Prayer: Dear God, how wonderful it is to know our praise to you now will be declared to the next generation and to a people yet unborn. Amen
Reading: Psalm 22: 25-31 (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 seems to be a lot of concern about the "nones". In fact, at a recent congregational meeting, the " nones" were brought up so much (Why are there so many nones? How can we reach the nones? What are the nones looking for? We need to invite the nones to our church!) someone who walked into the meeting late was wondering why the sudden outreach emphasis toward the Catholic church with serious concern for the nuns?! I walked into the meeting late, too, but I think I understand the nones to be those who claim no religious affiliation at all. Decades ago that was a small percentage of our population; now that number is significantly larger. So, the increase in the number of nones along with the decrease in church membership and declining worship attendance could very well bring on a lot of hand-wringing. Let's look at Psalm 22 for guidance and encouragement. Verse 25 gives us something to stand on and to share: From (God) comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly. God is the source of our faith, hope and love and we are to praise him everywhere with everyone. Verses 30 and 31 give us the assurance: Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn - for he has done it. The congregational meeting was positive and inspiring. Our praise will continue inside and outside church. We will show and share God's love to the nones and also to all who work for and serve in God's kingdom (including nuns, too!). --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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Prayer: Let us love one another, God, and let us keep in mind the love that you show us so that we may abide with you. Amen.
Reading: 1 John 4:7-21 (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: We have a camp song based on our reading today-- I John 4: 7-8. I learned it when I was a camper, over 25 years ago, and I can still sing today. If you know it, sing it along with me! Beloved, let us love one another For love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God He who loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love Beloved, let us love one another I John 4: 7-8 At camp, we take time to listen and talk and study the scriptures… and we sing and give something tangible kids and adults can take away with them to share their experiences with others and make God’s Word come alive. We are never really sure that the songs will be sung on the way home or that the camp experience really makes a difference. In outdoor ministries, I am constantly reminded that we are to be seed planters. Sometimes, we may not see instant results. We may do good work all week long for a camper but it may be years before the results of our work are evident. We just plant the seeds of faith and it is God who waters them. But it is still important to serve God and do the work we are commissioned to do as Christians. Why do we do this? Because we are to love one another because God first loved us. And as our gospel reminds us this week, we are to abide. What seeds do you plant? How do you abide? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us to see, Lord. Help us to see others who help us learn more about you through scripture and help us to be guides for others who need to meet you in the Word. Amen. Reading: Acts 8:26-40 (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: In our reading today from the book of Acts, Philip meets the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was reading from the Bible and Philip went over and joined him. The eunuch had questions about the scripture and Philip sat with him and explained it. He was a guide for the Ethiopian. This story was part our summer curriculum a few years ago. I liked it a lot. And so today, I’d like to write the story in camp-speak. It might go something like this: A camper, whose name was Ethan, was at GROW Time, reading aloud the scripture passage. His counselor asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I- unless someone guides me?” The counselor, using his Biblical knowledge, then explained in kid-friendly terms about Jesus in all the scriptures. Several of his cabinmates also chimed in and explained what they had learned along their faith journey. At camp, we take the time to sit down and talk with our campers. When they have Biblical or faith questions, we try to answer them and help them as they wrestle with what the scripture means to them today. We talk frequently about baptism and how we are loved as Children of God. And this summer, we will take it one step further to talk about how we, in response to God’s love for us, must go out and serve others. Who are your scripture guides? How do you learn more about God’s love for us and respond to that love? In this week that we have images of the vine, how do you abide in Christ? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: (If you happen to know the camp song, "His Banner Over Me is Love," sing it today. If not, prayerfully think about being a fruitful branch growing from the vine of Christ. Keep rooted in God's love. Amen) Reading: John 15: 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: So we all love to sing, "He is the vine and we are the branches. His banner over me is love.", making straight vine and absurdly shaped branches with our bodies and the song is fun! But, frankly I find the thought of God pruning branches, not to mention completely cutting them off, quite disturbing. It's not only because every time my husband goes out to prune the apple tree, pear tree or raspberry canes, I wonder if we will ever see fruit again (We do see fruit because Andy knows what he is doing.). It is probably because, in a literal sense, completely cutting off branches not bearing fruit seems so drastic and final. Not to mention, pruning branches that do bear fruit in order to make them bear more fruit still seems painful. (You know I am talking about real people and aspects of life here, not just our semi-dwarf apple tree from which we are patiently awaiting a bumper crop or at least a pie's worth off apples.) God knows what he is doing and I won't always understand. And while I may not understand cutting and pruning in the big picture, I know there are ways I could be made more fruitful with a bit of discernment and trimming. That is a start. Meanwhile, I will be patient about that apple pie. Fortunately, God is more patient than I am. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, show me your mercy that I may be merciful today. 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: The curriculum on Day 4 this summer at camp encourages us to love our family, friends and neighbors. The main text is the first 18 verses of Ruth in which Naomi is left in a foreign land with no husband and no sons, just her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. We know that story—Orpah stayed in Moab, but Ruth traveled back to Judah with her mother-in-law showing Naomi incredible love. Today we revisit the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We are to love God and we are to love our neighbor. So very often we are like the lawyer and want to test Jesus. Who is my neighbor? Are there any parameters to put around those who we are to love? Aren’t there some people I shouldn’t love? Neighbor—that could be everybody. Aren’t there some limits? In the midst of our questions, Jesus tells us this story again. Only he doesn’t answer any of our questions. He just shows us what acting neighborly looks like. In other words, He doesn’t define the other person but He defines us. Who is the neighbor to the one in need? The one who shows mercy. That’s how we are defined today—ones who show mercy. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Shepherding Lord, thank you for green pastures and quiet waters for restoring our souls. Just by being your sheep, we are and we have all we need. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: Today was designated to be a day of total rest after a whirlwind week and I just so happened upon an article about the problem of busyness. When overwhelmed by the busyness of life, I have been known to exclaim, "I am a human being, not a human doing!" (Not an original quote of mine. I heard it years ago and it stuck in my mind.) The article explained how we tend to define ourselves by the things we do and our busyness of doing so much becomes a bit of a bragging point. Our busyness also becomes a bit of a stress bordering on sickness. Let's instead define ourselves by who we are. We are made in God's image and that is certainly both good to be and enough to be! The twenty-third Psalm tells us the Lord is our shepherd and we are His sheep. We are to lie down in green pastures and be led beside still waters. How restoring to our souls that is! That is the kind of being in which we have all that we truly need. --Ruth Gates, Family Camper Prayer: God, help us to love you more, connect with you more, love others more, and connect with others more. Help us be disciples. Amen.
Reading: 1 John 3:16-24 (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: Probably the most known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. I for one learned that verse by heart at a very young age. Today, we get to read the verse from I John 3:16. Another book, but the same chapter and verse. Ironically, it also talks about love. As I read our text today, it strikes me that Christianity can be boiled down to one word: love. Jesus even reminded us of this. We should love God and love others. This summer at camp, I will talking with our staff about what discipleship means. Many have long definitions, but in a book I read this winter it was boiled down to this: love and connect regularly with God; love and connect regularly with others. And so today, I hope you think about how you do that. How do you love God? How do you connect with God regularly? How to love others? How do you connect with others regularly? How are you as a disciple of Jesus, the one who love us so much he died for us? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us, dear Jesus, to live on the rock. Amen.
Reading: Acts 4:5-12 (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: When reading this text today, we are reminded that Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” I’ve had Jesus and stones on my mind lately. On Easter Sunday, my son got sick on the way to church and so we had to turn around and go home. I missed Easter Sunday services. It was the first time I ever remember not being in church on Easter Sunday. And so, as I sat at home with my sick boy on my lap, I was thinking if I knew of any Lutheran church that had a Sunday night service. And I remembered Grace Lutheran Church in State College, who has a worship service each Sunday night at 6:00. So, my daughter and I ventured the hour-long drive and went to that service. My sister even joined us, as she lives near there. The senior pastor delivered a wonderful message and reminded us that Jesus rolled away the stone that Easter day. And Jesus can roll away the stones in our lives—the things that prevent us from being a better person or following our Lord. Jesus overcame death and can help us overcome anything, too. And now, we are reminded of another Jesus and stone analogy. Jesus was rejected but became of the cornerstone of a whole new world. Not only can Jesus help us move stones, but He can help us to stand firm in living the blessings of an Easter life. What good news! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Lord, help me to love the immigrants in our midst.
Reading: Leviticus 19:33-34 33 Don’t mistreat any foreigners who live in your land. 34 Instead, treat them as well as you treat citizens and love them as much as you love yourself. Remember, you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God. 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 curriculum on day 4 this summer at camp encourages us to love our family, friends and neighbors. The main text is the first 18 verses of Ruth in which Naomi is left in a foreign land with no husband and no sons, just her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. We know that story—Orpah stayed in Moab, but Ruth traveled back to Judah with her mother-in-law showing Naomi incredible love. Today we consider another way that we are called to love. We hear so much about what we should do with the people who cross our southern borders from Latin America. Immigrants. Some want them all deported. Some want barriers built anywhere they cross into the United States. Many perceive them as a threat. Many call them unfriendly, unwelcoming names How differently God instructed the Hebrews camped at the base of Mount Sinai. Today’s text was received along with the Ten Commandments and many other instructions for living in community. God tells the Hebrews to treat the foreigners (immigrants in some translations) “as you treat citizens.” And God goes on, “love them as much as you love yourself.” These words probably won’t affect our national policy toward the immigrants among us. But, I hope that today we personally take God’s words to heart and resolve to stand with the immigrants who reside in the United States. I don’t see that there is another option. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Dear God, help us to examine our hearts before venting frustrations on others. Perhaps then we will all sleep a little better. Amen
Reading: Psalm 4 (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 your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. (v. 4) Let's face it, anger may not be sin but it certainly can lead to sin. This prayer depicts anger springing from anxiety, which proves especially troublesome on sleepless nights. The Psalm suggests that, rather than venting your worry in outbursts against others, you should examine your own heart. Oh, and be silent, too. But, but, but...! No. Examine your heart and be silent. Period. Still not convinced? Easier said than done? Sure! So jump to verse 8: I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. That certainly is encouraging. Good night. Sleep well. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for explaining so much to us and yet reminding us that much is simply because God commands so. Amen
Reading: John 10: 11-18 (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: "Why?" "Why?" "Why?" The common question of young children over and over and over again. Andy and I once thought the better thing to say was, "Please explain!" but then we were actually committed to giving a good reason and, frankly, sometimes "Because I said so." is the only answer. The beginning of 10th chapter of the Gospel of John is The Shepherd and His Flock, a lovely long teaching by Jesus in which he figuratively explains his being the Good Shepherd. It is an understandable comparison of who Christ is and comforting message of whose we are. However, toward the end, as Jesus speaks of laying down his life and taking it up again, the head-scratching could begin followed by "Why?" or "Please explain!" . Jesus simply puts the bottom line, final answer right out there: "This command I received from my Father." "Why?" "Please explain!" In matters of being shepherds and sheep - who God is and whose we are - we simply need to know, "Because God said so." --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 19, 2013.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that we are your children. Amen. Reading: 1 John 3: 1-7 (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? Other questions you could think about or discuss: 1. What about your identity is most important to you? 2. What are reminders for you that you are a Child of God? Reflection: I rely heavily on notes to myself. I write messages all the time to remind me to do stuff. In college, my roommate and I kidded each other that we really had memory problems because our room was full of notes we wrote to ourselves to remember things. When I was a child, my parents heard a story about some parents who told their children anytime they were going out somewhere to "remember who you are." They were to respond, "I am a child of God." My parents started doing this to my sister and me. It reminded us that we were children of God and were to act as children of our Heavenly Father expected us to act. It was good to remind us that we were chosen children. So, remember who you are. You are a child of God. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Write "I Am A Child of God" on a Post-It-Note and put it somewhere to remind you frequently. Prayer: Jesus, help us to see you today. Amen.
Reading: Acts 3:12-26 (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 have the honor of preaching this Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church in Berwick. As I’ve been preparing this week for my sermon, this question has been in my head: “Where have you seen Jesus?” We ask our campers that question on an almost daily basis in the summer. When I’m trying to discern a situation, I often ask myself that question or a similar one, “Where is Jesus in all of this.” Peter was a witness to the resurrection. He got to see Jesus several times after that first Easter Sunday. And, we went out and told people about it. We see that in our story today. I like this passage as it really ties together what God said would happen and what did happen. And it reminds us to pay attention to God’s Word to find direction for our lives. Where have you seen Jesus? Where is Jesus in all of this? May these questions be on your mind this day. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, open my mind so I can understand the scriptures.
Reading: Luke 24: 36b-48 (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: Stop. Start over. Go back to the beginning and, after praying the prayer above, actually click on the link to read the text for today. Thank you. Now, take a moment and at least ask yourself Question 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn't make sense to me in this text? At this point if you are honestly scared, confused, challenged or trying to make sense of the text then by all means don't worry. You are in good company with the disciples after Jesus' death and word of his resurrection. Jesus had just appeared to them and they were startled and frightened thinking they had seen a ghost. He showed them his hands and feet and there was joy and amazement. Then it was time for Jesus to explain all that he had told them before, all that needed to be fulfilled and all that was written going back to the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Obviously, their minds were already overwhelmed before Jesus even started talking. How would they ever understand? Well, Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (v. 45). Surely that must have helped. We come to our devotion time with busy and burdened minds. This daily devotion arrives by email, Facebook post, blog or Tweet sometimes as unexpectedly as the risen Christ appearing and eating fish. Take the time at that moment or at a set aside time to ask God to open your mind so you can understand His Word. Oh, and remember Questions 2, 3 and 4. God is always up to something! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, help me to leave some for others. Amen
Reading: Leviticus 19:9-10 (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: The curriculum on day 4 this summer at camp encourages us to love our family, friends and neighbors. The main text is the first 18 verses of Ruth in which Naomi is left in a foreign land with no husband and no sons, just her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. We know that story—Orpah stayed in Moab, but Ruth traveled back to Judah with her mother-in-law showing Naomi incredible love. Today we consider another way that we are called to love. One of the annoyances for farmers is deer. As much as we like to see them, they eat a lot of corn. Even before the farmer can harvest the crop, the deer bed down in the middle of the field and munch away. I had a farmer friend in Union County who told me that he always planted 2 or 3 more rows of corn than he needed. Those were for the deer. They have to eat, too. In Leviticus, God instructs farmers when harvesting to leave some of the produce in the field and to leave some of the grapes hanging in the vineyard. Don’t pick it all. Leave some for the poor. And this isn’t just the excess. This is an intentional leaving of crops so that the poor can eat. Leaving behind food that the farmer could harvest and take to market for a profit. How might we find ways to leave some for others? How might we love the poor among us? It would be good for us today to somehow make food available to the poor. Don’t wait for the next community food drive. Let’s make some food available today. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Dear God, help us to live in harmonious unity. Amen
Reading: Psalm 133 (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 how I write a devotion: I read the assigned text over and over and then let it settle into my heart and mind for a bit until I hear a message to be shared. This can take minutes or it can take days. The Spirit speaks and I begin to write. Psalm 133 is short and sweet, just 3 verses. The first verse is the one I latched onto and pondered: How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. The only problem is, over time I mistakenly began reciting the verse to myself as: How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in harmony. I came up with a wonderful reflection about harmony only to sit down back with the Bible and realize I was thinking the wrong word! But I believe this can still work. In music, there is unison singing with everyone singing the same tune at the same time perhaps only different in which octave; the basses low and the sopranos high. It is a unity of all voices on the same notes. Just as when God's people live in unity, it is good and pleasant. Harmony singing, on the other hand, is different people singing different notes at the same time to create the music. Still, the voices need to be united on their own right notes at the right time together. Sometimes there may be discordant harmonies but those usually resolve back to a nicer sound. Harmony is also good and pleasant. We are called to live in unity doing the same thing: loving God and loving others. However, we are each unique with different gifts and so we also live in harmony doing the same thing but perhaps in different ways. There may be discord amongst us but the hope is to resolve problems to once again live in unity in our harmonies. Harmonious unity! How good and pleasant that is! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 14, 2014.
Prayer: Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. Amen. Reading: 1 John 1:1 - 2:5 (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: Darkness in this text is described as being in fellowship with neither God nor the Christian community. Walking in the light brings us into fellowship with God and the community. And in that fellowship “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Then there is this statement that might be familiar to us. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” It is familiar to me because as a Lutheran pastor I read that line in the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness in the Lutheran Book of Worship many Sunday mornings. It is a striking statement that confronts us all and forces us to walk in the light of truth and reality, no matter how much we would like to stay in the darkness and not admit our short comings. The world we live in wants to stay in the darkness. Seldom do we hear confession from our world. Like, “that is my fault.” “I take full responsibility for that.” “I’m sorry.” We hear neither personal nor corporate confession. It’s always somebody else’s fault. John’s community wanted to pass on to us what it knew to be the truth. Perhaps we, too, could at least in a small way pass on the truth to our world by publicly acknowledging our own mess-ups. If we walk in the light, perhaps others will, too. --Jim Bricker, Camp Mount Luther Summer Chaplain to the Staff Prayer: Dear God, help us to be good witnesses to the resurrection. Help us to change the world. Amen.
Reading: Acts 4:23-37 (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: This text tells us of a time after the resurrection. The disciples, with great power, gave their testimony to the Risen Lord. We are told that there was not a needy person among them, because they were compelled to help out those who needed it. They shared their wealth. Can you imagine our society today if that practice had continued? I guess some might call it “socialism.” But what intrigues me about this story is that they did that because they were compelled to because of their witness of the resurrection. And it makes me wonder what I should be doing to live in the good news of the resurrection. Is there something that God is giving me power to do? Is the Spirit leading me to help someone because Jesus rolled that stone away on Easter and changed the course of the world? Maybe you, like me, will be asking those questions in the coming days. And maybe our answers will help change the world, too. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the peace you give us. Help us to remember to to feel your peace today. Amen.
Reading: John 20: 19-31 (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 long season of Lent is over. Packed full Holy Week is past. Easter was celebrated grandly yesterday. Now it is the day after all the excitement. In our church families, the Pastors are tired and the musicians need a rest. Church office staff, ushers, Sunday School teachers, all adults who have helped are ready for a break. Even the children who tried to understand the good of what seemed to be a bad Friday are now glad to have Easter joy (and candy). Well, if this is how we are feeling, imagine the exhaustion of the disciples! In fact, they were in such a state, they gathered together and locked the doors. Today's reading is about Jesus appearing to his disciples and then also to Thomas. In these 12 verses of John 20, I noticed Jesus spoke the word "peace" over and over and over again. In fact, Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" three times. Sure, he also explained a couple other things to those tired and fearful followers, particularly to Thomas who was especially struggling, but it seems the most important message of the moment was Peace. Perhaps peace is the most important message for us today, too. Remember Jesus said, "Peace be with you." Remind yourself of that once, twice, three times or more! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help me to hang around and see what you are up to, God. Amen Prayer: God, through the story of Ruth and Naomi, help us to see your love that never ends. Amen.
Reading: Ruth 1:1-18 (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: During this Holy Week, as we prepare for our Easter celebrations tomorrow, we have an extra devotional this week to look ahead at our summer curriculum for Day 4. On Thursdays this summer, we will be studying the story of Ruth and Naomi. In this story, we heard about how God cares for us through others and how we can help our neighbor. What is surprising to you about the story of Naomi and Ruth? Do you think you would have done what Ruth did in that situation? As an activity today to dig a little deeper into this story, take a large piece of paper and make a family tree. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can simply write names and draw lines between them, or use pictures. How many generations back can you go? As you work on this family tree, think about what you know about these people in your family. How did they care for you or others? What can we learn from them about loving our neighbor? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Lord, help us to be moved this day as we hear the story again of the work your son did on the cross. Amen.
Reading: John 18: 1- 19: 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: “Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” The little baby, born in the quiet cattle stall, who grew up to be the boy in the temple and the man who healed, preached, and taught while he walked from place to place is dead. He asked God if this duty could be taken away but in the end, he bowed in reverence to the Father and gave up his spirit. “It is finished,” they heard him cry. The end was here. It may seem strange, but Good Friday is one of my favorite days of the year. Growing up, I always looked forward to the Tenebrae Service at my home congregation. The retelling of Jesus’ final day always moves me. This past summer at camp, this story was the one our campers studied when we looked at the church season of Lent. My daughter, who heard this story often this summer, has told me that it is her favorite story in the Bible. The story has been passed from my generation to hers. How do you pass this story onto others? What do you tell others about how your God sent his Son to earth, born of humble beginnings, brought to teach, preach, and heal, and ultimately die for you? On this day, and every day, may this story move you to go share the Good News! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Lord, by your death you brought salvation to us and glory to the Father. May we remember that even though we will eventually die and leave this earth, we will live forever in heaven with you. Amen.
Reading: John 12:20-26 (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: We don’t really like to talk about death. We don’t always know the right things to say to comfort a grieving loved one. When the grandfather of two of my students recently passed away, I didn’t know what to say to them. I thought and thought about it, and finally wrote them each a very brief note on stationery. In the Protestant Church, our symbols do not reflect death. We have an empty cross as opposed to a crucifix. We remember that Jesus died, but we focus on how he now lives forever in heaven. In these Bible verses, Jesus reminds his disciples that a seed cannot grow until it dies. There can be no resurrection without a death. We cannot know Jesus without knowing death. I recently saw this quote on Facebook: “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” (Anne Bradstreet in Meditations Divine and Moral) In other words: There can be no resurrection without a death. And because of Jesus’ death we have life. When I gave those sympathy notes to my students, the big brother thanked me and later in the day, when I saw the little brother and gave him his note, he got a little teary and said, “You’re the only teacher who would think to write me a note.” Although I never received any training on grief support or how to help students deal with death, I think I did the right thing by acknowledging those students’ loss. And I think we all do the right thing when we remember Jesus’ sacrifice, his dying for us, and our life everlasting because of his death. How have you been reassured that “winter is always followed by spring” and that “there can be no resurrection without a death?” --Christine Conz Moll, Camp Mount Luther Alumni Camper Prayer: Be near us, Lord God, and stay close by us, we pray. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 22 (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: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” We hear these words from the cross this week. Jesus, knowing what needs to happen, is still hopeful that the cup will be taken away from him. But he knows. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me?” God seems so far away to Jesus. But in times of despair and hopelessness, it is God who is right beside, comforting and reassuring. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It’s so easy to blame God. It’s harder to see God in the midst of the tragedy of the cross. “My God, my God.” And yet, it is God to whom Christ calls out. Jesus knows where his help comes from. He knows God is there. “God.” As you look at the cross this week, look around you. See God’s mighty works. See God. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director |
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