Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
Prayer: Lord God, deliver us from our injustices towards each other. Lead us to follow your covenant of love with us and between us. Show us your path for genuine community. Guide us to live fully for your way, so that all are welcomed and you are worshipped. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 56:1-8 (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: This part of Isaiah starts like a pep rally or a campaign rally. I can imagine the people chanting along in repetition, “Promote JUSTICE!” “Do what is RIGHT!” “The LORD DELIVERS!” This is an aspect of the prophetic voice that comes around rarely and yet, powerfully. Prophets often warn and predict consequences for long strains of wicked behavior and downright unfaithfulness. We would typically hear something like, “Beware the Day of the Lord is coming…” Instead, here is “COV-E-NANT…COV-E-NANT…COV-E-NANT…” “Say it with me, live by the …”Cov-e-ant” It is remarkable that this cheerleading moment also marks a serious expansion for those who are welcomed. Foreigners, outsiders, eunuchs, anyone that used to be out—has the opening to come into the circle of praise. God is expanding the boundaries again. God is stretching the acceptance of the people. God is renewing communal hope. --Andrew Fitch
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