Pentecost, often called ‘the birthday of the church’, reminds us that the same Spirit which empowered those first disciples for mission and service is still at work in our lives today.  Where is that Spirit calling you?

Many great things are happening this weekend:

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

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Worship Through Music – a special worship celebration led by the ELC Senior Choir as they offer a variety of hymns and anthems in celebration of God’s gift of music.

9:30  & 11:30 a.m. —Volunteer Appreciation Reception in Fellowship Hall after both worship services.  Stop by for cake and coffee and we take time to thank the many people who give of themselves to make ministry happen

9:30 a.m.– Sunday School (Final Sunday for this spring)

10:30 a.m. – Worship through Music and Graduate Blessing — ELC’s Praise Team, along with our Young Adult Praise team will offer a music celebration for worship.  We’ll also hold our ‘blanket blessing’ rite for our  graduating high school seniors

Pentecost
May 19, 2013
Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7

Key Verse: “And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” Galatians 4:6-7

Time: 50-55 C.E.

Since Last Week: Paul lifted up good works as fruits of the spirit rather than a means to salvation.

Background: Paul reminded the Galatians that they had been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The reference reminds us of the event of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to early believers like tongues of fire, resting on each one, and allowing them to speak in tongues (different languages). In Galatia, believers were given the gift of the Spirit when they heard the gospel and came to believe.

Community: How does your community of faith practice the bestowing of the Holy Spirit? How do you celebrate the ongoing gift of the Holy Spirit?

At Home: How is your life informed by the gift of the Holy Spirit? How does it shape your behaviors, and relationships with God and others?

Read This Week:
Monday: Paul Greets the Ephesians, Ephesians 1
Tuesday: One in Christ, Ephesians 2
Wednesday: Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles, Ephesians 3
Thursday: New Life in Christ, Ephesians 4
Friday: On Being Christian, Ephesians 5
Saturday: Put on the Armor of God, Ephesians 6

We share Paul’s words to the Galatians reminding us that it is Christ’s love, not our actions, that gives us life in God’s kingdom.  That love is for all, regardless of where you’ve come from, what you look like, or what you’ve done.

Join us for worship this weekend – Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

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

                                                                               9:30 a.m. Sunday School

                                                                          10:30 a.m. Worship with Contemporary Music

Also this Sunday – Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast – served in fellowship hall from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.  — funds raised for summer youth trip

 

No Longer Jew or Greek, Male and Female
May 12, 2013
Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29

Key Verses: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28

Time: 50-55 C.E.

Since Last Week: Paul continued to educate the Galatians about what it means to live free in Christ, and to depend on God’s Holy Spirit for the gift of salvation.

Background: Paul referenced a story in which Abraham was recognized by God as righteous (being made right with God) by believing, not by acting. His argument continued that people are saved by grace through faith, not by works of the law.

Community: What stories does your community of faith have that shape who you are as a community? What stories do you want to have shape you? What stories are ready to be laid to rest? How can you write new stories to shape who you are moving forward?

At Home: What stories shape the person you’ve become? Which stories remain buried and want to be told? Who could you share your stories with? How might you rewrite some of your oldest and most painful stories?

Read This Week:
Monday: Hagar and Sarah, Galatians 4:21-5:1
Tuesday: The Nature of Christian Freedom, Galatians 5:2-15
Wednesday: Works of the Flesh, Galatians 5:16-21
Thursday: The Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-26
Friday: Bear One Another’s Burdens, Galatians 6:1-10
Saturday: Final Words and Blessing, Galatians 6:11-18

Next Week: Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4, Galatians 4:1-7

Join us for worship and the celebration of Holy Communion this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. Worship in the Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Vibrant Lutheran Worship

   9:30 a.m. – Sunday School, Adult study and fellowship

                10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

People are Justified by Grace Through Faith
May 5, 2013
Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21

Key Verses: “Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ… I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:16, 19b-20

Time: 50-55 C.E.

Since Last Week: Paul had traveled his corner of the world spreading the news about the risen Christ Jesus. Galatia was a community of Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. The community there had been misled to believe they had to conform to Jewish practices (including food restrictions and circumcision) in order to be a follower of Jesus.

Background: Paul was quite direct in his disdain for the community’s wrong teachings. He argued that people are justified (made right with God) not by works (like circumcision), but by faith (what Christ has done for us).

Community: Christians historically have been notorious for expecting believers and non-believers to live by the law (as though saved by our good deeds and our refraining from sin). How might your story sound if you shared the good news that people are saved by the work of Jesus Christ apart from their good works? How might non-believers respond to such a message?

At Home: How do you feel about the news that your salvation doesn’t depend upon what you do or fail to do? Does this sound like good news or bad to you? What might prevent you from claiming this gift of justification and salvation? How can you begin to let go of your reservations?

Read This Week:
Monday: Welcome to the Galatians, Galatians 1:1-12
Tuesday: Paul Defends His Apostleship, Galatians 1:18-24
Wednesday: Paul and the Other Apostles, Galatians 2:1-10
Thursday: God’s Promise to Abraham, Galatians 3:10-18
Friday: The Purpose of the Law, Galatians 3:19-22
Saturday: Paul Reprimands the Galatians, Galatians 4:8-20

Next Week: No Longer Jew or Greek, Male and Female, Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29

Jesus told those disciples to expect God’s power to soon be at work in them, and that great days were ahead for their witness to his love.  But a couple verses later those same disciples stand staring dumbly at the sky, not sure what they were looking for.  (Two men in white robes) said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven?  Acts 1:10a

A few days later that promised Holy Spirit would come upon the people at Pentecost, and they would discover new gifts for speech and wisdom, and though it took a while, the church would find that the same Spirit was with them to fill them with Jesus’ compassion, joy, and faith.  With that faith, they found the courage and strength to act, and the mission to bring Jesus’ love to the world began to be a part of all they did.  From those few bewildered disciples in Acts 1, the church has become a force that has changed lives and changed our world.

The celebration of Pentecost is always for me a time to ask, “What are we looking for?”.  After all, it is the same Spirit that empowered Peter, Paul, Tabitha & Lydia who empowers our ministry today.  Are we looking for someone else to step up?  Are we looking for some excuse to step aside?  Or are we looking for where Jesus is already at work in our church, our neighborhood, and our world?  The Holy Spirit is in our midst whenever we call upon the name of Lord, and brings gifts for ministry every day.  Maybe a better question is:  “What are we waiting for?”

God’s Peace,

Pastor John Twiton

The early church had to decide what really mattered in this new faith.  Was it tradition, heritage, or some work?  No they said, we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Join us in sharing that good news this weekend:

Saturday worship – 5:00 p.m. in chapel

Sunday – Traditional Worship – 8:30 a.m

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

                Contemporary Worship – 10:30 a.m.

                 Agape Preschool Programs at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

                 Young adult music time at 6:00 p.m.

                 Youth Group at 7:00 p.m.

Faith Gives Identity
April 28, 2013
Acts 15:1-18

Key Verse: “[Peter said] ‘On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’” Acts 15:11

Time of Events: 30-50 C.E.
Written: 80-85 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus’ followers continued to travel and proclaim the good news of the risen Christ. Persecutors continued to arrest, torture, and kill Christians throughout the lands.

Background: An argument arose among the early Christians when some of the Jewish believers wanted the Gentile (non-Jewish) believers to become circumcised and follow the laws of Moses, the primary guiding laws of the Jews. Paul and Barnabas were elected to travel to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles. Ultimately, it was decided that believers would be saved, not by following the laws of Moses, but by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Community: In what ways does your community of faith practice grace? In what ways does your community of faith practice law?

At Home: Do you live as though you were saved by grace or by your good works? What difference does it make? How does your faith inform your behaviors?

Read This Week:
Monday: The Conversion of Lydia, Acts 16:11-15
Tuesday: Paul and Silas in Prison, Acts 16:16-40
Wednesday: Paul Sails for Rome, Acts 27:1-12
Thursday: The Storm at Sea, Acts 27:13-38
Friday: The Shipwreck, Acts 27:39-28:16
Saturday: Paul Preaches in Rome, Acts 28:23-31

Next Week: People are Justified by Grace Through Faith, Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21