Prayer: Dear God, show us where there is need and help us find ways to provide. Amen
Reading: Matthew 10:45 (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: As I walk the couple blocks to the parking lot at the end of my work day, I begin to look forward to dinner. I’m usually already a bit hungry but I know I can wait until I get home. Though sometimes, I will eat something. Like an apple leftover from my lunch. Some days there is a line out front of a building just a block or so beyond where I park and walking away are people with styrofoam box in hand. Must be a soup kitchen; dinner for those in need. Coming toward the parking lot one evening was a man with a bike and his styrofoam box in a plastic bag hanging from the handlebars. I thought to myself how good it will be for him to ride home and have his dinner. But he stopped. There. In the middle of the parking lot. Opened up his dinner and started eating. Was he that hungry he could not wait? Or did he not have a home to go to? As I got in my car to drive home, I realized I was not that hungry. I wished I had an apple though, to add to someone’s dinner. --Ruth Gates
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Prayer: We are the light of the world. May our light shine before all. That they may come to worship with us and give glory to God. 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: One of the camp songs that I remember when I was a little boy was called, “We Are the Light of the World.” We do not sing it often anymore. I use it occasionally when I lead a worship service at camp. It is based on the Beatitudes and I share the lyrics here with you as you think about these words of Jesus this day. --Chad Hershberger Blessed are they who are poor in spirit. Theirs is the Kingdom of God. Bless us, O Lord, Make us poor in spirit; Bless us, O Lord, our God. CHORUS: We are the light of the world May our light shine before all. That they may come to worship with us and give glory to God. Blessed are they who are meek and humble, They will inherit the earth. Bless us, O Lord, make us meek and humble; Bless us, O Lord, our God. Blessed are they who will mourn in sorrow. They will be comforted. Bless us, O Lord, when we share their sorrow Bless us, O Lord, our God. Bless those who hunger and thirst for justice, They will be satisfied. Bless us, O Lord, hear our cry for justice; Bless us, O Lord, our God. Blessed are they who show others mercy. They will know mercy too. Bless us, O Lord, hear our cry for mercy. Bless us, O Lord, our God. Prayer: Dear God, our place is in you as your children. Help us find our own way to praise and serve you. Amen.
Reading: I John 3: 1-3 (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 the song goes, “All God’s critters have a place on the choir. Some sing low; some sing higher. Some sing out loud from the telephone wire. And some just clap their hands or paws or anything they got now!” Do we consider ourselves God’s critters/children? Do we all have a place in the choir? Of course we are and we sure do! Sometimes we sing out loud and sometimes we simply clap whatever we’ve got. As God’s children, we all have a place and a part to do in our own way. Find your place; find your way. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: When we are feeling the weight of the world, help us know your presence and see the light amidst the darkness, O God. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 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: The title for today’s devotion was the title for this passage in my Bible. And I couldn’t help but think as I was reading this Psalm that many of us are feeling like we are ready to be delivered from this season—coronavirus, elections, racial unrest. It’s been a wild and weird year. But, just as I wrote last week about Psalm 46, I think it’s important to be reminded that God is with us. God will deliver us. COVID-19 will end. Election day will come and go. Hopefully, there will be a day that we treat everyone with respect and love. But through it all, God is with us. God will deliver us from trouble. Amen. Amen. Amen. --Chad Hershberger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on April 13, 2016.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for wiping away every tear from our eyes. Amen (Rev. 7: 17) 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: If I could hear what the angels hear, the thunderous sound of a crashing tear; Holy, Holy in my ear, I'd never doubt that God is near. (If I Could See from Amy Grant's album, How Mercy Looks from Here) The song, If I Could See (What the Angels See), is one of my favorites and this particular verse always makes me stop and wonder. Just think. To God, a tear crashes and makes a thunderous sound, which is such a comfort to know. The book of Revelation is complicated and confusing. Yet bits of it are pure and simple. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. The falling of our tears is heard because God is so near to us. The sound is loud because God cares so much about us. Knowing that, we can feel almost feel them being wiped away. If we could hear what the angels hear, we'd never doubt that God is near. --Ruth Gates Taken from the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central PA’s Camping Newsletter, Fall 2020
Devotions are an important part of our faith journeys and are practiced daily at camp. For this devotional, gather your family (outside, if possible). Read through the text while looking at nearby tree branches. Close your time with the suggested prayer. Before calendars, humans marked the passage of time by the cycles they observed in nature. The sun rises and sets. Temperatures grow colder, then warmer, then colder again. Around this time every year, trees shine with vibrant reds, oranges, and golds. We look forward to this beautiful fall foliage each autumn. Like many things in God’s creation that captivate us, the science behind our observations is equally fascinating. We talk about the leaves changing colors, but those words are misleading. You may recall learning that trees produce their own food through photosynthesis. Chlorophyll, an essential element in the photosynthesis process, is what gives leaves their green color. As photosynthesis slows in the fall, the chlorophyll breaks down and exits the leaves, taking the green pigmentation with it. It is only after this departure that the red, orange, and yellow colors are revealed. So, it is not that leaves are at one time, fully green, and at another, fully red. In truth, for most of their time on the tree, the leaves are both green and red, as both pigments are present. Martin Luther famously described Christians as simultaneously sinner and saint. Both elements are fully present in us at all times. We cannot escape from our sin, and yet we are constantly being forgiven and made clean through God’s grace. As we journey through the fall foliage season, take time to reflect on those moments when one part of this duality in you shone more brightly than the other. Appreciate the beautiful gift that is God’s love, bringing balance to all his creation, including you. Prayer: Loving God, your hands have created all that we know. The land, the oceans, and all the plants and creatures that inhabit the earth. You made the world, and it was good. Yet we, your children, are unable to fulfill your perfect desire for us. Our sin has broken us. But you love us still. And through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are made new- continually healed and forgiven of our selfish ways. We give you thanks and ask for inspiration to see the majesty of your creation in all the little miracles of the season. Amen. Prayer: God of grace, may we all be Grace in this world. That would be amazing! Amen
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: There’s a one picture cartoon of a little boy asking his sister “What did Grace do that was so amazing?” It makes me think of Grace as a little girl who loves her Lord and follows His teachings. She does not listen to Satan. She is free! She understands that we should be kind and loving and helpful. Grace sure is amazing! Through God’s grace we can all be amazing! --Alice Yeakel We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on October 22, 2014.
Prayer: 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: Life (in some respects) is just not fair. So many things influence a person’s life. Place of birth, nationality, skin color, socioeconomics, education, intelligence, DNA … you can add some I missed. But all of those things have the potential of determining whether you are an athlete, professor, laborer, parent, wealthy, poor, law-abiding citizen, prisoner, president, pauper … All that means that we can look around the world and describe it as an uneven playing field. Some folks just have a tougher time than others. Some folks live on easy street. But listen to St. Paul, “there is no distinction.” Hmmmmmm. That would level things out. But how does that work? “all have sinned sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Well, I guess that puts everybody in his or her place. (drum roll please) “they are now justified by his grace as a gift.” That really levels the playing field doesn’t it? They are all justified by a gift. Today we can go about our business observing both the uneven playing field and the level playing field. We can observe that, for whatever reason, people have different lives. We can also remember that they are all are gifted by God’s grace. And that gift may not be fair, either. But then, God isn’t about being fair. So, we live our lives today as one who is justified. And live and work among all sorts of folks all of whom are also justified—just like us. In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, All children of the living God are surely kin to me. (ELW 650, vss. 1 & 3) --Jim Bricker Prayer: Emmanuel, be near. 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: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Or, as Martin Luther rewrote it: “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” This is the Psalm that Luther used to write the famous hymn. It’s one of my favorite hymns. I can’t wait to sing it this Reformation Sunday. Wait. No Singing. But, God is with us. I won’t even be in the church building on Sunday. But, God is with us. Pandemic life is getting old. But, God is with us. There is so much division in the world, particularly around race relations. But, God is with us. Two weeks to go until the vote is over in this long presidential election season. But, God is with us. In this season, may we remember that God is with us. A mighty fortress is our God! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Lord, put your law within us and write it in down in our hearts. May we all know you and your forgiveness. 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: You probably know the Sunday School song: I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart! I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart to stay! And you probably know the next verse about: …the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart! I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. (Where?) Down in my heart to stay! But, unless you’ve been to Camp, you probably don’t know the verse about: …the wonderful love of the blessed Redeemer or the one about: …the blessed belief that baffles the Buddhists. And you probably don’t even know there is a chorus between the verses. Why, yes, in fact there is! Come to Camp Mount Luther to learn it all. But from our reading today in Jeremiah 31, we all do know that the LORD says, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it (down in their hearts). (v. 33) --Ruth Gates We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on June 13, 2013.
Prayer: We are grateful for your love, O Lord. Help us to share it with others. Help us to live in the good of your love and promises. Help us to serve. Amen. Reading: Take time today to search your Bible for a passage about God's love. When you find one you like, share it with someone else. 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 told that there is one God and we are to love God with all our heart. We are not to forget that command. Ever. God tells us that we are also to teach our children the same command. We should repeat the command when we are at home, when we are away, when we are resting, and when we are working. We should do everything to remember God's commandments to love. Remind yourself often today and everyday. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, we do your work with our hands. Accept our gift of service to our neighbor as an offering of love. Amen
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: Hmmm…I just paid the school tax. Then this Sunday I put a check in the church offering plate. Not near equal amounts. That set me thinking. How can I give more to my Lord? Well, this is the week we are making soup - cream of broccoli and beef vegetable. Would you like to order a quart? Then two days later we are baking sugarcakes. $7 for a whole cake or $2 for a generous slice. In November, we are giving away donated winter coats. Last month while we were making soup, one of our members was repairing a stair rail and another member was working on our sound system. Yes, we are gradually getting back into church activities…in small groups. We are trying our best to render unto the Lord. In this case rendering unto the Lord with the work of our hands. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, teach us to live in faith, love and hope so we may face tough times. Give us joy deep, deep down in our hearts. Amen
Reading: I 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: When Paul remembers his friends in Thessalonica, he gives thanks that they live out their faith in daily life, love one another and keep hope. (I Thess. 1: 3) He also knows this will help get them through the tough times they may have. For the Thessalonians, the tough times involved persecution because of their belief in one God in the midst of people who worshiped many idols. How did they do it? By the power of the Holy Spirit received with joy. Joy! I wrote another devotion using words from the song, I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in my Heart. Everyone knows that one. There is another “joy” song from Camp that is similar but completely different and, honestly, impossible to describe but I’ll try. (Calmly sing) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. (CPR motions) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. (CPR motions) Jesus put it there (exaggerated pointing to heaven and then to heart) And nothing will DESTROY, DESTROY, DESTROY (scream, shake fists and stomp) “Aaaaggggghhhhhh!” (utter exasperation) (Restore total calm) J…O…Y Down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart. It really is a lot of fun. If you are having a tough time, I suggest this song. There is a tune but really the best parts are the motions – from keeping our hearts going; to pointing to where joy comes from and goes to; to stomping and yelling just to get all the frustrated feelings out. And then back to calm. Back to JOY! --Ruth Gates We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on May 26, 2016.
Prayer: May I sing to the Lord a new song this day and bless God’s name and tell of God’s salvation from day to day. Amen. Reading: Psalm 96 (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 a few days, when the staff gathers for training, we will spend some time talking about to correctly lead songs with campers. We will teach them the proper tricks and techniques for how to do an important part of our camp program. Over the years, we’ve learned ways that just make leading songs go better. When I read this passage, I was reminded that even though there is a good way to lead songs, there isn’t a bad was to sing songs. Because, after all, if we are singing to praise God, it doesn’t matter how we sing. The important thing is our praise. A church choir director told me when I was young that everyone can sing- some may just be better at using their voice in various ways. She wanted anyone to join the choir because anyone can sing. As we train the staff on song leading, this year I’ll try to remind them that the most important thing is just to sing and praise God. And, it doesn’t have to be a new song. It can be an old song, too. I hope you find yourself singing praises to God this day. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: LORD, you go before us and call us by name. Guide us to do your will. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 45: 1-7 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I wish our reading today stopped at verse 6 because 7 really threw me. That verse from link above in the NRSV reads, “I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.” First off, what is weal? From the context of the phrase before and the contrast of light and darkness, it sounds like weal is the opposite of woe. Okay, so far so good except that then it is also sounds like the LORD is the origin of both good and bad. Which then leads to the thought that if God is the cause of everything that happens, does that mean God causes evil to happen? So, let’s look at verse 7 in the NIV Bible. “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” Well, at least now I have a better idea of what weal is – prosperity. Uh-oh. That is a word that can spin people up about how much God is in charge of people being prosperous. Now, before I go looking for my King James or Good News Bible for other wordings, it is time to remember GOD is not the CAUSE of EVERYTHING that happens. Human beings may still act against God’s will. God is not here seen as the origin of moral “evil” or sin. At least that is how it is explained in the side notes of my Bible. I am okay with that. And after all that wrestling, I go back to reread all the verses again and these words stand out now: “I will go before you…" (v. 2) “I call you by name…” (v. 4) “I am the LORD…” (v. 6). I am very okay with that. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your example of what it is to love. Let my faith be known by the example I live and how I show love to others, remembering always your love of me. Amen.
Reading: John 13:31-35 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Have you ever heard Brad Paisley’s song, “Those Crazy Christians”? It is one of my favorites. Sung from the perspective of an observer trying to understand a group who seem to look for excuses to bake casseroles and congregate, praying all the time, flying off to third-world countries, forgiving transgressions, and tending to the sick and poor. He ends the song with the speaker’s confession that if he ever needed help, he would call on “those crazy Christians.” I looked up the meaning of this phrase – Maundy Thursday – to learn (again!) that maundy comes from “mandatum” or commandment. And what a fantastic mandate Jesus has given us. To be known for our love. Jesus loved the rich, the poor, sinners, the sick and the shunned. His followers included housewives, tax collectors, divorcees, fishermen, His mother, many brothers. No matter what other labels you are branded by, above all these be known for your love of humankind. --Heather LeBlanc We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on January 3, 2013.
Prayer: Help us to be ready for your banquet, God, and may we not say we cannot come. 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? Additional Questions:
Reflection: I attended a pig roast once at the farm of one of my summer colleagues. She had invited us all over to her family's annual event. We had a good time playing games and eating together. It was a nice way to spend a summer evening. The funniest thing that happened that day, though, happened when I was standing in line, getting my food from the buffet table. I was scooping up some roasted pig when I heard one of my friends say, "My, these people sure know how to throw a party. I wonder who they are, anyway?" I started laughing, because of course, she knew the hosts and was an invited guest. The look on the faces of the strangers around us was priceless. They thought she was serious and had crashed the pig roast. The master invited many to his wedding feast, but they did not come. They had other obligations and commitments. So, the master told his servants to go out and get whoever they could to attend the feast. He wanted to share the event even with those he did not know. This parable was put to music in a song we sing at camp. I think the final verse sums it up well: "Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind, If we're slow in responding He will leave us behind He's preparing a banquet for that great and glorious day When the Lord and Master calls we can be certain not to say, I cannot come!" --Chad Hershberger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 11, 2013.
Prayer: Help us do your work and your will in this world, God. Guide us in what we do and help us to be obedient. Amen. 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: Let’s look at this passage through the lens of the wisemen and their obedience. The magi came with gifts to give to the Christ Child. They traveled from afar, following a star. They were to go and see the child and give a report to Herod. But they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. The magi were servants of Herod. But they stood their ground and listened to their dream not to go back to Herod. Being ruler, Herod most likely could have punished the magi for their disobedience. We, too, need to stand our ground for God. If we do not, we could be punished for disobedience. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Shepherding God, as we begin our days with you, we are reassured your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. Amen
Reading: Psalm 23 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This is probably the most popular of all the Psalms. Many people have it memorized. Great composers have set it to music. The message of this Psalm is so reassuring: goodness, mercy and comfort are ours always, even in the darkest times. When at church camp (Camp Hope in New Jersey), we would have early morning Tryst before breakfast. We would sit by the lake and have our own private time of meditation. I would look across the lake and see a hillside pasture with cattle and think, “How peaceful.” We need more peaceful time. We need to go back to the lake and its calming waters. We need to surround ourselves and our fellow “campers’’ and neighbors with God’s reassuring love. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Compassionate Father, you wipe away the tears from all faces. Speak your word of love. Let us be glad in you. Amen
Reading: Isaiah 25: 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: Current news commentary brings to mind tears people have shed; tears I have shed. Tears when a family member was killed in a car crash. Tears when another died of cancer. Tears other times, too. Tears wiped away on sleeves. Tears cried into caring shoulders. Tears that simply dried on cheeks. Tears not mocked. Well, once they were. By a person who did not respect my sorrow. I walked away. In tears. Cry your tears. Be there for each other’s tears. Never ever mock someone’s sorrow. Know that our God will wipe away the tears from all faces. You are loved. Be glad. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Jesus, you fill me with wonder when I behold you in my mind. Let the excitement of the Good News propel me into sharing that joy with others. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 21:1-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I was young, I lived in a small town in upstate New York where every major holiday was celebrated with a parade down Main Street. My dad carried me on his shoulders so I could see the fire engines gleaming into sight, the clowns juggling their bright red balls, the old-fashioned cars carrying beautiful girls dressed like princesses, waving with white-gloved hands. On those special assemblies, my sister and I were treated to more sugar than we usually got in a month: cotton candy, dripping ice cream cones, crunchy candied apples. When I look at a photograph from those parades now 40-plus years in the past, I can again smell the sweetened kettle-cooked nut and corn mixture and hear the cheering of the crowds. Imagine the excitement of the followers of Christ, as they all lined the streets and paraded en masse into the city, celebrating the coming Passover holiday. And there was Jesus. He knew what would follow, but for that day alone, He joined in the festivities, fulfilling prophecy and assuming center stage in a rare moment of shining glory and triumph. So many of the pictures we have of Him are solemn. I love to imagine this great parade and the son of God smiling, waving, and greeting everyone with such joy! Surely, it was a memory few would forget in the decades to come. I love it when we reenact this procession before worship on Palm Sunday. We sing and wave our palms as we march happily into the sanctuary, and our Hosannas ring out with the church bell! --Heather LeBlanc Prayer: Forgiving Father, guide us to know when to try something different, when to question and when to gladly do what you have asked us to do. 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: I like to experiment with recipes. Sometimes I substitute or add an extra ingredient for example a handful of cranberries instead of walnuts or 2% milk instead of whole. Since I live alone, I’m the only one to suffer the results or consequences. What happens when events don’t go as planned or expected? Suppose someone does not live up to your expectations or disappoints you? Do you punish or reprimand? This parable ends with the chief priests and Pharisees doing nothing because they feared the repercussions or consequences. Therein lies the challenge. When and how do we speak up and disagree? Perhaps it is best to pray and ask for God’s guidance. --Alice Yeakel Prayer: Lord, we trust in you with all our heart and mind. Lead us in the right way to live and give us the strength to keep on your path to eternal life. Amen (from the Moravian Daily Texts 2020)
Reading: Philippians 3: 4b-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: It was a dark day at the IUP Lutheran Campus Center. The pastor’s wife was in the hospital and her recovery was uncertain. We gathered for prayer. I recall two songs from that evening - the hymn “If You but Trust in God to Guide You” with this as the second verse: Sing, pray and keep his ways unswerving, offer your service faithfully, and trust his word; though undeserving, you’ll find his promise true to be. God never will forsake in need the soul that trusts in him indeed. The second song we simply listened to – Jim Croce’s “I Got a Name” with it’s lines: I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name… I’ve got a song, I’ve got a song… I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream… Movin’ ahead so life won’t pass me by Like Paul in our text today, we put our trust in God. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal of eternal life. Trust and keep movin’ ahead. --Ruth Gates |
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