King of Kings Lutheran Church

  I always imagined dying a faithful death for Christ would mean burning at the stake. Now, I suspect it will mean dying in my bed of natural causes. The assisted dying movement gained momentum recently when the New York State Assembly and the UK House of Commons both passed laws paving the way for patients to die with the help of the medical community. Pending final approval, they will join nations such as Canada, The Netherlands, most of Australia, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as twelve U.S. jurisdictions. The push to legalize what is often termed “Medical Assistance in Dying” is a major sign of what philosopher Philip Rieff called “the triumph of the therapeutic”: the belief that for everything there must be a therapy, a remedy, a provision of comfort. Not only every aspect of our lives, but now even our deaths must be therapized. It is also significant that assisted dying has gained acceptance in countries where individual choice and freedom of action are valued the highest....

  The Never-Children Are His Always Children 07/02/24 One still-born baby is one baby too much for a mother. Their unrealized futures, like the Northern Lights, forever a wonder, forever beyond reach. The mother carries the child around in her mind, never abandoning the baby. Yet there is a blank space. Where is the child crying for her, looking up at her? There is only  putu , as the Inuits say, a hole. There is weeping. The earned sorrow of it. Grief sifting through mother-life and father-life. Still-born babies are never-children.  “And so, the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his face the breath of life, and man was made into a living soul” (Gen. 2:7,  trans. mine ). Our children come from the earth. From out of the earth. We don’t need to frack, God will dig them up. Every whittled cell, all the flaky platelets, and each carved limb is in his imagination before he speaks and his words dredge children into existence. But many childr...

Holy Week Services Maundy Thursday - 7pm with Holy Communion Good Friday - 10:30am at King of Kings. 8:00pm at Riverbend Resurrection Sunday: 9:00am with Holy Communion Riverbend Men's Group Next Meeting: Thursday April 4 , 7-9pm. Members and friends of King of Kings, you are invited.  Coffee with Pastor Jan - Monday April 8 from 10-11am at Mercato Photos from Pastor Jan's installation can be found on the photos page. *Don't forget about the devotions page.

 To the men of King of Kings Lutheran (and friends)  -  Riverbend Lutheran is starting up a men’s group.  The first meeting is at  7pm this Thursday, March 21 at RLC (495 RHATIGAN EAST RD NW) . This initial meeting is just to get together out and see who’s interested and talk about what may be of interest for future get togethers.  

 Mid-Week Lent Service - Wednesday March 13 at 7:00pm Sunday March 17 - we are moving our worship to Riverbend Lutheran Church ( 495 RHATIGAN EAST RD NW, Edmonton) for this Sunday only. Service time is 10:00am . Pastor Jan will be installed as half time associate pastor for Riverbend.

 Added to his call at King of Kings Lutheran, Pastor Jan has accepted the call to serve as associate pastor at Riverbend Lutheran. Installation service for Pastor Jan will be on SUNDAY MARCH 17 AT 10:00AM at Riverbend Lutheran Church 495 RHATIGAN EAST RD NW, Edmonton We are moving our worship service to Riverbend for that Sunday. We encourage ride sharing or reaching out to one another to offer rides to those who may not be able to drive. Coffee fellowship will follow the service.