Pious words in worship cannot be separated from our daily treatment of those around us. God calls us through Micah to bring a consistent worship in our words and deeds.

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week November 9, 2014                                  “Do Justice, love kindness”

      At the time of Micah, the kingdom of Israel was divided. Some lived in the Northern Kingdom, Israel, with its capital of Samaria. Others lived in the Southern Kingdom, Judah, with its capital of Jerusalem. Micah spoke to Israel shortly before Samaria was conquered by Assyria, which effectively ended the kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). A few hundred years later, Babylon would conquer both Assyria and Judah, putting God’s people in exile.

   God’s promise through Micah proclaimed that out of Bethlehem in Judah one would come to save the people from exile and ruin. Through Micah’s words, God reminded the people that God did not desire burnt offerings or sacrifices. Instead, God desired the people to live with justice, kindness, and humility.

Read:Follow the book of Micah, as the prophet proclaims both judgment and the promise of restoration.

Sunday, Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8, Micah

Monday, Micah 1, Judgment and Doom

Tuesday, Micah 2, Social Evils Denounced

Wednesday, Micah 3, Wicked Rulers

Thursday, Micah 4, Peace and Promise

Friday, Micah 5:1, 5-15; 6:1-5, 9-16, God’s Challenge

Saturday, Micah 7, Prophecy of Restoration

• What was God doing here? How were the people’s actions punished or rewarded?
• How are the actions of your community/culture punished or rewarded? How can you influence your community’s behaviors so that they more closely match those God’s ways?
• How do you act with justice, kindness, and humility? What can you do this week to make improvements in those areas of your life?

Do:Perform an act of justice, kindness, or humility for a stranger at least once each day this week. Make a note of how your behavior shapes your attitude.

This week we see some unlikely people play a role in God’s ministry of healing.  Who are the saints who have touched your life?  We will light candles to remember those who have passed on the to church triumphant since last year, as well as celebrate all those new lives joined to the congregation in baptism.

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m.  Contemporary worship

11:30 a.m. — Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Devotions for the week:

November 2, 2014                                           “Elisha Heals Namaan”

      Elisha was a mighty prophet who took over when the prophet, Elijah, was taken into heaven by heavenly chariot. Elisha performed many miracles for the people of Israel and for people in neighboring nations.

     Like so many before him, Elisha’s blessings became, in turn, blessings to the nations of the world. God blessed Israel so that the whole world would be blessed. Elisha’s miracles were no exception.

     In this miracle of healing, the commander, Naaman, nearly missed the opportunity for healing because he was too proud to believe that Elisha’s course of action for healing would work. He did not believe Elisha’s God would heal him by a simple bathing in the Jordan River.   But God did heal Naaman, and he became a believer and follower of God. He returned to his homeland, Aram, with two mule-loads of Israel’s dirt so that he could worship God on Israelite soil, even when living in Aram.

 

Read:  Follow the story of the miracles of the prophet, Elisha.

Sunday, 2 Kings 5:1-14 Elisha Heals Naaman

Monday, 2 Kings 2:13-18, Elisha Succeeds Elijah

Tuesday, 2 Kings 2:19-25, Elisha Performs Miracles

Wednesday, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

Thursday, 2 Kings 4:8-37, Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son

Friday, 2 Kings 4:38-41 Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew

Saturday, 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men

• What kinds of miracles did Elisha perform? How did these miracles serve God?
• Who in your community stands out as one who will stand up for the oppressed, poor, or silenced? How might you support such a person in their work?
• What miracles have you witnessed? Where have you seen God at work in the world this week?

Do:  Visit someone who is sick. Bring a meal, send a card, or simply sit and visit.

 

  From cookies and lefse, to handmade crafts and woodworking, along with white elephant items galore, there’s something for everyone at the ELC Bazaar 11:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.  There is also a raffle and lunch served, be sure to stop by and invite your friends!

Join us this weekend as 31 young people affirm their baptisms in worship.   We ask your prayers and support for all our young people as they venture into new challenges in life and faith.

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel.

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. — Sunday School, and reception for confirmands

10:30 am. — Contemporary Worship

October 25-26, 2014                                                            Solomon’s Wisdom

Devotions for the week:

Solomon was the first son born to David and Bathsheba after they lost their first son because of David’s sin. David had many other sons with other women, and many of them wanted to become ruler after David. But the prophet Nathan, and Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, plotted to ensure Solomon would be king. Bathsheba appealed to David in his final days to appoint Solomon king, and David agreed. Solomon succeeded David as king.

As king, Solomon became the primary instrument of carrying out God’s plan for Israel. God asked what God could give to Solomon. Instead of asking for gifts that would serve Solomon alone, Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could rule God’s people wisely, and with justice. Solomon’s request pleased God so much, God gave Solomon wisdom as well as riches and long life. As long as Solomon followed God’s ways, he would continue to receive God’s blessings.

Read: Follow the story of Solomon. See how God uses even imperfect humans to carry out God’s work in the world.

Sunday, 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28, Solomon’s Wisdom

Monday, 1 Kings 6:1-22, Solomon Builds the Temple

Tuesday, 1 Kings 8:1-13, Dedication of the Temple

Wednesday, 1 Kings 8:54-61, Solomon Blesses the Assembly

Thursday, 1 Kings 10:1-13, Visit of the Queen of Sheba

Friday, 1 Kings 10:14-29, Visit of the Queen of Sheba

Saturday, 1 Kings 11:1-13, Solomon’s Errors

• How did God bless others through Solomon? Where did Solomon succeed? Where did he fail? How did his successes and failures shape the kingdom?
• What does it mean to you that God chooses, calls, and equips imperfect people to do God’s work in the world? How can you use your flaws and strengths to do God’s work?

Blessing: Wise and wonderful Lord, speak wisdom to our hearts in the reading of your word. Amen.

 

 

When Nathan confronts David with the truth, he must admit what he had done. How will we handle the uncomfortable truths about our lives? Then will we receive the word of God’s grace in Jesus Christ?

 Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:

October 18-19, 2014            Promises Threatened – David and Bathsheba

 One day while King David was walking upon the king’s roof, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He asked about the woman and discovered she was Bathsheba, wife of Uriah. He sent for her, and lay with her, and she became pregnant.

When David discovered she was pregnant, he sent for Uriah who was serving as a soldier in David’s war. He tried to get Uriah to go home and lie with his wife so that it would seem as though her baby belonged to Uriah. But Uriah was a faithful servant, and soldiers were not to enjoy comforts of home while they were serving. To cover his indiscretion, David had Uriah sent to the front lines of the war, where he was killed. When Bathsheba’s time of mourning was over, David brought her to his house and she became his wife.

All of this angered God, who had given David everything he had ever wanted or needed. God sent the prophet, Nathan, to confront David. Nathan used the story of the rich and poor man to reveal David’s sin. David repented. As a punishment, God did not let his child live. But then God forgave David and remained faithful to God’s covenant with David.

Read:   Follow the stories of Solomon’s birth and rise to power, following the death of his father, David.

Sunday, 2 Samuel 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9, David and Bathsheba

Monday, 2 Samuel 12:15b-23, Bathsheba’s Child Dies

Tuesday, 2 Samuel 12:24-25, Solomon Is Born

Wednesday, 1 Kings 1:1-21, The Struggle for Succession

Thursday, 1 Kings 1:22-27, The Struggle for the Succession

Friday, 1 Kings 1:28-53, The Accession of Solomon

Saturday, 1 Kings 2:13-25, Solomon Consolidates His Reign

• When have you committed a sin that you were unable to see? How did you come to realize your sin? What did you do next?

Do: Write a letter forgiving someone of a sin they committed against you. You need not send it; simply write it, and see how your forgiveness shapes your attitude this week.