What is it that sustains you?  How often do we fill up on ‘junk food’ both physically and spiritually?  Jesus  proclaims “I am the bread of life”, that is what is necessary for life each day.

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

                                                                        Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                                                                        10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Faith Formation and Fellowship Hour – 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School, Teen/Young Adult ‘Fireside Chat’, and Adult Bible Study

February 16, 2014
John 6:35-59

Key Verse:  “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

Time: 27-30 CE

Background: Jesus’ “I am” statements in the Gospel of John were intended to recall the name of God, as it was revealed to Moses before the Exodus. This helped hearers to view Jesus’ divinity in the imagery he called upon to describe himself.

Jesus’ association with God (“I am”) and heaven (“bread that came down from heaven”) were blasphemous (offensive against God). Blasphemy was a serious crime, punishable by death. His words, although intended to bring life, instead brought punishment of death.

Community: Jesus’ words were intended to feed the souls of all who heard them. How do our words feed others? How do they starve others? How can we use our words and our actions to feed those who are hungry?

At Home: What are you hungry for? Is it a physical hunger? Spiritual? Relational? Vocational? Emotional? Financial? Other? Bring your hunger to God this week and ask for daily bread. Be specific. Be aware of the ways God satisfies your hunger in big and small ways.

Read This Week:
Monday, Feb 17, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:1-3

Tuesday, Feb 18, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:4-7

Wednesday, Feb 19, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:8-10

Thursday, Feb 20, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:11-14

Friday, Feb 21, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:15-18

Saturday, Feb 22, Praise for Deliverance from Trouble, Psalm 34:19-22

Next Week: Sunday, Feb 23, Living Water, John 7:37-52

The gospel story tells of Jesus’ ability to bring healing in what seems to be a hopeless situation. What in our lives may seem hopeless? Could Jesus’ love change things?

 Worship this week:  Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

                                   Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                                   10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Education and Fellowship – 9:30 a.m.  Sunday School

                                           Fireside Chat for Youth and Adults

                                           “How has God shaped you?”  Discussions in Fellowship Hall

February 9, 2014
John 4:46-5:18

Key Verse: “Jesus said to [the man], ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.” John 4:50

Time: 27-30 CE

Background: Jesus’ healings were the second sign of seven that Jesus performed in the Gospel of John. After each sign, there was a dialog, and then Jesus explained his sign.

The question that arose with Jesus’ healings was about his authority to do so. Jesus explained that his authority came from “the Father,” which was itself a blasphemous (offensive against God) statement. Jesus was putting himself on the same plane with God, which was an unthinkable sin.

Community: What words are spoken in public that are blasphemous, or offensive against God today? Who speaks them and who speaks against them? What is an appropriate response? What might you say, and to whom would you speak? What blasphemous words have you spoken? How might you make amends for the harms caused by those words?

At Home: What has Jesus promised you that you believe without doubt? What has Jesus promised that you are having trouble believing? How does your doubt and your faith shape how you speak and act throughout each day?

Read This Week:
Monday, Feb 10, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:1-5

Tuesday, Feb 11, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:6-8

Wednesday, Feb 12, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:9-10

Thursday, Feb 13, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:11-12

Friday, Feb 14, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:13-15

Saturday, Feb 15, Thanksgiving for Deliverance, Psalm 40:16-17

Next Week: Sunday, Feb 16, Bread of Life, John 6:35-59

 

Jesus’ ministry of life and healing extends beyond all the expected norms of society.  He notices and takes time for those it would have been easy to pass by.  While we thank God that Jesus loves us, do we freely share that love without question?

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

                                                                    Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                                                    Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Sunday School/Fellowship/Discussion

                       Sunday School for pre-school – 8^th grades

                       Fireside chats for high school and young adults

                      “How is God shaping us?” Discussions in fellowship hall                     

 

February 2, 2014
John 4:1-42

Key Verses: “Jesus said to [the woman], ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14

Time: 27-30 CE

Background: Jews and Samaritans were at odds at the time of Jesus. They were both descendants of Israel, but they had long-standing disagreements that kept them separated. The cultural and religious differences, further exacerbated by the gender differences, made Jesus’ encounter with the woman highly unusual. It was even more unlikely that she would become a witness to his prophetic words. This story highlights Jesus’ message that God came not only for the Jews, but for all people.

Like in Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus’ words were misunderstood. The woman believed she could drink Jesus’ living water and then would no longer need to come to the well for daily water. She didn’t understand Jesus was speaking of living water that would nourish the soul and lead to eternal life.

Community: What cultural differences prevent you from engaging with others from differing backgrounds? Where could you go to begin conversations with people of other cultures or faiths? What might you learn?

At Home: Where do you draw living water? What nourishes your soul? Spend time with God this week drinking deeply of God’s word.

Read This Week:
Monday, Feb 3, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:1-3

Tuesday, Feb 4, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:4-5

Wednesday, Feb 5, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:6-7

Thursday, Feb 6, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:8

Friday, Feb 7, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:9-10

Saturday, Feb 8, Longing for God and His Help in Distress, Psalm 42:11

 

Next Week: Sunday, Feb 9, Healing Stories, John 4:46-5:18

 

It might be a great time to think about warmer places.  Jerry Schwook of St. Luke’s in Middleton will be with us on Sunday, January 26th at 9:30 a.m. in fellowship hall to share about his experiences in traveling to our partner congregation in Puerto Rico.  Please join us!

Jesus tells of God’s great love, and of new birth by God’s Spirit.  Nicodemus is puzzled by Jesus’ words. He must let go of an old way of thinking in order to hear the good news about life in Christ. What do we need to let go of to make way to hear the promise of love for our world?

Worship this weekend:   Saturday, 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

9:30 a.m.  Sunday School/Fellowship hour

Including ‘fireside chats’ for high school and young adults

Also special presentation by Jerry Schwook about our companion church in Puerto Rico

 January 26, 2014
John 3:1-21

Key Verse: “Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’” John 3:3

Time: 27-30 CE

Background: Nicodemus likely came by night so he wouldn’t be seen by others. Nighttime also symbolized unbelief, as the light symbolized belief. Nicodemus came with questions and doubts about Jesus, his authority, and his message.

Nicodemus’s lack of understanding about being “born from above” or “born again” might mirror our own. What does it mean to be born again? Our Christian heritage of baptism can place a layer of understanding, as we understand baptism as giving new life through water and Spirit. But perhaps it is okay to let the ambiguous language hold some mystery.

Community: What does it mean that “everyone who believes in him may not perish”? What of non-believers? How might you go about opening a respectful conversation with a non-believer about eternal life?

At Home: In baptismal imagery, we die to the old self in order to be born anew. What needs to die within you so that God can create new life there? How can you let go of that which keeps you from claiming God’s new life?

Read This Week:
Monday, Jan 27, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:1-3

Tuesday, Jan 28, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:4-6

Wednesday, Jan 29, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:7-9

Thursday, Jan 30, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:10-12

Friday, Jan 31, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:13-18

Saturday, Feb 1, The Inescapable God, Psalm 139:19-24

 

Next Week: Sunday, Feb 2, Woman at the Well, John 4:1-42