Prayer: Lord, guide and protect our campers and staff as they begin this summer’s camping season. Watch over them and help them to see you. Amen.
Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-24 (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: The widow of Zarephath was our story in one of our camp curricula since I’ve been director. If memory serves, it was the year we talked about how God provides for us and gives us everything we need. We’ve done a lot of camp curricula in the many years I’ve been involved with Mount Luther. This summer, we will look at “La Frontera,” and see places where Jesus meets us. We did this curriculum in 2006 and I chose to do it again this year because it is one of the studies that I really liked. I think it is important for our campers to know that wherever they are, Jesus is there in their midst. I wonder what lessons this summer the campers will remember years from now? As I write this, I think of a camper who just recently got in touch and told me how much camp meant to him and how he is pursing a career in outdoor ministries because of his experiences here. The work we do in this place is important and vital in the life of our church. As we begin staff training today, we begin another chapter in the history of Camp Mount Luther. The pages are blank as we write the story of Summer 2016. Please pray for the staff and campers this summer. Follow us on social media and read the camp’s weekly newsletter. It is my hope that in years to come, our campers and staff will remember the Bible stories, like this one, that have been part of our curriculum and they’ll be able to relate the lessons they learn to their every day lives. –Chad Hershberger
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Prayer: May we be bold, Jesus, in spreading the news of your deeds. Amen.
Reading: Luke 7:11-17 (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: There are several places in scripture when Jesus does something spectacular and he says, “Don’t go tell anyone.” In our story today, Jesus brings a man back to life. He helps out a widow whose life probably at that moment felt like the end of the world. He tells her to stop crying and bam! Her son is resurrected. The people were astonished. And, they spread the word about Jesus. In this case, Jesus did not tell them to remain silent. Word spread, probably like wildfire, throughout the region. Imagine if that happened today! Would it be on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc.? Would there be eyewitness accounts? I’m sure there would. But wait! Shouldn’t there be those today anyway? Shouldn’t we be sharing with others when we see Jesus in our every day walks? Shouldn’t we rejoice (even online) when God’s work is happening today? Let’s get this word about him spreading throughout our regions and all the surrounding country! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help me to welcome all of your friends into my life, O Lord. Amen Reading: Acts 10:1-33 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: On Fridays we take a look at Camp Mount Luther’s summer curriculum, “La Frontera.” Today’s long reading is an alternate story for Day 5--In the breaking of bread, we recognize our Lord. “Praise the Lord,” she said. “I think I just communed a Muslim,” I had reflected to my colleague. It was at Camp Mount Luther. The Muslim was a visiting friend of one of our counselors. He had been around for a few days, and we were all just very comfortable with him. We were worshiping outdoors and he came with everybody else to receive the sacrament and I just served him. At the moment, it didn’t occur to me to not serve him. As I think about it, it was the right thing to do. Peter learned, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.” He was sent to the Gentile, Cornelius and Cornelius was led to Peter. God works that way. He probably could not express it as we Christians would, but I’m sure that our Muslim friend experienced the love of Jesus in the bread and wine in the midst of his friends. --Jim Bricker Prayer: May I sing to the Lord a new song this day and bless God’s name and tell of God’s salvation from day to day. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 96 (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 a few days, when the staff gathers for training, we will spend some time talking about to correctly lead songs with campers. We will teach them the proper tricks and techniques for how to do an important part of our camp program. Over the years, we’ve learned ways that just make leading songs go better. When I read this passage, I was reminded that even though there is a good way to lead songs, there isn’t a bad was to sing songs. Because, after all, if we are singing to praise God, it doesn’t matter how we sing. The important thing is our praise. A church choir director told me when I was young that everyone can sing- some may just be better at using their voice in various ways. She wanted anyone to join the choir because anyone can sing. As we train the staff on song leading, this year I’ll try to remind them that the most important thing is just to sing and praise God. And, it doesn’t have to be a new song. It can be an old song, too. I hope you find yourself singing praises to God this day. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, when we come across something that is not part of your love for us, our love for you and for others, may we be astonished enough to speak out and claim your Word as true. Amen
Reading: Galatians 1: 1-12 (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: As a substitute elementary school teacher, I developed "a look" that worked in getting the students' attention and bringing them around to expected behavior. It was not a withering look of disapproval but rather a look of utter astonishment that said, "How could you possibly think that behavior was going to be acceptable? Oh, no, no, no! Not on my watch." Most of the time the astonished look worked; especially if followed by a clear explanation of expectations and assurance that the day will be a good one. Perhaps this is what Paul was up to as wrote his letter to the people of Galatia. He is angry. The Galations were turning to a different gospel - or at least being confused by some who were perverting the gospel of Christ. He says, "I am astonished...!" Can you imagine the look he would have given them? A look of utter shock and dismay which basically said, "How could you possibly think that behavior was going to be acceptable? Oh, no, no, no! Not on my watch." What follows is a clear explanation of expectations and assurance of God's love and forgiveness. When we are faced with what is not part of God's love for us or our love for Him and for others, we too should be astonished! Then we can clearly explain what we believe and be assured God's Word is true. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, thank you for starting the fire and showing us just how amazing your love is. Amen.
Reading: I Kings 18: 20-21, (22-29) 30-39 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I had a conversation with a friend the other day about our mutual love of doing crafts. She had realized over her years of creativity that if she was stressed, she would find herself involved in a particularly complex craft project. In fact, one could track just how stressed she was by observing how enormous a craft she was working on. The more beautiful, the more complicated, the more detailed…..the more she was working through. If life was calm, she joked, her crafts were terrible. Only a short while later, I saw a small painting that she had done (that was more than beautiful), during a time when she was not at all stressed. It occurred to me that this friend didn’t do anything halfway. Not going halfway is what comes to mind for me when I come to today’s story. Elijah wants to make sure that everybody knows two things; that Baal is a fake and that our God, the God of Israel, is more powerful than anyone could have imagined. And so comes the altar building and the soaking of the wood and the building of the trench to fill with water. And God does not disappoint. The fire burns through the sacrificed bull, the soaked wood, even the stones that formed the altar! And, then, as if to show off just a little, the fire that God created “even licked up the water that was in the trench.” God doesn’t do anything halfway. And that especially means the love that God pours out for every person that has ever walked the face of the earth. There is no halfway. There is no “I’m putting up with this person until they get their act together….” There is only total all-consuming, crazy-burn-through-the-trench-water kind of love. No exceptions. So, even if you have spent years building a giant trench around your heart….God’s love can still get through. Isn’t that Good News? --Sarah Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, we think we are in charge and we can make things happen. May we remember that it is with your love and by your strength that we do your work with our hands. Our help is from you. Amen
Reading: Luke 7: 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: A centurion had a servant who was ill. When he heard Jesus was coming into town, he sent for help. At first he wanted Jesus to come and heal his slave. Then, on second thought, he sent the message to Jesus, "Don't trouble yourself...only speak the word and let my servant be healed." The centurion admitted he is a man of authority who can order people around with "Go (there)!", "Come (here)!" and ""Do this!" He was a man in charge who could make things happen with a word but he knew he could not heal his servant. So he called, "Help!" Jesus, amazed at the centurion's faith, healed the servant without even going to the house. How often do we go around thinking we are in charge? Making things happen in a kind of bossy way? Perhaps we need to remember that it is only with God's love and by His strength that we do His work with our hands. Our help is from God. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the bread and the wine. Amen Reading: Matthew 15:29-39 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: On Fridays we take a look at Camp Mount Luther’s summer curriculum, “La Frontera.” Today’s reading is an alternate story for Day 5--In the breaking of bread, we recognize our Lord. It’s fun having one foot in the Lutheran Church and the other in the Presbyterian. I’m a Lutheran pastor serving a Presbyterian congregation on a part-time basis. This is just a little bit of an aside—having these full-communion partners is just super! Anyhow, I was asked recently if I missed anything the Sundays I preach in the Presbyterian Church. I didn’t have to think—I miss weekly communion. That wasn’t always the case. I grew up in a quarterly-communion congregation. But, I’ve come to understand why we Lutherans encourage weekly communion. And I’ve really come to appreciate the sacrament each Sunday. And it isn’t because it feels so special. Because, in some ways, it is not so special. In fact it is rather routine. Jesus just comes to us in the breaking of the bread. That’s what Jesus does. --Jim Bricker Prayer: How great is your creation and your faithfulness, O Lord, our God.
Reading: Psalm 8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Often, when I look up in the sky and see the moon, I think, “Wow! We put a man up there.” I’ve done a lot of reading and watching documentaries about the 60s and our race to the moon to heed President Kennedy’s challenge. It fascinates me. I’ve decided that after reading this Psalm, I need to look up at the moon and say, “Wow! God put that up there.” How majestic is creation and all that God gave us to enjoy. This Psalm reminds me that I need to put my priorities and perspective in order. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, help us as we go through suffering that we may endure, grow in character and know a hope which does not disappoint. Amen
Reading: Romans 5: 1-5 (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: We have all heard the saying, "If God closes a door, He always opens a window." That implies that as soon as the door is closed, it is time to move on. However, sometimes the window is not as obvious as we would like or does not open as soon as we want. Sometimes we end up enduring disappointment longer than expected and we end up knocking on that door harder and louder. Our character grows as we refuse to give up and in that character, hope grows and that hope does not disappoint. Perhaps as we go through that waiting, watching and knocking, we are also building spiritual muscles; muscles we will need when that window appears or opens. Knowing we are stronger also deepens our character; a character in which hope has power. Hope and spiritual muscles will not disappoint us! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for creating such a wildly beautiful world. Help me remember your creative power when I see everything that you have made. Amen.
Reading: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 (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: I love how the world looks from up in an airplane. If you’re above a city, you can see the traffic patterns and just how many people are making their way in the world. If you’re over mountains, you can see where the trees start and stop and even where some large trails meander through the landscape. If you find yourself over the plains, you can see where acres of farmland are outlined, and which fields are resting. It’s an amazing perspective. The text for today offers the image of God using a gigantic and mighty hand to form the earth. “He drew a circle on the face of the deep (v. 27)….He marked the foundations of the earth (v. 29)….” From the clouds, when we look down and things seem small, we can imagine God’s hand creating things that are otherwise too enormous to comprehend. I need to hear words like this—words that remind me that God is bigger than anything that is troubling me. There are lots of places that remind us of God’s presence in small things, but this passage gives us an image of God’s gigantic, awesome, enormity. When I remember that God’s hand brought all of creation into being, I’m comforted to know that God’s love is enormous too. I am grateful for God’s crazy-big love. –Sarah Hershberger Prayer: Revealing Lord, thank you for letting us know what we need to know when we truly need to know it. Help us understand and trust your timing. Each moment is a gift. Glory to God! Amen
Reading: John 16: 12-15 (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: My husband has a saying: "Bad news doesn't get better with age." For me, timing is everything when there are difficult things to say. There is truth in both our ways and it takes wisdom to know which is best for each circumstance. During his last evening with the disciples, Jesus was preparing to leave and trying very hard to explain it to them. He said to them, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." If you ask me, that sounds like bad news is coming. If I had been there, my heart would have skipped a beat and there would be a pit in my stomach. That happens sometimes...okay, often....in my life. Fortunately for the disciples, for me and for all of us, Jesus does not leave us there but gives us the assurance of the Spirit of truth who will guide us into all truth and declare the things to come. It's true. Bad news doesn't get better with age but with timing and truth, God will be glorified. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thanks for feeding me, Lord.
Reading: Mark 6:30-44 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: On Fridays we take a look at Camp Mount Luther’s summer curriculum, “La Frontera.” Today’s reading is an alternate story for Day 5--In the breaking of bread, we recognize our Lord. “Do you ever eat at home?” one of my Facebook followers asked. I do like to eat out. And often I will “check-in.” A recent trip around Seneca Lake in New York, I checked-in at each winery and restaurant. I got a few responses, like, “Stop rubbing it in.” Anyhow, eating is fun. It’s more than just sustaining our lives. There is something special about sitting down at the table with family or friends, laughing and talking over food and drink. I wonder about Jesus, his disciple and this great crowd that were fed. Jesus started with a little bread and a couple of fish and fed everybody and there were left-overs! Don’t you think that story is about more than nourishing the body? In one of John’s resurrection stories the disciples recognize Jesus when he gives them bread and broiled fish. It’s a bit intuitive, but every meal is sacramental, I think. Hot dogs at a picnic or steak at a reception—Jesus is there. Stay tuned—next Friday we look at Matthew’s account of Jesus feeding a crowd. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Dear God, may I always remember to sing praise to You while I have my being. 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? Reflection: When I was about four years old, I joined our church’s junior choir. We sang choral arrangements that are now stuck in my long-term memory as surely as my first address and phone number. I can still sing the melodies and, in many cases, recall what the front cover of the music looked like. One afternoon, my mom told me it was about nap time and told me to go lay down for a bit. I laid on my bed, but wasn’t sleepy. So I started humming the tune of a piece that we had practiced at choir rehearsal over the weekend. Pretty soon, as I laid on my bed looking toward the window, I was singing all the words. “Everywhere I go the Lord is near me…..” I looked up to find my mom standing in the doorway smiling at me. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but it was clear that she had lovingly given up on me taking any kind of a nap. “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” Music sticks with us. Kids who come to camp go home singing the songs that they’ve learned from meal-time, campfire, and anywhere in between. And so, some of camp’s greatest hits are sung on the way home in the car on Friday evening, for better or for worse. If parents are lucky, they might hear a few rounds of “Awesome God” in between loud choruses of the Banana Song, or Shark Attack. But more than a few times, some of those simple songs of faith are the best reminders of God’s love. May we all sing to the Lord our whole lives long. –Sarah Hershberger Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for adopting us as your children. Help us to be led by the Spirit. Glory be! Amen
Reading: Romans 8: 14-17 (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: Romans 8 speaks of being adopted children of God. Having adopted our second child, I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that she is our child. With a spirit of love from the moment she was placed in our arms, she was in our family. That's it. I don't know how else to put it. Led by love, it is true in my heart and I hope she knows it to her very core. We celebrate her as our own. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God...you have received a spirit of adoption. (v. 14, 15b) That's it. No other way to put it. Led by the Spirit of God, we are children of God. It is true in God's heart and God hopes we know it to our very core. We will be glorified with him. If Rachel ever has doubts, she can go back to our words of love for her. If we ever have doubts, we can go back to God's words of love for us. Beyond our earthly families, we are God's children. Glory be! --Ruth Gates Prayer: Blow into our lives, dear Spirit, and help us to follow your ways. 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: How do you celebrate Pentecost? One year, it was my confirmation day. My home congregation always confirmed youngsters on this day of the church year. I also remember wearing red to church and having the sanctuary adorned with geraniums. When you read our story for today, you’ll notice that the first Day of Pentecost was quite different from how we might commemorate it today. There were tongues of fire, mighty winds, and speaking in different languages. Can you picture that scene? I bet most of the people were bewildered and not sure what was happening. That’s the way with the Holy Spirit. It blows in at times you might now expect. It changes things or helps you to see things in new ways. It is a guiding force to keep you on track in your life. One never knows what to expect. And often, we might be bewildered. Look for the Spirit blowing in on your life. Feel the gentle breeze or mighty wind. Go where it directs and celebrate the great day of Pentecost when it first appeared! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, your peace alone is what satisfies us. Thank you for leaving us your peace so our hearts are not troubled or afraid. Amen
Reading: John 14: 8-17 (25-27) (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: Our text today begins with Philip saying to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." The usual "if this, then that" deal. Philip thinks if he could just see God plain as day, then he would be content. Jesus answered, "If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father." This should satisfy Philip. For awhile at least. Jesus knows Philip needs more. So Jesus tells of the promise of the Holy Spirit. There will come a time when Philip can no longer see Jesus but Philip will still know the presence of God. Philip will be satisfied always and we can be, too. There may be times when we think if we could see God plain as day, then we would be satisfied. But these verses which begin with an "if this, then that" deal from a disciple end with a solid promise of peace from Jesus. Our hearts are not troubled or afraid. Satisfied? Better - at peace! --Ruth Gates Prayer: As we gather around the communion table, we know you are with us, Lord. Meet us where we are. Amen.
Reading: Luke 24:13-35 (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: “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.” --Luke 24: 30 Now that it is May, we move onto the final day of our curriculum this summer and will look at that on Fridays this month. Day 5 is “Jesus Meets Us in the Feast.” This day helps us to understand that we are all invited to the feast of Holy Communion. Communion is the place where we are connected to the Lord. Communion is God’s promise to be with us on our journey of love, grace, and forgiveness. When we eat together, we are in God’s community. Cooking as a family is a wonderful activity. Prepare a meal as a family or bake bread together. Eat bread while it’s still warm. Yum! We also do that at church. During worship, we share in the communion (God’s Table). Remember that all the people you know both at your church and around the world are at God’s Table. God’s Table (communion) goes beyond the walls of your church. This summer, we’ll be exploring this idea of being part of body of Christ and how Jesus meets us in Holy Communion. We come to the table and Jesus meets us—right where we are! --Chad Hershberger Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 27, 2014.
Prayer: Jesus, we long for you in our lives. We wait anxiously for an experience of you, for an "Aha!" moment of feeling your presence. Remind us, we pray, that we have been called not only into relationship with you but into relationship with all the world. Compel us into the work of witnessing. Amen. Reading: Acts 1:6-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Moments before ascending to heaven, Jesus commissions his followers, saying, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Then as his disciples stare, Jesus is lifted up and vanishes from their sight. And still they stare. Necks leaning backward, faces tilted toward the sky, eyes squinting in the sun, they stare, trying to see where Jesus went. Is that him, through the cloud? No, only a seagull drifting and circling. Over there? No, just a trick of the light. While the disciples stare, two men slip among them and ask, "Why are you still staring upward?" The disciples -- not breaking their skyward gazes -- reply, "He told us we were his witnesses. So we're watching him, trying not to let him out of our sight." (I know, that part of the conversation isn't in the Bible.) The two strangers help them understand: "You cannot always gaze at Jesus; you must help others gaze at him too. You have been witnesses to Jesus' life and work; now you must bear witness into the world." Who knows how long the disciples would have stood there, necks craned, eyes straining, had not the two men in white robes guided them toward their next steps in discipleship -- guided them to see that their personal experiences of Jesus were not the end, but only the beginning. --Rachel Hackenberg Prayer: Alpha and Omega, you are with us from beginning to end. Come, Lord Jesus. May your grace be with your people. Amen.
Reading: Revelation 22: 12-14, 16-17, 20-21 (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: I know I have said this before but Revelation is a baffling book of the Bible and our verses today seem to just hop, skip and jump through the 22nd chapter. What am I ever going to do with that? Well, I guess it would help to read them. See, I already had reservations going into the writing, rolled my eyes at the thought of keeping track of which verses to focus on and pretty much gave up before even starting. How many times do we do that with anything in life? Well, upon reading the verses, I hear a common theme for our devotion today: "I am coming soon." (v. 12 and 20) to which our response is "Amen. Come Lord Jesus." That is not so hard to grasp. And here is something else I noticed. Revelation 22: 21 is the very last verse of the Bible! From Genesis 1: 1, "In the beginning God created..." to Revelation 22: 21, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." we have hopped, skipped and jumped through much of the Bible. As with anything in life, God is with us from beginning to end. Let's hop, skip and jump right in. --Ruth Gates Prayer: May your wake-up call help us to turn our attention to you, Lord. Amen.
Reading: Acts 16:16-34 (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: In recent weeks, we’ve been reading stories from Acts about the early work of the apostles. They’ve some incredible acts, including performing miracles like Jesus did when he was on earth. In today’s story, we see two scenes. We see Paul casting out demons in a slave girl that was following him around and we see Paul and Silas in prison, getting out after an earthquake. Seeing that big sign, the jailer rushes to get baptized and his family is baptized as well. Are there big events in your life that has made you want to turn toward God? It may be in the action of another or it may be something big like a natural disaster. Sometimes, I think God sends us a “wake-up” call to remind us that we need to turn out attention to God. We see that in our story today and we can see that in our lives now. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, may we be one in you as Jesus prayed for us and for all who believe the message of your love. Amen
Reading: John 17: 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: In our text for today, Jesus prays for all who will believe in him through the disciples' message. So, if Jesus prayed for all who believed because of their message, then the prayer continues for those who believe the message of those who believed the message of the disciples who believed the message of Jesus. That means, somewhere way down the line, Jesus prayed for us and for those with whom we share the message of God's love. That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (v. 21) Perhaps that is how I can write GROW Time devotions. I know Jesus has prayed for me and for those who read them. How can you share the message of God's love? Go ahead and do it knowing Jesus has already prayed for you and for those who will hear the message. If you think you would like to write GROW Time devotions, contact Chad Hershberger: [email protected] --Ruth Gates |
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