Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, holy be your name. May your kingdom come to each of us and especially when are days are not all “peaches and cream.” Please watch over our families, friends, and neighbors and the rest of the world. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 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: This not a newsworthy event but part of our family’s lives were enriched by the arrival of a puppy. Twinkle, a border collie, tried hard to be good but this day her curiosity overwhelmed her. Hearing the command to stop and hearing a harsh voice did not stop her; under the fence and very close to a main highway became very scary to both of us. She finally was catchable and like Hagar with a firm word returned to her house. Twinkle realized she had done wrong and it was difficult for her to face a caring and friendly voice again. Can you relate to this? Are you able to express love and seek forgiveness when you’ve been wrong? What kind of strength do you think Sarai displayed in giving Abram a second wife? What about the jealousy that flared? Do you ever have jealous feelings? How do you control such feelings? It is that same God; the God who spoke to Hagar, the God who made us, who sees our every doing, understands our every thought. Days are not always “peaches and cream.” Like Hagar, we want to run away but our God is there to protect us. Let’s hear that voice. Let’s give it a chance! --Betty Jane Mincemoyer
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Prayer: Even when we are feeling despair, hurt, or stress, help us to show love, Lord. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 45: 1-2, 6-9 (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 Bible I used to look up our verses for today, the title for Psalm 45 said, “Ode to a Royal Wedding.” I can remember getting up early in the 1980s to catch glimpses of Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding. And, more recently, I watched the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with my family. At their nuptials, Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry wowed the crowd with his homily about love. He spoke poignant words for our time. Well, actually any time. He talked about how love should rule all. When I read this Psalm I was reminded of that. Live love. Share love. Be love. Let your life be like an ode to a royal wedding. --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 August 4, 2013.
Opening: Discuss with another or meditate on this quote by Goethe, "If you treat an individual as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be." Reading: James 1: 17-27 (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: Every one of us probably has gotten advice from someone at one time or another. Most times, advice is free. It is given to us by friends and family, who may or may not have expertise in the particular area we are seeking advice in. I know I have given people advice based on my opinions or my experience in a particular area. I think this verse is pretty good advice that we should heed. We should be swift to hear. We should be willing to listen to others and hear what they have to say. We may just glean something from their accounts. We should be slow to speak. We don't always have to outdo what someone says or try to tell a story greater than theirs. We should think before we speak. And, we should be slow to wrath. We should not get angry instantly. We should take things in stride and not let our emotions get the best of us. Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. It's God's advice for 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 August 25, 2015.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to view your world with the same love that you view it! Amen. Reading: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (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: God's creation is a wondrous thing! Go on your favorite hike, come to camp, see the creation outside your window, but too often we don't see past our blinders. We go about our days with our vision fixed on our own schedule and on our own families. We have our check lists to finish before we can do anything else or enjoy anything else. Yet here is Solomon's song calling us back to love. Love like we might have known as a teenager so impassioned by love and desire that we can think of no other. Love like a parent for their child when they are born. Love like a child for their parent at the moment of their parent's death. That is how God views us, in love, in desire, and in all. As springtime is described in Song of Solomon, we can see God's love for creation and God's love for us. We are called to that same love for all. --Peter Horn Prayer: Help us to wash our heart, Lord, that it may be more pleasing to you. Amen.
Reading: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (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: I remember in school when I was younger that we lined up to wash our hands before eating. Surely, that is a good practice and I probably should do it more today than I do. But this passage struck me that we are so often concerned about being clean on the outside and maybe we need to worry more about being clean on the inside. So instead of washing our hands, we need to remember to wash our hearts. As Jesus said, what comes out of us is what defiles. So, make sure you find ways to “wash your heart!” --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 March 8, 2013.
Prayer: Spending some time in silent prayer with God this day, perhaps while looking up at the stars in the night sky. Reading: Genesis 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? Additional Questions:
Reflection: A beautiful summer night with no clouds in the sky reveals millions of stars in the sky. As I laid on the grass looking upward, I pondered the mysteries of the universe, who I am, and the wonders of God 's creation. Looking upward I saw the stars and the variety of light that they illuminated. Some were bright, others were dull, some you could barely see. But they all were part of the universe, part of the master creation plan, working together to form constellations no matter what their brightness. Oh the peace that surrounds a quiet summer evening, laying out in a field, looking up at the stars. Gets you in quite a meditative mood. Made me realize something about my own life. Looking up at the stars I thought about all the people who I have met in my life. In some way, everyone I meet touches me. But each does so to a different degree. The brightest stars in the sky are like the people who mean the most to me in my life. They are the ones who have influenced who I am today. They are family members and close friends. Other stars, which are not so bright, are those people who I may consider just friends and acquaintances. And the really dull stars are just people I have met but who have only been part of my life, shall we say, in passing. Everyone has meant something in my life, but some have been brighter than others and have meant more to me. Another night I was walking down a road in the darkness. I looked up into the sky and saw a hazy moon. It was almost full and had a bright ring around it. I thought to myself, "you know- God is like the moon. Sometimes we can see the moon and sometimes it is covered by clouds. But it is always there. Sometimes we purposely go out to see the moon in the sky, but most times we take it for granted. God is that way. Sometimes it is very obvious to us that He is with us. But sometimes He is covered by clouds and harder to see. Sometimes we go to Him and ask for help and guidance, but sometimes we take Him for granted. But no matter what, He is always there. He is our shepherd, the big leader, and if we look to Him for guidance, we will always receive it." The stars in your life may need some help and you may be the person who can give them ideas or teach them something they didn't already know. Just as the brighter stars in your life have helped make a difference to you, so you can make a difference for them. I challenge you to go out and not be sheep of God, but instead be sheep dogs. Help the Lord lead those sheep in your life who may go astray. Give people a little nudge to do something they should be doing. Stand beside Jesus Christ and help Him by being a minister to others and letting your light so shine. Perhaps through your actions, you can spark some life and light into others to do the same thing. And remember, God will guide us. He is the good shepherd. By following Him, we have great hope for the future. He can help us through the good times, and the bad, and can help us with all our hard tasks. Sometimes, though, it takes something as simple as a moonlit sky to remind us of His power- and to remind us that some things should never be taken for granted. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: We gather to worship you with joy. Amen
Reading: Psalm 84 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I have a strange work schedule. I work 22 hours a week spread across 5 days with Wednesday and Sunday being my days off. Still trying to figure out how to shift hours and days around with the other people in my office so I can work more hours in fewer days and/or at the very least get two days off in a row. Meanwhile, along with being the Sabbath, Sunday is my weekend day off from work. Psalm 84 is a hymn of praise most likely sung by travelers on their way to celebrate in the temple. When I was a teen, there was a singer by the name of Evie. She had a song that went something like this: Walking to church on a Sunday morning, Walking and hearing the church bells ring, Seeing the folks who mean everything to us, Praising the Lord as we lovingly sing. .... Oh, it's so good to be here praising the Lord again. When I think how Jesus loves me, I take heart to live for him. While I don't have Psalm 84 memorized to recite on the way to worship, I do sometimes find myself singing this song. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: In the whole armor of God, we pray in the Spirit to declare boldly the good news of your love. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 6: 10-20 (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: In this chapter we are told we need a specific wardrobe...a list of armor to ward off and resist our enemy Satan. We need:
-- Alice Yeakel Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on August 18, 2015.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we worship you always and in all sorts of places. May our hearts always turn towards you and when you hear our prayers, forgive. Reading: I Kings 8: 22-30, 41-43 (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: Solomon built the Temple, brought the Ark to the Temple and, in our verses today, dedicates the Temple. It is a wonderful prayer of God’s promises, love and forgiveness. The Temple surely is amazing yet Solomon admits in verse 27, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.” Where do we worship? What temples have we built? All summer, worship at Camp has been outside. Well, except for when it is raining, of course. Now, all have gone back to their places of worship at home or at school. Wherever we worship, we ask God to, “Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (v. 30). --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us about the bread of life so we could start simple as we learn your words of eternal life. Amen
Reading: John 6: 60-69 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: For most of John 6, Jesus talks about the bread of life but at the end his disciples don't undertand saying, "This teaching is difficult. Who can accept it?" Makes me think about the first song students learn on a band instrument. It's about bread, too. Hot Cross Buns. Yet, even that simple tune with just three different notes can be a challenge. "This song is difficult. I can't play it." Start simple and practice. As we hear the Word, we too may think, "This teaching is difficult. Who can accept it?" But Jesus started with something simple: bread. Then Jesus moved on to the spirit that gives life and words of eternal life. Be it the Bread of Life or Hot Cross Buns", start simple and practice. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that you hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 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: There must be something missing here, don’t you think? Jen (let’s say she is the author of the Book of Genesis) tells us that God called out to Abram and Sarai, “I want you to leave home and the family, job, friends, and everything familiar. I’ll show you where to go.” I don’t know about you, but my first response would be, “Okay, but where’s the map?” A GPS would have been even better. “No map, I’ll be your GPS.” Gulp! See, I think Jen missed all of that because the next thing she reports is “So (they) went.” Well, that’s not quite right. Jen does record God’s promises- great nation, great name, blessings, and curses. Hmmm… this is curious, don’t you think? I’d still prefer at least a map. Anyhow, after hearing the promises, they went! They took some close family members and all their possessions, (can you see a U-Haul in the sand?) And they came to Canaan and saw the place God wanted them to be, but not yet. Jen spins a pretty good story here. There’s this famine in Canaan, so detour to Egypt. Some fibbing to Pharaoh gets Abe and Sarai in trouble. But it does bring about the first, “Pharaoh, Pharaoh, let my people go, UH.” The rest is history! So, what do you think? Did Jen purposely omit Abram and Sarai questioning God about this trip they are to take? Did she just conveniently overlook the time and prayers it took for them to discern whether they were really hearing God’s voice? Or maybe she knew the story was going to be pretty long and this would be a good place to condense things. Or, maybe Jen nailed it right on the head. God calls, we respond in faith and trust that God knows what She is doing. Has He ever let you down? How is God guiding you in your faith journey? And, what is next? You have a mental map, I bet, and detours can really be bummers. Are they a way of God letting you know where God wants you? What do you think? Can you let Go, let God? That’s not a bad thing to get out of this story. I like the way Jen framed it after all. How about you? --Jim Bricker Prayer: We praise you, God, for your wonderful works. May all who hear know of our love for you and join in. Amen Reading: Psalm 111 (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: Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Psalm 111: 1 In Bible study recently, it was asked and discussed how much we outwardly in the company of other people give thanks to God for his wonderful works. Do we openly acknowledge God's presence in our lives? Do we admit to living by faith and relying on prayer? I share a desk with three other office assistants and each time I sit down I set up my personal items including a notecard a dear friend wrote out for me with the verse, Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Proverbs 3: 3a. I like to think it keeps me friendlier on the phone. Sometimes I forget to put it away so I know it has been seen by my co-workers. I am not saying any of this to be boastful. I know don't always get it right. I have shared my prayers and near certainty of God's plan only to backpedal when they weren't answered as I hoped or things did not go as expected. I am hoping then at least they see a faith that holds on and there is always praise for God's wonderful works. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, we make music to you from our hearts with our love for others and by sharing our gifts and talents. In the midst of that can trip us up, may we make the way smoother. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 5: 15-20 (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: We are again being scolded…or at least being warned. We are living in difficult times. Is this disturbing to you? Depressing? There’s an old poem: “Each is given a bag of tools; a set of rules; and each must make a stumbling block or a stepping stone. Build bridges; not fences. Offer a hand of friendship; not a clenched fist. Sing together in harmony; not shouts of dischord.” I attended a performance by 166 brass players from all around the world. They came from South Africa, Germany, Canada and California and practiced together for three days to produce an amazing sound. They were truly making music to the Lord from their hearts. (v. 19) -- Alice Yeakel Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on August 11, 2015.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give us understanding that we may be able discern good and evil in our lives. Amen. Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 (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: What do you pray for? Health for a family member? The good outcome of a tenuous situation for a friend? Well here sits a child praying for understanding to lead and govern a whole people. Solomon began his ministry as a child, needing the help of others to guide him. He could have gone only to those advisors but he didn't. He went to the greatest advisor he had and we have. He went to God. Yet the amazing thing here is that he didn't ask for the selfish things like comfort and riches for himself. Instead he asked for the wisdom and understanding to guide. Then he received so much more, that being long life. Solomon did the faithful thing of asking for the power to help others. So how are our prayers focused on others rather than ourselves? How are we asking wisely to receive understanding so others may see God through us? --Peter Horn Prayer: May remembering you, Jesus, as the bread of life bring us back to a feeling of joy to return again and again. Amen
Reading: John 6: 51-58 (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 returned from a 9 day trip to Portugal and Spain and right away had to go to the grocery store to restock persishables in my cupboards and refrigerator. Having grown fond of the foods in the places I visited, I was so surprised and excited to come across Portuguese Rolls in the bakery section my grocery store. I could hardly believe it! Surely the Portuguese Rolls had been there all along but I had not noticed as they did not mean that much to me. I took photos to post on Facebook so my fellow travelers could also see and rush to Wegmans to get their own. I have been buying them weekly ever since as they take me right back to that time and place of my travels. The sacrament of Holy Communion is a time when we celebrate Jesus as the bread of life. Was there a time when you suddenly noticed that? He had been all along but an experience made it mean more? When you had to share the Good News so others could celebrate, too? Have you been going back regularly to remember? How do you understand Jesus as the bread of life? What does the sacrament of Holy Communion mean to you? -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us all to remember that we are not only part of your kingdom, but a part of the camp family as well. Guide us in creating environments in our lives where those around us will feel like family. Help us to be descendants who spread all over the world teaching of your family. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 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: Verse 32 of Genesis Chapter 10 is a very simple one. It very plainly sums up the chapter. Here is a list of Noah’s family. After the flood, the descendants moved throughout the world and became nations. So what is the big deal about a long list of family members? It’s not the names of these biblical figures that are important. It isn’t necessarily even their contribution to the historical world. It can all be explained in a very unadorned concept. Just like at camp, these folks were all part of a large family. Camp is an excellent intentional community where we all become a piece of a great big family- God’s family. It is certainly important for us at camp to make every camper, staff member, pastor, volunteer, and guest feel a part of this family. Everyone wants to feel like he or she is included. What a great experience it is to feel like you are part of a family! The campers will not leave camp, spread all over the world, and make their own nations. However, they hopefully will leave with that sense of being part of a special family. Hopefully they will go out and tell their friends about their “new camp family” and encourage them to be part of it. What families are you apart of—both biologically and otherwise? How do you share God’s love with those families? --Chris Sands Prayer: My soul waits for you, LORD, and in your word I hope. Amen
Reading: Psalm 130 (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 two parts to waiting. One is to wait with hope. The other is to not go off and do something else instead. Both can be hard depending on how long the wait is and how easily distracted one is. To wait for the LORD is to maintain hope that God's deliverance will arrive, and also refrain from going one's own way. Both can be hard. Maybe that is why the Psalmist uses the word wait not once, not twice but three times in Psalm 130: 5, 6. Wait, wait, wait. It is worth it. -- 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 August 4, 2015.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for taking on our pain. Amen. Reading: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 (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: In the final verse of our passage today, a father wishes that he could take the place of his child, who was killed. Being a father, when I see my children in pain, I often wish I could take that pain away from them and give it to me. In my mind, I feel I can handle it more than they can and could keep them from experiencing it. One night, when my son was crying when we was cutting teeth, I had these thoughts. And it struck me that what God did for us in Jesus is just like that. God loved us so much that God was willing to take on the pain of sin and death so that we would not have to take on that pain. Take time today to think about God’s ultimate sacrifice for you. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: May we live in love as Christ as Christ loved us. Amen
Reading: Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 (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 my! We are really being scolded in these verses. And, yes, perhaps we need a good scolding. Why are we often so harsh with our words and actions? Why are we so quick to criticize and judge? Back in the 1940's there was a popular song that stated, “Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr. In Between” There’s more. Google it. And then start living as we are taught in Ephesians with rules for a new life. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Help us, Lord, to keep in mind what makes a difference in your love for us and our love for you and others. Amen
Reading: John 6: 35, 41-51 (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: Vacation Bible Camp at our church this summer was led by Camp Mount Luther staff. They stayed in our home and one evening we had Campfire Worship in the backyard. It was the best week of the summer! The only problem we had was the oven stopped working the weekend before the staff arrived. Though the meals for the week did not involve baking, I did intend to bake the bread for Communion at Campfire Worship. The appliance repairman came Monday but needed to order a part that might not be in until the end of the week. Someone suggested buying bread at the bakery. Of course that would be perfectly fine but I really wanted homemade bread from my kitchen for worship in the backyard. Fortunately, the part came in early, the repairman came back sooner and the oven was working again in time to bake. It made a difference to me. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." and "I am the bread that came down from heaven." There may be other bread to eat and it may come from the bakery but Jesus wanted to be sure all knew he was life-giving bread and he came from heaven. It makes a difference to us. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, help us to remain faithful to you even in the midst of the downpours in our lives. Give us your reassurance that you have not abandoned us. May the rain nourish and refresh us and all your creation. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 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 a member of a summer camp staff, I hated rainy days. Rainy days seemed so challenging. The rain seemed to easily dampen the camp spirit. There are no aquatic activities if there was lightning. Horse trail rides were cancelled if the trails were muddy. More campers seemed homesick if the damp, gloomy weather stuck around for a few days. Yes, it was an important part of our staff development to ponder and plan for rainy days. We needed to be prepared for those days. How can we move the outdoor activities indoors on those rainy days? How can we adapt? What is our Plan B, C, D, E, etc.? (Can you imagine 40 straight rainy days?) As staff members, we needed to take extra effort not to let rain dampen our camp spirit. We needed to be as enthusiastic on rainy days as bright sunny days. How are we to respond to rainy days? Noah provides a faithful model on how to respond. As God predicts 40 days and nights of rain, Noah does as the Lord commanded him. Noah remains faithful to God in the midst of the downpour. Remaining faithful is what gives us the strength to be cheerful and enthusiastic on those rainy days. God has not abandoned us—there will be a rainbow soon! --Pastor Chad Hebrink Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. (Psalm 51: 10)
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: GROW Time writers choose a month ahead the days for which they will write. After that, the first thing I do is bring up the GROWTime template and rename/save it with the dates and scriptures I signed up for. Next I bookmark my Bible at all the passages I have. Then I am ready to read, reflect and write. After I am done, I submit the writings for posting and delete the bookmarks. On to next month! Sometimes, however, I keep a bookmark. Like this one for Psalm 51; particulary verse 10 and the two verses after. Could come back to this daily. Some days more often than once. If you read this GROW Time in the morning, perhaps come back to it later today. Chances are it is time again for a clean heart and right spirit. May as well keep this bookmark. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: O, supreme Lord, there is only one of us. Help us to live in unity with our brothers and sisters as you guide us. 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: When I attended a Lutheran Outdoor Ministries conference one year, we sang a Taize song called, “There is One Lord.” It was based on this scripture. It reminded me that no matter what our difference, we are one through Christ. If you’d like to hear it, you can listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zFqDMrRnZk. The congregation continues to sing the chat throughout the song and the verse are sung by a soloist over top of the group singing. That is also a powerful witness to the fact that we are the chorus of singers, being one in God, who is the “big singer.” When you fret over being divided with others, just remember that the big singer is one who unites us. There is one Lord! --Chad Hershberger |
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