Sponsored by the ELC Guild

Serving begins at 4:30 p.m.

Menu includes Barbecue and Egg Salad Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Angel Food Cake, Strawberry Sundaes, Pie and Ice Cream, Lemonade and Coffee.

Everyone is Welcome!

 

Rather that looking only at our own interests, following Jesus means always living in a way that looks to the needs of others. This is what Jesus did, and what Jesus calls us to do.

Worship with Holy Communion this week: Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

               10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Remember our graduates as they celebrate Commencement at Mt. Horeb High School this weekend. Follow this link to see the slide show from last Sunday: http://www.slideshare.net/JohnTwiton/2014-graduate-sunday

 

June 1, 2014
Philippians 2:1-13

Key Verses: “Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Time: 54-61 CE

Background: This Philippians text includes what might be the oldest Christian hymn in existence. The hymn lifted up what it meant to be in the same mind with Christ. These qualities included surrender, humility, and obedience. Because of these things, God exalted Jesus so that all things in heaven and on earth would praise and honor him. By emulating Christ we too, can honor God and be honored by God.

Paul encouraged the Philippians to live into the kind of life described in the hymn so that God would be honored through their work and their lives.

Community: What are the top values our culture esteems for success? How do they work for or against surrender, humility, and obedience? How do culture’s top values fit into Jesus’ plan for our lives?

At Home: What hymn or Bible verse best describes your faith life? Has it been so for a while? Is it time for a change, or does this still ring true for you?

Read This Week:
Monday, Jun 2, The Promise of the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:1-5

Tuesday, Jun 3, The Ascension of Jesus, Acts 1:6-11

Wednesday, Jun 4, Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas, Acts 1:12-26

Thursday, Jun 5, The First Converts, Acts 2:37-42

Friday, Jun 6, Life Among the Believers, Acts 2:43-47

Saturday, Jun 7, Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar, Acts 3:1-10

 

Next Week: Sunday, Jun 8, Pentecost, Acts 2:1-21 (or Philippians 4:4-7)

The world of Paul’s day was hostile to the message, and the early church was beset by disagreements, but Paul finds reasons for thanksgiving and praise. Looking back we see that God works through all those people and circumstances to move God’s kingdom forward. We are still partners in this great adventure.

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend: Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

   Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                         10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship (with graduate recognition)

May 24-25, 2014
Philippians 1:1-18a

Key Verses: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3-4

Time: 54-61 CE

Background: Paul planted churches throughout his missionary journeys. One of the churches he planted was in Philippi. This letter to the Philippians celebrated their partnership in spreading the gospel through their work in the church.

Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter with Timothy. Contrary to what we might expect, Paul was in quite high spirits in prison, having converted a number of the imperial guard, who were elite Roman soldiers charged with protecting the Roman emperor and his family.

There were others preaching the gospel who did not agree with Paul’s understanding of the gospel. Those disagreements sometimes arose in Paul’s writings, as it did here. He addressed the issue, pointing out that it didn’t matter why people proclaimed Christ’s gospel as long as they proclaimed it.

Community: How does your community work out its differences? Can you have differences of opinion and still work together to further the work of the gospel?

At Home: Do your life’s challenges limit you? How could you use challenges in your life to further the work of the gospel?

Read This Week:
Monday, May 26, PartnRership in the Gospel, Philippians 1:18b-30

Tuesday, May 27, Timothy and Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:14-30

Wednesday, May 28, Breaking with the Past. Philippians 3:1-11

Thursday, May 29, Pressing toward the Goal, Philippians 3:12-4:1

Friday, May 30, Exhortations, Philippians 4:2-9

Saturday, May 31, Acknowledgment of the Philippians’ Gift, Philippians 4:10-23

Next Week: Sunday, Jun 1, Mind of Christ, Philippians 2:1-13

We celebrate “Worship through Music” this Sunday, as our Senior Choir and Praise Team will share their gift of music in God’s praise at the 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services. Please join us for this wonderful celebration!

 Saturday night Pastor Jack Way from Barneveld Lutheran will bring the message.

 Pastor John will be attending graduation for his son, Andy, at Luther Seminary in St. Paul on Sunday. We ask God’s blessing both for Andy, as well as Don Glanzer who will graduate from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque this Sunday.

 Worship this weekend: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Chapel (Pastor Way preaching)

                     Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Worship through Music led by ELC Senior Choir

                                        10:30 a.m. Worship through Music led by ELC Praise Team

 9:30 a.m. – Final day of Sunday School for this school year.

 Paul encountered a world where many different religious ideas were in competition for people’s attention, but found the wisdom and courage to speak about what he had been shown by God. It doesn’t sound too different than what we encounter today as well.

May 17-18, 2014
Acts 17:16-31

Key Verses: “For as I went through the city… I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands.” Acts 17:23-25a

Time: 49-52 CE

Background: Athens was an important hub of culture, where art, architecture, religion, and philosophy could be celebrated and debated. Public debates were common, and crowds were often drawn toward lively debates where new ideas and thoughts were presented.

It was into this atmosphere that Paul spoke about God, the creator of the universe. Hearers would have been more familiar with the concept of smaller gods for more specific things (god of war, god of love). The idea of a singular God of all things would have been foreign. Paul took the opportunity to quote familiar poets and a familiar “unknown god” to grasp their attention and point them toward God, creator, and father of the risen Christ.

Community: Where do we hold our most important debates? Who does the talking? Who listens? What is debated? How can you become involved in the debates that are most important to you?

At Home: Do one thing this week to become more familiar with whatever is unknown to you about God. Read the Bible, talk to a friend, pray, meditate, or find some other way to explore your spirituality.

Read This Week:
Monday, May 19, Paul in Corinth, Acts 18:1-17

Tuesday, May 20, Paul in Ephesus, Acts 19:1-10

Wednesday, May 21, Paul Arrested in the Temple, Acts 21:27-36

Thursday, May 22, Paul Defends Himself, Acts 21:37-22:5

Friday, May 23, The Plot to Kill Paul, Acts 23:12-22

Saturday, May 24, Paul Preaches in Rome, Acts 28:23-30

Next Week: Sunday, May 25, Partnership in the Gospel, Philippians 1:1-18a

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60JYGnx-Tiw&feature=youtu.be

Click on this link to watch the message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60JYGnx-Tiw&feature=youtu.be