There will be a great selection of baked goods, crafts, donations and wonderful raffle prizes!!

 

 

For the people of Israel Solomon’s Temple became the place where they encountered God’s presence, but Jesus describes the church as a living body made up of those called and claimed through him.  In either case we are left to ask:  “What do place at the center of our lives?’ and “Do we really seek God’s presence faithfully?”

This weekend we celebrate the confirmation of 16 young people, some at each worship service.  Please keep them in your prayers as they affirm their baptismal covenant.

Worship this week:  Saturday 5:00 p.m.  (in the sanctuary this week)

Sunday 8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. — Everyone invited to join in reception for confirmation class in fellowship hall

— Sunday School Classes

10:30 a.m. — Contemporary Worship

October 27, 2013
1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-13

Key Verses: “And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”
1 Kings 8:10-11

Time: 961 BCE

Background: King David, the second king of Israel, wanted to build a temple to God, a place for God to dwell. But God didn’t want a temple from David. Instead, God allowed Solomon, David’s son, to build a temple. The temple housed the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was not a boat like Noah’s ark, but was a box which held the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The temple became the place all Israelites could come and worship God.

During this worship in which Solomon and the people celebrated the building of the temple, God’s presence filled the entire place. Although God allowed Solomon to build a temple in which God could dwell, no building could hold the magnificence of God. God’s presence extends far beyond the walls of any worship space.

Community: In the place where your community of faith worships, what helps and what hinders worship? What stands in the way of putting God first? What helps make God central to worship?

At Home: Are there aspects of your life that you have walled off from God? What could you do this week to open them so that God fills all the places in your life?

Read This Week:
Monday, Oct 28, Elijah Predicts a Drought, 1 Kings 17:1-7

Tuesday, Oct 29, The Widow Zarephath, 1 Kings 17:8-16

Wednesday, Oct 30, Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son, 1 Kings 17:17-24

Thursday, Oct 31, Elijah’s Message to Ahab, 1 Kings 18:1-19

Friday, Nov 1, Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal, 1 Kings 18:20-40

Saturday, Nov 2, The Drought Ends, 1 Kings 18:41-46

 

Next Week: Sunday, Nov 3, Still, Small Voice, 1 Kings 19:1-18

In a world that too often says “appearance is everything”, we are told that God looks beyond what is obvious to see the inner person.  We would do well to keep this mind as we look at others, and even in how we see ourselves.

Worship this week with Holy Communion –

            Saturday –  5:00 p.m. in Chapel

            Sunday – 8:30 a.m. traditional worship

                        10:30 a.m. contemporary worship

Education and fellowship hour at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School and adult study

October 20, 2013
1 Samuel 16:1-13

Key Verse: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7

Time: about 1000 BCE

Background: After years of following God with the guidance of judges and prophets, the people became eager to be ruled by a king. God warned them that they did not need a king if they were following God. But the people insisted.

The prophet, Samuel, was appointed by God to anoint a king over Israel. After a failed attempt at choosing Saul to be king, Samuel followed God’s command to find a king among the sons of Jesse. Samuel inspected all of Jesse’s sons except David, the youngest and smallest. Although they were leaders by outward appearance, God was searching for a leader with a pure heart. God chose David to be the next king.

Community: What criteria does your community use to select its leaders? What qualities does it seek? What qualities would God choose? How do they differ? How are they similar?

At Home: Where do you seek guidance? Who or what do you follow? Make a shift this week to follow the ways of the world less, and God’s ways more. Do one thing to open yourself so that God can create in you a clean heart.

Read This Week:
Monday, Oct 21, Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:1-11

Tuesday, Oct 22, David Visits His Brothers, 1 Samuel 17:12-23

Wednesday, Oct 23, David Prepares for Battle, 1 Samuel 17:31-40

Thursday, Oct 24, David Slays Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:41-54

Friday, Oct 25, Solomon Becomes King, 1 Kings 1:28-31

Saturday, Oct 26, Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom, 1 Kings 3:3-15

 

Next Week: Sunday, Oct 27, Solomon’s Temple, 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-13

 

 

Maybe you remember the lines of the song “I the Lord of Sea and Sky” (or “Here I am Lord”).  That song recalls the story of young Samuel who is called from his sleep to speak and act on God’s behalf for the people of Israel.  But how well do we listen, and even more, how well do we respond today when God still rouses us to action?

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

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship

10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship

Education and fellowship at 9:30 a.m.

October 13, 2013
1 Samuel 3:1-21

Key Verse: “Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’”
1 Samuel 3:10

Time: about 1000 BCE

Background: God led the Israelites for many, many years through the guidance of God’s judges and prophets. One such prophet was Samuel.

Samuel was born as a gift from God to Hannah, Samuel’s mother. Hannah was barren and prayed to God for a child. God heard her prayer and gave her Samuel. In thanks, Hannah gave Samuel back to God by allowing him to live and grow up in the temple.

While in the temple, Samuel was called in the middle of the night by God. Samuel didn’t know God yet, so he didn’t recognize that it was God calling. He thought it was his mentor, Eli, calling. Eli recognized it was God calling, and led Samuel to respond accordingly.

Community: Who are the people in your community in whom people place their trust? Are they community leaders? Politicians? Pastors? Celebrities? How does this shape how your community functions? How might your community be more intentional about whose voices they listen to?

At Home: Where do you hear God speaking to you? What does God say to you? How will you respond? Do one thing each day this week to create time and space to listen for God.

Read This Week:
Monday, Oct 14, The Ark of God Captured, 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Tuesday, Oct 15, Philistines and the Ark, 1 Samuel 5:1-12

Wednesday, Oct 16, The Ark Returned, 1 Samuel 6:1-16

Thursday, Oct 17, Israel Demands a King, 1 Samuel 8:1-18

Friday, Oct 18, Samuel Anoints Saul as King, 1 Samuel 9:27-10:8

Saturday, Oct 19, Saul Rejected as King, 1 Samuel 15:10-34

 

Many of us have been praying for “daily bread” nearly all our lives, without much thought as to what that means.  In the story of the Exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel are totally dependent on God’s daily providing of ‘manna’ or bread.  The real question is not one of physical hunger, but faith.  Do we continue to trust God in the midst of the wilderness of our lives?

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m traditional worship

10:30 a.m. contemporary worship

9:30 a.m Sunday School for ages 3 through high school

Also at 9:30 a.m. –   New member orientation in fellowship hall

October 6, 2013
Exodus 16:1-18

Key Verse:  “God said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.”’” Exodus 16:12

Time: 1290 BCE

Background: With God’s guidance, Moses helped free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, where they had been held captive and pleading for God’s mercy for 400 years. Once freed, they had to learn to become independent of their captors and interdependent on one another and on God.

When their food ran out, the people panicked and begged God to send them back to Egypt, where at least they would be fed. But God had other plans. God sent manna (a bread-like substance) and quails daily for food, just enough for each person to be satisfied for the day. God tested their faith by making it impossible for the people to store more than a day’s food. If stored for more than a day, the food became rotten. So the people had to trust that God would provide each and every day, which God did. God cared for and protected the Israelites. For them, their faith in God was crucial for the basic necessities of survival.

Community: How is your community interdependent upon one another for survival? Where are the weakest links of support and interdependence? What could your community of faith help strengthen those weaknesses and better your community?

At Home: How do you express your faith daily? What could you do this week to express your faith? Do it every day with prayer and trust.

Read This Week:
Monday, Oct 7, Jethro’s Advice, Exodus 18:13-27

Tuesday, Oct 8, The Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1-21

Wednesday, Oct 9, The Ark of the Covenant, Exodus 25:10-22

Thursday, Oct 10, The Golden Calf, Exodus 32:1-35

Friday, Oct 11, Samuel’s Birth and Dedication, 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Saturday, Oct 12, Hannah’s Prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1-10

 

Next Week: Sunday, Oct 13, Call of Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:1-21