Part 1 of 4 part series on Tough Lovin'

Though it often seems more easily said than done, loving the unlovable is possible with guidance from our scriptures.

Ezekiel 33:7-11 & Matthew 18:15-20

Love is not always easy, comfortable, or popular. Sometimes love requires us to speak the truth when silence would be simpler. In Ezekiel, God calls the watchman to warn others. In Matthew, Jesus gives us a pathway for addressing conflict with honesty, fairness, and grace. People may not like us for being honest, but it is truly the pathway of love. Discover how “a due process” in our relationships can move us beyond gossip and avoidance toward courageous conversations, reconciliation, and the kind of tough lovin’ that seeks the good of another.

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Part 3 of 3 part series on keeping the Sabbath.

Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 7-11 & Luke 15:11-32

God's vision for Sabbath has always reached beyond personal relaxation. Every seventh year Israel was called to release debts and care generously for those in need. Jesus paints the same picture in the parable of the prodigal son, where a forgiving father throws a feast instead of demanding repayment. God's rest transforms our hearts, freeing us from resentment, fear, and scarcity. When we trust God's abundance, we become people who forgive freely, give generously, and celebrate restoration instead of revenge. This final message of our Sabbath series explores how God's Sabbath creates communities marked by grace.

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In this message Pastor Nicole Eastwood (Assistant to the Bishop of FL-Bahamas Synod of ELCA) brought the Good News to both Nativity and St. John Lutheran congregations. Through Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, and Matthew 15:21-28, Pastor Nicole delivered a message rooted in God's mission of inclusive grace to all peoples. What do World Cup Football (soccer), the Canaanite woman of Matthew 15, two small congregations in Palm Beach county, and all of us have in common? Listen and find out!

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