Prayer: We raise our voices in praise to you, King Jesus. We raise our praise through our actions and prayer, too. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 145: 8-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Yesterday, we talked about how Jesus was not the typically king: rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey, was a humble servant, didn’t seek political office. All the normal trappings of one in power were not present. But, when I think of human kings, I also picture servants bowing down before them. And with Jesus, that’s what we should do. This Psalm reminds us to give thanks to our king. Each week in the lectionary, the Psalm is our grateful response to God and what we hear in scripture. As we hear this week of an atypical king, we are to raise our voices in praise to God. How will you do that today? --Chad Hershberger
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Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Reading: Zechariah 9: 9-12 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Zechariah foretold of this day in our passage here. He also states that the king will come in humbly on a donkey. The people hearing this probably didn’t believe it. How could a king be humble and ride to town on a donkey? But, as we know, Jesus is known for turning things upside down. Some days, I wonder if Jesus will come soon. I feel our world is in a bad place and it will only get better if Jesus would get here. But we wait and we wonder. Waiting can be tough, but we know Jesus is coming! -- Chad Hershberger Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to face our doubt with faith and may we always feel your presence. Especially in times of doubt. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 27:45-46 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This is a tough topic to write on, but it is something I have been experiencing lately so I wanted to try to reflect on it regardless of how difficult. In this short passage I chose, Jesus is crying out to God in his last moments on the cross, wondering why God had forsaken him and doubting God’s presence. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, I find myself often doubting things, myself, and sometimes even God. Doubting….do I have the motivation to finish this project? Can I pass this exam? Should I look forward to this event, or will it even happen? Where is God in all of this? But I find faith in the little things. In rainbow at sunset, in friends and family who comfort you after you fail the exam, in a warm campfire, in beautiful flowers, and in God’s provision for everything living creator (even the little fish). I see God in the little moments, and that renews my outlook and I realize that doubt can lead you back to faith. There is doubt time and time again in the bible, before and after the resurrection. If you find yourself weighed down by a season of doubt, look to the little moments that point to the big truth and hope in Jesus Christ. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: We are thirsty, Lord, for even the smallest kinds of togetherness. Welcome us into your arms of love as we welcome others with our hearts. Amen
Reading: Matthew 10: 40-42 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: A cup of water, a minute or two of your time, a hand wave, a smile. Such small gestures. We care and we want to share some small part of ourselves. Social distancing has been so difficult. I wanted to hug my great grandson whom I hadn’t seen since Christmas. I gave him a simple candy bar and his eyes lit up and he gave me a big smile. Another older grandson (who lives 400 miles away) I haven’t seen in longer than that. We talk on the phone; sometimes for quite awhile. My neighbor who had heart surgery is encouraged to walk a mile a day. Every morning he raps on my window and we wave to each other. Jesus said, “…and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple – truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10: 42) There are small and simple opportunities every day that may be big and important for someone who is lonely and sad. We are thirsty for more than a cup of water. But a cup of water is a very good start. --Alice Yeakel We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 25, 20124.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to believe and rejoice in Christ boldly. We are thankful He is victorious over sin, death, and the world. Amen. Reading: Romans 6: 12-23 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “SIN BOLDLY but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world.” --Martin Luther You can be sure I was shocked when I saw these two big words on t-shirts at the Lutheran Campus Center at IUP. Good thing I got up close enough to read the fine print and stuck around long enough for some theological explanation. Otherwise, this girl may have never given that bunch a second chance! Yes, thank goodness Martin Luther explained himself after his two, might I say, BOLD words! Romans Chapter 6 also clears up the matter more with: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!... You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.... For the wages of sun is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6: 15, 18, 23 (Maybe they could have put that on the back of the t-shirt. Just saying.) --Ruth Gates Prayer: Loving God we thank you for all you have given us. Your love is everlasting and we receive it without merit. May we continue to praise you and honor you. May we continue to show your love to others around us. We ask this in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Reading: Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The steadfast love of God is an amazing, awesome gift. There are many times in my life when I am not that lovable, but God loves me anyway. For that I am extremely thankful. Human nature is a sinful one, but God forgives us. Jesus died on the cross for us and for our salvation. That is another thing to be thankful for. The Psalmist offers God his praise for God’s faithfulness, and rightly so. In reading all of Psalm 89 you get even more of the picture. Hopefully at this time you can offer some praise and thanksgiving for all God has given you – especially for God’s steadfast love that is everlasting and the forgiveness of us all. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Sometimes we wonder what you are up to, God. We just have to wait. Time will tell. Thank you for your love. There is our hope. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 28: 5-9 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: What is God up to in this text? Going for Question 4 today. I hear two different prophecies: Hananiah’s which sounds like peace is coming and Jeremiah’s noting all the prophets before who prophesied war, famine and pestilence. Jeremiah ends by saying if the prophecy of peace comes true, then you’ll know that the Lord has truly sent the prophet. In other words, time will tell. What did time tell of Hananiah? False prophet. He was not sent by God; his words did not come true. Of Jeremiah? Well, his preaching became a part of the Bible. Surely the people wanted to believe a prophecy of peace but that is not what was in store for them. At least not then. What is God up to? Time did tell eventually. We have been welcomed into God’s loving presence. We have the Good News of Jesus Christ. We have hope. Hope. That is what God is up to. --Ruth Gates Prayer: God, our protector, we lift our voices and prayer and praise. Strengthen us in your loving care. Amen
Reading: Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This winter our area had 5.3’’snow and this spring 14’ rain. After several years of unsuccessful attempts, I have strewn grass seed that is growing! Psalm 68 mentions twice that the heavens poured down rain in abundance and God made life miserable for His people. While we are presently going through miserable times we must remember God is still our protector. He will strengthen us. We must continue to believe in His loving care. So raise up your voice in (songs of) prayer and praise and you shall be lifted up! --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Help us to live as you want us to live, dear God. Help us to help others in need and show them your love. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 10: 24-39 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: At last year’s outdoor ministry conference, Shane Claiborne spoke to us about his life and ministry in the Philadelphia area. Claiborne calls himself a “radical” because he wants to live like Jesus- helping others who are in need. He worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India, even helping those with leprosy. I’ve been reading Shane’s first book lately and am fascinated by his stories. He and some friends founded this ministry to be intentional about living like Jesus. They basically gave up everything to follow Him. It sounds tough for us to do that, doesn’t it? But Jesus tells us that living a life called to do His work isn’t easy. And, Shane has done that and has incredible stories to tell about the good they have done in the world. To read more about his work, visit https://www.thesimpleway.org/ --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Ever-present God, When I feel small and alone, remind me of your great love. When I feel tired, refresh me with hope. When I am angry or sad, breathe whispers of peace into my ears. Amen. (From the Sparkhouse Facebook page)
Reading: Romans 6:1b-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This is a difficult passage to write about… (pause for a thoughtful silence). What I am confused about is how can I be dead to sin? Yet alive to God? I had to break out one of my old college books to get a grasp on this one – “Hard Sayings of the Bible” had a section about this passage, so I sighed in relief that I was not the only one perplexed by this saying. Even after reading more about this, being united with Christ aka Pauline mysticism, it was still a lot for my mind to digest. But here is what brought me hope: We are sanctified by God as we grow in our faith and live united with Christ. When we choose to live for Christ, we will still have days when we feel like sinning and we sin. But the amazing part is we can choose to live for Christ and his love shines above all! We are no longer slaves to sin. We can choose to turn towards Christ, and when we make this choice our life radiates Christ’s life and love. We are justified by our faith; God’s great grace displays his love for us and his desire for us to live a new life with him. We are dead to sin, it does not have the power to control our lives for eternity. We are alive to God, we will rise again with Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Thanks be to God. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Oh Lord we cry out to you. Currently, we are still in great need and confusion. We ask that you deliver us from this pandemic and bring us back together again. Help us do the right things to help all your children. We pray in Jesus Name, AMEN.
Reading: Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I think of Psalms I usually think of praising God, but there are also Psalms of lament. Laments are times when people cry out to God for deliverance from an ordeal. This Psalm is one such Psalm. The psalmist is asking for help from being persecuted. He is very eloquent in his speech. He paints very vivid pictures. Sometimes when I read the Psalms I feel like my prayers are not wordy enough. I get intimidated to pray out loud. Then I realize that if a prayer comes from the heart then that is all that God asks of us. God hears our sighs and our stumblings just as readily has God hears those who are talented in putting words together. Cry out to God with all your heart and ask for help when you are going through a time of suffering. Do not be timid and pray. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Heavenly Father, we give you our praises! When we face opposition as your children, may we remember that you are always by our side as a mighty warrior. Your love conquers all. You have overcome the world. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage Jeremiah is an example of God’s unchanging presence in our lives. My study Bible title this section as “Jeremiah’s Complaint.” Sometimes the word complaint can get a bad reputation, like someone just whining about their circumstances, but I think it is important to also see this as a lament. He is expressing grief over what he has experienced. Jeremiah is weary from the constant fight between his inner fire for God’s word and how quickly the world rejects him and the Word. Yet he finds that God is still present- “But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail” (verse 11)- and he rejoices in that. What strikes me the most from Jeremiah’s example is in verse 9 – “his word is in my heart like a fire; a fire shut up in my bones.” I cannot imagine what that would feel like. I am thankful to have had opportunities to share God’s word freely with others without fear of persecution. My favorite opportunities were being a staff member at Mount Luther and serving in mercy ministry in Philadelphia, sharing fellowship and a hot meal with people experiencing homelessness. What has been your favorite way to share God’s word and presence? --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Gracious and giving God we thank you for all you have done for use. Help us spread the news of your mercy and grace. May we do your work in the places that you call us to. May we spread your love to all we meet. AMEN
Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:15 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: At this time in June for the past 12 years I have usually been in the midst or at the end of camp staff training. The counselors and leadership staff were getting ready to do God’s work at Camp Mount Luther and at various churches. We were the laborers that God was sending out to spread the love of God and the message of God’s goodness and grace. We were to proclaim the Good News in song, stories, skits, and prayer as we spent time in Gods great creation. The themes and the Bible stories for the summers varied each year, but at the end of every week we would challenge the campers to spread the love of God and the message of God’s goodness and grace where they went. We were adding more people as laborers for God’s kingdom. It is my hope that they are still proclaiming the Good News and so are you. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Dear God, thank you for committing to pour your love into our hearts. May we bring ourselves close to the stillness of your love and be filled. Amen
Reading: Romans 5: 1-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: You know you are running out of things to talk about when reading a cooking magazine at the breakfast table leads to a fascinating discussion of the Proper Way to Pour. Funny thing is we learned a lot from that column. Even better, when I read today’s text to write this devotion, the word pour popped out at me. I know something about that! …God’s love has been poured into our hearts… (v. 5) Here are a couple Proper Way to Pour tips that also pertain to God’s love: For a liquid to pour in a neat stream, there should be some force behind it. Commit to the pour instead of tilting the pot or pan slowly. God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Not dribbled slowly; not spilled down the side. But poured into. God committed to fill our hearts with love. The stiller the liquid, the easier the pour. Sloshing liquid is far messier to pour than still liquid, so bring the catch vessel to your cookware rather than the other way around. There is a stillness to God’s love and it is easier to be filled with that love when we bring ourselves close to God through worship, service, prayer, song, community, study. (The Proper Way to Pour – from Cook’s Illustrated, Number 153, July & August 2018) --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear Lord, hear our joyful noise as praise to you. We serve you gladly as we bring joyful sounds to others, too. Amen
Reading: Psalm 100 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: It was Memorial Day weekend, also Ascension Sunday, and we had not sat together in church in ten weeks. I brought up our virtual service on the computer. Our pastor and organist chose to livestream the service from the main sanctuary instead of the small chapel as they had been. For the Postlude, our organist Evelyn played “America the Beautiful.” For the concluding verse she ”pulled out” all the stops. It was LOUD! It was awesome. I was glad. And I realized how long it has been since we sang together as a church choir or community chorus. Psalm 100 tells us so clearly: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” We need to do this! Put on an old CD or turn on a favorite radio station and play it as loud as you like. Share it with others. Google a favorite song and attach it to an email. Better yet, share your CDs (make your own?) with someone homebound or recovering from an illness or surgery. Serve the Lord with gladness as you bring joyful sounds to others. --Alice Yeakel We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 19, 2015.
Prayer: Help us to see you, dear Lord, in the ordinary and the extraordinary. Amen. Reading: Exodus 19 Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I enjoy the stories in the Bible that deal with mountains. Having a job where we try to give participants “mountaintop experiences,” it’s fun for me to see the correlations between what we do today and mountain experiences that characters in the Bible had so long ago. I was recalling a mountaintop story the other day to one of our staff members. A group of friends and I hiked up to Buffalo Gap on a cold March Saturday. We decided to save some time by driving part way there. However, because of some ice on a mountain road, we couldn’t get the vehicle all the way to the top. So, we had to part it and hike up further than we planned. We hiked on some rocks that day and enjoyed each other’s company. Coming down, one of our group slipped on a rock that was covered in ice, but averted an accident thankfully. We were lucky! We had a great time that morning. On Monday, two of us went to retrieve the vehicle that we left there over the weekend. It was then that we noticed there was a sign on that road that prohibited motor vehicles. Nine of us missed that sign two days prior. It was a gentle reminder that we need to look around us and take in all that we can see on our journeys. This chapter in Exodus reminds me that we need to also keep watch for God. God is with us on our journey. God will help make the ordinary a mountaintop experience. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us, Lord, to find in hard times a purpose for the pain and understanding out of experience. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 31:9-16 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: For I am in distress. We’ve been in isolation, trying to protect ourselves and others from exposure to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. Even though our reasons for quarantining are sound, there is an opportunity in this to imagine what true ostracization must feel like. For some around the world, loneliness is imposed by others. Contemplate those who, like the speaker of this Psalm, feel the scorn of all, rejected by community and society for their belief in the Lord. When in our country would we feel such a reality? Often, we are called on to consider this situation but rarely have we been given such a concrete example for experiencing even a slice of that sorrow. Read this Psalm again. Add to the last verse gratitude for knowing God, thanks for the assurance of Jesus’ love, and a prayer for the Holy Spirit to dwell with those who live in places where the loneliness of this pandemic is nothing new. Sense the empathy God provides and pray for your fellow humankind. --Heather LeBlanc Prayer: Thank you, Creator. For all of me. For all of us. For everyone. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I am working on an online master’s program in literature and writing. I recently re-read Walt Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric.” In it, he praises the Creator for every element of our human bodies right down to our souls. He compares and contrasts the working parts and the incredible variety by which they function, from the people we encounter down to the microscopic level understood at the end of the 19th century. But what Whitman holds up highest is the central spirit which electrifies every one of us – our soul. “O I say these are not the parts and poems of the body only, but of the soul,/ O I say now these are the soul!” Humankind is amazing, so different and yet utterly connected. Praise God! --Heather LeBlanc Prayer: Gracious God help us do what you call us to do. Thank you for your guidance and support in our times of struggle. Give us strength to continue on the pathway of our ministries. Help us reach others for you and teach them about your love. AMEN
Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The text we just read is when Jesus commissioned his disciples to make other disciples. That is one of the texts I go to when people ask me why I do what I do. It is my calling to teach others about God and Jesus. It really is a calling for all of us, just like it was a commission to all of Jesus’ disciples. I just have the pleasure of making it my career. The one part of those verses that really stuck out to me this time is that Jesus ends his command with a blessing and reminder. “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” In all our struggles and in all our joyous times Jesus is there. If we question what is happening and when will things ease up – Jesus is there. Whether we worship in person or by watching a service on-line – Jesus is there. When we reunite with friends and family – Jesus will be there. So – Make Disciples – Baptize – Teach – and remember that Jesus is With Us!! --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Dear God, may all your people feel your unrelenting peace and greet one another with your love. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This passage is so powerful! It comes from the end of one of Paul’s letters, where it is customary that he gives them a charge, or challenge. Here the challenge is to rejoice as the body of Christ, build-up one another, and live in peace. This reminds me of a practice that many of us hold dear to our hearts – the passing of the peace. This may look different in different settings and congregations throughout the year – a wave, a handshake, or a hug – my favorite is a hug. This is one of the ways the camp staff usually ends the week, a restorative part of staff worship. We may not be able to greet one another with a “holy kiss” or hug right now (and perhaps you’d rather not take part in that practice, pandemic or not), but there are surely many other ways we can encourage and send greetings of God’s peace to one another! Wearing a cloth face covering in public may cover your smile, but smiling is evident in your whole face. In my case my yes get super squinty when I smile and that is something I can still share with my neighbors. Continue to send cards, emails, emojis, and phone calls. Continue to use your actions and words to build-up your neighbors, and smile! The positive and peace attitude that radiates from a smile is still contagious. --Anne Harshbarger (Cartoon by Stephan Pastis) Prayer: Lord, we see your wonder and splendor all around us. May we be distracted enough to notice it and grateful enough to do take care of it. Amen
Reading: Psalm 8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I went out on my front porch early this morning to begin writing this devotion but was distracted by the birds singing. I listened until lawnmowers started. That ended that. Maybe inside I would get more writing done. Instead I found myself distracted watching the hummingbird on the feeder near the window by my desk. God’s majesty is quite distracting! There is wonder in the hovering of a hummingbird. There is splendor in birdsong all day long. It’s a wonder we get anything done in this splendid world! Still, I must finish this writing because now that the lawnmowers are done, I would like to go back outside to do some gardening to the sound of the birdsong. Oh, and also refill the hummingbird feeder. --Ruth Gates We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 9, 2014.
Prayer: Reading: Genesis 1:1-2; 2:4b-7 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage, we encounter a reality described in different English words: Spirit of God, Wind of God, God’s wind, God’s Spirit-Wind and breath of life. Somehow, I like the Hebrew Ruach Elohim. When we think about God the Holy Spirit our first image is usually one of tongues of fire resting on the Apostles. Today we are encouraged to imagine the Holy Spirit hovering before creation. And, assuming that the big bang theory is correct, WOW! I can’t imagine that moment, can you? But I can envision the Spirit of God in the middle of it. All that exists is a product of God’s life-giving breath. Some words to carry with us today from the Nicene Creed: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. --Jim Bricker |
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