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Welcome to The Good News From The Gardens Podcast. I am Pastor Steve Winsor, of Nativity Lutheran Church and School in Palm Beach Gardens Florida. Each week I will be sharing a message grounded in faith, hope and love of God from our Sunday worship service right here via this podcast. I hope you consider subscribing and sharing this message with others.
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Peace is Present Where Preparation, and Proclamation Intersect Malachi 3:1-4 | Luke 1:68-79| Luke 3:1-6 Zechariah believed his son John was born for a distinct purpose. John would come to be known as John the Baptist. In the midst of religious and political turmoil, John declared through a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins people co…
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Living in the Meantime Luke 21:25-36 As faithful people living in the meantime, we are called to patience and hope. We don’t scramble and clamor for answers to fulfill our hearts desires. Before we reach our heavenly destination, the end, the day or days of redemption, there is the journey, what I like to call the meantime. But being patient and ho…
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Gifts of Love: The Sky is NOT Falling! Mark 13:1-8 In this text…the disciples are distracted by big buildings, and Jesus dismisses the buildings grandeur and assures the disciples of their collapse. Rightfully so, they are concerned about this calamitous occasion. Jesus does not offer comfort, but ratchets up the mayhem, assuring them that there wi…
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Gifts of Love: Peanut Butter Cups and a Mile High Meal with Mother Theresa Mark 12:38-44 Jesus reports to us from the temple. While there, he rails against the scribes' accumulation of wealth and opulence at the expense of widows, and their inauthentic giving. In contrast, he lifts up a widow. A victim of the broken and unjust system. Jesus points …
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All Saints Sunday: Poll Your Emotions John 11:32-44 Through the story of the raising of Lazarus, we experience Jesus accompanying us in our sorrow, and we believe that in Christ the power of death will be defeated. In and around the death of Lazarus, Jesus managed to keep it together in a situation that questioned his ability and sincerity, was str…
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The Upside-Down Kingdom: Where the Blind Can See Mark 10-46-52 His name is Bartimaeus. He is the son of Timaeus. He once could see, but is now blind. We don’t know why he is blind. He almost went unseen by Jesus while begging at the city gates. People tried to stifle his pleas for Jesus mercy. Jesus stopped what he was doing and called for him. Jes…
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This Contemplative Prayer Service for Grace-filled Civic Engagement was prepared by the Just Love Team of the Florida Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for their 2024 Fall Conference on Ministry in September of 2024. It has been modified with permission for this podcast. You will hear 14 voices in this prayer service. Our …
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The Upside Down Kingdom: Where the Least Are Greatest Mark 10:35-45 This week in Mark, Jesus receives a request from James and John. They wish to sit at the right and left of Jesus when in his glory. Jesus wastes no time and setting these two glory hounds straight. Glory is reserved for those who seek glory, exaltation, freedom, and life abundant f…
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The Upside Down Kingdom: Hurricane Jesus Part 3 of 4 series from the 10th chapter of Mark Mark 10:2-16 Jesus is questioned by a rich man about how he can go about inheriting eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, then he will have treasure in heaven. Then, he can follow Jesus. Jesus then doubles down o…
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The Upside Down Kingdom: All Are Blessed Mark 10:2-16 The Gospel of Mark is a tough one this week. Biblical interpretation is at the center of Jesus being questioned by Pharisees. It is for us as well. In this Gospel passage there appears to be unsettling language from Jesus about marriage, divorce and a woman’s freedom in first century Holy Land. …
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A Faith That Works: Powerful Prayer Part 5 of a 5 part series in book of James James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-50 The conclusion of the Book of James gives advice to the early Christian community about the power of prayer and the necessity of confession of sins. In Mark, the disciples are concerned about a person who is casting out demons in Jesus names. P…
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A Faith That Works: The Good Life Part 4 of 5 part series in book of James James 3:13 Mark 8:27-38 Mary Winsor shares her year in Mexico City at a migrant shelter through the (YAGM) Young Adult in Global Mission program and a story of shared hope and joy. This followed by a message on a verse from James and a passage in Mark that zeros in on the hu…
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A Faith That Works: Taming the Tongue Part 3 of a 5 part series in the book of James James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 In both the Mark and James readings, there is an emphasis in truthful, life giving speech. James warns of the dangers of language, and in Mark Jesus seeks to draw the truth out of Peter in asking him, “Who do you say that I am?” If we say …
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A Faith That Works: Body and Soul Week two of five on a series in the book of James. James 2:1-17 Mark 7:24-37 This Sunday James makes a case that our bodies matter when it comes to exercising our faith. He argues that the love of God in Jesus Christ is made tangible for those in need when we use our physical means to meet physical needs. Does God’…
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Long time Nativity member Doris Karlik sits down with Pastor Steve for a conversation about her youth as a Lutheran, her many roles in the local and national church, her love of God and love of Nativity. You don't want to miss this 93 year young woman's recollection of her upbringing in New Jersey, her 55 years as a member of Nativity, and her hope…
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A Faith That Works: Just Do It! James 1:17-27 Part 1 of a 5 week series in the book of James. Martin Luther was not a fan of the book of James, calling it, “an epistle of straw”. He believed its grace was not sturdy enough to be included in the canon. He insisted that James relied too heavily on the works of an individual as their saving grace, and…
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God’s “Offensive” Armor Ephesians 6:10-20 This Sunday we end our trip through the book of Ephesians with the well-known Armor of God discourse. Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus uses military garb as a metaphor for how to protect one’s self from the evils of the world. Because of Jesus we are equipped to go on the offensive. Because of Jesus, o…
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Ephesians 5:15-20 Filled with the Spirit! We continue our series in Ephesians wherein the Apostle Paul writes to the congregation in Ephesus about living wisely, and praising God in, and through all things. What does wise living look like to you in these days? Paul asks us to understand the will of the Lord. Might that be where we encounter wisdom?…
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Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Put Away Malice, Live in Love In this Sunday’s reading from Ephesians we hear the Apostle Paul state what the behavior of a Christian community is to look like. In short, they are to be living demonstrations of the revolutionary “new humanity” forged in Jesus’ death and resurrection. In what ways can we put away what is not life-…
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Hungry Hearts John 6:24-35 Jesus is pursued by a crowd. A conversation ensues about why they are searching for him. Are they hungry for more of the bread He provided them, or are they hungry for more signs that Jesus himself is the work of God? Join us this Sunday at 9AM as we distinguish between earthly, and heavenly food. What fuels your living? …
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Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Jesus’ attempt to retreat with his disciples is disrupted by an overwhelming demand for their ministry. Jesus diverts his attention to a crowd of people who appear lost. What happens when our need for healing and wholeness, is met by the One who recognizes our need for healing and wholeness? For your own healing and wholeness, i…
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Mark 6:14-29 The Days of Our Lives This passage from Mark is the stuff daytime soap operas are made of, mistaken identities, infidelity, persons played as pawns for power, greed, and revenge. Whether it is 30 or 2024 CE, these are the days of our lives. Situated after Jesus sending the twelve out two by two, this story about John the Baptist’s deat…
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Mark 6:1-13 Back in his hometown, Jesus runs into disbelief and opposition surrounding his knowledge and healing powers. Right on the heels of this experience, He sends his disciples into villages two by two to do what he just had difficulty doing. His instructions, “take nothing for your journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their …
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Mark 5:21-43 That Healing Touch In this message we hear two intermingled stories of Jesus healing. A desperate father asks Jesus to heal his actively dying daughter. While enroute to said child, a woman who has bled for 12 years reaches to touch Jesus cloak and is instantaneously healed. Jesus takes the time to hear her story. Meanwhile, tending to…
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Mark 4:26-34 Through two similar parables in this week’s Gospel we hear Jesus describe how the kingdom of God works. The kingdom God, the proliferation of what is good and righteous comes to be through any and all possible means. And though it may seem will-nilly, and unordered, consider the process of seed to harvest. Or consider the unassuming mu…
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In this message we join Jesus in the midst of an identity crisis. That is, those around him are not recognizing his power, even calling him Satan! His family are attempting to silence him. Jesus denounces those who stand against him and recognizes those who stand with him as being his true kin. Life is rife with contention about what is of good and…
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Psalm 145:8-9 Mark 1:40-45. This message was given by Rev. Tim Smiley. Tim is an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church, recently retired from full-time pastoral ministry after forty-one years of service. He remains active in ministry as a guest preacher, mentoring pastors, and together with his wife, Candy, serving as members of their local…
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The Holy Trinity. In trying to define and explain it, our words awkwardly dance in and out of heresies. In trying to define and explain the Holy Trinity, we risk isolating, elevating or demoting one over the others, and damaging the intimacy of the relationship. When we try to define and explain the Holy Trinity we undermine the mystery of faith. P…
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The third person of the Trinity had their day this past Sunday as we celebrated the arrival of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' community of believers. How did the Holy Spirit arrive? The book of Acts explains in detail. Why do we need the Spirit? Jesus explains in John. What will the Spirit do for us? Paul explains in Romans. What is the Spirit capable o…
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Both God and Jesus said, “Listen”. It was a heads up that what they were about to say was important. I believe everyone has something important to say. Everyone has a story, an event that helps to define who they are, and possess the power to connect us to one another in ways that only the Holy Spirit can. Our first guests are longtime member (40+ …
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Acts 10:44-48 John 15:9-17 In this message we continue with Jesus’ analogy of himself the vine, and we the branches, as it relates to friendship, and loving one another as Jesus loves you. In Acts, Peter advocates for the baptism of Gentiles. In both texts, the definition of love and servitude is expanding. How might you better define friendship in…
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Acts 8:26-40 John 15:1-8 The Spirit leads us to grow the kingdom here on earth. We are led, to lead, and assist in someone’s belief in Jesus Christ as their source of life, healing and forgiveness. Someone needs you to step into their life; to reopen the doors of the church to them, to step into the waters of baptism with them. Abiding in the Lord …
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Psalm 23 John 10:11-18 If the 23rd Psalm is a profession of the Lord as a shepherd, then John 10:11-18 is the assured response of the Lord being a good shepherd. In the John text Jesus aligns his life with that of a shepherd who is invested in his flock. Unlike a haired hand, a good shepherd goes to all lengths for the sheep that are “in” the flock…
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Luke 24:36-48 The night of the day in which Jesus resurrected, He appears amongst the disciples. Luke’s assessed the disciple's state of heart and mind as being, joyful disbelief and still wondering. They are joyful in the midst of disbelieving and yet still wondering. Think about that for a moment, what it is, to be joyful in the midst of disbelie…
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