Today, we look at a Day 3 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Adonai, you are the Ancient One who teaches beyond our years. You know the easy difference between truth and deceit. May our way with you ever be found in genuine and truthful following. In your Name, May it be so. Reading: Matthew 22:34-40 (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: One day I was driving up New Berlin Mountain Road. There were “Road Construction Ahead” warnings or something like it on posted on bright signs dropped on the roadside. It was raining. A police officer became visible nearing the top. He signaled for me to stop and I rolled down my window. I started going through the mental checklist of lightbulbs, inspections, and registrations. Before I could wonder if I was speeding he asked me, “Do you you know what Romans 3 says.” Clearly, he saw my clerical collar. I looked at him quizzically as to how that part of Paul’s argument might apply to driving. I asked him which part and that I wasn’t sure what he meant. “Well, I might have the number wrong, look it up, but it says, ‘Be subject to the governing authorities.’” He smiled, paused and said, “Lights on when your wipers are on. It’s the law.” He motioned me on. I felt convicted. I remembered that my family had told me about the relatively new law at the time. I argued with them that I hadn’t heard about it. I doubted their authority. After I returned from the hospital visit I was headed to, I looked up the passage. There it was, Romans 13. We are always looking for loopholes and reasons to not do what is right or what we don’t want to do. The Pharisees may sound arrogant and irritating, hypocritical and conniving, but in this instance, I am glad that they asked Jesus this critical and tricky question. That officer had been studying his Bible and encouraged me to do the same, all while practicing mercy and not issuing me a ticket. My family also practiced these two great rules by loving me even in my brokenness. They might have teased me briefly and highlighted the I-told-you-so, but they were content that I would now drive more carefully. Loving God and neighbors occurs each day in all the million little things that we do keeping those two great rules in mind. Rather than ask or argue about, “Who do you think that rule is for?” We instead keep the great rules in mind and follow them. We then follow all the little rules that make the great two possible. --Andrew Fitch
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Prayer: Lord, teach and instruct in the way I should go. Counsel me as you keep your eye upon me. Amen
Reading: Psalm 32 (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: Every other year I travel with a youth orchestra for a concert tour in Europe. There are three of us in the leadership of the group overseeing all. We allow the young musicians quite a lot of freedom but are always keeping an eye on them. We explain to parents how even during "lunch on your own and free time" they are always being watched. One of us will be in the center of the town square, another sitting at a sidewalk cafe table, another will roam throughout the narrow cobbled streets. The young people don't seem to notice our strategic supervision but instead see us there for help and support. "Mrs. Gates, where is the shop with chocolates?" "Have you seen so and so? Which way did they go?" "How much time before we have to get back to the bus?" I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32: 8 So it is with our Lord. God in the center of all things. Christ who sits at the table for us. The Holy Spirit who roams throughout our lives. There to instruct, teach and counsel. Eye on you. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Creator God, renew us each day. Amen
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 (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: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5: 17 I remember the first time I really heard this verse. It stopped me in my tracks. Then I guess I could say it put me on a new set of tracks. I won't go into the what, when, where and why of it all. Just know it happened. The verse sometimes turns up in liturgy so I am reminded in worship on Sundays again and again. Really, we can be renewed each day as we live in Christ. Have you heard this verse before? Does it stop you in your tracks? What new tracks do you follow as a new creation in Christ? -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Providing Lord, may we be grateful for all you give us. Amen
Reading: Joshua 5: 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: There is an old Keith Green song, So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt, which pokes at the Israelites complaining about the manna in the wilderness..."in the morning it's manna hotcakes. We snack on manna all day. And we sure had a winner for dinner last night - flaming manna souffle". The song ends with the bemoaning list..."Oh, manna waffles, manna burgers, manna bagels, fillet of manna, manny patty...BaManna bread!" Our text from Joshua today sounds like the end of the manna days finally. They ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased. They no longer had manna. Crops of the land of Canaan that year. Were they glad for the change? Probably. Were they grateful for the manna before when there was nothing else to eat? Hopefully. Did they miss the manna? Maybe. At least maybe the BaManna Bread. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Forgiving Father, thank you for embracing us after we have faltered. Remind us to welcome back the wandering. Amen
Reading: Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 (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 our children were growing up the neighborhood was overflowing kids...namely 11 boys. It was almost comical watching them troop down the hill and across town to the schools. They played a lot of backyard baseball and were pretty much good guys but one or two tended to be rowdy. Years later one of them as a young adult got into a bit of trouble. I, and others, just could not give up on him. We knew that down deep he was still a good guy. He remains in the area and has regained respect and volunteers with community projects. This is God’s teaching: that we should welcome and embrace the return of those who have faltered and wandered off. -- Alice Yeakel Today, we look at a Day 3 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Jesus! We love you! Jesus! I need you right now. Help me. Heal me. Strengthen me. Make my faith loud and bold. Amen. Reading: Matthew 20:29-34 (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: Please be quiet. Please use your inside voice. Please lower your voice and be considerate of others…There are so many ways to ask someone to make less noise. This story is a smack on the back of the head for those who think that all those quieting instructions are always valid when approaching Jesus. Places of prayer and worship should not have the same sound level as the public library. Yes, it may help to be quiet for prayer if you really need to get away from distractions and cares of the world to listen to God. When you want God to listen to you, however, loud pleading is alright with Jesus. Ignore the crowd, it may seem embarrassing, but Jesus stops for those who call out his name. Call it out and don’t hold back. If there is any injustice or pain, call out to Jesus. If there is a need in your life for the Deliverer, cry out to the Christ. If someone seems to have lost there voice or has been quieted by the crowd, go stand with them and shout with them—give them a voice. God stops for those who make a faithful, trusting noise. It lets God know the level of trust and shows the crowd that they are actually the ones that need to be quiet and pay attention. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 63 (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 Lenten season, I’m leading mid-week services for one of our synod conferences. We are looking at faith practices and how we must be athletes and put time into exercising our faith. Last week, we looked at prayer. One of the things we talked about was how in our prayers, we need to have adoration for God. We are to tell God how we feel about God and show our praise and thanksgiving. When I read this Psalm, I thought that was what David had in mind when we wrote it. He praises God and tells God how he feels. Today, I ask you use this Psalm as a prayer. Use it to tell God how much God means to you. And maybe you will start doing that regularly in your prayer life. --Chad Hershberger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 24, 2016.
Prayer: Gracious God, we complain about things and what good does it do? Help us to see it often only destroys ourselves. Thank you for being faithful to us. Your mercy is great. Amen Reading: I Corinthians 10: 1-13 (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: And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. --I Corinthians 10: 10 Oh man, wouldn't it be great to see that big complainer in your life destroyed by the destroyer? Sounds harsh, I know. But you know who I'm talking about. The grumbler, the whiner, the one who can never be pleased. Yeah, that one. Destroyed by the destroyer. That takes care of that! Oh, but wait, we are to be reading the Bible and today particularly I Corinthians 10: 1-13, as if it is speaking to ourselves. Sure, Paul had a lot to teach the Corinthians back in the day, but our days are no different. Honestly, what was your last complaint? That the line was long at the store? The assignment was too hard? The boss wasn't fair? The weather is too cold (or too hot!)? Complain, complain, complain. And the destroyer destroys us. But who is the destroyer? It may just be ourselves, our attitudes and our very own complaints. Lots of folks are getting what they need at the store. You are challenged to work harder and perhaps learn more. The bigger picture may show that the boss had your best interests in mind in the long run. The seasons and temps serve their purpose. Sometimes complaints are justified, sure. But sometimes complaints destroy the good that may be in the works. Sometimes the complaints simply destroy the complainer. Oh, to see with the eyes of God. The best we can do is see with the eyes of faith, hope and love. Save us, gracious God. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Inviting Lord, though we come with nothing, you provide us with everything. Thank you. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 55: 1-9 (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: I had a dream last night that I was trying to get on a train but I was late and it was nearly ready to pull out. Seeing my hurry, the person at the ticket counter said just get on and pay then. It was then I realized I did not have any money to pay either at the counter or on-board. My wallet was...somewhere...I don't know. My first thought was I could run back to wherever, get my wallet, find a bus to take me to the next train station and try to catch it there. Don't ask me how it ended. It was a dream. The Psalmist writes: Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters: and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Psalm 55: 1 What if I could have gotten on the train with no money? What if even once on the train I did not have to pay? Instead, I missed the whole trip. God invites us all to a free and rich banquet. Come! All aboard! -- Ruth Gates Prayer: May the seeds of faith we plant and good deeds we do produce fruit for the kingdom and praise to you, God. Amen
Reading: Luke 13: 1-9 (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: This will be my fourth summer to try growing butternut squash. The first harvest - nothing. The second summer produced a bumper crop. The third - a meager crop. So, I shall try again. We planted a baby Christmas tree in our front yard. The “leader” got broken off and for several years there was very little growth. Now it is short and fat and the neighbors comment, "What a healthy little tree!" Sometimes we just don’t know what our seeds or good deeds will produce. Praise God! -- Alice Yeakel Today, we look at a Day 3 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, you know the contents of my heart. You challenge me to live a life that is worthy. May I be transformed more and more each day to become deeply generous and reconciling with anyone that I may have hurt. Guide me to make reparations and further your Kingdom with each healed relationship. In the name of Christ, Amen. Reading: Luke 19:1-10 (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: There are so many thoughts that come flooding with the story of Zacchaeus. It is one of those kind of texts in the Bible—it evokes memories and feelings. For a short while, I had a love/hate relationship with it. It was the preaching text for our entire introduction to preaching class! I heard too many sermons on this text! However, the punchline is unforgettable. How could I possibly argue against, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Who actually likes to be lost? I also have the strong sense that singing the “Wee little man” song, while catchy, misses the point. Like many powerful sacred texts, there are multiple meanings and often a big one that ties them all together. The big one is often a bit hard to swallow, so we usually focus on one of the other ones, like being found. No, the big one for this text is not being found, but the total willingness to be transformed into a generous person. Zacchaeus recognized the depth of discipleship and the gap from his past attitude and behaviors. As much as he loved money, he saw his love was misplaced. He realized that money is a tool, and that in relationships it follows the adage “Love isn’t love until you give it away!” --Andrew Fitch Prayer: As we press on, we know you are with us, Lord. Guide our journey. Amen.
Reading: Philippians 3:14 - 4:1 (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: Sometimes, when I am out walking, I am tempted to quit. I’m tired. I don’t want to go further, even though I know I should. I often have to tell myself to just press on, because the goal is in sight. Paul also reminds us of that in this scripture reading. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus,” he says. He gives us some other good points for living. Press on! Keep at it! In the end it will be worth it. --Chad Hershberger
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We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 18, 2016.
Prayer: Lord, your goodness is here for us to see. Help us wait, be strong and take heart. Amen Reading: Psalm 27 (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 still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14 Sometimes one thing after another seems to go wrong. "When it rains, it pours." they say. They also say "Things come in threes." which can make one a bit nervous when the second bad thing happens. Then there are times when blessings are showering down. When good times are rolling. When they say, "You ought to go buy a lottery ticket!" Whichever way it is going, I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord. In the comfort that comes from the heart in times of sadness. In the shared joy celebrating a grand moment with family and friends. In the helping hands that turn up at any time needed. In the grateful hearts who have hope. Sometimes we have to wait, be strong and take heart to see the goodness but we can still be confident it is there. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Faithful God, when the dark is deep and life is scary, may the fire of your presence remind us of your love. Amen
Reading: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18 (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: Abram had a lot of questions for God. Many questions which God kept answering but after the long day, Abram fell asleep and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. God continued to speak assurances and when the sun had gone down, a fire and flame passed as the Lord made a covenant with Abram. There is something about a campfire that is reassuring. Light you can see; warmth you can feel. I think campfires are one of my top 5 favorite things at Camp. The sun goes down and the campfire is lit. Facing it is light and warmth; looking behind is darkness. God speaks love and I believe. That's campfire faith. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, when we feel disappointed or discouraged, help us to keep trying. Amen.
Reading: Luke 13: 31-35 (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: Have you ever felt like giving up? You’re not making any progress? Well meaning friends may have even said, "Quit trying. You’re not going to make it." I read a book where the theme was though you may feel discouraged you ARE trying. You may NOT make the Olympic team. You may NOT win the election. But you HAVE made the effort. Jesus was warned but He continued doing His work. So must we. -- Alice Yeakel Today, we look at a Day 3 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the gift of compassion. Amen. Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (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: Who is my neighbor? We worship a vibrant God who calls us to actively help those who are in need. What are some ways that you do that? As you read the story of the Good Samaritan, I’d like you to think about the choices you make each day. When are the times that you look away from a healing situation or when are the times you stop and show mercy? How do you live out the role in your daily life of the Samaritan? As we look at this story with our campers this summer, I look forward to hearing the ways that they feel they are a good neighbor. And maybe, just maybe, as they leave camp, they will help be more compassionate in their neighborhood and transform it, with God’s help! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Guide our minds, Lord, as we march toward Calvary this Lenten season. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 91 (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: “No evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.” -- Psalm 91:10 I know a few things about camping. Sleeping outside, in a tent, wondering what the noises are around you can be frightening. Trying to sleep when you are wondering what lurks about can be difficult. When the sun comes up, and you can see what you are hearing, the world looks better. This Psalm reminds us that God is with us. God is even with us when we are in the tent, wondering what evil and scourge might be around. That’s what Lent can be for us. A time of being in the darkness, wandering in the wilderness, restless sleeping, wondering what will be coming next. We are marching with Jesus toward the cross. It doesn’t feel right. It almost feels evil. But the sun will come up. We’ll see the resurrection light. We know that God is with us as we march closer to Good Friday. Thanks be to God! --Chad Hershberger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 10, 2016.
Prayer: Help us, O God, to look to Jesus in all things. Reading: Romans 10:8-13 (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: Today is Ash Wednesday. Our liturgy today, among other things, suggests our human mortality and frailty. Remember, dust you are and to dust you shall return. Related to that truth is the statement in one of our confessions, We are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. Then, it seems, we can logically just eat, drink and be merry. What else is there? But Ash Wednesday also encourages us to look to Jesus as we begin the journey through Lent to Easter. Look to Jesus. Death and the grave doesn’t end it. There is release from the sin that holds us captive. St. Paul in our reading today is emphasizing EVERYONE, that is Jew AND Greek. Buy I want to emphasize the rest, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Turn, then to Jesus, today, throughout Lent, throughout life. God knows our frailty, immortality and sin. He sends Jesus to turn that all around. --Jim Bricker Prayer: As we offer ourselves, our time and our possessions, we remember the bounty you have given us. Amen
Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 (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: Chorus: We know that God loves us; that is plain to see. He's a Savior and a friend for you and for me. In his loving arms he holds us every night and day. When we're waking, when we're sleeping, by us he will stay. This is the chorus and first verse of a Sunday School song we sang at Offering. There is a second verse but I could not remember it so I went searching. I found there is actually a third, too, though I guess three verses is a bit much for preschool and early elementary children. But I really like the last one: Oh, what gifts and, oh, what blessings God alone can give. He has promised love and grace for every day we live. This is what our text is about today. What we give back to God after all he has given us. Oh, what gifts and, oh, what blessings! Bounty! Set down your offering. Bow down. Celebrate the love and grace he has promised us everyday. (Words and Music: Scott and Kathleen Tunseth, copyright 1981...as found in a really old Sunday School songbook copyright 1990...I hope no one minds.) -- Ruth Gates Prayer: So many choices, Lord. Help us to choose wisely as you would have us do. Amen
Reading: Luke 4: 1-13 (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: So many choices, so many decisions. Should I eat the candy bar or the apple? Should I attend Sunday worship or join the guys for a round of golf? Should we disagree and shout in conflict or listen and attempt calm conversation? We are often confronted with challenges that have the devil lurking in the background. We need to remind ourselves: What does God want us to do? -- Alice Yeakel Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Lord God, deliver us from our injustices towards each other. Lead us to follow your covenant of love with us and between us. Show us your path for genuine community. Guide us to live fully for your way, so that all are welcomed and you are worshipped. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 56:1-8 (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: This part of Isaiah starts like a pep rally or a campaign rally. I can imagine the people chanting along in repetition, “Promote JUSTICE!” “Do what is RIGHT!” “The LORD DELIVERS!” This is an aspect of the prophetic voice that comes around rarely and yet, powerfully. Prophets often warn and predict consequences for long strains of wicked behavior and downright unfaithfulness. We would typically hear something like, “Beware the Day of the Lord is coming…” Instead, here is “COV-E-NANT…COV-E-NANT…COV-E-NANT…” “Say it with me, live by the …”Cov-e-ant” It is remarkable that this cheerleading moment also marks a serious expansion for those who are welcomed. Foreigners, outsiders, eunuchs, anyone that used to be out—has the opening to come into the circle of praise. God is expanding the boundaries again. God is stretching the acceptance of the people. God is renewing communal hope. --Andrew Fitch |
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