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.

In response to the disciple’s request Jesus gives them an example of how to pray in the words we know as the “Lord’s Prayer”.  Over the next four weeks we will be looking at those familiar words and how they still speak today.

It is also a new month for our ELC Benevolence Emphasis.  For June we will hear from two organizations that deal with the needs of those who struggle to find shelter in our area:

The Road Home provides emergency shelter for families with children and creates housing solutions (both transitional and permanent), including 30 low-income units through its Housing & Hope capital campaign. All programs come with intensive case management, which is the key to helping families reach goals and move forward.

Porchlight is the largest non-profit supplier of low-cost housing in Dane County, and operates an emergency shelter for men and housing and intensive services for men and women suffering from serious mental illness. Porchlight helps people build stable, independent lives by acquiring job skills and finding permanent employment.

Worship with Holy Communion at all services this weekend:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m.  Worship with traditional liturgy

10:00 am. Worship with contemporary music

Our Father/Your Kingdom Come
June 1-2, 2013
Matthew 6:9

Key Verse: “[Jesus said,] ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ”’” Matthew 6:9-10

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: Jesus was talking to the crowds and the disciples when he taught them what we call The Lord’s Prayer. He proclaimed blessing on the marginalized, and warnings against leaders who were abusing power for their own gain. He warned against praying as the “hypocrites,” who prayed aloud for show, but whose lives didn’t reflect the piety of their prayers.

Jesus addressed God as a loving parent. This can be a troubling image for some, since human parents are less than perfect. But remember, the image is of a God who is capable of unconditional love. This was a very different image from the distant, if not vengeful God Jesus’ followers had come to believe in. Jesus’ image of God as a loving parent was consistent with his radical message of selflessness and love.

Community: What images of God has your community of faith claimed as its own?  What does your community’s image for God say to newcomers?  What is God calling your community of faith to do to follow God’s will for your lives together?

At Home: What image for God works best for you? How does God as a loving parent affect the way you live and the decisions you make? How do you recognize God’s will for your life? Listen for God’s voice this week. Follow God’s will for your life.

Read This Week:
Monday: Sing Praises to God, Psalm 105:1-6
Tuesday: God the Shepherd, John 10:1-18
Wednesday: God the Potter, Isaiah 64:8-12
Thursday: God the Rock, Psalm 42:9-10
Friday: God the Mother, Isaiah 66:12-14
Saturday: God the Fire, Psalm 83:13-18

Next Week: Our Daily Bread, Matthew 6:11

As our nation marks Memorial Day this weekend, and we remember the sacrifices made by so many, we also remember the price that was paid by Christ for our freedom from sin and death.  Now we must consider what we are each being called to do with this gift of freedom.

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

                                             Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Worship with traditional music

                                                              10:00 a.m. Worship with contemporary music

                                                               (please note new time for summer!!)

 The Proper use of Freedom

May 25-26

 Galatians  5:13-26

Key Verse:  “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;– only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence.”     Galatians 5:13

Time:  50-55 C.E.

Since Last week:  Having come to faith by the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul now reminds the church at Galatia that the Spirit’s presence creates freedom.

Background:  The freedom that Paul writes about is a gift not to be abused, but rather seen as an opportunity to share in the blessings of Christ’s love.  These spiritual gifts should blossom and grow in our life together:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and self-control.

Community:  This weekend there will be much talk of the cost and the nature of freedom; do we celebrate only a freedom from tyranny?  Do we celebrate the Christian freedom to be a blessing to others?

At Home:   Which list better describes your life to others – the works of the flesh like jealousy, anger, and  quarrels?  Or do people know you by your kindness, generosity, and patience?  How can we rediscover the Sprit’s gifts in everyday life?

 Read this Week: 

Sunday, May 26                  Our Father, Matthew 6:9

Monday, May 27                Sing Praises to God, Psalm 105:1-6

Tuesday, May 28                God the Shepherd, John 10:1-18

Wednesday, May 29          God the Potter, Isaiah 64:8-12

Thursday, May 30              God the Rock, Psalm 42:9-10