For the next four weeks we’ll be considering Jesus’ teaching on prayer.  As he begins teaching the disciples Jesus invites us to stand before the holy and address the sacred as we would address our loving parent.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel  (modified traditional)

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

Father, Hallowed be Your Name                              August 13-14, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Luke 11:2-4, Father, Hallowed Be Your Name

Monday, Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob Wrestles with God

Tuesday, Exodus 3:13-15, The Great I Am

Wednesday, Exodus 20:1-17, The Ten Commandments

Thursday, Matthew 28:16-20, The Sending of the Disciples

Friday, John 16:16-24, Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

Saturday, Philippians 2:5-11, Servant Song

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name.” Luke 11:2a

• What do these texts say about God’s name?
• What power does a name hold? Does it matter what we call God? Why or why not? Does it matter what we call others? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time someone called you a name. How did you feel? How did it shape the way you treat others?
• Keep a journal with you throughout the week. Write down all the times you call someone a name, even if only in your head. At the end of the week, consider how you might change your perspective so that the name-calling and labeling might be lessened.

PRAY:  God of love, you open your arms to your children and love to hear us call your name. Give us words that honor and build up, to your glory and that of your Son Jesus, who taught us how to pray. Amen.

BLESS:  May God bless you with a holy name. Amen.

Job’s suffering had isolated him from God and his community.  Now we a renewed sense of wonder for all that God has done, Job is also reconnected with his friends, and the road to recovery is possible.

Join us for worship with Holy Communion this week!

Saturday  – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

Job is Restored                                                          August 6-7,  2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 42:7-17, Job Is Restored

Monday, Job 36-37, Elihu Exalts God’s Goodness

Tuesday, Job 38, The Lord Answers Job

Wednesday, Job 39, The Lord Answers Job

Thursday, Job 40, Job’s Response and God’s Challenge

Friday, Job 41, God’s Challenge

Saturday, Job 42, Job is Restored

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

• How does God challenge Job? What is Job’s response?
• What does Job’s restoration say about God? How do you explain suffering that does not end in the same way Job’s suffering ended?
• Tell a story of a time you were restored from suffering. Tell of a time you or someone you loved were not restored. Consider a time when someone you loved or trusted steered you wrong. Write the situation on a piece of paper. Say a prayer on behalf of the person. Burn the paper (safely) and let the situation go. Resist the temptation to demand an apology. Burn your resentment with the paper. Let it go.

PRAY:  Lord, you are ultimately merciful and always provide a way for reconciliation. Continue to restore us, and bring us into closer relationship with you, our Creator. Amen.

BLESS:  May God restore you to wholeness and health. Amen.

Job’s suffering ends, not when God restores to him what has been lost, but when Job came to understand his place in the world.  Acceptance is one of the most difficult life lessons to learn, and it is an ongoing lesson.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – One worship at 9:00 a.m.

 

Devotions for this week:

The Lord Challenges Job                                            July 31, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 38:25-27; 41:1-8; 42:1-6, The Lord Challenges Job

Monday, Job 29-30, Job’s Defense

Tuesday, Job 31, Job’s Defense

Wednesday, Job 32, Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

Thursday, Job 33, Elihu Rebukes Job

Friday, Job 34, Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

Saturday, Job 35, Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down its tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?” Job 41:1-2

Job’s journey has been long and wearying. He begins to see the whole of it from his limited perspective, and is led to repent for his impulsive words.

• What does Elihu say about the question of suffering?
• What do you think about God’s response to Job? Is God’s response or attitude consistent with what you know about God?
• Tell a story of a time you were humbled by God’s response to your prayers.
•  

  Watch the news each night this week. Write down two or three stories that seem too big for humanity to fix or heal. Pray for those situations, that God will intervene where humans are too small.

  PRAY:  Long suffering God, your ears are always open to your children. We implore you to hear us with patience and correct us with compassion, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

  BLESS: May God remind you that, although you are small, God is big. Amen.

After Job has cried out in pain, lament, and anger, God speaks and shows Job a different perspective. 

All Worship gatherings this weekend will be in the (air conditioned) fellowship hall.

Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:00 a.m. – Special meeting of the congregation

10:00 a.m. – Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

The Lord Responds to Job                                         July 24, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 31:35-37, 38:1-11, The Lord Responds to Job

Monday, Job 21, Job Replies

Tuesday, Job 22, Eliphaz Speaks

Wednesday, Job 23-24, Job Replies

Thursday, Job 25, Bildad Speaks

Friday, Job 26-27, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 28, Where Wisdom Is Found

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?” Job 38:4-5

At last, God answers Job’s challenge and replies. It might not be the response Job was looking for. It’s time to bring some perspective to the whole situation; of what significance are humans in the vast space of the cosmos?

• Does God answer prayer? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time you prayed and God did not respond the way you hoped God would.
• Listen for God this week. Keep a small notebook, journal, or sketchpad with you. Write or draw each time you find evidence of God’s presence or God’s answer to prayers.

PRAY:  Almighty God, you stretched the heavens and harnessed the seas. Regard us, your creatures, with mercy and incline your ear to our feeble cries, for the sake of Jesus who loves us. Amen.

BLESS:  May God show you the many ways God responds to your prayers. Amen.

Job has lost everything. Or so it seems. Here, after friends and health have deserted, can he find hope for rebirth out of the ashes of grief?  When we are at a low point in our lives, where do we find faith, hope and strength to go on?

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:   Job’s Prayer                                                     July 17, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday, Job 14:7-15; 19:23-27, Job’s Prayer

Monday, Job 15, Eliphaz Speaks

Tuesday, Job 16, Job Replies

Wednesday, Job 17, Job’s Prayer

Thursday, Job 18, Bildad Speaks

Friday, Job 19, Job Replies

Saturday, Job 20, Zophar Speaks

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” Job 19:25-27

Job has lost everything. Or so it seems. Here, after friends and health have deserted, can he find hope for rebirth out of the ashes of grief?

• How does Job respond to his friends’ accusations?
• What kinds of things can you pray for? Is there anything that is off limits concerning prayer? Why or why not?
• Tell a story of a time you prayed boldly. What was the outcome of your prayer?
• Pray boldly for things that you have been reluctant to pray for. (Healing, relief from financial stress, mending of a broken relationship) Pray as if there is nothing you cannot pray for.

PRAY:  Gracious God, you guide us through the most difficult times of our lives. Give us hope in Christ that we, like he, will rise again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

BLESS: May God receive your prayers with patience and love. Amen