It’s been exciting to see the progress on the new addition this week.  The fence is down, the dirt and weeds are being formed into a new lawn, while inside they’ve been busy laying carpet.  It won’t be long now until we can enjoy this new space.  Thanks again to all who have made it happen, and especially to our building committee for the many extra hours of work!

Our story for worship this weekend is the story of Joseph and his brothers, beginning in Genesis 37.  Some of you may remember the telling of it in the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” which was performed at Mt. Horeb high school a couple of years ago.  While the story may be old, the issues are still very current.

What do you do with feelings of jealousy?  Revenge?  Favoritism?
More importantly, how can forgiveness break the cycle of revenge and recrimination?

When you get caught up in these feelings, how do you respond?
How can God’s word and work of forgiveness allow a new beginning for us?

Worship this weekend:  Sunday morning – 8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship

(Jesus said) ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. ¹⁴ ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.    —  Matthew 5:13-16

Two of the images Jesus uses for his followers are here in the Sermon on the Mount.   Salt brings out flavor and in Jesus’ day was the primary way to preserve what was good for the future.  Light is necessary for growth, to find direction, and to point out the path ahead.  We are still called to be salt and light.  As a congregation we have the opportunity to provide both to our members, our community, and our world.

We need to be salt.  That is, we need to bring a richness of flavor, of experience, a whole-hearted effort to bring our very best to the tasks before us.  We also need to preserve what is best about our history and heritage.  A people who forget the past lose their sense of values can easily repeat old mistakes, or be led into fruitless pursuits.  This fall we will celebrate our heritage of 125 years of worship and service in this community.  We owe much to our forerunners in faith, and we continue to preserve and treasure the traditions and gifts that they have passed along to us.

We also need to be light.  We need to hold up God’s vision for God’s children and God’s world.  We need to be a sign of something different and better that the rest of the world has to offer.  As light we can draw people to new paths, stirring growth in faith in Christ, and growth in love and service.  As light we can point the way to open doors for both traditional forms of worship and service, but also new pathways to worship, new avenues to growth in faith.  We look ahead to opening our new addition in a few weeks, and with that comes an opportunity to let our light shine in new ministries.

Let’s enjoy the days that the Lord has given us to be salt and light.

Hope you’re enjoying these final weeks of summer.

This weekend we have the privilege of hearing from another ELC member who is attending seminary.  Joseph Paille, son of Ken and Sally Paille, will be leading worship at all three services this weekend.

This will allow Pastor John, Diane and Tom to be with Andy Twiton on his first Sunday of internship at Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in Minneapolis.

Hope you can all attend and have a chance to greet Joseph Paille.

This weekend’s worship schedule:

Sunday morning:  8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
(9:30 a.m. Coffee and donuts in fellowship hall)
10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship
6:00 p.m.  Evening worship in Chapel.