Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Irvine
2May/15Off

Tomorrow Sunday May 3rd, 2015 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: “Abide in Me, and I in You” (John 15:1-8)

Divine Service: 9:30 am

Bible Study for adults, high school, and Sunday School for junior youth and little children starts at 11:00 am

Location: Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine: 12500 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618

Directions: Exit Sand Canyon from the 405 or 5, head East towards the hills, cross Irvine Blvd., turn right on Saint’s Way (this will put you on the campus of Crean Lutheran High School…we worship in the event center/gym)

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

John 15 is truly a great Scripture. Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ identifies Himself as the true vine and that we — the people of God — are His branches. It is hard to think of a better description of what it means to be a Christian. In a world in which we are bombarded with that which takes from you, extracts, exhausts, weighs down, weakens, etc., we are led to the One who lifts up, adds to, invigorates, restores, heals, revives…He is our Vine, the true Vine, the genuine Vine. This is our theme tomorrow; this is His Word for you!
Also come to receive the Lord directly in the bountiful and powerful gift of the Holy Sacrament. Through this means of grace we “bear much fruit.” (John 15)
Let me switch gears and share a very important announcement with you:
Today (Saturday, May 2nd) our organist Karissa Lystrup graduates from Concordia University Irvine and not too long ago she was offered a truly fantastic full-time position to serve a very large LC-MS congregation (St. John’s) in Bakersfield, CA. This is a golden opportunity for her and she has decided to take the position.
Karissa has been a fantastic servant of God in our midst. And the timing of it all…when we needed to have a strong start (in a re-start congregation/like a mission church) and when we needed a strong musician, the Lord sent Karissa to us. For almost four years she has been that perfect musician for us. She was instrumental (no pun intended) in helping us build a strong foundation for the church. I can’t think of anyone who could have done a better job!
Karissa will continue to serve us throughout this month and the month of June. Her first day in Bakersfield is July 1st. The leadership will of course begin the process for a new organist.
In the meantime, please reach out to Karissa sharing the love and support of Christ and thanking her for her heart-felt service to us. She will be missed!
Here is a little excerpt from tomorrow’s sermon:
Abide in Me, and I in You
(John 15:1-8)
Pastor EspinosaGrace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. Alleluia! He is risen! [He is risen indeed! Alleluia!]. In Jesus’ Name, Amen! How often dear Christians – and how easily – do we feel completely drained? Most assuredly our cares and concerns weigh us down and our actual deficiencies due to our true weaknesses and limitations make us feel wholly inadequate. It is like we are always running out of power.

Our contemporary technology reminds us of this. My laptop has a battery, but it only lasts for about an hour and — you know the routine — before you know it, you’ve got to plug it in because it is about to die. How often do we do this with our phones? Just the other day there I was repeating that all-too familiar scenario: there is an important call coming in, but my phone was about to die. In that particular instance, my phone charger wasn’t in my car. The whole episode raised the stress-level and produced a fair share of anxiety. The I-Pad needs to be plugged in, the coffee maker needs to be filled with water, the car needs gas…even “the Engergizer Bunny” (if you remember those commercials) doesn’t really go on forever…the “going, going, and going” eventually stops going!
Our Lord Jesus teaches us as much, but in application to infinitely more important realities. He says bluntly – and with the greatest love for you – that “apart from [Him], you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) We need to hear this and we need to believe it. It isn’t easy for us to do. In-spite of all the examples of limitations all around us, we behave as if this really isn’t true of ourselves (even though there is so much evidence to the contrary). But why do we act this way as if to live in a state of denial (even though we know that our limitations are as real as real can be)? Our sin of course makes us behave as though we are totally self-sufficient. It is our sin that drives us to live as if we do not need the one and only power source, even the Lord.
Jesus here in John 15 is using this rich imagery of the vine, but we should understand that when the disciples heard the imagery, they most likely already knew that Jesus was using the imagery in a new and different way. You see the Jews had heard about the vine before, but in the Old Testament it was in reference to the people of Israel. Israel herself – the apple of His eye – was God’s vine.
Israel, however, in Psalm 80:9-19 was a vine that stopped flourishing. They too experienced their sinful limitation – their rebellion against God got them “unplugged” from the Lord and they lost their power — and in this Psalm there is begging to God to restore His people; to re-energize them again.
The Lord had and has compassion. He saw Israel’s true state and He sees ours and He knows that we do not have what it takes to be our own vines, our own sources of life and power. So in the greatest love and mercy He came to the Jews; in the greatest love and mercy He comes to you:
1[Jesus said:] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
I hope to see you in God’s house tomorrow morning!
In Jesus’ Love,
Pastor
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