Prayer: Help me to remember, O Lord, that no matter where I am, you have sent me. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 28:19-20 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 the last few weeks I have been centering this devotion on something in Camp Mount Luther’s week ending staff worship. We won’t be doing that this week, since most of the staff have been at off-site camps this week. We have been in Espy, Turbotville, Richfield, Rehoboth Beach, and Lewisburg as well on campus. Two of our life guards are serving a rental group at camp this week. We’ve talked about how we understand that God calls us to camp and this week we are just as sure that God sends us out to do the work of the kingdom all over the place. That makes me think about how the ministry fostered at Camp Mount Luther has impact in far-flung places on this globe. Just thinking about where alumni staff are today is mind boggling. Then I think about how God sends us all to – who knows where? Sometimes to places to do things that don’t seem to have anything to do with God. And yet, it always does. God sends us to wherever God wants us to be and uses us to do what the Lord wants done. So, today be reminded that each of us has an unusual title—Sent One. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain for Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff P.S. Please pray for the staff that we may be gathered safely on Sunday and blessed to do God’s work at camp one more week.
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Prayer: Dear God, cleanse us and pardon our sins; those we know ourselves and those that have been pointed out to us. This is not always easy. Thank you for an example in David’s Psalm. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 51: 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: O.k., I admit it. I watched a VeggieTale video for inspiration. Psalm 51 is titled Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon. The subheading reads: To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Well, anyone who knows VeggieTales would immediately think of King George and the Ducky, right? If you haven’t seen it, here is a link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26tky0_veggietales-king-george-and-the-ducky_school. Enjoy. But back to writing. Psalm 51 is David’s reaction when he was caught in sin. Granted, it took the prophet Nathan to point out to David his tale of adultery and murder, but then David confessed and this poem was one result. (VeggieTale version: Melvin points out King George’s selfishness.) Psalm 51 is an example of confession for us, too. Just in case you did not click on the link above – for the scripture reading, not the video – read this: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free spirit. Psalm 51: 10-12 Sound familiar? You may even be singing it. Thousands of years later, David’s confession is a guide for us, too. When you fail, what is your response – to cover up your failure, or to publicize your confession? --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, by our humility, gentleness, patience and love, may we be bonded in peace. So grateful that is all you ask for us to be worthy. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-16 (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: In this part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he writes, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (v. 1) What a loaded request! First of all, Paul himself is a prisoner, so surely his listeners are thinking, “We have no excuses for not doing our best seeing as we are not in prison!” Second, that challenge to live a life worthy. What could do that would possibly be worthy enough as we sit pretty out here while Paul is in prison for what he does? One might start to think this walk of faith needs great courage and heroics, flashy acts and achievements, superhuman Paul sort of stuff. Fortunately, before everyone despairs of not possibly being worthy, Paul continues by saying to simply, “lead a life…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (v. 2) Oh, phew! That we can do: humility, gentleness, patience (admitted weak point here) and maintaining unity (another easier said than done). Sure, along the way there may be times when we will be courageous and heroic…with strength from God. There may be times when a wonder happens and there is an impressive achievement…to God be the glory! But if on any given day we are at the most or at the least bearing with one another in love, that is certainly worthy and we will be bonded in peace. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Provide for me, dear Lord, someone who can be honest and help me be on the right path. Amen.
Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26 - 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: Last week, we had the story of David and Bathsheba. This week, we have the sequel. Nathan comes on the scene and tells David of his sin. He does it through storytelling and gets David’s attention. Then, he delivers the news—I’m actually talking about you, my friend! Do you have someone in your life that is openly honest, maybe even brutally honest, with you? It’s good to have an accountability partner, like Nathan. Sometimes another person can see things in a situation that you cannot see because you are too close to it. They can point out things that you need to see or tell you things that you need to hear. Last week, we talked about uncomfortable conversations. That theme is carried through this story, too. It may be uncomfortable to have to confront someone when you know what they are doing is wrong, but as we see with the story of David, it can help that person to grow and become a better person. They may even become king! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us, Lord, to see your abundance. You are the bread of life. Amen.
Reading: John 6:24-35 (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: This summer, our campers have heard the story of Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness and God providing them with manna and water when they needed it. We drive home the point that God provides for us in abundance. Our gospel story for this Sunday reminds us of that story. It comes just after the feeding of the five thousand. The crowds are looking for Jesus and seek him out. He is on the other side of the sea and they find him. They look for him because he gave them food. But he reminds them that He is more than just a food provider. He is the bread of life. I’m sure that many in the crowd left that day scratching their head, wondering what he meant. How often do we do that? We look at things from a human perspective but God looks at them from a divine perspective. Today, I challenge you to look around you and see all that God has provided for you. If you make a list, either on paper or mentally, I’m sure you will see that God has provided for you in abundance! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Be near me, Lord Jesus. Amen
Reading: Luke 2:1-7 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: As I write this, we are in a two-hour “snow” delay here at camp. It’s Christmas Day in July! We can stay in our jammies ‘til after brunch, if we want—it’s not ‘til 10:15. (Camp folk understand, right?) Tonight’s staff worship will be a full-blown candlelight Christmas service. I’m excited. And I really like it when we do Christmas in July. It is another way that I am reminded that God, Immanuel, takes on flesh and lives in and among us. Not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives. What’s your favorite Christmas carol? I dug up “The Friendly Beasts” for staff worship. Not that it is my favorite; I just think it will be fun to sing. And “Away in a Manger” is not necessarily my favorite either. But his morning that is the one running through my head. Sing with me: verse 3. Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in your tender care and fit us for heaven, to live with you there. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Dear God, you are everywhere. Thank you for the places where each of us just know there is a God! Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Psalm 14: 1a One of my summertime joys is berry picking. Pick-Your-Own strawberries in June and blueberries in July. I go out to the patches at least once or twice a week. All those wonderful, delicious berries! We also have raspberry patch in our backyard for daily, ripe, sweet, juice-stained handfuls. Then there are the wild raspberries along the trails at Camp Mount Luther though I try to leave those for the wildlife. Andy, my husband, came blueberry picking with me today so I had company to share my joy. We were picking for about 20 minutes when I exclaimed, "How can anyone say, 'There is no God.' when there are blueberries?" Andy looked over at me and, honest to goodness, said, "I was just thinking that very same thing a few minutes ago!" The Psalmist wrote, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' " Perhaps the fool needs to go to a berry patch! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians covers just about everything. We pray this for each other so we may know your love which surpasses all knowledge and be filled with the fullness of you. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 3: 14-21 (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: “Have you been praying for me again?” I love to ask that question of a dear friend of mine. I really don’t need to ask as I know she does always. It is just that sometimes I can truly tell she is. Perhaps I shared with her a joy and in the days after I continued to thank God for blessings. Perhaps I shared with her a struggle and in the days after my heart felt a peace. Perhaps I shared with her something I was really not at all able to be prayerful and faithful about and yet in the days after my heart softened despite my cranky self. We pray for each other all the time and sometimes in very specific ways for specific reasons. But a good “go to” prayer we can pray for all at all times would be Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in Chapter 3. Without dwelling on urgent, detailed problems, Paul raises the sights of these Christians so they would understand the extent of God’s love and grace. This is especially good because God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! (v. 20) --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Be with me, Lord, when I have to tackle uncomfortable conversations. Amen.
Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-15 (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: I heard a couple of pastors talking earlier in this week about this story. They were talking about what they might preach about this story on Sunday. I was reminded that years ago this story was one of our stories in a summer curriculum at camp. The counselors and staff talked about how to deal with this story. Sometimes there are subjects that are uncomfortable for us to talk about. Life isn’t always pretty, as they say. But I think that we need to have those uncomfortable conversations. Even though my children are young, we try to be open and honest with them as they ask questions. I want them to grow up to be mature, honest people. When you have an uncomfortable subject to talk about it, know that God is with you. Ask for strength and guidance to tackle your task. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 20, 2015.
Prayer: Lord, give us this the bread of life always. Amen Reading: John 6: 1-20 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 Tuesdays this summer at Camp Mount Luther, we will be thinking about what God gives us. God’s gifts to us are evidence that His is A Love that Never Ends. In this passage, Jesus breaks a couple of loaves of bread and a few fish and somehow feeds more than 5000 people! Obviously, there is more going on here than just having enough to hold us over until the next meal. There was once a restaurant in Harrisburg called Our Daily Bread. It was, in fact, one response to our prayer for daily bread. But this is different. No restaurant can give us the bread of life. Only Jesus can do that. The bread that satisfies our hunger for ever is a gift beyond our imagination. Obviously, it fulfills a hunger that isn’t signaled by a grumbling stomach. The bread of life fulfills our hunger to know that we are never outside of the love and grasp of our God. And we don’t always remember that. Sometimes we don’t believe that. So, it is good for us to pray the Lord’s Prayer to be reminded that God gifts us with all we need to sustain our physical lives. It is also good for us to pray as the disciples did, Sir, give us this bread always. A prayer-reminder that God holds us and won’t let go. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Lord, give us the will and courage to uphold the poor, hungry and oppressed.
Reading: Psalm 82 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: One day this week at one of our off-site camps, I was walking with a counselor and a camper toward the church for lunch. Each child brought a packed lunch from home. I asked the camper we were walking with what he had in his lunch. He said in a dejected voice, “Nothing. My dad didn’t get up early enough to pack my lunch today.” I could feel my heart sag. Fortunately, the ladies at the church prepare food for the volunteers and our staff, so the counselor found a way to make sure the camper had lunch. I heard the statistic again this week that 1 in 5 children goes to bed hungry—in the United States! Does that make your heart sag, too? This week the staff will consider Psalm 82 as one of our texts as we gather for worship to conclude our week. I am both challenged and delighted to read the call for Biblical justice in this hymn. Over and over again in scriptures we hear God call us to care for the poor, the needy, the weak, the oppressed. Yet, it seems like an overwhelming task. The situation does not seem to improve. A little over nine years ago we launched a satellite toward Pluto. It arrived this week and the pictures being sent back are spectacular. Somehow, it seems to me that if we can do that, we could find a way to feed the hungry people in the world. I’m delighted to know that God cares about the least of the folks. I am challenged to also care and do something about helping them. --Jim Bricker, Camp Mount Luther Chaplain to the Summer Staff Prayer: Dear God, we hear your promises but sometimes wonder if they match our experiences. Help us to bring our problems to you and know you are the Rock of our salvation. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 89: 20-37 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: God made huge promises to David and Psalm 89 goes through many of them. Sounds great and wonderful, yes! Still, things did not always go well for David and God's people just as they don't always go well for us. What are we to do then? Doubt the promises? In reading this Psalm in a study Bible, I came across this note: Only when Jesus came centuries later did Israel see God fulfill these promises to honor and love a "son of David" as his own Son (verses 26-29). That seems like a long time to wait. However, God is the Rock of (our) salvation. Rocks last a long time, too. So we can stand on His promises as long as needed. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, thank you for adopting us into your family. Help us to find out and share this good news! Amen
Reading: Ephesians 2: 11-22 (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: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. --Ephesians 2: 19. It happens every week at Camp. Campers arrive at the beginning. Some are returning campers and some are new. Some might know each other already, some don't. By the end of the week everyone knows everybody. They have gone from strangers to members of a camp family. From being aliens in a land away from home to citizens of all campers who call Camp Mount Luther a home away from home. How does this happen? I could tell you or you could go and find out. That is how we are in Christ. That feeling of being strange and out of place turns into sainthood with others in the household of God. How does this happen? Paul can tell us. If you feel discouraged or wonder if God really cares or whether the Christian life is worth the effort, read Ephesians. Go and find out! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 16, 2014.
Prayer: God, you are everywhere. You are with us. Thanks be to you. Amen. Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 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 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: David, lowly shepherd turned King, is realizing while he is living in a palace of cedar, the ark of God was still in a tent. Something must be done about this! So he tells Nathan his plan. David's plan, you see. Commendable but not what God had in mind as it often is with our grandiose ideas compared to God's whose ways are higher than ours no matter how hard we try. So God, through Nathan, gives David this gentle reminder, "Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house to the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day." Final answer on the matter, Nathan explains, "The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you." I have listened to the pipe organ in Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on Holy Thursday. I have worshiped in the woods of Camp Mount Luther on a midsummer evening. One took centuries to build. One was an apple orchard less than a hundred years ago. God is there; God is here. Emmanuel: God with us. Thanks be to God. Amen. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Jesus, may we find you in a place set apart and may we find rest with you. Amen.
Reading: Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56 (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 another great passage for those of us who work in outdoor ministries. Here, Jesus says, “Let’s go to a place set apart and get some rest.” That’s what we provide at camp. Our participants come here to go away and retreat for a while and get some rest. But they also expect something else. They expect to meet Christ in this place. As our story for today tells us, many people saw Jesus and followed him. They even wanted just a moment to touch his clothes. They wanted to experience their God in new and exciting ways. That’s also what our campers want to do. They want to come to our place and meet Jesus and see Him in new and exciting ways. Where do you go to meet Jesus and see Him in new ways? Where do you go do spend some quiet time in rest with your Lord? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help me to receive you, O Lord, and know with certainty that you are with me. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (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: Tonight the staff of Camp Mount Luther worships using a silent service. We do that on occasion. Worship without spoken words is sometimes very moving. Still it is a service of Word and Sacrament. We will be reminded of the words that St. Paul shared with the church at Corinth about the Last Supper. I almost always include Holy Communion when I design worship for the staff. It is important for them to know that Jesus is with them as they leave for a day and half of rest. I can’t always find words to assure them of Jesus’ presence, but when I place the bread in their hands and offer the wine for them to drink, well, there is Jesus, the resurrected One, becoming part of their bodies and going with them for the week-end. Hopefully, you can join with us in some intuitive way. I haven’t figured out a way to cyber-space the bread and wine. But, hear this—The Lord be with you! --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: O Lord, help us all to lift up our heads to you. Amen
Reading: Psalm 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: I just have to say, I hear these verses speaking directly to me seeing as I am a Gates. But really, this Psalm reminds all of us to lift up our heads. At camp they play a game, “Look Down. Look Up!” I am not exactly sure what the game is but I know the point is to look down and then look up…at a person in the circle. Only thing is, I hear the youngest campers don’t quite get it. When told to look down, they look down. When told to look up, they look up to the sky…not at someone in the circle. They look up…straight up. Well, that is the direction given. “Look up!” And so they do. The Psalmist also says to lift up your heads. All of us lift our heads; not just the Gates. Why? So the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty! He is the King of glory! “Look up!” Like the campers, that is what we should do, too. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Dear God, we live for the praise of your glory. Lift us to praise as we live according to your counsel and your will. Our hope is in you. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14 (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: We live for the praise of God’s glory (v. 12). That is what it is all about. Living according to God’s counsel and will, our hope is set on Christ. If we wake each day and claim that truth, oh what a difference it would make! Unfortunately, we walk around with burdens. There are times we don’t see how much we are loved and wanted. Let’s remember how important our lives are individually and all woven together in God’s great story. Never alone. We are not only saved; we are safe. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help me to rejoice in your goodness, O Lord.
Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-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: We sing it as a statement of faith sometimes. Other times we just sing it for fun. But, no matter when we sing it here at camp, there is always dancing and skipping. Oh, the song is “Lord of the Dance”. Dance then wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance said He, and I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance said He. David was so happy, that he danced and danced before the Lord. Can’t imagine that happening in the churches I frequent. But, why not? What good thing has happened to you lately that you just want to get up and dance? At least jump up and call your neighbor. Why not? God really is a good God. Let us rejoice, give thanks, (and dance?) --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Lord, help me to let go of things that need to be forgotten.
Reading: Mark 6:14-29 (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: I am scheduled to preach this Sunday. You can bet I’m not going to use this text! But, there is something in there for us to consider today. John was beheaded partially because Herodias held a grudge against him. Grudges are really something, don’t you think? Not much good comes of them. I will admit that there is a certain large “anchor” store that I haven’t been in for some 40 years. I won’t even walk through it to get somewhere else in the mall in case somebody sees me coming out and thinks that I shop there. See, some bunch of years ago this company treated me unfairly and gruffly twice in one week. I was so angry that I was looking for the phone number of the CEO—in the corporate headquarters. I haven’t spent a dime in that store since. Now, that’s a grudge! Maybe it’s time for me to give that one up! J What grudges are we holding that don’t do anything but hurt others and get our knickers in a bunch? Betcha can come up with one pretty easy. What do you say? Let it go? --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff. Prayer: Dear God, we return to you in prayer over and over again about the thorns in our lives. Help us to pause our pleading, know your grace and feel your power. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12: 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: Three times Paul pleaded with God to take away the thorn in his flesh which tormented him. Three times. Seems he could have pleaded more often and a lot longer, don't you think? But he clearly says he pleaded three times. That's it and he got an answer. God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Our prayers probably sound like a broken record compared to Paul. Still, God's grace is sufficient for us and His power is made perfect in our weakness. Maybe we could pause after every third prayer to know it and feel it. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Lord, you are our God forever and ever. Yours is a love that never ends. We tell it to the next generation. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: Great is the Lord , and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain...Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love...Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. Psalm 48: 1, 9, 12-13 I am writing this while in the mountains at Camp Mount Luther. The rest of the Family Campers are on a walking tour of camp. This being my 16th summer here, I know my way around pretty well so I decided to skip the tour and write instead. Sixteen summers. James, my son, has gone from a five year old camper to his second year now on staff. He and another counselor, both sons of staff members from the '80's, are the next generation. Sixteen summers. Rachel, my daughter, was still in a stroller her first Family Camp and this year upon arrival she immediately reconnected with old friends from Senior High Camp and moved in with them, the next generation. Sixteen summers. Andy, my husband, and I are on our own - empty nesters at Family Camp. Perhaps God is preparing us for when Rachel leaves for college this fall. Still, this generation will come to Camp. There are old-timers like us and a few new families here this summer. Many children (the youngest is the age of Rachel's first Family Camp) carrying folding chairs and bugspray to the campfire and along the trail dumping pebbles and twigs out of shoes. The dining hall food is great and that is not just because someone else is doing the cooking and washing the dishes. The food is really good, especially shared around tables of families and friends and followed by loud and lively songs. I could go on and on but you get the point. Yes, great is the Lord and worthy to be praised in these mountains surrounding camp. Here campers learn of God's unfailing love. The camp tour folks are walking around counting camp's worship sites, considering her cabins and craft lodge, taking in the views of the mountains and valleys. It is being told to the next generation! --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper |
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