Prayer: As we read about the future and our full-time worship of you with the saints, may we strive to always worship you with all that we say and do and treat others with kindness. Amen.
Reading: Revelation 7: 9-17 (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: It’s Halloween. Tomorrow is All Saints Day. Two holidays that are very different! In these verses from Revelation, we are reminded that we are part of the great cloud of witnesses who are all saints of God. As we don costumes tonight and maybe go out and get some candy from neighbors, let us not forget the white robes we will wear as followers of God. In our passage today, it also reminds us that there will be a time when all will get along with one another no matter the differences. I think as we start a new month tomorrow, I’m going to try to look for ways to be more tolerant and be more loving to those who are different from me. Hearing what that will be like in heaven has inspired me to try and bring a little heaven here on earth. Won’t you join me? --Chad Hershberger
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sOccasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on October 27, 2014.
Prayer: For all the saints, who from their labors rest, we give you thanks, O Lord. Amen. Reading: Matthew 5: 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: This Sunday, many of congregations will commemorate "All Saints Sunday." It's a day when we remember the great cloud of witnesses who have come before us, and often we commemorate those in our midst who died in the last year. I know of several ways that congregations "celebrate" this day. In my home congregation, a votive candle was lit for each of the dearly departed since the last All Saints Sunday. Where I attend church now, our pastor usually talks about those saints during her sermon and during the prayers of the people, the list of names is read as a bell tolls for each of the saints. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to preach on September 29. On that day in our church year, we commemorate St. Michael and All Angels. As I was arriving to worship, I got a phone call to tell me that my aunt had died. That particular day, during worship. we sang a song about the angels and the heavenly chorus. I smiled (and teared up a bit) when I thought that my aunt was now among them, singing with God. As our Bible passage reminds us today, our hardships here on earth are temporary. Jesus tells us that as His chosen people, our reward will be great in heaven. As we remember saints in our life, we can smile knowing they are enjoying that reward! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God - Thank you for creating the sun, moon, and stars. As we look to the lights in the sky help us remember all who have come before us. Thank you for their guidance and light on our path of faith. We especially thank you for Martin Luther and the reformation of the church. AMEN
Reading: Genesis 1:14-19 (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: God created the sun, the moon, and the stars to help guide us and give us light. For that we are thankful. God also created people to help guides us. One such person we celebrate this Reformation weekend is Martin Luther. It is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation when Luther tacked his 95 Thesis to the door of the All Saints Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He just wanted to start a debate about some things he saw wrong in the church. He wanted to guide the church and the leaders in doing things that were more to what the Bible teaches. Martin Luther’s teachings and theology is what guides us as Lutherans today. I am thankful for his guidance and leadership because that has helped shape my faith. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: In the hustle and bustle of life, may we also be still and know you are God. 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 new favorite camp song this past summer was "Be Still and Know That I am God". Not even sure if that is the title and I wish I could sing it for you here. It's actually a "get to know you song" as the verses encourage interaction among the campers. It's not a very Be Still sort of song as everyone is either clapping loudly or milling around except for the super quiet final line of the chorus chant, "Be still and know that I am God." It has become my new favorite camp song as it both makes us interact (hug, give high fives, etc.) and yet also stop perfectly still and say, "Be still and know that I am God." In the busy bustle of life bumping into everything and everybody, it is a good idea to once in awhile be still and know God. --Ruth Gates Prayer: As we celebrate this week the work done by your servant Martin Luther, help us to live in the good of your grace, O Lord. Amen.
Reading: Romans 3: 19-28 (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: It’s almost here. The 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Woo-hoo!! Many churches have been planning for this for a while. We’ve looked with wonder for years that this commemoration was coming. And next week, it will be here. And then we’ll count the days after 500 years, perhaps marking 600, 700, 800, who knows? When I was growing up, our church had a banner hanging on the wall on Reformation Sunday that was red with white letters that simply said “1517.” That year was etched in mind. There was a celebration of Luther’s life in the mid 80s and my Sunday School class did lots of research on the reformer and even did a whole church service recounting what he did. At the heart of Luther’s work was this fact that God’s grace is what it is all about. God gives to us and we live in the good of it. As we celebrate this work this week, may we not forget that fact. May we live in the good of that grace each day. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: God Almighty, We are so thankful for your promises and your grace. You see the faith in our hearts and offer mercy and forgiveness. Guide us as we share the truth with others- that your love is known and available to all if we just look into the hearts you have created within us. In your name, 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: In today’s scripture, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of a promise of a new covenant with the Lord. These words brought an immense of hope to the people of Israel since they had been taken into exile. Jeremiah describes this covenant as new, the old covenant being that which was written on the tablets at Mount Sinai, but it is slightly more fitting to describe this new covenant as renewed. God has not forgotten His previous promises, He is adding to the covenant with a promise that will come in a new form. The “old” covenant was written on something that could perish with other things of this world, but this “new” covenant was to be written on something eternal- on the hearts of the people of God. I imagine that this is part of what it means to be in the image of God, to have His law of love in our minds and written on our hearts is to reflect His beautiful image. As we continue to celebrate Reformation Sunday and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, I am reminded of how Martin Luther introduced a renewed theology during the Reformation that still greatly encourages us today. Luther’s theology of salvation by grace through faith saw God as the God of mercy, love, and forgiveness just as previous theologies did, but it put a new twist on the understanding of God’s nature. We now see that not only did God write His new covenant on our hearts, but He also knows when true faith lies within them. So renew the hope in your heart that God is full of grace, mercy, and truth! --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Lord, I come to you a sinner. Hear my prayer.
Reading: John 8:31-36 (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: Generously, I would call it faulty memory. Or it could be a case of alternate reality. In either case the Jews had no business telling Jesus that they have never been slaves to anyone. Are we to think that the whole sojourn in Egypt never happened? In reality the Jew’s ancestors spent generations enslaved to the Egyptians. But what difference does it make whether the Jews admitted that or not? A lot! Without acknowledging the reality of their slavery, they would not be able to receive the grace of being set free from their sins. Most Sundays we begin worship with confession and absolution. We need to take confession seriously. There is no alternative reality—we have sinned and cannot free ourselves. If we deny our sinfulness, Jesus’ words of forgiveness mean little. Use the time in church before worship begins to fill in the words of confession with your specifics. God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness be yours. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Creator God, thank you for the sky and the land. Thank you also for the plants that grow. Help us care for your creation. May we tend the land with loving hands. AMEN
Reading: Genesis 1:5-13 (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: I am sitting at camp during the writer’s retreat enjoying the beauty of nature. The leaves are just starting to turn into the beautiful fall colors. I once again turn back to summer devotionals that I gave to the families of the church. The author, Amanda Ruthe, talks about how amazing everything is that God created. She particularly looks to the sky at sunrise and sunset. She calls them “masterpieces” of beautiful colors. Look around you, and what do you see?? God was able to create the dry land, the oceans, the sky, and all the variety of plants. What an amazing God we have - God can do anything. --Charlene Rineer Prayer: May we praise your great and awesome name.
Reading: Psalm 99 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I love this story from my past. I’ve used it often. If I’ve used it in a previous camp devotion, well here it comes again because it’s a good one! One Sunday morning the oldest daughter was not at breakfast. Her caring dad checked in with her and found that she was still snug in bed. Not sleeping, just warm, comfy and not inspired to change that. Dad reminded her that it was Sunday and the family was preparing to go to church. She balked, “But I am so comfy. I don’t want to get up and go to church.” Dad gently but firmly encouraged her to change her mind and get ready to join the family in worship. Showing some frustration, she resisted, “Why must I go to church?” Dad’s reply was simply this, “Because God is worthy of praise.” --Jim Bricker 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 15, 2014.
Prayer: Help us to receive your joy, God, and spread it to others. Amen. Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (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: The Thessalonian Church was born in violence. For extra credit today, read Acts 17:1-9. There was a mixed reaction to St. Paul and Silas’ initial preaching and teaching in Thessalonica. Some believed in Jesus and joined with Paul and Silas while others were offended and “jealous.” They “formed a mob and set the city in an uproar.” The Thessalonian Christians were probably surprised, frightened, upset and defensive. They certainly didn’t want their city in an uproar. And more than likely they blamed others for the disturbance. And, in turn, they were persecuted. Not a good environment for starting a church and proclaiming the gospel. Sounds more like an invitation to enmity, turmoil and ongoing finger pointing. But in today’s reading we hear that the Thessalonian Christians “received the word with joy… (and) became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” They became known throughout the region for their “faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” I think that is exciting. They learned what Christianity is all about. The way of the Lord became a part of their being. They lived it out. So much so that they became well-known for faith, love, and steadfastness. What a difference their attitude and actions made in that part of Greece in their day. So, what are Christians in this part of the world known for in our day? And what difference does it make? What are you and I known for? What kind of difference do we make? --Jim Bricker Prayer: Lord, thank you for answering as we ask questions. Amen
Reading: Exodus 33: 12-23 (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: On a Winery Tour recently, after each part of the explanation of wine-making, the guide would ask the group, "Any questions?" There was always a question and every time he would say, "Good question", answer it and ask again, "Any questions?" Often there were more. We had a lot of questions yet he always responded with, "Good question." and by the end of the tour we knew a lot about making wine. The LORD told Moses, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses asked, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." (v. 15-16) Good question, Moses, and the LORD answered, "I will do the very thing you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Go ahead. Ask questions. Questions are good. The LORD will answer and at the end you will know a lot about....? --Ruth Gates Prayer: Help me to remember that I am yours, O Lord.
Reading: Matthew 22:15-22 (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: What confuses me in this text? Just about everything. Especially Jesus’ “answer” to the Pharisees. It’s not really an answer. It seems to me to be a dodge. Theirs is a “yes or no” type question. Is it legal or not? Jesus doesn’t answer with a yes or no. Rather he engages them into a consideration of life as it is. The fact that they have the coin with which to pay the tax indicates that they already pay the tax. Hmmmm. Gotcha!! But Jesus’ non-answer ends up being a challenging doozy. Give to God the things that are God’s. Another hmmmmm. That’s everything, right? God’s claim on us is complete. God’s claim embraces the entirety of our lives. We are to give to God everything we’ve got. That sort of makes paying taxes a rather insignificant claim, doesn’t it? We have neither the capacity nor the will to give our whole being to God. The best we can do is to remember that we are His. Always. And entirely. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Creator God, thank you for the light of the day. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer may we cherish for the light that we have. May we be grateful for all you have created and the light that helps sustain it. Help us shine your light to others. AMEN
Reading: Genesis 1:1-5 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Just the other morning I had a hard time getting out of bed because it was still so dark outside. I love the fall season, but the shorter times of daylight are hard to get used to. That made me think of the creation story, and I looked back at a devotional I had given the children this summer. The devotional was all about creation. The first week they focused on day one of creation - LIGHT. They were supposed to imagine life without light. Of course, life does not work without light. Plants need light to grow. We need light to see. All the rest of creation would not work without the light that God created first. Thanks be to God for the light! --Charlene Rineer 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 9, 2014.
Prayer: Rejoice with us, dear Lord, in the good things this day and help us put aside the bad things. Amen. Reading: Psalm 106 (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, the psalm is a collection of verses from Psalm 106. But today, I'd like you to read the entire Psalm and reflect on it with me. As I read it, it reminded me of the passage in the New Testament (I think it's in Hebrews) that recalls a long list of faithful people and how they overcame obstacles. This psalm does the same. But look at the last verse. It reminds us that we should, in all circumstances, praise God. I read a Facebook post today which the writer said she was going to list some of the trials of her day. But she didn't, because she spoke to a friend who had worse obstacles to overcome. That put everything into perspective. When we keep God in our hearts and minds and have an attitude of gratitude, our outlook each day will be bright! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Help us, O Lord, to lead others to peace.
Reading: Philippians 4:1-9 (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: So personal. I relish this insight to St. Paul. At other times he can be so rational, logical and heady. But here St. Paul is so relational. He calls by name those who do ministry with him. I sense that in addition to being colleagues they are friends. How it hurts when friends fight with each other. You just want to step in yell “Knock it off, you two.” St. Paul, indeed, calls us to intervene in differences among us. And that is so scary. It takes a lot of skill and patience to mediate arguments. And it seems that the entire world is fighting. What are we to do? There is what I think a magic word in Paul’s plea. Gentleness. “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” Gently. Let us live gently with each other. That will help us, I think, when we need to help others be at peace with each other. Gently. And even more, living gently will help us from getting in disputes in the first place. It is just so counter to the way we experience life today. Many relationships seem to me to be anything but gentle. How refreshing it would be to see gentleness in all our relationships. Friends--Let us live gently with one another. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Your grace, O Lord, is amazing.
Reading: Exodus 32:1-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Now, you may have stopped reading this familiar story before getting to the end. If you did, you missed God’s grace. God is understandably upset with this wandering bunch on Hebrews. “The idea—melting all their gold so they could fashion images to worship. After I’ve been their God through thick and thin. I’ll just wipe ‘em out. Get out of the way, Moses.” But Moses hangs in there and argues with God. In fact, Moses uses God’s own words against him. Reminds him of his promises to these stiff-necked people. And God relents. I call it “grace.” Do you ever get the feeling that you are just not worthy? Well, in God’s sight we’re not. We just plan mess up. Over and over again. God surely must be angry. But, in the end that anger is not released. Rather, God relents. We experience God’s grace every day. Amazing! Thanks be to God. --Jim Bricker Prayer: When we turn away or take lightly your welcome, the regrets may be more than invitation Regrets Only. May we be open and ready to attend your call to us to celebrate. Amen
Reading: Matthew 22: 1-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Some invitations come with an RSVP Regrets Only meaning you only need to be in touch with the host(ess) if you are not able to attend. Easier to count for the planner; easier for the guest who only needs to be in touch if declining the invitation. In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, the guests made light of the invitation and came up with many excuses of why they could not come - need to go back the farm, got business to do, and worse, so disinterested they mistreated (read-siezed and killed) those sent with the invitation. The enraged king brought destruction upon them and invited others instead. Their Regrets Only response left them only with regrets. Yet, of those invited next, some were regretfully sent away because they did not come prepared. What gets in the way of our celebrating with our Lord and king, Jesus? Do we come up with excuses? Do we come ready to celebrate? The Good News is we are all invited. No regrets at all. --Ruth Gates With the events of this week in Las Vegas and the recent hurricanes, I liked this devotional that I wrote years ago. Today, read a Bible verse about the future and think about how precious our lives truly are!
When I was in college, one my favorite movies was "The Crow" starring Brandon Lee. Brandon is the son of legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Brandon was killed in an accident during the shooting of "The Crow." I owned a VHS copy of the movie and at the end of the video is an interview with Brandon. I always liked the words that he quotes. I share those words with you here: "...because we don't know (when we will die), we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain amount of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it seems limitless." --Paul Bowles (from The Sheltering Sky) Prayer: Thanks to you, Creator God, for the colors bursting in your creation.
Reading: Psalm 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: Let’s think about Maple trees. Just Maples. Autumn Blaze. Japanese. Sugar. Yellow. Brandywine. Flame. Just to name a few. And mostly maples get their names from the color of their leaves in the fall. Then there are so many other variety of trees that make front yards, ridges and mountains just explode with color this time of year. Isn’t it just gorgeous? Some folks make sure vacations to New England coincide with the changing of the leaves. Yes, it is just gorgeous. In New England, in our yards and all around us. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Take time to enjoy God’s creation. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Christ Jesus, we praise you for the righteousness that you graciously give through faith in you. Keep our eyes set on the prize you call us towards in heaven so that we may love and serve you all of our days. In your name, Amen
Reading: Philippians 3: 4b-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: Paul was and is a very celebrated individual. And I am sure that many of us have accomplished marvelous things of the flesh that are to be celebrated as well. In today’s scripture selection we see that Paul is very adamant against putting our confidence and self-worth in those fleshy accomplishments (like grades, promotions, and awards). He does not mean that we should not celebrate our dedication and hard work towards these passions in our lives; what he does want to emphasize is that we as Christians must find our confidence and self-worth in our heavenly identity. Things of the flesh are fleeting. If we identify ourselves by these fleshy things- our grades, our sports performance, our job- we will find ourselves lost when they fail. God’s love for us is perfect; when we place our confidence in Him and what he graciously gives to us then will we be fulfilled. That is what Paul means by considering everything a loss for the sake of Christ- to consider our fleshy accomplishments as garbage in comparison to what He has accomplished for us and our salvation. So I encourage you to press on towards the heavenly prize that Christ has already won for us. I cannot promise you that the race will always be easy or that you will always understand it all. But I do know that God knows what we need and He will provide. “I put my focus on worthless things Even the strong fall to their knees God only knows what we all need” “Wrecking Ball (Press On)” by Building 429 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei4L3KhGSyE (Please check out this song that connects well with today’s reading) --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: When we think it is all too hard, remind us you are the LORD our God and you tell us to not be afraid. Amen
Reading: Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 (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: There were only Ten Commandments given here. Just ten. How hard could it be? Yet, by the time God was done speaking the words (along with thunder, lightning, trumpets and a smoking mountain) the people were afraid, trembling and keeping their distance. They begged Moses to do the talking to them instead of God. Better yet, Moses, you go talk to God and come back to tell us what he said. And they backed up even further. And if they thought the Ten Commandments were a lot to expect, Moses came back with many, many more laws to follow. In the end there were 3 books of laws to follow. That's hard. Why Ten Commandments and so many laws? God was trying to keep them from sinning. What caught my eye was Moses saying, "Do not be afraid." (v. 20) We hear those words so often in the Bible. Comforting words. Encouraging words. Loving words. Words Jesus our Lord also said. Do not be afraid. How hard could it be? --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear God, may we produce fruit of the kingdom. Amen
Reading: Matthew 21: 33-46 (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: While not a gardener, I do enjoy cooking and baking the fruits of our garden. Occasionally, some produce goes bad before used and there is always a sad, disappointed feeling when that happens. It is important to honor my hard-working gardener with something special from the harvest of green beans, tomatoes, basil, raspberries, apples and, this year, grapes galore! In our scripture reading today, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who rented his vineyard to farmers. When harvest time came, the landowner sent servants to collect his fruit. The tenants beat up all the servants and then even killed the landowner's son who was sent last. Obviously, the landowner will bring those tenants to a wretched end and find tenants who will give him his share at the harvest time. (v. 41) This was unsettling to the chief priests and Pharisees as Jesus explained, "(The kingdom of God) will be given to a people who will produce its fruit." (v. 43) I totally get the importance of the grapes in the parable. Of all the produce of our gardens, the grapes are special. Why? Because of grape pie! We once risked waking a sleeping infant to stop at a roadside stand to buy a grape pie in season. The baby woke and was fussy the rest of the trip but we had grape pie! Now years later, we have our own grape vine to make our own grape pies, freezing enough filling to make grape pies for the grown children home at Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's that important. It's even more important to produce the fruit of the kingdom, too. --Ruth Gates |
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