God is faithful, even when people aren’t faithful to God. God promised a savior, and in this time of Advent we await the savior promised.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Communion is celebrated at all services on the first and third Sundays of the month, and the preceding Saturdays.

Devotions for this week: Promise of the Messiah – Dec. 1, 2019

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Mark 8:27-29, Who Do You Say that I Am?

Tuesday, Jeremiah 1:4-10, I Am Only a Boy

Wednesday, Jeremiah 1:11-19, Boiling Pot

Thursday, Jeremiah 2:1-8, Jeremiah Speaks

Friday, Jeremiah 33:19-26, Covenant with David

Saturday Jeremiah 34:1-7, Promise of Salvation

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”                                                        (Jeremiah 33:14)

Judah was decimated – conquered and exiled by Babylon.  Through Jeremiah, God promised an end to their misery.  A savior from the line of David would come one day.

• Think of a tough promise that someone kept.   Why do you think they followed through?  What makes someone good at keeping promises?
• When have you felt brokenhearted, was it easy to hear that things would get better?  What helped you move on?

PRAY:  O God, you can be trusted to remember and fulfill your promises.  We wait with hopeful anticipation for our savior, eager to spread the light of your coming kingdom.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  You are beloved and worth the promise of God’s love.  Amen.

Despite Josiah’s youth, his willingness to listen and learn from God’s Word brought about a time of peace. A true leader knows that they are there to serve.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: Josiah’s Reform

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, 2 Kings 22:11-13, Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

Tuesday, 2 Kings 22:14-20, Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

Wednesday, 2 Kings 23:4-14, Josiah’s Reformation

Thursday, 2 Kings 23:15-20, Josiah’s Reformation

Friday, 2 Kings 23:21-27, The Passover Celebrated

Saturday, 2 Kings 23:28-30, Josiah Dies in Battle

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.”  (2 Kings 23:3)

Josiah was quite young when he became king of Judah.  But God know this young man had the heart to bring the nation back to God.

• Who have you known that came to leadership at a young age?  What gifts did they have to share?  How did they handle the pressure?
• What kind of leader would you be today?  What would have you been as a teenager?  What’s changed?  What’s the same?

PRAY:  Holy Lord, you rejoice when your people are faithful.  Guide us in all wisdom and keep us close to your heart as we navigate these days and the challenges of our lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  Be faithful, humble servant, and be filled with God’s Peace!

Even after things fall apart, God remains faithful.  We hear Isaiah’s word of promise that despite the consequences of sin, God will still act to redeem God’s people.

Worship this week with Holy Communion

SATURDAY, 5 P.M. A modified, shortened traditional worship service, in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building.

SUNDAY, 8:30 A.M. Traditional worship in the sanctuary, accompanied by the pipe organ and the ELC Senior Choir.

SUNDAY, 9:30 A.M. Sunday School for ages 3 through 8th grade, adult study and fellowship.

SUNDAY, 10:30 A.M. Contemporary worship with Christian music by our ELC Praise Team.

We’ll also receive our Thankoffering at each worship this weekend.

Devotions for this week:

Isaiah’s Vineyard Song – November 16 – 17

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Isaiah 1:1-20, The Wickedness of Judah

Tuesday, Isaiah 2:1-4, The Future House of God

Wednesday, Isaiah 2:5-22, Judgement

Thursday, Isaiah 6:1-13 A Vision of God in the Temple

Friday, Isaiah 7:1-25, Isaiah reassures King Ahaz

Saturday, 2 Samuel 7:18-29, Reign of the coming King

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. ² The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”  Isaiah 11:1-2

Israel had turned from God like “wild grapes” in a tended vineyard.  The consequence would be exile.  But God would one day send a Redeemer.

• What is it like for parents whose children “sow their wild oats”?  Is it easy to let them have freedom?
• Is it easy for you to stay on the path of righteousness?  Why, or why not?

PRAY:  Lord God, we have not borne the fruit you have   desired of us, and yet you show us mercy.  Plant the seeds of grace within us, that our lives might show forth your glory, for the sake of your Jesus. Amen

BLESS:  Rest in the knowledge that God loves you, even when you wander.    Amen.

Hosea described God’s love as that of a mother for her child, and expressed the pain and grief that occur when we, like old Israel wander away in disobedience.

Worship this week: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – One worship service at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Annual Meeting of the Congregation

9:30 a.m Sunday School activities for youth

Devotions for this week: Hosea, November 9-10, 2019

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Hosea 1:1-2:23, Israel’s Unfaithfulness

Tuesday, Hosea 3:1-4:19, God’s Love and Judgment

Wednesday, Hosea 5:1-15, Judgment

Thursday, Hosea 6:1-7:16, A Call to Repent

Friday, Hosea 9:1-17; Punishment for Israel’s Sin

Saturday, Hosea 10:1-15, Israel’s Sin and Captivity

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”    (Hosea 1:1)

 Hosea prophesied to the northern kingdom when in strayed form God’s ways.  What God expressed was grief and love, like a mother that nurtures her child.

• Think of a parental figure you hold in high regard. What makes them a good parent?
• How did your relationship with your parents or guardians shape how you see God?  How might you feel if your relationship with parents or guardians was different?

PRAY:  O God, like a compassionate parent you care for us.  May we learn to treat others with the same kindness, turning them to your grace and love, which knows no bounds.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

BLESS:  God’s love surrounds you as loving parent care for their child.  Amen.