We look forward to hearing about the experiences of this year’s India Youth Exchange as several members of the group will be with us on Sunday to present the message at both the 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Worship services

Forgiveness is central to the Christian message, and central to the Lord’s Prayer.  We hear Jesus’ words in Matthew and are asked to consider how much we have been forgiven, and how well we have forgiven others.

We look forward to a presentation this week by the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin’s India Youth Exchange group, including ELC’s own Brighid Monahan, as they will share their experiences of visiting India this past March.  They will share this presentation at both Sunday morning worship services.

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

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.  & 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary

Don’t forget “Kingdom Rock” Camp ELC – Vacation Bible School begins Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Forgive Us
June 16, 2013
Matthew 6:12

Key Verse: Jesus said, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: Often people think of forgiveness as letting another off the hook for a wrong done to us. With such a view, it is easy to hang on to resentments and refuse forgiveness. But resentments are toxic, both to those we resent, but more so to ourselves. Resentments poison our souls and make us sick in body, mind, and spirit.

Forgiveness, then, is a cleansing process, ridding ourselves of the toxins of resentment. Forgiveness is a recognition that the scales of injustice are out of balance, and a willingness to live with the imbalance. Some wrongs may never be made right. But we can release the poison and accept the imbalance as out of our control. Such an acceptance and release can be healing for ourselves and our relationships. Jesus’ petition gives us permission to surrender our resentments and live in peace and serenity.

Community: How does our culture’s sense of justice shape the way we view forgiveness and reconciliation? What might happen if we tried to get even less, and tried to reconcile more? How might our world turn differently if we spent less energy trying to control and balance others’ behaviors?

At Home: Who stands in need of your forgiveness today? To whom do you owe an apology? Reconcile with one person this week. Begin with prayer and a plan. Make a commitment to communicate. Thank God for your healthy relationships.

Read This Week:
Monday: Happiness of the Forgiven, Psalm 32:1-7
Tuesday: I Will Remember Their Sin No More, Jeremiah 31:31-34
Wednesday: Bless the Lord, Psalm 103:1-5
Thursday: Forgive for Friendship, Proverbs 17:1-12
Friday: Paralytic Forgiven, Matthew 9:2-8

In a society that often worries both about eating too much, but yet never feeling like we have enough of anything, how do we think about and pray for daily bread?

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

Sunday worship will be outside on the lawn (weather permitting) at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.   We’ll have some chairs, but feel free to bring your own.  If the weather is too cool or wet, we’ll move back inside.

Stop by the Youth Brat stand on Main St. after worship through the Frolic Parade!

Our Daily Bread
June 9, 2013
Matthew 6:11

Key Verse: Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: “Daily bread” does not mean only food. It refers to all human needs: food, clothing, shelter, companionship, healthy touch, love. Jesus teaches us to pray boldly for all our needs. God will always respond to our needs, not always in the way we expect or in the timing we expect. But God will always provide.

This petition, however, does not ask God to provide for all our wants. We may want an object that we don’t need, but praying for it doesn’t guarantee getting it. We may want healing for a loved one or self, but perhaps what we need is for God’s strength to carry us through, even in the midst of illness or suffering. But pray boldly anyway. Sometimes God grants healing, too.

Community: How do you reconcile Jesus’ teaching to pray boldly for basic human needs with the reality of poverty and suffering that exists in the world? How might your prayers include the needs of others in the world? Are your words a strong enough prayer, or could you pray for these needs with your actions? Make one change in your life this week that can positively impact lives around the world.

At Home: What do you need that you are praying for these days? Let go of the anxiety that surrounds the desire, and surrender to God’s will. How does surrender change the way you view your need? How does it change the way you view God?

Read This Week:
Monday: Goodness of the Lord, Psalm 145:15-19
Tuesday: Bread from Heaven, Exodus 16:13-21
Wednesday: Elijah Fed, 1 Kings 17:1-7
Thursday: God Provides, Isaiah 40:6-11
Friday: Provide for the Needy, Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Saturday: I Shall Not Want, Psalm 23

Next Week: Forgive Us, Matthew 6:12

Invite your friends and neighbors!  Every one is welcome!!

The ELC Guild invites everyone to the ice cream social today serving at 4:30 p.m..  There will be barbeque sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, pie, angel food cake, and ice cream.  Come out for a great treat and support the mission projects of the Guild.