Prayer: Creator Lord, you have adopted us as your children. We thank you for choosing us to be part of your family. Fill our hearts with gratitude and our lives with acts of kindness and service. Amen.
Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When a child is adopted, it is often said she is now with her “Forever Family” after being separated for whatever reason from her biological parents. A typical adoption involves long months of paperwork and waiting such that when the child and parents are finally together, there is great reason for celebration and welcoming. I am blessed to be one of three consecutive generations in my family brought together by adoption. Each of our parents chose us to be part of this family and as my adopted daughter once shared in a speech, this deliberate act fills us with feelings of thankfulness and love for the decision to be included in family and to provide for our needs and more. Our lives have certainly been forever changed…for the good. For sure, the same is true as we have been chosen by God as his children in Christ. We are brought into a new loving relationship. Let us celebrate and share this good news. We all have been adopted, marked by the seal in baptism and are joined with sisters and brothers into God’s Forever Family. -- Andy Gates
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