails, treat the person “as a gentile and a tax collector” — which, given Jesus’ dinner companions, may mean holding them with both truth and stubborn compassion. Relationships in Christ carry eternal weight, and how we handle sin between us shapes the health of the whole body.

As a lifelong teacher and coach, I’ve learned the difference between reacting and responding. Reacting is quick, emotional, and usually fueled by the sense that we’ve been wronged — something sin loves to amplify. Responding takes a breath, steps back, and chooses firm compassion, the kind of “tough love” that still protects dignity. That’s the spirit of Jesus’ teaching: deal with sin honestly but do it in a way that keeps the door open to grace. In a world overflowing with conflict, that approach feels not only wise but urgently needed.

Soli Deo Gloria

Musical Reflection

When I heard of Dolly Parton’s death this week, my first thought was, “She carried Jesus into the world.” I don’t know all the details of her denominational background, but she spoke openly about her faith in Jesus Christ in a refreshing way and grew up in a deeply religious Tennessee family shaped by gospel music, Scripture, and the witness of her grandfather, Rev. Jake Owens. She often said she grew up knowing Jesus loved her and believing that through God all things were possible — an outlook that shaped both her music and the way she treated people. Her song, Light of a Clear Blue Morning, was written during a tumultuous period in her life in the 1970s. It resonates so deeply with Christians because it captures that unmistakable movement from darkness into hope — the very arc of the Gospel story — think resurrection.

Lyrics

It’s been a long dark night
And I’ve been a-waitin’ for the mornin’
It’s been a long hard fight
But I see a brand new day a-dawning
I’ve been looking for the sunshine
You know I ain’t seen it in so long
But everything’s gonna work out just fine
And everything’s gonna be all right
That’s been all wrong

‘Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay

It’s been a long, long time (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Since I’ve known the taste of freedom
Those clinging vines (ooh, ooh, ooh)
That had me bound, well I don’t need ’em, oh
I’ve been like a captured eagle
You know, an eagle’s born to fly

Now that I have won my freedom
Like an eagle, I am eager for the sky

But I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay

I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay

But I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay

And I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
Everything’s gonna be all right
It’s gonna be okay

There are several versions of this song out there — this one is a favorite of mine. It features Dolly with a star-studded cast: Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire, along with David Foster on piano and Christ Church Choir on background vocals. When the song hits the 2:30 mark, you may want to dance!

Enjoy!

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Commemorations: Week of 31 August

Wednesday 2 September
Nikolai Frederick Severin Grundvig, bishop, renewer of the church (d. 1872)

Follow this Link for Further Information

Grundtvig was a Danish pastor and writer who believed regular people deserved a chance to learn, grow, and shape their communities—not just those who went to universities. His ideas led to the creation of folk high schools, places where adults could live, study, sing, debate, and explore history and culture without the pressure of grades or exams. At their heart, these schools were about waking people up to their own gifts and helping them take part in the life of a healthy democracy.

Digital Ministry and Beyond

Lutheran World Federation

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of Lutheran churches formed in 1947 to strengthen cooperation in theology, mission, and humanitarian work across more than 99 countries. The ELCA has been a full and active member since its founding in 1988, inheriting earlier U.S. Lutheran participation in the LWF through predecessor church bodies. Through this relationship, ELCA congregations are connected to worldwide ministries of relief, advocacy, and ecumenical partnership carried out in the name of a shared Lutheran witness.

This document I shared below is a 2026 talk from Rev. Dr. Anne Burghardt, the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, shared with Lutheran leaders from across Africa. She’s basically naming the tough stuff churches are facing—political division, rising authoritarianism, and pressure on communities—and urging leaders to lean into servant leadership rather than power‑driven models. Throughout the address, she keeps tying local challenges back to the wider global Lutheran family, reminding everyone that they’re part of a communion working together for justice, dignity, and faithful leadership.

READ THE FULL ADDRESS HERE

In-Person Opportunities

As we turn the page into September, we’re refreshing our adult education opportunities at ELC as we continue creating spaces where members can explore Scripture and connect faith to daily life. Our digital ministry—including Two Worlds, the weekly lectionary blog — remains part of that effort. Beginning in September, Sundays from 11:00–11:45 a.m. will be dedicated to Faithful Conversations, a renewed rhythm of study shaped by three strands: Lutheran Theology, History, and Spiritual Disciplines. We’ll begin with a four‑week book study of Real Faith for Real Life (27 September–18 October), followed by a one‑day Reformation session on Martin Luther (25 October), a four‑week exploration of the lectionary (1–29 November), and a five‑week study of the Augsburg Confession (10 January–7 February 2027).

Two Worlds: Pentecost 14: 30 August 2026

23 Aug 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

Navigate the Blog

Reflect on This . . .

Fewer than half of all adults reported having read a book of any kind in 2022. Only 38% read a novel or short story. Those who read for pleasure on any given day fell from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023. 40% prefer to watch or listen to online news rather than read it. Gambling has become a more common leisure activity. Last year, 57% of Americans placed a bet. Clearly, we have entered a different world with respect to how we access and digest information.

Source: “The Age of Reading is Over.” The Atlantic Magazine, August 2026.

Pentecost 14 Readings

Common Themes and Connections

The readings for Pentecost 14 trace the costly but ultimately life‑giving path of faithfulness to God. Jeremiah and the psalmist both appeal to God for vindication, trusting that divine strength sustains those who walk with integrity even when opposed. Paul urges the community to embody sincere love through perseverance, humility, and non‑retaliation, framing discipleship as a lived sacrifice. Jesus then makes the challenge explicit: following him means taking up the cross, losing life in order to find it, and trusting that God’s purposes outweigh fear or self‑protection.

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Psalm 26: 1-8

Romans 12: 9-21

Matthew 16: 21-28

Readings are Linked

Image of the Week

Guercino’s Saint Peter (1650) shows the apostle in a quiet, reflective moment, holding the large, unmistakable key that has become his symbol. Guercino—one of the great Italian Baroque painters—had a gift for capturing human emotion, and here Peter looks both humbled and entrusted, as if he’s still absorbing what Jesus told him. The key itself points directly to Christ’s words in Matthew 16: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” a promise Peter probably didn’t fully understand at the time. In Guercino’s hands, the key isn’t a trophy but a responsibility—something weighty, something that asks for obedience and courage. The painting invites us to see Peter not as a triumphant leader, but as a disciple still learning what it means to carry what Christ has placed in his hands.

Saint Peter (Italian 1650)
Artist: Guercino (1591–1666)

Five-Minute Homily

Pentecost 14: “Taking Up the Cross (Without Pretending I’m Good at It)”

Perseverance has been on my mind this week, in part because we just launched another Cross Country season. No trait matters more in the athletic world than perseverance. You can have talent, good shoes, and perfect weather, but if you don’t have perseverance, the race owns you. Every runner eventually meets that moment when the body wants to quit and the mind has to decide whether it will obey the impulse to stop or obey something deeper — a commitment, a calling, a purpose. And that’s where the connection between perseverance and obedience gets interesting.

OBEDIENCE. Not exactly the word you’d choose for a motivational poster. It’s certainly not trending on Instagram. The Latin root obedire means “to give ear,” which sounds noble enough — until you remember how often we prefer to give ear to…well…ourselves. We live in a culture that treats personal freedom like a competitive sport. If there were an Olympic event for “doing whatever I want,” we would surely win the gold medal. So yes, OBEDIENCE feels old‑fashioned, like something your great‑grandmother might have embroidered on a pillow right next to “Don’t run with scissors.” But Scripture doesn’t seem embarrassed by it. This week, for example, Psalm 26 gives us David “walking in faithfulness” and integrity. I love that line — “I have walked in my integrity.” It sounds like David is giving us a spiritual Fitbit report: “Steps today: faithful. Heart rate: steady. Integrity: 100%.” Romans, meanwhile, reads like Paul’s Christianity 101 — genuine love, ardent service, patient perseverance. The phrase “do not lag in zeal” is especially appealing to me; it feels like something we should add to our daily vocabulary, maybe even shout at the starting line.

Then Matthew’s Gospel arrives and gives us much to think about this week. We meet the disciples right after Peter’s big moment — the “You are the Messiah” declaration that earns him a blessing and a future leadership role. For a brief second, Peter is riding high. Then Jesus starts talking about suffering, rejection, and death. The disciples freeze. This is not the Messiah job description they signed up for. Peter, ever the enthusiastic volunteer, jumps in: “No way, Lord. That must never happen.” And Jesus responds with the spiritual equivalent of a bucket of cold water: “Get behind me, Satan.” It’s harsh. It’s jarring. And honestly, I feel for Peter. He wasn’t trying to sabotage the mission; he was trying to protect his friend. He wanted a Messiah who fit his expectations — strong, victorious, kingly. The idea of a suffering Messiah was unthinkable. We have hindsight and early disciples did not — I always try to keep that in mind. They were living this remarkable story in real time, without knowing the ending. No resurrection yet. No Easter alleluias. Just a beloved teacher telling them the road ahead would be costly.

So what do we do with this in 2026? Jesus’ call to “take up the cross” can feel abstract for those of us who are not persecuted for our faith. But maybe “taking up the cross” today looks like OBEDIENCE — giving ear to God instead of our own ego (which, let’s be honest, can be pretty loud). Maybe it means letting the Holy Spirit nudge us into places we wouldn’t choose on our own — places that stretch us, humble us, or require us to care for people we would rather avoid. Maybe it means opening our hearts to the pain around us, even when compassion feels inconvenient. Maybe it means grieving the divisions that fracture our communities and choosing, deliberately and courageously, to show up as a Christian presence anyway. The world is starving for that presence — not louder opinions, but deeper obedience. So, let’s reclaim OBEDIENCE — not as blind submission, but as attentive faith. Let’s “give ear” to God’s call, take up the cross in whatever form it arrives, and walk forward in the light of Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria

Musical Reflection

Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells” comes from a season when he was wrestling with faith, fatigue, and the erosion of moral clarity he saw around him. The song’s Christian imagery — saints, judgment, blindness, and the plea for renewed discernment — mirrors the tension in Matthew 16, where Jesus tells the disciples that following him means stepping into a path defined by the cross rather than self‑protection. Dylan’s bells sound like the Gospel’s summons: a call to wake up, to hear God’s voice cutting through confusion, and to recognize that true life is found not in saving ourselves but in losing ourselves for Christ’s sake. In both the song and the Gospel, the message is urgent and unmistakable — clarity comes when we heed the call and follow Jesus into the costly way of discipleship.

Lyrics

Ring them bells, ye heathen
From the city that dreams
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
Across the valleys and streams
For they’re deep and they’re wide
And the world’s on its side
And time is runnin’ backwards
And so is the bride

Ring them bells St. Peter
Where the four winds blow
Ring them bells with an iron hand
So the people will know
Oh, it’s rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is goin’ down
Upon the sacred cow

Ring them bells Sweet Martha
For the poor man’s son
Ring them bells so the world will know
That God is one
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled
With lost sheep

Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them bells for all of us who are left
Ring them bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many
When the day is through
Ring them bells for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When her innocence dies

Ring them bells St. Catherine
From the top of the room
Ring them bells from the fortress
For the lilies that bloom
Oh, the lines are long
And the fighting is strong
And they’re breakin’ down the distance
Between right and wrong

There are many covers of this song out there, but I’m partial to this one from Joan Baez. Baez and Bob Dylan had a fast, messy, and hugely influential connection in the early ’60s. She was already a star, he was the unique newcomer with astonishing songs, and she basically opened the door for him — bringing him onstage, on tour, and into the spotlight. Their romance and musical partnership burned hot but didn’t last; Dylan’s rising fame and shifting priorities pulled them apart. Even so, their brief time together helped launch Dylan’s career and left a mark on both of them. Dylan has Jewish heritage and experienced a well-documented conversion to Christianity in the late 1970s. Baez was raised in the traditions of Quakerism. Both artists are deeply spiritual and offer interesting stories of faith.

Who Are We Commemorating This Week?

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW.

Commemorations: Week of 24 August

Monday 24 August
BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE

Friday 28 August
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (d. 430)

Moses the Black, Monk, Martyr (c. 400)

Follow the Links for Further Information

“Holy Christendom has, in my judgment, no better teacher after the apostles than St. Augustine.”

Saint Augustine (354-430)
by Philippe de Champaigne

Digital Ministry and Beyond

Explore Living Lutheran

Living Lutheran is the flagship magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, offering stories, reflections, and reporting that explore how faith is lived out in daily life. It highlights the people, ministries, and global connections of the ELCA while engaging readers with thoughtful articles on theology, discipleship, justice, and contemporary issues. Designed to inform and inspire, the magazine serves as a gathering place for the diverse voices and experiences that shape Lutheran life today.

Visit the Living Lutheran Magazine Website

If you are seeking a church home or want to participate in our weekly on-line worship, SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel. All are welcome!

In-Person Opportunities

As we turn the page into September, we’re refreshing our adult education opportunities at ELC as we continue creating spaces where members can explore Scripture and connect faith to daily life. Our digital ministry—including Two Worlds, the weekly lectionary blog — remains part of that effort. Beginning in September, Sundays from 11:00–11:45 a.m. will be dedicated to Faithful Conversations, a renewed rhythm of study shaped by three strands: Lutheran Theology, History, and Spiritual Disciplines. We’ll begin with a four‑week book study of Real Faith for Real Life (27 September–18 October), followed by a one‑day Reformation session on Martin Luther (25 October), a four‑week exploration of the lectionary (1–29 November), and a five‑week study of the Augsburg Confession (10 January–7 February 2027).

Two Worlds: Pentecost 13: 23 August 2026

16 Aug 202616 Aug 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

Being Transfomed

“The power of becoming something new with the arrival of each new day is one of the recognized privileges of having Christ live in the lives of those who follow him, or what Dietrich Bonhoeffer once described in personal terms as ‘Jesus Christ incarnate, crucified, glorified, entering my life and taking charge.’ The spectacular idea that we no longer have to make up our lives by the minute — or live under the constraint of our own charm or wit — is one of the blessings of being shaped by God.”

Peter W. Marty

From “All We May Become.” The Christian Century Magazine, page 1. September 2026.

Navigate the Blog

Two Worlds started in February 2023 as a simple extension of an Intro to Bible Study class and a desire to dig deeper into the Revised Common Lectionary. Today it’s a small digital ministry space that shares the RCL readings, a brief homily, and supporting images, music, and ELCA commemorations.

The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

The full three‑year cycle of the Lectionary is available on the Two Worlds Home Page.

Note: Images and lay-out tend to land better on a bigger screen.

Pentecost 13 Readings

Isaiah 51: 1-6

Psalm 138

Romans 12:1-8

Matthew 16: 13-20

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

The readings for Pentecost 13 (Year A) share a through-line of identity, vocation, and God’s sustaining faithfulness. Isaiah calls the people to “look to the rock from which you were hewn,” grounding their hope in God’s enduring righteousness and salvation. Psalm 138 echoes that confidence, praising the God who regards the lowly and strengthens the fainthearted. Romans 12 shifts the theme toward lived response, urging believers to offer themselves as a living sacrifice and to embrace their Spirit-given gifts for the sake of the community. In Matthew 16, Peter’s confession reveals the heart of Christian identity—recognizing Jesus as the Messiah—and Jesus responds by naming and commissioning the church for its mission. Together, these texts weave a picture of a people rooted in God’s steadfastness, called into purposeful service, and empowered to confess and embody the gospel in the world.

Image of the Week

Giovanni Lanfranco’s (1582-1647) Liberation of Saint Peter captures the explosive moment when divine light breaks into human confinement — an angel flooding Peter’s prison cell with radiance, rousing him from chains and leading him past guards who remain trapped in darkness. The painting’s swirling motion and stark chiaroscuro make the rescue feel both urgent and undeserved, a vivid embodiment of God’s power to free, call, and commission. That same dynamic pulses through Matthew 16:13–20. Peter, who will later be liberated (recounted in Acts 12), is here “awakened” in a different way: his confession of Jesus as the Messiah becomes the moment when God reveals, illumines, and entrusts him with a vocation he could never claim on his own. Lanfranco’s scene of physical deliverance mirrors the gospel’s spiritual one — Peter is the rock not because of his strength, but because God’s light breaks in, names him, and sends him.

Five-Minute Homily

One of the admonitions I offer my history students is simple but important: work to make this knowledge your own. Don’t just memorize it — absorb it, wrestle with it, let it shape how you see the world. That mindset fits our exploration of scripture as well. Romans 12:1–8 was one of those passages that grabbed me in my formative years. It didn’t feel abstract or distant; it felt like Paul was speaking directly to me, inviting me to see scripture not as ancient words but as a guide for how to live a real, everyday life. That early encounter helped me sense that faith isn’t something we hold at arm’s length — it’s something we make our own, something that forms us from the inside out.

To appreciate the force of this passage, a bit of backstory helps. Paul’s Letter to the Romans comes near the end of his ministry, written to a community he has not yet visited but hopes to strengthen for the mission ahead. In chapters 1–11 he lays out a sweeping theological vision: humanity’s universal need for grace, God’s saving action in Christ, and the astonishing inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles in a single covenant family. He traces God’s mercy from Abraham forward, culminating in Christ’s faithfulness and the gift of the Spirit. By the time he reaches chapter 12, Paul has built a grand argument about what God has done; now he turns to what this new life looks like in practice — a transformed community offering itself to God in gratitude.

That shift sets up the heart of today’s reading. Paul moves from proclamation to invitation. After eleven chapters describing God’s mercy, he shows what that mercy does in us. He begins with two forceful ideas: present and transform. Present your whole selves to God. And do not be shaped by the world’s patterns — be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Paul isn’t describing a minor adjustment. He’s naming a deep interior shift that changes how we see, choose, and live. These were radical notions for first‑generation Christians, and they remain radical for us who inhabit the twenty‑first century.

And that’s where discernment enters the picture. A renewed mind allows us to “discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Discernment is the Spirit‑shaped ability to sort through the noise and recognize what aligns with God’s purposes. Transformation and discernment work together: as God reshapes us, we learn to see with clearer eyes and respond with wiser hearts. And it echoes what Peter Marty in that introductory statement above — that Christ’s presence frees us from having to invent our lives moment by moment or rely on our own charm or wit. We are being shaped by God, not driven by self‑construction. And that’s Paul’s point: the Christian life doesn’t run on autopilot. It grows as we offer ourselves to God, allow grace to transform us, and practice the kind of discernment that keeps us aligned with God’s renewing work in the world. This is good news to share this week and beyond!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Musical Reflection

“I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” is an African American spiritual that emerged anonymously in the 19th century among enslaved communities, shaped by lived suffering and a deep trust in God’s companionship. Because spirituals were created and transmitted orally, there is no single composer; the song reflects the collective voice of the Black church. ELW (hymn 325) includes it as part of its commitment to honoring African American sacred music and expanding the church’s sung witness to lament, endurance, and hope.

The arrangement I posted here is a truly fun version of this song by a group from Brazil. Enjoy!

Lyrics

1. I want Jesus to walk with me.
I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along my pilgrim journey,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

2. In my trials, walk with me.
In my trials, walk with me.
When the shades of life are falling,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

3. In my sorrows, walk with me.
In my sorrows, walk with me.
When my heart within is aching.
I want Jesus to walk with me.

4. In my troubles, walk with me.
In my troubles, walk with me.
When my life becomes a burden,
I want Jesus to walk with me.

Jetro Meira de Oliveira is closely connected to Officina Vocalis as one of its central artistic leaders and shapers. He is widely recognized in Brazilian choral circles as a conductor, scholar, and pedagogue with a particular gift for chamber‑choir refinement—clean intonation, expressive clarity, and historically informed interpretation. Officina Vocalis reflects his artistic profile: a small, disciplined ensemble capable of navigating Renaissance polyphony, Baroque works, and contemporary repertoire with precision and warmth.

Visit His Website Here!

ELCA Commemorations

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW. We have only one on the calendar this week.

Commemorations: Week of 17 August

Thursday 20 August
Bernard, Abbott of Clairvaux (d.1153)

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a towering figure of 12th‑century Western Christianity — monk, mystic, reformer, and one of the most influential voices of the Cistercian Movement. Born into a noble family in Burgundy, he entered the newly founded monastery at Cîteaux as a young man and soon helped establish Clairvaux, where his leadership and spiritual intensity shaped a generation of monastic life. Bernard became known for his passionate preaching, his deep devotion to Christ, and his role in major church affairs, including advising popes and inspiring the Second Crusade. His writings, especially on love of God and humility, remain central to Christian spirituality.

Digital Ministry

Explore Living Lutheran

If you are seeking a church home or want to participate in our weekly on-line worship, subscribe to our YouTube Channel. All are welcome!

The Bible Project

The Bible Project is a nonprofit, crowdfunded organization that creates free animated videos, podcasts, articles, and classes to help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus. Founded in 2014 by biblical scholar Tim Mackie and filmmaker Jon Collins, the project uses visual storytelling and solid scholarship to make Scripture approachable and transformative. Their resources—covering every book of the Bible, major themes, and key word studies—are available in more than 50 languages and are designed to support both individual study and group learning.

The video posted below is an example of their work — a wonderful explanation of the concept of Shalom.

Shalom — Peace

Two Worlds: Pentecost 12: 16 August 2026

9 Aug 202613 Aug 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

Spiritual Rhythms

“Dependable spiritual rhythms in life ground us in remarkable ways. Sometimes they morph into powerful habits that help hold life together and evade that inner fragmentation . . . Reliable rhythms matter biologically, relationally, and spiritually. Life can turn quickly sour without them.”

Peter W. Marty

From “Rhythms of Life,” by Peter W. Marty, editor/publisher of The Christian Century, August 2026.

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

Navigate the Blog

Two Worlds began in February 2023 as an extension of an Intro to Bible Study class and a desire to better understand the Revised Common Lectionary. It has since become an anchor for Adult Study in our parish, offering a steady rhythm of scripture, reflection, and resources across the church year. Today, Two Worlds serves as a digital ministry space featuring the weekly RCL readings and a brief homily, supported by images, music, and the ELCA’s weekly commemorations.

The blog is authored by Paul Rykken in consultation with Pastor Jen Hatleli of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Black River Falls, Wisconsin.

The full three‑year cycle of the Lectionary is available on the Two Worlds Home Page.

Note: Images and lay-out tend to land better on a bigger screen.

Pentecost 12 Readings

Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8

Psalm 67

Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32

Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28

Readings are Linked

Common Themes and Connections

The readings for Pentecost 12 converge around God’s expansive mercy and the widening of the covenant community. Isaiah and the psalm proclaim that God gathers outsiders and blesses all nations, revealing a divine intention that stretches far beyond Israel alone. Paul reflects on this same mystery, insisting that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable and that both Jews and Gentiles stand within God’s saving purpose through mercy. In Matthew, Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman dramatizes this widening circle, showing that persistent faith breaks through boundaries and reveals a God who ultimately refuses to exclude anyone.

Image of the Week

*Christ and the Canaanite Woman* by Ludovio Carracci (1555-1619)

The story of Christ’s encounter with the Canaanite woman found in Matthew 15 is unsettling.

Ludovico Carracci leans into that tension by showing Jesus and the woman locked in a moment of raw human need and unexpected grace. The kneeling figure draws your eye immediately, her posture making the case for her daughter before she even speaks, while Jesus’ gesture suggests both challenge and invitation. Around them, Carracci fills the scene with onlookers whose mixed reactions mirror the discomfort in the Gospel itself — some curious, some resistant, some unsure what to make of this boundary‑breaking exchange. As a member of the influential Carracci family, Ludovico helped push Italian painting toward greater emotional realism, and you can feel that impulse here in the way he lets the drama play out through bodies, faces, and the charged space between them.

Five-Minute Homily

Isaiah 56 speaks with force into our moment. We live in a time when communities argue over who belongs, who is welcome, and how trust can be rebuilt after deep fractures. The prophet’s words cut through that noise. They remind us that God’s people have stood in this kind of uncertainty before — when institutions collapsed, when identity felt fragile, and when the future was anything but clear. Isaiah answers that anxiety with a call to justice, mercy, and wide‑open welcome.

*Waters of Babylon* (1920) by Gebhard Fugel

To hear that call, we need to know where we are in Isaiah’s long prophetic story. The book unfolds across three eras. First Isaiah (1-39) speaks from eighth‑century Judah under the pressure of Assyria. Second Isaiah (40-55) speaks hope to exiles in Babylon. Third Isaiah (56-66) — where today’s reading begins — addresses those who have returned home and now face the hard work of rebuilding a broken society. Isaiah 56 stands at the threshold of that struggle. The exiles are back, but nothing is simple. The temple lies in ruins. Social divisions run deep. Debates about purity and belonging threaten to define the future. Into that fragile moment, the prophet announces that God’s salvation is already moving — and calls the people to embody it through justice, faithfulness, and a welcome that refuses to shut anyone out.

Samuel Giere of Wartburg Seminary sharpens this point: Isaiah 56 is a deliberate reset. It reopens the covenant and stretches it beyond every boundary the community had used to decide who counts. The foreigner and the eunuch — people long excluded by law, custom, and religious practice — are not just invited in. They are promised joy in God’s presence and given “a name better than sons and daughters.” The prophet is saying something bold: God’s renewed covenant is not a gated community. It is a gathering place. God’s blessing spills outward, reaching those who were once pushed aside. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (verse 7). That line is not a slogan. It is a mission. It tells Israel — and it tells us — that God’s future cannot be built by drawing tighter circles. It is built by practicing justice, keeping faith, and welcoming those who have been told they don’t belong.

This is where the Gospel comes alive. In Matthew 15, Jesus confronts boundary‑keeping of a different kind — purity rules that define who is clean, who is worthy, who is inside. He teaches that what defiles is not what goes into the mouth but what comes out of the heart. Then he meets a Canaanite woman whose persistence breaks open the disciples’ assumptions. Jesus steps across the boundary they thought was fixed. He embodies Isaiah’s vision: God gathers the outcasts — and then gathers “others besides those already gathered” (Isaiah 56:8).

So what does that mean for us? It means the church’s calling is not to guard the door but to widen it. Isaiah and Jesus both insist that God’s mercy is always moving outward. In a moment when our public life feels fractured and fearful, these texts invite us to trust that God is already gathering, already restoring, already breaking down the barriers we build. Our task is to live in that movement—to become communities where God’s wide mercy is not just preached but practiced, where strangers find joy, and where those once pushed aside discover that they are already at the center of God’s heart.

Soli Deo Gloria!

I am indebted to Samuel Giere for his interpretation of the Isaiah passage this week. He is an Associate Professor of Homiletics and Biblical Interpretation at Warburg Seminary in Dubuque Iowa. His article was from 2014 and was accessed from the Working Preacher website, sponsored by Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Musical Reflection

Folliott S. Pierpoint wrote “For the Beauty of the Earth” in 1864 while walking near his home in Bath, England, struck by the spring landscape and wanting to create a simple hymn of gratitude for creation and the gifts of daily life. His original text was meant for Communion, which is why the refrain was “Christ, our God, to thee we raise,” though later hymnals broadened it for general use. More than a century later, John Rutter (1945– ) took Pierpoint’s words and shaped them into one of his most beloved choral pieces, full of the warm, flowing lines choirs love him for. Rutter grew up in London, studied at Clare College, Cambridge, and quickly became known for music that feels both polished and immediately singable. His setting of “For the Beauty of the Earth” remains a favorite because it captures Pierpoint’s simple joy while sounding unmistakably like Rutter — bright, grateful, and beautifully crafted. I hope you enjoy the version I posted here.

Lyrics

Verse 1
For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us lies

Chorus
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

Verse 2
For the beauty of the hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Sun and moon and stars of light

Chorus
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

Verse 3
For the joy of human love
Brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on earth and friends above
For all gentle thoughts and mild
For all gentle thoughts and mild

Chorus
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise

The Heartstrings Cello Ensemble is a small, collaborative group of cellists known for performances that blend warmth, clarity, and an easy sense of connection with audiences. Their sound leans into the natural lyricism of the cello, creating arrangements that feel both intimate and richly textured. The ensemble often mixes familiar classical repertoire with fresh, accessible selections that highlight the expressive range of the instrument. What sets them apart is the way their players listen to one another, shaping a unified sound that feels heartfelt, inviting, and true to their name.

Visit Their Website Here!

ELCA Commemorations

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW. We have several commemorations this week, as noted.

Commemorations: Week of 10 August

Monday 10 August
Lawrence, deacon, martyr (d. 258)

Tuesday 11 August
Clare, Abbess of San Damiano (d. 1253)

Thursday 13 August
Florence Nightingale (d. 1910), Clara Maass (d. 1901); renewers of society

Friday 14 August
Maximilian Kolbe (d. 1941), Kaj Munk (d. 1944); martyrs

Saturday 15 August
MARY, MOTHER OF OUR LORD

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Background on the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a national church body made up of nearly 8,900 congregations across the United States and the Caribbean. It holds together a shared theology, mission, and public witness rooted in Lutheran tradition and shaped by a commitment to grace, justice, and service in the world. The ELCA is organized into 65 Synods, each serving as a regional expression of the church. Synods provide pastoral care and oversight for congregations and rostered ministers, support call processes, guide mission and ministry in their region, and connect local congregations to the wider work of the ELCA. In short, Synods are the bridge between local congregations and the national church—helping communities thrive, collaborate, and live out the gospel in their particular context.

Black River Falls ELC is a member of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.

Northwest Synod Website

Two Worlds: Pentecost 11: 9 August 2026

2 Aug 20263 Aug 2026 / Rykken / Leave a comment

Velkommen!

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The Pentecost 11 Readings

1 Kings 19: 9-18

Psalm 85: 8-13

Romans 10: 5-15

Matthew 14: 22-33

Readings are Linked

Approaching the Readings

The readings for Pentecost 11 trace a movement from fear and uncertainty toward renewed trust in God’s saving presence. Elijah’s encounter with God in the “sound of sheer silence” and the psalmist’s promise that steadfast love and faithfulness will meet both highlight how God comes with quiet mercy rather than spectacle. Paul’s teaching in Romans underscores that this mercy is meant to be proclaimed so others may call on the Lord and be saved. In Matthew, Jesus meets the disciples amid the storm, revealing that divine grace reaches people precisely when they are overwhelmed and invites them to step forward in faith.

Image of the Week

*Christ Walking on the Waters* by Virgilio Mattoni (Spanish 19th Century)

Virgilio Mattoni, a Sevillian painter active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was known for combining academic technique with a dramatic, almost theatrical sense of religious storytelling. In Christ Walking on the Waters at Iglesia de San Pedro, he heightens the miracle’s emotional tension by contrasting the turbulent, slate‑colored sea with Christ’s calm, illuminated figure, creating a visual theology of serenity confronting chaos. The disciples’ gestures—fear, astonishment, and desperate reaching—anchor the scene in human vulnerability, a hallmark of Mattoni’s narrative style. The composition ultimately emphasizes Christ’s stabilizing presence, using light, posture, and spatial depth to convey divine authority breaking into a world overwhelmed by uncertainty.

Five-Minute Homily

Listen to this week’s homily here.

*Christ Walking on Water* by Sara Kirkeberg Raugland (Trefoldighed Church, Battle Lake, MN)

Walking in Two Worlds

We are nearing the halfway point of the Season of Pentecost — the longest stretch in the church year — and Matthew has been guiding us through a series of miracle stories these past weeks. Diana Butler Bass, historian and theologian, reminds us that miracle stories always provoke questions. Were they real? Are they metaphors? Are miracles even possible? What makes a miracle a miracle? Those questions hover over every text we read in this season, including this week’s Gospel.

Matthew 14 invites us into one of the most vivid miracle scenes in Scripture — not only Jesus walking on the water (also found in Mark 6:45–52 and John 6:16–21), but Peter’s daring attempt to join him, a detail only Matthew preserves. Before we enter that moment, I find myself returning to a childhood memory. I still remember standing in a small country church as a child, staring at an altar painting of this week’s Gospel scene. It was not the church pictured here, but that is the image. Jesus walking on the storm‑tossed water captured my imagination long before I understood its depth.

The setting matters. After feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13–21), Jesus withdraws to pray (14:23) while the disciples sail across the Sea of Galilee. By nightfall, a brutal storm engulfs them (14:24). At dawn, with the wind still raging, they see a figure striding toward them on the waves. Terrified, they assume it’s a ghost (14:26). Jesus answers with that unforgettable reassurance: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid (14:27). Biblical scholars note that some version of “do not be afraid” is the most repeated command in Scripture. Sit with that for a moment or two.

Then Peter steps forward. True to form, he wants proof. Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water, he says (14:28), and he climbs out of the boat. For a moment, he walks. Then fear overtakes him, the waves rise, and he sinks (14:30). Jesus pulls him up, gently rebukes his doubt (14:31), and climbs into the boat. The storm stops. The disciples, stunned by what they have witnessed, proclaim him “Son of God” — the first time his followers use that title (14:33). What do we make of this whirlwind of a story? Let me offer two reflections.

First, Christians live in two worlds at once — the world we inhabit daily and the Kingdom that already claims us. Fear thrives in the earthly one. We fear danger, illness, change, failure, success, difference, loss, death, and the future itself. Fear traps us. Like Peter, we want to step out of the boat with confidence, trusting God to steady us. Yet our courage falters, distractions rise, and the waves swallow us. In those moments, our prayer becomes Peter’s cry: “Lord, save me!” Second, even when we falter, Jesus keeps moving toward us. He does not wait for us to master our fears or perfect our faith. He walks toward us in steadfast love, reminding us that we already belong to his Kingdom. That promise — sealed in baptism — strengthens us to face our fears with courage rooted not in bravado but in God’s presence. “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.” That is a message worth carrying into the world, especially for those who most need to hear it.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Musical Reflection

This week’s Gospel reading from Matthew 14 immediately brought a beloved hymn to mind — Eternal Father, Strong to Save (you’ll find it in the ELW on page 756). The connection feels almost instinctive because the hymn was born out of real fear and real rescue at sea. William Whiting wrote the text in 1860 after surviving a violent storm; he wanted to comfort a student who dreaded ocean travel. His words lean heavily on biblical scenes where God shows mastery over chaotic waters, and John Bacchus Dykes’ tune Melita gave the hymn its solemn, maritime character. When you hear Whiting’s plea — “for those in peril on the sea” — it’s hard not to picture the disciples straining at the oars in Matthew 14, battered by wind and waves, or Peter stepping out of the boat only to sink beneath the storm. The hymn’s heartbeat is the same as that moment in the Gospel: human fear meeting divine presence. Just as Jesus reaches out to Peter with a steady hand, the hymn trusts that God still hears, still comes near, and still brings calm where chaos once ruled.

Lyrics

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm does bind the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

2 O Savior, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walked upon the foaming deep,
And calm amid the rage did sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

3 O Holy Spirit, who did brood
Upon the waters dark and rude,
And bid their angry tumult cease,
And give for wild confusion peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

4 O Trinity of love and pow’r,
Your children shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire, and foe,
Protect them where-so-e’er they go;
Thus, evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

At President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on January 9, 2025, the hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save was sung with a quiet, reverent weight that fit both the moment and the man. Carter had begun his adult life as a Navy submariner, and the hymn’s deep roots in naval tradition made it an especially fitting tribute. Its plea for God’s protection “for those in peril on the sea” echoed Carter’s own blend of humility, courage, and service that carried him from the military to the presidency and into decades of humanitarian work. In that setting, the hymn became more than music — it was a graceful acknowledgment of the faith and vocation that shaped his long public life.

ELCA Commemorations

Note: The ELCA commemorates a wide range of Christians throughout the year as a way of remembering that God has worked through ordinary people in every age. These commemorations — drawn from Scripture, the early church, the Reformation, and more recent history — invite us to see faith lived out in many different vocations and cultures. They aren’t about elevating “heroes,” but about widening our sense of the communion of saints and letting their witness encourage our own. In marking these days, the church pauses to give thanks, to learn, and to be reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to shape faithful lives in every generation.

You will find the full listing of them in the front of the ELW. Explore this week’s commemorations via the links provided under the dates.

Commemorations for the Week of 3 August

Dominic, Founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) d. 8 August 1221

St. Dominic (1170–1221) was a Spanish priest whose compassion for people caught in spiritual confusion led him to found the Order of Preachers, better known as the Dominicans. He believed that preaching grounded in study, humility, and poverty was essential for renewing the church, especially in regions troubled by the Albigensian Movement. Dominic traveled constantly, teaching, debating, and forming communities devoted to learning and proclaiming the Gospel with clarity and joy. By the time of his death in Bologna, his order had already begun to spread across Europe, shaping Christian theology and education for centuries.

Visit the Dominican Friars Website Here!

The Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, are derived from the Dominican Order and their Motherhouse is located in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin (southwestern corner).

Learn about them here!

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If you are seeking a church home or want to participate in our weekly on-line worship, subscribe to our YouTube Channel. All are welcome!

The Episcopal News Service

The ELCA shares full communion with six other church bodies: Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ, Moravian Church in America, The Episcopal Church, and The United Methodist Church.

From their website: Episcopal News Service (ENS) offers in-depth reporting of local, regional, national and international news for Episcopalians and others interested in the church’s mission and ministry. Episcopal News Service is the official news source of the Episcopal Church.

Check out the ENS Website Here!