Prayer: Dear Father, you created us in your image. Let us try to remember we are brothers and sisters, all, children of God. Amen.
Reading: Acts 17:22-31 (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: What has at home living done to your relationships? Over these six weeks, it seems like I’ve talked more with friends, found new ways to “see” far-flung family, renewed friendship with my husband, and enjoyed playing board games with my kids weekly! I’m lucky: I give thanks daily for living next door to my parents and household close. But all this time together – sometimes feeling like we are stepping on each other’s toes, and occasionally literally treading upon one another – has at times resulted in a burst of temper or annoyance. And we have to be careful discussing certain topics, as differing views in such close quarters seems too easily to approach intolerance. Sadly, I’ve witnessed similar situations between friends online, when respect is lost and opinions are thrown like knives. Look how Paul approaches the people of Athens. He doesn’t belittle their gods or their beliefs; he finds common ground. He talks of our unity as the children of God and sees in them fellow believers even if the names or expressions are different. It’s a rarer moment of tolerance and calm for Paul, but this is how I want to act more often. I’m certainly going to try. --Heather LeBlanc
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