Prayer: Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Stop and GROW: After reading the prayer, 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 prayer? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this prayer? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this prayer stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this prayer? Reflection: All Saints Day is one of my favorite celebrations. It wasn’t always, but lately it has become more and more important to me. Maybe because some folks whom I love have died and the celebration helps me to remember them. But, I remember them from time-to-time throughout the year. Usually with a smile on my face, because the memory is one of something funny said or done. Which saints do you remember today? The celebration, I think, is more than just remembering those who have died. It is also celebrating the saints with who we live and minister. Those sinners who are made saints by God’s grace. The saints living at the throne of God and the saints living today are somehow connected. The ancient prayer for this celebration calls it “one communion in the mystical body of Christ.” It’s more than a memory. It is something God does. Well, for all the saints: those who rest from their labors; those who live yet in the flesh; for all of us experiencing to one degree or another “the inexpressible joys” God has prepared for us; for all the saints—thanks be to God! --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff
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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 6, 2013.
Prayer: As we go through life’s journey, guide us to have clean hearts, minds, and words. Thank you, Lord. Amen. Reading: Psalm 24: 4-8; Matthew 15: 1-20 (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? Additional Questions:
Reflection: Being human is tough. Being a Christian is even tougher. Becoming a Christian is an easy thing to do, but living a Christ-like life is tougher. I've found that sometimes words can get you in trouble. I know I often have said things to people that I regret later. Often I say something for humorous effect and not think about how it might hurt someone. In this passage in Matthew, Jesus says that what comes from the mouth comes from the heart. And out of the heart can come some pretty evil things. Sometimes we know what is right from wrong. But even though we know what we should or should not be doing, we do it anyway. Other forces in our lives take hold and lead us in the wrong manner. How can we prevent that from happening? Perhaps we need to let the Holy Spirit lead our lives. We need to plan ahead and ask God for peace and self-control. We need to put our trust in the Lord and ask for help before we let unclean hearts control our actions. Try it. I bet you will like the results. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Discuss with others or meditate on this quote: "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." (Mother Theresa) Prayer: You know the plans you have for us, God. Help us to see the way.
Reading: Revelation 21:1-6 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Well, we’ve done it again. We’ve come to a passage in the book of Revelation. This is a tough book, isn’t it? There are so many ways to look at things as we learn more about the end times. When I read this passage this time, I was struck by something in the very beginning. I’ve heard of the new heaven and new earth but I never paid attention that the passage also tells us that the sea will cease to exist. Wow! I’m sure that fishermen aren’t too happy about that one? I wonder why the sea will go away? Doesn’t God like water? Where will the whales, and shrimp, and seahorses go? So many questions! And then I take pause to say, “It’ll be okay.” God has a plan and who am I to question that plan. As we celebrate All Saints Day this Sunday, we can also look at the plans God had for others in our lives who passed on the faith. My daughter’s Sunday School class is to bring in a picture of a saint that they knew who passed on the faith to them. We will remember them and remember that we are to pass on the faith, too. As for the sea- well, I guess we’ll have to just wait and see. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Surely you are our God! We trust in you and you save us. We rejoice and are glad in your salvation. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 25: 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: I write this while sitting on the porch of a mountaintop cottage. While there are many places to get away, one of my favorites is in the mountains. So at least once a year I travel here for time with friends, time alone and time with God. Isaiah prophesied, "On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich for all peoples... On this mountain...the Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces. Let us rejoice." (from Isaiah 25: 6-9) That truly is my experience on this mountain. Lots of good food, a few tears wiped away and much rejoicing. Surely we trust in God. He saves us and we can be glad. Where is your mountain? --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Do you enjoy our digital First Light devotions? Have you considered writing an entry to share with others? In November, we are holding our first ever GROW Writer's Retreat. Our four regular contributors are going to meet at camp on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, and spend the day writing devotions for the coming church seasons. We are inviting anyone who is interested in joining us to come that day. We'll provide lunch. If you are interested, please contact Chad Hershberger at [email protected]
Prayer: As we remember the saints this week, Lord, help us to remember Lazarus and the power of resurrection. Amen.
Reading: John 11:1-45 (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 Sunday, we celebrate All Saint’s Day. It is the day that we remember all those who have come before us in the faith and have passed to the Church Triumphant. We particularly acknowledge those saints who have died in the past year. In our text for today, we read the story of Lazarus. Jesus comes to visit Lazarus, but he is already dead. He is chastised for not arriving earlier. And then, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. In reality, the scene that we see here is the scene for all our loved ones who have gone before us. If we believe in the resurrection, those who have died all have this “Lazarus experience.” They are raised from an earthly death to a live with Jesus in heaven. As we remember this Sunday those saints who have died, remember the story of Lazarus. Imagine your loved one hearing Jesus say, “Arise!” and go with him. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that your Holy Spirit renews the church in every age. Pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your word, protect and comfort them in times of trial, defend them against all enemies of the gospel, and bestow on the church your saving grace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Stop and GROW: After reading the prayer, 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 prayer? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this prayer? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this prayer stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this prayer? Reflection: Today let’s reflect on the Prayer of the Day for Reformation Sunday. Lutherans gather for worship this week to celebrate God’s renewing work in the church. Martin Luther and his colleagues many years ago were God’s agents of reformation. The Spirit continues to renew the church through the ages and into the future. Thursday, I ran into a seminary classmate I haven’t seen for a long time. After chatting and doing the important how-are-you routine, the ensuing conversation included the state of the church. We are both old enough to be very aware that some long-standing Lutheran churches no longer exist. Many congregations are looking for new ways to afford ordained leadership. The growth of splinter churches disturbs both my friend and me. He said, “I don’t see any evidence of the historical church in them.” And I keep trying to hear the gospel coming from those churches. It is a bit troublesome to consider the future of God’s church we call “Lutheran.” Certainly, God’s church in this day needs renewal. Not for the survival of the institution, but for the bestowing of God’s saving grace. So, living in this day in the church is scary, confusing, and challenging. At the same time there is something delightful, too. The anticipation of God’s renewing is exciting. What is God up to? I’m not sure. But, let’s remain always open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as was Brother Martin and others. “Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people.” --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on in 2013.
Prayer: Be our refuge and strength, Lord, and help us when we are in trouble. Amen. Reading: Psalm 46 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: My favorite hymn is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." It was written by a man, Martin Luther, who I have admired since I was a child. Luther had so many good things to say and I think some of his best words are in that song. The verses tell us that God is our strength and will never fail us. We may have to fight the forces of evil, but good will prevail. Should we lose all of our possessions and all those we love on earth, we will still have our rock- God, our father. I share Luther's hymn, based on Psalm 46, with you today. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director A Mighty Fortress is Our God, a sword and shield victorious He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod, and wins salvation glorious The old satanic foe, has sworn to work us woe With craft and dreadful might, he arms himself to fight On earth he has no equal. No strength of ours can match his might, we would be lost rejected But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected You ask who this may be, the Lord of Hosts is he Christ Jesus, Holy Lord, God’s only son adored He holds the filed victorious Though hordes of devils fill the land, all threatening to devour us We tremble not unmoved we stand, they cannot overpower us This world’s prince may rage, in battle he’ll engage But he is doomed to fail, God’s judgment must prevail One little word subdues him. God’s Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes who fear it For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit If they should take our house, goods, honor, child or spouse And wrench our life away, they cannot win the day The kingdom’s ours forever. Prayer: Here I stand, Lord. Amen. Reading: Romans 1:16 - 3:31 (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: Our passage today starts out, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel.” I couldn’t help but think when I read this about our friend, Martin Luther. This Sunday, as we celebrate the Reformation, we will also commemorate all that he did to help us look at scripture differently than the Church in his day. Luther was bold. He took a stand. He was not ashamed of the gospel. He knew the power of understanding about God’s love and what was done on the cross for us. How about you? Do you ever take a stand for your faith? Are you ashamed of the gospel? I know I am not, but sometimes I wonder if I don’t stand boldly with God and talk more about my faith. Could I do what Luther did and endure persecution for the sake of the gospel? As we celebrate Reformation Day this week, those are the questions I will ask myself. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Dear God, put your law in our minds and write it on our hearts. May we all know you are our God and we are your people. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Uncle Marcus passed away last week. He was 93 and remembered lovingly and kindly by his family, his church and the Boy Scout troop he founded. There is so much I could write about him but today’s text leads me to share just this: Uncle Marcus lived by certain rules, felt all should follow them and taught them if he had to. Two examples: (1) Sunday is a day of rest. (2) Hats off inside. The story was told he stopped by the church one Sunday afternoon and found somebody doing work in the Fellowship Hall. He put a stop to that right then. There are also stories of him reminding gentlemen to remove their hats when inside. Rules he knew, followed and taught. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a covenant and a time when God will put his law in our minds and write it on our hearts. No longer will a person teach his neighbor because they will all know the LORD. Wouldn’t that be nice? I believe in heaven Uncle Marcus has found eternal rest. And, if there are indoors in heaven, I hope the gentlemen all remember to take off their hats. --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 October 20, 2014.
Prayer: Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. Amen. Reading: John 8:31-38 (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: Even the Jews who believed in Jesus were confused when he spoke to them about freedom. They understood that their Jewishness meant that they were always free. (Somehow they must have forgotten about their ancestor’s long sojourn in Egypt.) So what did Jesus mean when he speaks to them about freedom? We, too, are probably a bit confused by this conversation about freedom. What does Jesus mean? We may first think of freedom in the political realm. We in the the United States enjoy many freedoms that some in other places do not. We often see and hear, “This is a free country.” So there is that. There is also economic freedom. We also hear about “free market economy.” That is the basis of our economic system. And whatever else that does for us, it makes it possible for us to have a large range of choice in supermarkets. Lots of stuff to choose from and the economic freedom to choose. Confused about what Jesus meant about freedom? I was, too, until I looked at the whole thing in context. Jesus talks about sin, truth and then freedom. If we know the truth we will be free. Free from what? The truth about what? Free from sin and the truth about ourselves. See, at times we convince ourselves that we are o.k. That somehow we free ourselves from sin. Actually that is not the truth. Our liturgy has it right: “Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.” There it is. That’s the truth. Now what? “So if (read ‘since’) the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” What a nice place to be led by the truth. We can’t free ourselves from sin. Jesus can. Jesus does. Now, that’s independence day!! --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Thank you, creator, for the leaves on your trees.
Reading: Leviticus 26:4 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 admit it. I did a little proof-texting for this devotion. I know what I want to write about and just went to the scriptures to back me up! What is really in my head is a hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful…The Lord God made them all. (With One Voice 767). What’s in my vision is trees—beautiful trees rapidly taking on the spectacular colors of fall. Ruth reflected on them earlier—in New York the trees color before they do in Central PA. Chad has been posting pictures of the tress at Camp Mount Luther. One picture displayed our beloved “The Gap.” And everywhere I go, day-by-day my world just gets more vibrant. Yes, God makes the trees produce their fruit. And, gorgeous leaves in the fall. Enjoy! Thanks be to God. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Praise the LORD! Amen. (Psalm 104: 24)
Reading: Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35c (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 past couple days I have taken the bus to work. It was a necessity the first day as my car was in the shop and the Jeep was in the airport parking lot. My car is back but I still took the bus today. Why? I enjoyed the walk to and from the bus stops and my house and work. Picking and eating a crisp fall apple along the way. Saying hello to a friend walking their dog in the neighborhood. Crossing over the wide river on a pedestrian bridge in the city. I realized it was fun watching the world to by outside the bus windows. You miss a lot driving and paying attention to the road and other vehicles. The seasons are changing and you can see hints of it in the flowers and trees already. I also enjoyed people watching and, let me tell you, the bus, bus depot and city offer great people watching. There was even music as a child in the seat behind me sang, The Wheels on the Bus most of the way home. We are all God's children living in God's amazing creation. In wisdom God made us and so much more. Praise the LORD! Tomorrow, for a variety of reasons, I must drive to work. I think I will miss observing more closely God's wonderful world. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: As we serve others, be our guide, dear Lord. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10 (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: This week, we’ve been looking at being a servant. We talked about how when you are a servant, you should expect no recognition for your deeds. We also talked about how as a Christian servant, we still should be growing in our own faith so that we can be strong to serve others. Another important asked of servanthood is that is a calling from God. That’s my takeaway from our scripture reading for today. We are called by God to serve others. Just as we are called to our vocations, avocations, being parents, spouses, children, and the like, we are also called to be servants. As Children of God, perhaps this is our greatest calling. Asking our fellow humans, “How can I serve you?” is one of the greatest things we can do. During staff training, we often hear our Chaplain to the Staff tell of a White House worker who greeted Jackie Kennedy following her husband’s assassination. His words to her were simply, “How can I serve you?” In those simple words, she knew that he was sympathetic to what she was going through and wanted to help. He wanted to serve. Who are the people that you will ask this question today? What will you do to serve others today? How can I serve you? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us to grow as we look to you as we serve. Amen.
Reading: Job 38:1-41 (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 we look at servanthood this week, we stumble upon this reading from Job. Job could be a used as a character study in servanthood. Despite some very tough circumstances, he continued to look to God for guidance and hope. But, he also had his moments! In this passage, he asks God a question and God chastises him a bit. God reminds Job that God is more power, knows more, and should not be questioned. This passage reminds me the importance of keeping our eyes on God as we are servants. Our spiritual growth is important as we serve others. We need to look to God for strength, guidance, and knowledge. So as we serve, we need to grow in our faith as well. Keep studying the Bible, go to worship, pray, and practice Christian hospitality while you continue to serve! –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us, God, to be better servants for you. Amen.
Reading: Mark 10:35-45 (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 readings for this Sunday talk about servanthood. In our gospel reading, Jesus is reminding us that we should be servants and that he set the example in this realm for that. What is it like to be a servant? It’s not glamorous, glorious, and you don’t always get recognition. And, most who have a heart of a servant do not want the recognition. They just want to help others and try to improve the world around them. James and John wanted recognition for being Jesus’ disciples. But Christ reminded them that it is not their place to decide who will “sit at the right and the left.” Their reward for being a servant will come to them in another time and place. And so will ours. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Help us to celebrate the work you do in our midst. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 90:17 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: 1790 was a good year. President George Washington delivered the first state of the union address. The modern shoe string was invented in England. The District of Columbia was established. The United States population stood at 3,939,214. And the Dry Valley Presbyterian Society was formed. It was not until 1805 that the Society erected a church on the very site that Little Valley Presbyterian Church stands today in Vira near Lewistown, PA. This Sunday I am privileged to lead this congregation in worship, celebrating its 225th anniversary. This congregation celebrates two and a quarter centuries of ministry: baptisms, marriages, deaths, worship, doing good work in the community and the world. The psalm says it all. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the works of our hands! For Little Valley it is 225 years of work. Every moment of it prospered by the favor of God. And it is work that has been and still is done day-to-day, one-by-one by God’s faithful people. I invite you to celebrate with Little Valley Presbyterian Church and remember that the good work we all do is God’s work. Let us endeavor today to do really good work and praise God for looking upon us with favor. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 26, 2015.
Prayer: We praise you, God. For all that you have done, are doing and will do. Amen Reading: Psalm 22:13-25 (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: We recognize the beginning of this psalm. It is often read on Good Friday. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But the end of this poem is nothing but praise and worship. It’s all about what God has done and is doing. Certainly we can identify with that. As we go about our day, let’s remember His grace and offer praise and thanksgiving. But, there is something else that strikes me in this hymn. Praise and worship comes from the living, of course. But also, from the dead and those not yet born!! What an idea that is. We are one with all the saints, the living, the dead and those yet to come. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Give us the words, dear Lord, that we can share your Word with others. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16 (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 was in my late 20s/early 30s, I attended a Bible study with a very learned man of scripture. During his life, he worked tirelessly, sharing God’s Word with whoever he could. He was very humble and never was “off-putting” when he talked about his faith and the Bible. He just loved sharing what we knew about God and how God had changed his life and spoke through the scriptures. This summer, he died and I was able to go to his funeral. So many people testified to how much scripture meant to him and how much he lived his faith. I hadn’t seen him for years, but I knew that I was among those who learned so much from him. When I read our passage from Hebrews, I was reminded about this man because I remember us doing a study of this book one year. He often quoted about the “double-edged sword” of the Word of God and talked about our high priest who is an advocate for us. When I read these words, I heard his voice in my head, reminding me of all of the good things of God. He is at home with God now but his legacy lives on. It makes me wonder what affect I can have on others as I share my faith and knowledge of scripture. Are there people that I should be talking to more about God? Am I living a life worthy of my calling as a child of God? What more should I be doing? Those are questions I will ponder as I think of this text this day. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Listening God, no matter how dark it gets, may we always know we can talk to you. Amen.
Reading: Job 23: 1-9; 16-17 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: (Job said), “Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.” Job 23: 17 A friend of mine is living through a very dark time. Her husband has been diagnosed with cancer a second time in less than a year and may have less than a year to live. Yet she continues to give her time and energy in serving others, particularly organizations in which her children are involved. However, as always, there are complainers and one commented critically about something my friend did as not being “fair”. I do not know how my friend responded but I am sure she handled it with grace. Later, in an email to me, she wrote, “…but I hate to say this (I'm in a pretty good spot to voice this)...life is not fair all the time. You take it in the nose sometimes and make the best of it another time.” She is taking it in the nose right now. That is for sure. So was Job. Both faint-hearted and terrified, yet not silenced by the darkness. Let us all remember, no matter how thick the darkness becomes, we can still talk to God. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper Prayer: Help us to put aside our old ways, Lord, and follow you. Amen. Reading: Mark 10:17-31 (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: For those of you who are familiar with our legend at Camp Mount Luther, you probably think this is one of our favorite Bible passages! Jesus actually mentions camels! But, as you read the story today, you’ll see that it is a difficult passage. Jesus basically says that it is best to give away all that you own and follow Him. It’s hard to give up what we have and to change. But recently, I was at a church gathering and was reminded that those of us in Christianity, if we truly believe in resurrection, shouldn’t worry about the old passing away. We are a church built on resurrection. Surely, if something that we are used to now goes away, something even better will arise from that death. That’s what I think this passage is about, too. We should be willing to put aside old ways, give away possessions, or see something stop because if we truly believe in resurrection, we believe that something even better will come later. Jesus endured the cross but then defeated the grave. We should live in the good of the resurrection. What do you need to let go of, give away, or see die before something better can come along? When you ask yourself that question, you need to take a serious look at your life and possessions and then choose whether you will change your ways to follow Jesus. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Prayer: Thanks, God, for being mindful of me.
Reading: Hebrews 2:5-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The writer of Hebrews quotes what has been for a long time my favorite Psalm—Psalm 8. The section quoted is preceded by these words: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established…. This week we had the exciting privilege of a lunar eclipse. It was cloudy in my yard, but I saw photos from many places in the world. And NASA announced that there is new evidence that there is water on Mars. We expect to have people on that planet in a few decades. On a clear night, how many stars can you count? Hey, and we’re just talking about our solar system. How many more? How immense and glorious is God’s creation? Who knows? The longer we live the more immense it gets, with more and more data from further and further in space. Wow! Humbling, huh? One small human on one small planet in a universe of stars and planets. It gives me chills sometimes. Yet God is mindful of each of us. Counts the hairs on our heads! What a marvelous God we have. --Jim Bricker, Chaplain to Camp Mount Luther’s Summer Staff Prayer: Dear God, may we trust in you without wavering and praise you with our feet on level ground. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the LORD. Psalm 26: 12 This evening my son, James, is at a Cleveland Symphony Orchestra performance of An Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. I thought I would listen to a recording while I write and perhaps do some research to learn more about piece. The story of An Alpine Symphony depicts the experiences of eleven hours (from twilight just before dawn to the following nightfall) spent climbing an Alpine mountain. As a boy, Strauss experienced an Alpine adventure similar to the one described in his An Alpine Symphony: he and a group of hikers lost their way heading up a mountain and were caught in a storm and soaked on the way down. The 50 minute piece paints many pictures from sunrise to sunset; ascending to descending; calm to danger; waterfall and meadow to glacier and thunder. Surely you get the feeling of beginning on level ground, all the joyful and fearful wonders of a journey and ending back on level ground again. The last verse of Psalm 26 speaks of standing on level ground and there praising the LORD. Life takes us on many journeys; up and down, good and bad along the way. Knowing our feet are on level ground, it is good to praise the LORD. --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper |
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