Prayer: Dear God, activate us to do what you have gifted us to do. Amen
Reading: I Corinthians 12: 3b-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: At first glance, our text for today makes one think, "Ah, yes. We all have different gifts and we should do what we have the gift to do." Heard it many times in sermons, discussed it in Bible Studies and prayed it in those moments of, "Lord, what gift do I have and what am I supposed to do in your service?" So, I read the passage again to try to come up with something different and this is what struck me: the word activates. There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them. (v. 6) That word has taken on a new sort of meaning in the last 10 years or so. Think about things that are activated now: cell phones, credit cards, bank accounts. Activated means they can now be used. They can now do what they are supposed to do. Without being activated, they just won't work. Have you been activated? What activity has God activated you to do? --Ruth Gates
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Prayer: Grant us your spirit, O Lord, that we may proclaim your goodness.
Reading: Numbers 11:24-30 (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 spirit rested on them.” God’s spirit empowers God’s people. In this passage, we witness God’s spirit resting on the folks in the desert. And they prophesied. They witnessed to the goodness of God. Even amid a grumbling community. I think of the last baptism I was privileged to celebrate. Two boys whose parents are best friends. Great fun! The human relationships always make this kind of celebration exciting. But, here’s when I get charged up: My thumb dips into the stock of oil and draws a cross on the child’s forehead with these words— “You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” This little child is empowered by God’s spirit. Forever!! Me, too. You, also. The spirit rest upon us and in us. We are empowered by God to prophesy (that’s a scary word) to share God’s love. Let’s do it! --Jim Bricker Prayer: We pray for the campers and staff at Camp Mount Luther. Help the staff to share Christ and plant seeds in the lives of those who come to this place set apart. Open the minds of the children, youth, and adults who attend, so that they can encounter you in new and exciting ways. Help them to experience the beauty of your creation and come back to our congregation, ready to live a life of discipleship and service to you. Amen.
Reading: John 20:19-23 (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: In today’s text, the resurrected Jesus breaths on the disciples and gives then the Holy Spirit. Here the Greek word for spirit is pneuma. When Jesus first introduces the Holy Spirit to the disciples in chapter 14 of John He uses the Greek word parakletos. I was reminded recently that the basic meaning of that word is “come along side another.” This week staff training at Camp Mount Luther begins. The staff need to know that God comes along beside us. It’s my prayer that you know that God is by your side this day. The summer staff of Camp Mount Luther asks for you prayers today. Please pray that they experience God coming along side each of them and all of them as a staff. –Jim Bricker Editor’s Note: We continue today with our look at this summer’s Day 5 curriculum of “Water of Life.” Thursday’s Theme is “By Still Waters-- Resting in God.”
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for loving us and helping us to be found again in you. You rescue us and give us life. Amen. Reading: Mathew 18:12-14 (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: Bad business. Or should I say, “Baaad business.” Seriously, though, who does this?! Who leaves ninety-nine for one? Wouldn’t most of us grumble and say our goodbyes from a distance with a smirk. That one has always been trouble. Even if you take the sheep out of the equation, what if you had ninety-nine cars, friends, or apples? Does that change anything? Does the value of the one make a difference? Can one possibly outweigh so many? Only in love. Only if that one is one that you love and is yours. Only if that one is a dear one to you. Then, you would recklessly abandon the crowd and chase down your own. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: As we celebrate your ascension this day, Jesus, help us to remember your promises and the fulfillment of those promises in our lives. Amen.
Reading: Acts 1: 1-14 (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: In the front of my childhood church is a painting of Jesus ascending to heaven. The ceiling of the chancel is painted with clouds. Every week worshipping there, it was a reminder of this important day in the church year. It’s Ascension Day! Forty days after Easter, we remember when Jesus ascended to the Father. In today’s scripture reading, we actually see three smaller stories which I think all tie today. We are reminded of how Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit after he had ascended; we see the actual ascension; then we see Matthias becoming the twelfth disciple. A learned man of the scriptures said to me time and time again, “God said it. I believe it. That settles it.” I think this story today reminds me of his words. God promised us the Holy Spirit and Jesus said he would go to the Father. It happened. And, we see the Holy Spirit at work in the picking of the newest disciple. I think of this story often because when I was trying to make an important work decision early in my career, I read the story of Matthias and it helped me with that decision. God was guiding me, too. Take some time today to think about God’s promises and how those promises come true in your life. And, remember that while it is often shoved aside for more glamorous events like birth and resurrection, the ascension is indeed a very important day each year. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Awesome God, as we read the Psalms, may we remember your mighty acts with a strong song in our hearts and go out with your power and strength. Amen
Reading: Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: If the Psalms were meant to be songs, as some of them are even captioned, "To the choir-master", then I wonder what kind of songs they were. Probably some were quiet and comforting; some were lively and joyful. Psalm 68 sounds like if should have a superhero movie soundtrack to it. Loud and powerful. Lots of trombones. Rise up, scatter, drive way, ride upon the clouds, protect, lead, march, provide, send out his mighty voice...these are all actions of our God. Yes, cue the superhero soundtrack. Maybe that would be something to add to our devotion time. Background music to fit the reading. Best of all then, as you read and listen, note verse 32: Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! Play that superhero soundtrack for you, too, and go out there with power and strength from God! --Ruth Gates Prayer: We cast our cares on you, Lord, hoping to not hook ourselves or anyone else in the process. Thank you for sustaining us. Amen
Reading: I Peter 4: 12-14, 5: 6-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I was very little, I would go fishing with my dad and older brothers. They had their fancy fishing poles but I had stick with a key tied to the end of the string. Obviously I never caught anything but that was fine with me as the pointy, sharp fishhook made me very nervous. I was an anxious child. Baiting the hook and taking the caught fish off of it gave me the willies. Even more disturbing was the idea that if you weren't careful casting, you could hook yourself or someone else. No, fishing was not at all for me. Still I was always amazed (safely at a distance) at how my dad and brothers could cast a line so far. With a skilled swing of the arm and flick of the wrist, that hook (and gooey worm) could sail much further than you would expect. That is one way to picture casting our cares on the Lord. With practice and skill, your cares may sail further than you expect. Just be careful to not hook anyone. Safely cast those cares away from yourself and others. Then wait and watch. He will sustain you. --Ruth Gates 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 26, 2014.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for keeping your promises and coming to us in many different ways. Amen. Reading: John 17: 1-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Working on these First Light digital devotions over the yeasr has gotten me in a better habit of reading the Bible stories that we'll hear in church in the coming week. It has enriched my worship life, as I've taken more time to dwell on the scriptures and think about what God is saying to me. This Sunday, we'll hear the story of the Ascension. On Thursday, we celebrate Ascension Day, and you'll get to read some of my reflections on this church festival then. Thursday, we'll read the story from another version. Today and on Sunday, we read it from the Gospel of John. In John's account, we read, "And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one." To me, that sentence help bridge the two church year seasons which we are about to cross. This Sunday, we close out our celebration of Easter. A week from Sunday, we switch gears to celebrate Pentecost. As always, Jesus gets us ready by reminding us what is coming. God will be coming to us not as a man, in the form of Jesus; but, now God will come to us as the Holy Spirit. We travel with Jesus through his birth, baptism, and ministry on earth. We experience the passion of Holy Week and the joy of the Easter resurrection. Jesus ascends to the Father and we look with anticipation for the coming down of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. As we celebrate and commemorate the Ascension this week, I am reminded that God keeps God's promises. Be on the lookout for the fulfillment of some of those promises in your life this week. --Chad Hershberger Editor’s Note: We continue today with our look at this summer’s Day 5 curriculum of “Water of Life.” Thursday’s Theme is “By Still Waters-- Resting in God.”
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to know you and follow you with greater devotion, clarity and faithfulness. Amen. Reading: John 10:1-18 (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: Do you remember when phones did not have caller ID? When a phone rang, you would say hello as a question. Sometimes you would have to say, "Who is this?" Or, if you were calling and they did not know you well, you would identify yourself. Sometimes, part of the fun would be trying to get the person on the other end of the line to figure out who you were. Some familial voices sound very similar. To a friend or acquaintance, two brothers might sound the same. For me, I could answer the phone and some people weren't sure if it was my father, brother, or me! Mothers, grandmothers or best friends, though, would probably get it right. Those who really love you know what your voice sounds like. The reverse is also true. You know what your beloved sounds like even on a garbled wireless call. The spiritual challenge, of course, is that we don't know what Jesus' physical voice sounds like. Discernment means that we try to make sense of the voices and narratives that try to tell us what to be and who we are. Yet, what we really want to discover is what God wants us to do and be. Best of all, God knows us the best and has our best interests in mind. God truly knows our truest self. God knows what our voice sounds like early in the morning after a rough night of restlessness. So we pray, try to keep still and focus to listen for what God has willed for us. --Andrew Fitch Prayer: As we ready your word, Lord, may we take time to pause and think of that. Amen
Reading: Psalm 66: 8-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Reading our text for today, the word Selah at the end of verse 15 caught my eye. It's a word that often comes up in the Psalms and I've always wondered what it meant. The Amplified Bible translates Selah as "pause, and think of that." What a good idea! Pause in the middle of reading something and just think of that. Let's go back to our reading and Selah a bit. Psalm 66: 8-15 talks of blessings and praise, of God keeping our feet from slipping, of being tested, tried and brought out into a spacious place, of offerings and vows. That is a lot to think about if you stop and take the time. Then continue on through verse 20 and perhaps you too will tell of what God has done for you; God who hears our prayers and whose love is steadfast. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, help us to share our hope in you through kind conversations. Amen
Reading: I Peter 3: 13-22 (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: I remember a Peanuts cartoon of Lucy getting someone to agree with her and when asked how she brought about the conversion she replied, "I hit him over the head with my lunchbox." Ouch! It may have worked at the moment but how long-lasting will it be? Or worse, will that person now hit the next soon-to-be convert over the head with a lunchbox? If marketing is everything, this does not sound like a good plan at all. In this first letter to Peter, we are told to always be ready to explain the hope we have and to do it with gentleness and reverence. Hitting someone over the head is neither gentle nor reverent. Perhaps a better lunchbox conversion would be through gentle conversation over the meal in that lunchbox and maybe even beginning that meal with a reverent prayer. While this advice is specifically for when someone demands an explanation of our hope within, any meal begun with reverent prayer and carried on with gentle conversation may be just the hope someone is looking for without even asking. --Ruth Gates 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 20, 2014.
Prayer: Help me, O Eternal God, to find peace in the face of the unknown, remembering that you are active in the unknown ... even though I don't know it or see it yet. Help me, O Jesus, to find peace in knowing your presence. Amen. Reading: Acts 17:22-31 (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: As Paul travels in Athens, he observes that the people have many altars and statues to the gods, including an altar labeled, "To an unknown God." At the people's invitation, Paul stands before the Areopagus (the council) and tells a story about the unknown god: "The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands" (17:24) Paul talks about God and tells stories about God's relationship with humanity -- from Abraham to Jesus -- in order to make the unknown known. We are often scared by what is unknown in our lives. When we don't know a person approaching us on the street, we can be quick to assume and fear that the person has bad intentions. When the future looms before us, full of unknowns, we can be tempted to retreat into the safety of everything familiar. We can even fear the unknown in a person we know; when we argue, for example, and we become frustrated because we cannot understand the other person's perspective. So often we look at the unknown and we tell ourselves (often without thinking), "The unknown is bad, scary, worrisome." We tell ourselves a story of fear to fill in the blanks on what we don't know. The Athenians tell a different story about the unknown; they create an altar to it, a place to remind themselves that there is always more to learn. And when Paul comes to Athens, he tells yet another story about the unknown: he tells the story of God's activity, full of grace and love. When faced with the unknown and inclined toward fear, we can imitate Paul and remind ourselves that the unknown holds God's story -- all that God has done, all that God is doing, and all that God will continue to do. --Rachel G. Hackenberg Prayer: Help us, God, to keep our promises as you have kept them for us. Amen.
Reading: John 14:15-21 (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: Do you make promises? Are promises made to you? Are they kept? When I read these verses, I thought about the many promises God makes to God’s people in the Bible. Jesus makes one here. He says that the Spirit will come soon and will dwell with us. And guess what? As is always the case, God keeps that promise. This weekend I witness two people make marriage promises to one another. They vowed to be faithful and to take care of one another in good and bad times. I saw a picture that was taken in the parking lot at their reception. There was a rainbow there. On the day that they made promises to one another and God, God reminded them of the promises that God has made and kept over the years. Hopefully today you’ll reflect on those promises and think about the promises that you make. Do you keep your promises like God does? --Chad Hershberger Editor’s Note: We continue today with our look at this summer’s Day 5 curriculum of “Water of Life.” Thursday’s Theme is “By Still Waters-- Resting in God.”
Prayer: Great God, you are the One and only that we praise. To you our hearts and minds raise. All that we are and all that we might be Rests in your mystery and majesty. Amen. Reading: Psalm 100 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: A church that I attended a long time ago had some of the verses of this psalm etched into the full glass doors of the sanctuary. It is great to have a literal interpretation that doesn’t cause problems. Yet, it is still a challenge. We might at this point in Eastertide be so far away from the jubilation and so deep in real life and the rush of spring activities and events that we might find entering into worship a chore or something we might skip. To enter into God’s courts with thanksgiving might be hard if something has gone wrong or you are struggling with grief or loss. What if, however, things are going pretty well? Then, by all means do not skip out on worship! Let your abundance, generosity, and exuberance speak for others that it might lift them up. We might not realize how much we need each other. You singing a hymn or song joyfully could be just what the man three pews up needs to fill his ears. The way you add inflection to “our daily bread” could be just what the young woman across the aisle needs to hear so she worries a little less about how she is going to feed all five children this coming week. Along that same line, the offering that you decide to beef up because you are feeling so awesome and in love with God and what God is doing in your life makes its way to feed a bunch of children that you can’t even see in worship—but soon they will be smiling too! --Andrew Fitch Prayer: Lord, you keep us safe in your steadfast love. Thank you for being our rock and refuge at all times. Amen
Reading: Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The verses we read in Psalm 31 seem to be about where to be safe and how to feel safe even when in danger. Reminds me of a chorus from a Veggie Tale song from their version of the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. God is bigger than the boogie man. He's bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on tv. Oh, God is bigger than the boogie man, And he's watching out for you and me. I don't mean to make light of troubles by thinking a little ditty of a song will make it all better. But there is truth that God is our rock and our refuge. We are safe in his steadfast love. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, may we never take for granted the rock on which our lives are built - Christ as our cornerstone. May we be living stones for you. Amen
Reading: I Peter 2: 2-10 (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: Granite became a popular countertop material around the time we remodeled our kitchen. It being expensive, however, we opted to only have granite on the island where I would be doing most of my food preparation. There have been countless meals prepared, breads kneaded, salads tossed, fruits chopped and cookies rolled out on that stone. Not to mention, as people always seem to gravitate to the kitchen, the island has been a gathering place of family and friends. I would have to say it is the cornerstone of my kitchen. Where I spend my time and do my best work. I don't take that granite for granted. I remember the granite salesperson telling me stone is actually alive. Our text today speaks of Christ being our cornerstone and we are living stones. While I am still not sure about stones being alive, I do understand the importance of a cornerstone in construction (and remodeling!). Most of my time is spent and the best of my work is done on that island top of stone. Christ is our rock and with Him is where we can spend our time and do our best work. Then we will be living stones, too. Let's not take that for granted either. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, help us to remember your story, even when times are tough. Be with us in our darkest hour. Amen.
Reading: Acts 7:1-60 (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 an interesting passage. The story is the stoning of Stephen but look at all that is said before that event happens. It is a history of God’s people, from Abraham to Solomon. It is a reminder of God’s story. And then we see what happens to Stephen. He is martyred for his faith. I think it’s interesting that right before his death, he recounts the story of God’s people. In a tough time, he looks to God and remembers God promises. When we face dark hours, may we look to God and remember God’s promises for our lives. May we remember God’s story, and our story, and how God is constantly working in our lives. –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 June 6, 2014. Prayer: Dear God, help us remember Jesus' promise about our place in heaven. Remind us, especially when a loved one dies, that we do not need to be worried and upset; we should not let our hearts be troubled because your house has many rooms and your son is preparing a place for each of us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Reading: John 14: 1-4 (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? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: What do you think heaven will be like? How does it make you feel to know that there is a place for us in heaven? Reflection: I first became overly familiar with this passage while preparing for my brother's funeral. He died in April 2014 when he was 39 years old. In my grief and confusion, I asked the pastor over and over again, “Where is my brother now that he is no longer here with us?” I was patiently reminded, over and over again, that Jesus said, “There are many rooms in my Father's house....And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.” I think about my “little” brother all the time and as I work through the grief of his passing, I sometimes console myself by imagining him up in heaven together with all our loved ones who have already died. I remember that Jesus told his friends--and by extension me and you--that we should not let our hearts be troubled. He's preparing a place for us. And we will be where He is. --Christine Conz Moll Prayer: Give us rest, Lord. Be with us when are by the stream. 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: During May, we look at our fifth day of study in this year’s summer curriculum, “The Water of Life.” Psalm 23 tells how God cares for us as a shepherd cares for sheep. God leads us to the waters of life and provides us with all that we need. According to the passage, what are some of the things that God provides for us? What do you think of when you read this psalm? Sometimes we can feel like God is far away, but this passage tells us how close God is to us. It tells us that God is with us, even during difficult times. The second part of this psalm, verses 4-6, is written to God. Have one person read it again aloud. As you listen, close your eyes and think about this being said directly to God. Look at the psalm and try to rewrite it using examples from your life. For example, instead of “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil,” you might write, “Even though I have a difficult time in English class, I know that you are with me, God.” What other examples might you use? This psalm rewrite can also be used as a prayer. Keep it to remind you of God’s presence. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Comforter and healing God be with us today and help us through all our problems and stresses. Thank you for your peace that you give us. Thank you for restoring my soul. Thank you for your goodness and mercy. In Christ name, 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: Psalm 23 is a very familiar Psalm for a lot of people. It is one that can help get you through times of trouble. I have heard that people have recited it over and over as they have been in a CAT scan or MRI. I have never had the pleasure of that kind of test, but I am sure I would also find something to recite to keep me calm. Another time Psalm 23 is used a lot is on funeral bulletins. It can help people find comfort in times of grief. Psalm 23 is an easy scripture to lean on. The visual it brings to mind is very soothing to me. I can just see a path by the meadow with a stream flowing through it. I hope Psalm 23 can bring you some comfort and calmness in these days and in the days to come. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: Shepherd, may we entrust our lives to you. Amen
Reading: I Peter 2: 19-25 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: There is a line in the movie, Babe, in which the old sheep tells the hapless, hopeless, soon to be Christmas dinner duck, "The way things are is the way things are." to which the duck quacks back, "Well, the way things are stinks!"` Our text today talks of enduring suffering, particularly enduring when you do right and suffer for it. Like the duck who was anticipating suffering simply because he was a duck, so there will be times when as people following in Christ's footsteps according to the example he set, we will feel like the way things are stinks. The duck ran/flew away from the farm and returned when the coast was clear...for him. As Christians, by His wounds we have been healed and, if we stray, we have a shepherd and guardian of our souls. The way things are for us is really pretty good. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for your goodness. Help me to share.
Reading: Acts 2:42-47 (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: Two things are going on here. First, we see what is central in the worship life of the early Christians—breaking of the bread and prayers. Second, we see how the church cared for each other. It appears to be socialism. They had all things in common. They sold things, put the money in a pot and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. In today’s world, taking care of each other takes many forms. Our regular gifts to our congregations, our special gifts to our church, contributions to public charities like United Way and taxes. That last one might not be one you would name, but it is a way in which wealth is redistributed and cares for those in need. Here’s what I really want to share today. I think there is a definite connection in breaking of the bread and prayers and the way we take care of each other. As we come together in worship, we receive God’s blessing abundantly. It’s easy to move from being blessed to being a blessing. We receive God’s goodness and move from worship and go into the world to bless others no matter how we choose to do it. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Jesus our Savior and Lord we thank you for leading us. Help us follow you and do what you want us to do. Protect us from anything that wants to harm us. AMEN
Reading: John 10:1-10 (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: Lately I have been watching some of the episodes of The Amazing Race. In one of them that I just watched they were supposed to separate some black sheep from the flock of white sheep. They had to get them in a different fenced off part of the pen. They had to really watch the gate in between the parts of the pen. It was a struggle for most of the contestants to separate them because the sheep did not know the person trying to separate them. We know our Good Shepherd and we can recognize his voice. We can easily follow his lead and go where he wants us to go. He also watches out for us and keeps us safe. Thanks be to God for the Good Shepherd!! --Charlene Rineer |
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