Prayer: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to service the neighbors we have from you. Amen
Reading: 1 Samuel 3:8-10 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 out last look at our Day 5 summer curriculum as part of our theme, “A Love That Never Ends.” To recap, we are looking at heroes of the Old Testament and how God loved them and how that love is in our lives today, too. We’ve looked at Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, Ruth and Naomi, and finally Jeremiah. Our reading for today is one of the alternate texts for Day 5, the day we help campers prepare for reentry. We want to send them home looking to share God’s love. Obviously, this call to a young Samuel is to inspire our campers to feel called by God to share God’s love when they leave camp. But, this Friday I want to use the text in another way. I firmly believe that God calls each individual of Camp Mount Luther’s staff. They are, of course, interviewed and hired by Chad, our executive director. It may seem rather secular—this working at Camp Mount Luther. But, it is not. It is a calling. God calls us to this place and to this ministry. The summer starts this Sunday. Two weeks of staff training then we get campers!! Please pray for us. Today, this Sunday and all through the summer. The ones God has called--the 2015 summer staff: Chad, Linda, Tom, Toni, Charlene, Jim, Adam, Brooke-Lynn, Rebecca, Nichole, Ty, Courtney, Ryan, Olivia, Samantha, Zach, Tara, James, Phoebe, Jonah, Lindsey, Ryan, Kyle, and Ginny. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff
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Prayer: Lord, let my ears be attentive to your voice for me this day. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 29 (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 of my favorite parts of being a dad is when my children recognized me. I was expecting them to recognize me by my face but the thing that caught me off guard was when they recognized my voice. I could be in another room or standing on the other side of the sanctuary and I would speak and each one of my children would hone in on me. They knew the sound of my voice. They knew the familiarity. They knew the comfort and expectation that came with that voice. They knew that I most likely had food for them or at least could get them to food. God’s voice is the same for us, but the challenge is sometimes we don’t recognize the voice of God in our midst. Sometimes God’s voice might come to us full of power and majesty, uplifting us and enfolding us in comfort and care. Sometimes God’s voice might come to us as a mighty thunder, breaking and shaking what we think we might know and revealing a new way of being, a new way of being church. May we hear God’s voice moving us to grow as God’s people, wherever God would have us go. -–Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member & Camp Pastor Prayer: May every moment of this day be a window for grace to flow into my soul. Amen
Reading: Romans 8: 12-17 (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 we cry, “Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. --Romans 8: 15b-17 My belief is that when you're telling the truth, you're close to God. If you say to God, "I'm exhausted and depressed beyond words, and I don't like You at all right now,..." that might be the most honest thing you've ever said....So prayer is our sometimes real selves trying to communicate with the Real, with Truth, with the Light. (Prayer) is...hoping to be found by a light and warmth...instead of darkness and cold. - Anne Lamott, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers Go ahead, the Spirit says. Name it all, and let it all go. I am your Abba, the Loving Spirit who cries out to you, turning your every struggle into a window of opportunity for Grace to flow into all your empty places. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper (parts shared from a 2014 Lenten Devotional - too deep for words) Prayer: God, help me to be thankful for your son, Jesus Christ, who takes away my sins. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 6:1-13 (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: This passage makes me appreciate Jesus even more than I did before. Imagine it: to have your sin and guilt blotted out it took a seraph with a hot coal held by a pair of tongs touching your lips. Ouch! I can’t imagine the pain that I’d feel if that happened. For Memorial Day last night, we were with some friends and made mountain pies. I touched the hot part of the stick and it hurt- and that was nothing compared to these hot coals on Isaiah’s lips. This summer, when I’m standing by a campfire, I’ll think of this story. When I see the hot coals, instead of thinking about how they would make a great cooking fire (which is usually what I do), I’ll instead be reminded about Jesus’ sacrifice for us and be thankful that I don’t have to have hot coals on my lips. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, hear our prayers in the night. Amen.
Reading: John 3: 1-17 (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 did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night? Was it because as a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council he did not want to be seen visiting Jesus? Perhaps his Pharisee friends would have given him a hard time for talking with Jesus. Yet, Nicodemus started out by telling Jesus, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3: 2). Who is we? Sounds like Nicodemus wasn't the only one who acknowledged Jesus. Still, Nicodemus was the only one who actually went to talk to Jesus and, regardless of the hour, Jesus gave him the time, attention and answers he needed. Did Nicodemus go back and share what Jesus explained to him in that late night visit? We don't really know but, if the pretty much universal knowledge of John 3:16 is any indication, I guess that late night visit by one person certainly had an impact on countless people. Let's remember that. In a way, in our community of faith, we say "We know..." as we recite the creeds together, but Jesus is always there and ready for us for the one on one conversations no matter the hour. May those times feed our own souls and then strengthen us all. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to service the neighbors we have from you. Amen
Reading: Exodus 4:10-11 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 month, on Fridays, we’ll look at our Day 5 summer curriculum as part of our theme, “A Love That Never Ends.” To recap, we are looking at heroes of the Old Testament and how God loved them and how that love is in our lives today, too. We’ve looked at Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, Ruth and Naomi, and finally Jeremiah. Our reading for today is one of the alternate texts for Day 5, the day we help campers prepare for reentry. We want to send them home looking to share God’s love. And so today’s text. Undoubtedly, many of the campers will feel uncomfortable about telling their families and friends about the love they experienced at camp. That’s understandable and one of the reasons this conversation between Moses and God is a text for Fridays. If Moses was uncomfortable then it is o.k. for campers to voice hesitancy. And God’s response to Moses is basically, “I’s o.k. Moses. I give you everything you need to do the job.” So, we will encourage campers. And you, reader, what is your discomfort about talking to others of God’s love in your life? Anything you or I say at this point is just an excuse. God gives us the gifts to speak love in our world. Let’s stop making excuses and get on with it. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on January 2, 2013.
Prayer: May our words be pleasing and acceptable to you, dear Lord. Amen. Reading: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (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? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
Reflection: A few people I know have taken yoga. I've never taken the time to learn that medication technique but I am told that it is very relaxing and good for the mind. I know at times my mind is constantly racing with thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I wish I could have a clear mind and not be thinking of anything. As this passage from one of the Psalms says, we have to make our meditations with God meaningful. How do we do that? Here are some pointers I picked up from a good friend of mine. First, review your past. What have you learned from your experiences? How have you been helped by those events in your life? What has God taught you? Second, reflect on the greatness and goodness of God. Think of all the marvelous things God has done for you. Think of the awesome love and grace God gives to the chosen. Third, remember God's promises. The Bible is full of the many promises made by our Heavenly Father. Remember those promises. Finally, make requests to the Lord. As it says in Matthew, "Ask and it will be given to you." Jesus frequently went to pray and gather His thoughts. We, too, should use our devotional time to meditate and pray. Then, we need to wait and see how the Lord Almighty answers our prayers. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Mediate on or discuss with one another this quote: "It's hard to stumble when you are on your knees!" (Author Unknown) Prayer: Listening God, we are thankful that when we do not know how to pray the Spirit intercedes. Amen.
Reading: Romans 8: 22-27 (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: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” -- Romans 8:26-27 NIV A friend and choir member died suddenly last week just days after a cancer diagnosis. The tumor hemorrhaged into his brain stem. Bob was talking and smiling one minute; gone the next. The choir gathered that evening, hugged, cried and tried to find words until we went outside as daylight faded and we simply began to sing favorite hymns as the Spirit interceded. Two days later, Bob was to be a soloist for Music Sunday and we had hoped and prayed during choir practice that he could despite the sudden troubling symptoms and upcoming biopsy procedure. But, there we were on Sunday, a grieving Chancel Choir singing Schubert's Mass in G with the our director and another bass sharing the solo parts. The whole congregation was sorrowing but we still had music to carry the Word and share our love. Bob was still with us in our singing as the Spirit interceded. Tomorrow the choir will be at Bob's funeral and this may be the most difficult of all. But again the Spirit will intercede and we will share three of our dearest anthems and the hymn, My Life Flows On in Endless Song, with the refrain: No storm can shake my inmost calm, While to that rock I'm clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, How can I keep from singing? --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, so we may follow you in words, thoughts, and actions. Amen.
Reading: Acts 2:1-21 (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: Like many of you, I was baptized as an infant and raised in the church. Unknown to me, my parents made promises and the church joined in those promises to do something. That something was to raise me in faith. That meant providing opportunities for my growth in faith through Christian Education experiences at church and at home. That meant accepting me as another one of God’s children. That meant showing me, by example of word and deed, how to live a life worth to be called a follower of Jesus. To put it simply, the church promised to do faith. Too often we sit in our churches and think that our worship will make us Christians. Sometimes I wonder if that is enough. The disciples could have been satisfied with the Holy Spirit’s work on the first Pentecost. They could have called it good after the first three thousand converts came in (verse 41), but they didn’t. They didn’t grow comfortable with where they were, they continued to see visions and dream dreams. They continued to prophesy and preach the gospel to all who would hear it. How have we as followers of Christ ignored and grown comfortable with the mission of God? How can we keep those promises to the infants who have been baptized, not only in our congregations, but into the whole body of Christ? What visions or dreams do you have for your life of faith and for the church? –Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member & Camp Pastor Prayer: Dear God, thank you for knowing the limits of what we can bear and promising the guidance of the Spirit to guide us into truth.
Reading: John 15: 26-27, 16: 4b-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: (Jesus told his disciples,)“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." --John 16:12-13a NIV Sad news has me burdened. I am weary. I know, I know. Things could always be worse but they sure could be better, too. I am reminded of a line from the movie, Babe. One character states, "The way things are is the way things are." to which another character replies, "Well, the way things are stinks!" This is life and Jesus knows it. So, he comes right out and tells his disciples he has more to tell them but it would be more than they could bear. So he spares them and simply assures them the Spirit of truth will come and guide them into all truth. That is the same for me today. I simply do not want to bear another burden. I am looking to the Spirit to guide me into all truth. With truth in my heart I will surely know disappointment passes to new opportunities , death is not the end of life and living by faith, hope and love really is the only way to get through the rough patches. When faced with more than we can bear, perhaps it is simply enough to know that the Spirit who has been at work for thousands of years will be with us today. That'll do. -Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, when you call today help me to be spontaneous. Amen
Reading: Mathew 4:18-22 (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: This month, on Fridays, we’ll look at our Day 5 summer curriculum as part of our theme, “A Love That Never Ends.” To recap, we are looking at heroes of the Old Testament and how God loved them and how that love is in our lives today, too. We’ve looked at Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, Ruth and Naomi, and finally Jeremiah. Our reading for today is one of the alternate texts for Day 5, the day we help campers prepare for reentry. We want to send them home looking to share God’s love. And so today’s text. Immediately!! It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? As soon as Jesus beckoned them they left—nets, boats and father. There should be a little time to adjust, don’t you think? Poor old dad, left in the boat with nothing but tattered nets. The call of Jesus was compelling to the fishermen in today’s lesson. We, too, are called. By the same Jesus. Called to what? Catch people? (I must admit I’m not sure what that means.) Love? Forgive? Teach? Be a camp counselor? But today, maybe “what” is not the question. Rather, “when” is the question. And the answer seems to be Now!! Immediately! What things do we put in the way of responding to Jesus’ daily calls? Indeed, time’s awastin’. May Jesus’ call to us today, whatever it is, compel us to spring into action without hesitation. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Lord, let my prayer rise up before you as we remember today your Son’s ascension. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: It’s often the case as I write devotions for this project that I will read a text and I’ll get an instant idea about how the scripture ties into what I’ve been thinking about recently or what might be appropriate for that particular period in time. Today, not so much! Today is the day that we observe Ascension Day. It’s the day that Jesus, after making his resurrection appearances, ascended to the Father and was not seen on earth again in human form. We will celebrate Ascension on Sunday in most of our churches. This is the Psalm for this Sunday. But I can’t see a way that this ties to the ascension. And I wanted it to, because it is the text we’ve appointed to look at this day and I wanted to write about this important observance. Wait! Maybe that’s the point. Ascension Day is "hidden" for many. Many Christians today don’t remember to observe this day. But, I think it’s very important in the life of the church. And while I might not always do something “special” to observe this day, I do like to think about it and reflect on its significance each year. Right now at Mount Luther, we have an Amish group at camp, holding an Ascension Day retreat. The Amish and Mennonite Christians always close their shops and take this day off to observe and remember Jesus ascending to the Father. I think that’s great! As you go about your day today and as we observe the Ascension this Sunday, reflect on the significance of Jesus going to the Father. And, remember that next week, we’ll celebrate that even though Jesus is not physically here with us anymore, his advocate, the Holy Spirit, is with us now to guide us as we serve God here on earth. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, help us to tell the old, old story until we sing the new, new song in glory. Amen
Reading: I John 5: 9-13 (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: I (John) write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. I John 9: 13 Reminds me of the last verse of the old hymn: I love to tell the story; For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 'Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long. I love to tell the story, 'Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and his love. Yes, many know the story and yet it is still good for them to hear it. As John explained, he was writing to people who believed but he wrote anyway so they would know they have eternal life. Tell or sing the story of Jesus and his love; for yourself to hear, for others to hear again and for those who have never heard. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to feel your call. Amen.
Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (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: There are some days when I question our tradition and practices of the church. I love singing hymns next to my father who cranks the base line from memory. I take meaning in gathering together as the body of Christ around the altar table, the kitchen table, and even table at the bar. But I get bogged down in the “have to” of our church operation. And when I read this section of the first chapter of Acts, I wish to select our leaders the same way they did when selecting a new twelfth apostle. Imagine this Acts method for selecting council members. I know in congregations, if we have three council seats to fill, then we get three people whom we have to nag, beg, promise, arm twist, or anything else we can think of to get them to agree. Perhaps we should do what the apostles did, draw up the qualifications (confirmed, communing, contributing member of the church, yes that would mean most everyone!), then put all those names in a hat, then pray over the choice that God’s will would be done, then pick three names out of the hat, and there are your three new council members! I don’t think the process would be accepted in our churches but it does bring up an interesting question: Are we ready and willing to serve God when God needs us and not when we think we are ready? The church has work to do to help God bring about the Kingdom. What more is God calling you to do? –Peter Horn, Camp Mount Luther Board Member & Camp Pastor Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember all for whom we are to pray. Amen
Reading: John 17: 6-19 (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 today,I looked at the whole chapter of John 17 to get a better idea of what it is about. John 17 is one long prayer in three parts: Jesus Prays for his Himself; Jesus Prays for His Disciples; Jesus Prays for All Believers. It reminded me of a friend of mine who has a unique prayer system. She uses a different coffee mug each day of the week and each mug reminds her that day to pray for certain people. One day she prays for her family, the next day friends, another day the children of the world, another for pastors and missionaries and so on through the week. She explained the mug system helps her focus her prayers and this way no one falls through the cracks! How comforting and encouraging it is to know Jesus' three part prayer in John 17 covers many, leaving no one to fall through the cracks. How do you remember to pray for all? Maybe a daily system could help. It may also help you remember what day it is! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help me to love another today, Jesus.
Reading: John 15:12-17 (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 month, on Fridays, we’ll look at our Day 5 summer curriculum as part of our theme, “A Love That Never Ends.” To recap, we are looking at heroes of the Old Testament and how God loved them and how that love is in our lives today, too. We’ve looked at Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, Ruth and Naomi, and finally Jeremiah. Our reading for today is one of the alternate texts for Day 5, the day we help campers prepare for reentry. We want to send them home looking to share God’s love. And so today’s text. I’m not sure how young ladies pick up teams. One of the ways the guys do it is with a baseball bat. Two people keep putting their hands on top of the other one’s hand around the bat until one person wraps his hand around the top of the bat. That person got to pick first. Seldom was I the “captain” that got to do the picking. So I remember hoping and hoping that one of the “captains” would pick me. The alternative was to be standing alone and just go with a team. You didn’t really get picked. I’m always struck in this reading by the idea that God chooses me. Not the other way around. God chooses me! (Can’t you see Charlie Brown on the mound leaping for joy because he got chosen?) That in itself is a blessing. God chooses me. To go and bear fruit, to love on another. Hey, chosen ones—what fruit will you bear today? Whom shall you love? --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Accept the praises we offer, Lord. Reading: Psalm 98 (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 read this psalm, I immediately think of camp. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord; sing praises to God. The images in my head right now are those of campers and staff singing after meals. We sure do make joyful noises unto God! When I was in my church choir as a youngster, I remember our choir director at the time telling us that the great thing about vocal music was that everyone can sing. Some can do it better than others, mind you, but everyone can sing. I don’t think God cares what it sounds like. When you praise God with your voice, or a lyre, or a trumpet, or any instrument, God is pleased. So today, go praise God and make a joyful noise! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, how amazing it is that with you we can overcome the world. With your commands to guide us, help us feel strengthened already. Amen
Reading: I John 5: 1-6 (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: 1 John 5:3-4 NIV In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Have you ever felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Have you ever seen someone looking as if they were? We all know the feeling. Sometimes we load the burdens on ourselves but more often the burdens seem to land on us: illness, sorrow, career changes, relationship struggles. Shoulders droop and spirits sink. In the midst of everything else in life, God's commands could feel like just another burden to carry. However, our text today assures us God's commands are not burdensome. In fact, when we are born of God, we have the strength to overcome what the world throws on us. Follow the command to love God and love others through the illness, the sorrow, the changes and struggles; through the health, the joy, the stillness and peace. Burdens and blessings seen through love give us strength. That is faith; that is victory! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Note: We welcome a new regular contributor to our First Light Devotions today. Rev. Peter Horn is associate pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bloomsburg and serves on the camp board. He also is a camp pastor in the summer and served on camp staff at Camp Nawakwa, near Gettysburg, PA, during his college years.
Prayer: Lord, you have called us to be your people, your church. Keep us watchful of the ways that you work in our world. Amen. Reading: Acts 10:44-48 (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: In our baptismal service in worship, the pastor pours water on the infant, child, or adult’s head first. Then the laying on of hands occurs where there is a prayer for the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon the one being baptized. But that’s not what occurs in our Acts reading. Peter is talking and the Holy Spirit comes first! How can God act without the water being present first? Simple answer: Faith comes in God’s time. This is a tough idea. Throughout all of scripture, God does amazing things. Here in Acts, God continues to do amazing things like opening up God’s family to everyone who believes. Our struggle today is that, whether in belief, tradition, or practice, we have forgotten that God can do amazing things! The God of our ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Moses, of Elijah, the God of Peter and of Paul, and the God of the ELCA, of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, and of Camp Mount Luther can do amazing things! What is God doing in your life, in your church, in our world? What are you doing to receive God and to watch for God in others? How will you react or respond when the Holy Spirit comes to enliven you? –Peter Horn, Board Member & Camp Pastor Prayer: Dear God, thank you for showing us the way to have complete joy. Amen
Reading: John 15: 9-17 (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 (Jesus) have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15: 11 Told us what? What exactly? What do we need to know to have joy? Oh, we gotta know! Isn't everyone yearning to have joy? We know what the media tells us. A Coke and a smile anyone? All those people driving fancy cars sure look happy. Even the right laundry detergent can seemingly make us cheerful. Hooray, stains out! However, Jesus is not talking about shallow, short-term fleeting happiness but rather deep, down, long-lasting joy. Joy is good; complete joy is even better. So, tune out all the world's ways of making us feel better and tune into what Jesus says: "Love each other as I have loved you...so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Having a Coke might make you feel good but sharing a soda (pop) while laughing with a friend is real joy. A reliable, new car may bring security but driving it to carpool kids around makes the miles joy-filled. Getting that chocolate stain out of the new shirt may bring relief but we all know the true joy was in the family going out for ice cream together. Let's love each other as God has loved us and our joy will be complete! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, help me to help someone today! Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (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: This month, on Fridays, we’ll look at our Day 5 curriculum this summer as part of our theme, “ A Love That Never Ends.” To recap, we are looking at heroes of the Old Testament and how God loved them and how that love is in our lives today, too. We’ve looked at Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Israelites, Jonah, Ruth and Naomi, and now Jeremiah. Jeremiah was very young when God called him. He was probably very afraid, too. As I tell kids that I’ve talked about this story with, Jeremiah didn’t get a phone call from God asking him to do something. It was more frightening than that! Feeling the Spirit leading us to do something new can be frightening. But maybe is there something that we are supposed to do to show God’s loves towards others. It could be making a meal for a family who has someone in the hospital, babysitting to help a single mom, or doing yard work for an elderly neighbor. Helping others is one way that we can show God’s love to others. How will you help someone today? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director |
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