Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

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	February, 2012- First in a three part series. The narrative of accumulation versus the story of God's abundance. Click here to view the file.
	January, 2012- Epiphany always fall on January 6th. In Epiphany, we celebrate that the light of Christ born at Christmas has come into the world. Click here to view the file.
	December, 2011- The number three In Advent we wait and anticipate three different comings. Click here to view the file.
	November, 2011- November holidays How will you reflect the changing of the church year in your personal prayer and devotions? Click here to view the file.
	October, 2011- The Sabbath Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy. Click here to view the file.
	September, 2011- Jenga (tm) Faith When you don't show up, you also miss out on being gifted by others. Click here to view the file.
	August, 2011- Dedication Service for Imagine Center Who could have imagined? God imagined, and God has imagined uses for our new facility of which we've not yet dreamed. Click here to view the file.
	August, 2011- Sabbath Renewal It will not take away from our use of the Imagine Center for us to relax and regroup. Our renewed creativity will lead us into lots of new ministries for our new space, in addition to current ministry activities. Click here to view the file.
	July, 2011- Well, it finally happened! I am astonished by what God has been able to accomplish through us. Click here to view the file.
	June, 2011- When would a second Sunday service be? We've discussed "Why" and "What" and now we turn to the discussion of "When". Click here to view the file.
	May, 2011- Our new building has a name!!! God gave us the imagination to envision a new building, and now that imagination is fast becoming a reality. Click here to view the file.
	April, 2011- What would a second Sunday service look like? This has been a more difficult question to answer because there are many possibilities when starting another worship service. Click here to view the file.
	March, 2011- Why start a second worship service? A second service is in keeping with our mission statement, Come Receive Grace, Go Share Faith. Offering only one service says, “This is our worship time, take it or leave it.” Click here to view the file.
	February, 2011- The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have! Click here to view the file.
	January, 2011- What have we done, and what have we left undone? We celebrate a physical building being raised up, and I am confident that we can celebrate the building up of our mission and ministry through our regular giving as well. Click here to view the file.
	December, 2010- Putting the X back in Xmas. Signs have been commonplace in recent years saying “Keep Christ in Christmas,” as if the X in Xmas were a negating or a canceling out of Christ. The truth is so far away from this fear-based notion! Click here to view the file.
	November, 2010- What a thrilling year it has been at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church! As your Pastor, I want to thank you from my heart for embracing the vision God gave to our church. Our church is all about reaching people with the love of Christ, and our new facilities will serve as a catalyst to see our ministry objectives realized. Click here to view the file.
	October, 2010- Reform: to make better by removing faults and defects. If a person or institution does not admit the need for reform, it is hard to see improvement. If we think we are perfect or have all the answers, we are not open to 'being made better' as individuals or as the church. Click here to view the file.
	September, 2010- Changes are afoot at Salem We celebrate most what does not change – that we gather around Word and Sacrament to experience Jesus as the gathered body of Christ. Click here to view the file.
	July, 2010- God can do anything! God always provides the resources for His mission to be accomplished. Click here to view the file.
	April, 2010- John 12: 1-8 / Complainers destroy community All of us can be guilty of being complainers. Click here to view the file.
	April, 2010- Since You Asked. The second installation of this commentary sees the Pastor explaining the details of the Easter Vigil. Click here to view the file.
	March, 2010- Confession, God's Gift To Us Confession helps us to see - not beyond our tears and fears – but through them. Click here to view the file.
	February, 2010- A Reflection Reflecting on churches leaving the ELCA. Although we can leave the Synod, we can never leave the Body of Christ. Click here to view the file.
	December, 2009- Beginning of Advent December marks the beginning of the Advent season. Click here to view the file.
	November, 2009- Imagine ..... Prayer When we pray we are in communication with God. When we communicate with each other we are able to share a vision together. Click here to view the file.
	October, 2009- Mission Opportunities Mean Sacrifice Accomplishing a goal takes vision. It takes clarity of purpose. Once it exists in our hearts and minds, the physical part will quickly come. Click here to view the file.
	September, 2009- Let no evil talk come out of your mouths. Too often we seem to let other people take the blame for our sinfulness. Click here to view the file.
	August, 2009- Walls There are two types of walls in the Bible; walls that divide and walls that support. Click here to view the file.
	July, 2009- Reflections on Large & Small Groups Jesus gathered folks into large groups for preaching and teaching, but also taught the disciples in small groups. Click here to view the file.
	June, 2009- How do you tithe a building? God calls us to be good stewards of all of the resources we are given. Click here to view the file.
	May, 2009- Get your own dirt!! We often think we have done things on our own. The truth is that all that we have and all that we are is a gift from God. Click here to view the file.
	April, 2009- The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. If you are looking for a way for God to direct one of your deeds, consider working one night a month at the Verona Community Food Pantry. Click here to view the file.
	March, 2009- Lent is always a time for getting back to basics. One option would be to attend Wednesday midweek worship at 7pm throughout Lent. We will be looking at the Ten Commandments. There is not much that is more “back to basics” than revisiting those gracious laws from God! Click here to view the file.
	February, 2009- Planning our first conference youth event. Our young people .. expressed a desire to hear what the Bible commands us about love and, most importantly, about the love that the Bible promises is ours through Jesus Christ. Click here to view the file.
	January, 2009- Since You Asked. In the debut of this article, the Pastor explains the difference between our two different Sunday School learning tracks. Click here to view the file.
	January, 2009- Examining our values. Our values get at the heart of who we are and who we want to be, which begs the question, “Do my actions reflect the things that I truly value?”. Click here to view the file.
	December, 2008- Advent is a time of anticipation. During this Advent we live in anticipation of the final coming of Christ by pleading, preparing, proclaiming, and participating in his coming. Click here to view the file.
	November, 2008- I thank my God every time I remember you. Paul’s words to the Philippians convey such a beautiful sentiment, especially when we consider they were written from prison! Click here to view the file.
	October, 2008- How amazing it is that God allows us to be instruments of grace and mercy. Imagine if we had never built a building, or didn’t maintain the one we have. Click here to view the file.
	September, 2008- Another summer has flown by. If we come to worship regularly, we also find that we learn more about God. Click here to view the file.
	August, 2008- This looks like a healthy congregation! The truth is that our overall giving as a congregation has continued to go up every year. Click here to view the file.
	July, 2008- Your walk of faith. The pastor and the congregation have the responsibility to hold each member accountable for their individual walk of faith. "Before almighty God, to whom you must give account.....” Click here to view the file.
	June, 2008- But some doubted. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Click here to view the file.
	May, 2008- Vanishing Bee-lievers. Christians across America are vanishing. We need to get them back to the hive. Click here to view the file.
	April, 2008- In the Easter garden. The garden of our lives does not exist for us alone, but for the sake of the world that God loves. Click here to view the file.
	March, 2008- The Holy Trinity and the three leaf clover. Each person of the Trinity is represented by one leaf of the clover, yet it takes all three leaves together to make up one clover. Click here to view the file.
	February, 2008- Love - the proof is in the pudding. Lent is the season where we see “the proof in the pudding.” God is actively in love with us! Click here to view the file.
	January, 2008- In this season of New Year’s Resolutions, I encourage you to examine and pray about the spiritual goals that you would like to set. Click here to view the file.
	December, 2007- Forgiveness. The apostles wanted Jesus to give them more faith, but he answered "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed...” Click here to view the file.
	November, 2007- Thanksgiving. Our thankfulness is an indicator of our faith. Click here to view the file.
	October, 2007- Amazing Grace We are always fighting the idea that we must do something in order to earn God's grace. Click here to view the file.
	September, 2007- Baptismal Identity and Inheritance. We, the baptized, are the ones to whom much has been given. Nothing pleases the Father more than to see us sharing our kingdom inheritance. Click here to view the file.
	August, 2007- It's the thought that counts. Our gifts back to God are indicators of where our thoughts are. Click here to view the file.

July, 2007- Swaddling, Freedom, Safety, Flags, & More! Click here to view the file.

June, 2007- Parenthood. Thanks very much for approving the paternity leave. Plus, a mention of responsibilities for our new confirmands. Click here to view the file.

May, 2007- Christ is risen! Our Easter celebration continues throughout the month of May, and the end of the month will usher in Pentecost – the birthday of the church! Also here is an addendum from Pastor Chris regarding the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. Click here to view the file.

April, 2007- The Lord's Supper - Frequency & Importance Click here to view the file.

March, 2007- What Are Your Spiritual Gifts? Click here to view the file.

March 19, 2007- Salem will sponsor a grief support group conducted by Shenandoah Valley Grief Services, to be held on the first and third Tuesday evenings from March 6th through June 19th. Click here for more details.

February, 2007- Love and Loss: Prayer and the Pitcher Click here to view the file.

January, 2007- A Challenging Budget - Are we up to the Challenge? Click here to view the file.

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