Pious words in worship cannot be separated from our daily treatment of those around us. God calls us through Micah to bring a consistent worship in our words and deeds.

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week November 9, 2014                                  “Do Justice, love kindness”

      At the time of Micah, the kingdom of Israel was divided. Some lived in the Northern Kingdom, Israel, with its capital of Samaria. Others lived in the Southern Kingdom, Judah, with its capital of Jerusalem. Micah spoke to Israel shortly before Samaria was conquered by Assyria, which effectively ended the kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). A few hundred years later, Babylon would conquer both Assyria and Judah, putting God’s people in exile.

   God’s promise through Micah proclaimed that out of Bethlehem in Judah one would come to save the people from exile and ruin. Through Micah’s words, God reminded the people that God did not desire burnt offerings or sacrifices. Instead, God desired the people to live with justice, kindness, and humility.

Read:Follow the book of Micah, as the prophet proclaims both judgment and the promise of restoration.

Sunday, Micah 5:2-4; 6:6-8, Micah

Monday, Micah 1, Judgment and Doom

Tuesday, Micah 2, Social Evils Denounced

Wednesday, Micah 3, Wicked Rulers

Thursday, Micah 4, Peace and Promise

Friday, Micah 5:1, 5-15; 6:1-5, 9-16, God’s Challenge

Saturday, Micah 7, Prophecy of Restoration

• What was God doing here? How were the people’s actions punished or rewarded?
• How are the actions of your community/culture punished or rewarded? How can you influence your community’s behaviors so that they more closely match those God’s ways?
• How do you act with justice, kindness, and humility? What can you do this week to make improvements in those areas of your life?

Do:Perform an act of justice, kindness, or humility for a stranger at least once each day this week. Make a note of how your behavior shapes your attitude.

This week we see some unlikely people play a role in God’s ministry of healing.  Who are the saints who have touched your life?  We will light candles to remember those who have passed on the to church triumphant since last year, as well as celebrate all those new lives joined to the congregation in baptism.

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m.  Contemporary worship

11:30 a.m. — Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Devotions for the week:

November 2, 2014                                           “Elisha Heals Namaan”

      Elisha was a mighty prophet who took over when the prophet, Elijah, was taken into heaven by heavenly chariot. Elisha performed many miracles for the people of Israel and for people in neighboring nations.

     Like so many before him, Elisha’s blessings became, in turn, blessings to the nations of the world. God blessed Israel so that the whole world would be blessed. Elisha’s miracles were no exception.

     In this miracle of healing, the commander, Naaman, nearly missed the opportunity for healing because he was too proud to believe that Elisha’s course of action for healing would work. He did not believe Elisha’s God would heal him by a simple bathing in the Jordan River.   But God did heal Naaman, and he became a believer and follower of God. He returned to his homeland, Aram, with two mule-loads of Israel’s dirt so that he could worship God on Israelite soil, even when living in Aram.

 

Read:  Follow the story of the miracles of the prophet, Elisha.

Sunday, 2 Kings 5:1-14 Elisha Heals Naaman

Monday, 2 Kings 2:13-18, Elisha Succeeds Elijah

Tuesday, 2 Kings 2:19-25, Elisha Performs Miracles

Wednesday, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

Thursday, 2 Kings 4:8-37, Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son

Friday, 2 Kings 4:38-41 Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew

Saturday, 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men

• What kinds of miracles did Elisha perform? How did these miracles serve God?
• Who in your community stands out as one who will stand up for the oppressed, poor, or silenced? How might you support such a person in their work?
• What miracles have you witnessed? Where have you seen God at work in the world this week?

Do:  Visit someone who is sick. Bring a meal, send a card, or simply sit and visit.

 

  From cookies and lefse, to handmade crafts and woodworking, along with white elephant items galore, there’s something for everyone at the ELC Bazaar 11:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.  There is also a raffle and lunch served, be sure to stop by and invite your friends!

Gather at the Table events are being hosted throughout our Synod.  Check this link to learn more and find out which one fits your schedule.

Gather at the Table is a series of fall stewardship gatherings for people throughout the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin.  When you Gather at the Table, the discussion won’t be just about money.  It will be about Stewardship.  Join in these gatherings to explore how we can learn from one another and support each other as we become better stewards of all the good gifts God has given us.

Bishop Mary will gather us at the table of our Lord and will offer a question and answer session with the guest speakers.  The guest speakers come from three congregations in our synod who are stewarding their gifts in wonderful ways.  They will lift up faith and gratitude practices and challenge you to put them into action.  In addition, best practices and results from our synod-wide stewardship survey will be shared.

Sunday, November 2nd from 2:30-4pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Central Campus, Madison

Thursday, November 6th from 6:30-8pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodgeville

Sunday, November 16th from 2:30-4pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson

Thursday, November 20th from 6:30-8pm at First Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam

SPEAKERS:
Stewarding Faith Formation – Rev. Rob Nelson of New Heights Lutheran Church will share ways his congregation stewards their gifts and reaches out to the community on Wednesday evenings with their faith formation programs.

Stewarding Our Gratitude – Rev. Julie Krahn of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie will talk about gratitude when it comes to living our lives as stewards; it is about living our lives intentionally with thanks and praise to God and with an awareness that abundance is all around us.

Stewarding Faith in Action – Rev. Michael and Lisa Lee of First Lutheran Lodi have been stewarding the gifts of their congregation and putting their faith into action in a variety of ways throughout their community.  You will hear about how they are empowering their congregation and communicating the variety of ways they can live out their lives of faith.

 

Join us this weekend as 31 young people affirm their baptisms in worship.   We ask your prayers and support for all our young people as they venture into new challenges in life and faith.

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel.

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. — Sunday School, and reception for confirmands

10:30 am. — Contemporary Worship

October 25-26, 2014                                                            Solomon’s Wisdom

Devotions for the week:

Solomon was the first son born to David and Bathsheba after they lost their first son because of David’s sin. David had many other sons with other women, and many of them wanted to become ruler after David. But the prophet Nathan, and Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, plotted to ensure Solomon would be king. Bathsheba appealed to David in his final days to appoint Solomon king, and David agreed. Solomon succeeded David as king.

As king, Solomon became the primary instrument of carrying out God’s plan for Israel. God asked what God could give to Solomon. Instead of asking for gifts that would serve Solomon alone, Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could rule God’s people wisely, and with justice. Solomon’s request pleased God so much, God gave Solomon wisdom as well as riches and long life. As long as Solomon followed God’s ways, he would continue to receive God’s blessings.

Read: Follow the story of Solomon. See how God uses even imperfect humans to carry out God’s work in the world.

Sunday, 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28, Solomon’s Wisdom

Monday, 1 Kings 6:1-22, Solomon Builds the Temple

Tuesday, 1 Kings 8:1-13, Dedication of the Temple

Wednesday, 1 Kings 8:54-61, Solomon Blesses the Assembly

Thursday, 1 Kings 10:1-13, Visit of the Queen of Sheba

Friday, 1 Kings 10:14-29, Visit of the Queen of Sheba

Saturday, 1 Kings 11:1-13, Solomon’s Errors

• How did God bless others through Solomon? Where did Solomon succeed? Where did he fail? How did his successes and failures shape the kingdom?
• What does it mean to you that God chooses, calls, and equips imperfect people to do God’s work in the world? How can you use your flaws and strengths to do God’s work?

Blessing: Wise and wonderful Lord, speak wisdom to our hearts in the reading of your word. Amen.