God’s people in exile were asked to bow down to other gods, but refused, and God delivered them.  What are we pressured to bow down to today, and will we stand for what is right?

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 and Adult Bible Study

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

 December 1, 2013
Daniel 3:1, 8-30

Key Verse:  “Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him.’” Daniel 2:28

Time: mid 500’s BCE

Background: The book of Daniel was written at a time when God’s people were in exile. They had been conquered and were being ruled by a succession of kings. These kings held terrible power and regularly behaved with evil intent.

Many of God’s people remained faithful, even in the face of danger. Three such followers were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They continued to worship God, even when the penalty was death.

King Nebuchadnezzar tried to have them burned in a furnace for failing to worship his gods. The three remained faithful, and God saved them from death. Their faithfulness, and God’s dramatic rescue, turned the mind of the king. He decreed that all people should respect their God, and he promoted the three to positions of power.

Community: What lies or false idols has culture perpetuated that influence the way your community behaves? How might God’s truth be told so as to influence your community differently?

At Home: To what cultural pressures have you bowed? Do one thing this week to resist the pressures of the world, and turn your attention toward God.

Read This Week:
Monday, Dec 2, Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court, Daniel 1:1-21

Tuesday, Dec 3, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, Daniel 2:1-16

Wednesday, Dec 4, God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, Daniel 2:17-23

Thursday, Dec 5, Daniel Interprets the Dream, Daniel 2:24-35

Friday, Dec 6, Daniel Interprets the Dream, Daniel 2:36-45

Saturday, Dec 7, Daniel and His Friends Promoted, Daniel 2:46-49

 

Next Week: Sunday, Dec 8, Valley of Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14

 

Begin your Thanksgiving celebration by taking time to honor the Giver of all good things as we join for a special service of Thanksgiving at 10:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.  We are privileged to have the ELC Senior Choir join in this beautiful traditional worship service!

 

Jeremiah had spent most of his days warning the people of the consequences of disobedience, now the people are far from home, suffering those very consequences, when Jeremiah sends word that even now God has their future and their welfare in mind.  We sometimes may feel hopeless, far from home, and burdened by our own mistakes, but God continues to care for us and prepare for us a future with hope.

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

                                         Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

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

                                                        10:30 a.m.  Contemporary Worship

November  23- 24, 2013
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

Key Verses: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12

Time: around 626 BCE

Background: Jeremiah preached to Israel at a time when its faith in God had been utterly shaken. In just ten short years, its captor, the Babylonian empire, destroyed three traditions that had cemented its faith. First, King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the kingly succession promised to King David. Second, he destroyed the temple. Third, he destroyed the people’s belief that Israel was indestructible.

Each of these led the people to wonder whether God was still with them. The prophet, Jeremiah, spoke to them during this crisis of faith and identity. He told them these events had been caused by God as punishment. It was their own lack of faith that had caused God’s judgment to come upon them. Even so, through the words of Jeremiah, the people had hope that God would restore them one day.

Community: On what certainties does your community of faith operate? What would be compromised if its faith was shaken?

At Home: What threatens to shake your faith? Begin one new ritual or practice this week that you could call upon in times of trial.

Read This Week:
Monday, Nov 25, Jeremiah’s Call, Jeremiah 1:4-19

Tuesday, Nov 26, God Pleads with Israel to Repent, Jeremiah 2:1-8

Wednesday, Nov 27, Unfaithful Israel, Jeremiah 3:1-5

Thursday, Nov 28, Restoration Promised for Israel and Judah, Jeremiah 30:1-9

Friday, Nov 29, The Joyful Return of the Exiles, Jeremiah 31:1-6

Saturday, Nov 30, A New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-37

 

Next Week: Sunday, Dec 1, Fiery Furnace, Daniel 3:1, 8-30

 

The prophet Amos speaks a harsh word about the emptiness of worship when separated from lives lived with justice and integrity.  The same question has echoed every generation down to today – “Do our actions as a people reflect the words which we utter in worship?”

Worship this weekend:   Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

                                      Sunday –  8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

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

                                                     10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

November 16-17, 2013
Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24

Key Verses: “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies… But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Amos 5:21, 24

Time: about 786-743 BCE

Background: God’s kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Kingdom started worshiping in the wrong places and with influences from surrounding nations’ worship practices. It also allowed the gap between rich and poor to grow, so that the poor were mistreated terribly.

God was angry with the abuses. Without justice and peace, the people’s worship was empty. God refused to receive their worship as long as people were being mistreated. God desired true justice and peace over empty rituals.

Community: How is the gap between poor and rich manifested in your community? What can you do to lessen the gap? What can your community of faith do to make its worship practices full and meaningful?

At Home: What worship ritual holds the most meaning for you? Is it something you do inside or out of worship? Be intentional this week to perform this ritual with meaning. Or create a new ritual that connects you with God. Do it every day this week.

Read This Week:
Monday, Nov 18, The Peaceful Kingdom, Isaiah 11:1-9

Tuesday, Nov 19, A Warning of Destruction of Jerusalem, Isaiah 22:1-14

Wednesday, Nov 20, Praise for Deliverance from Oppression, Isaiah 25:1-12

Thursday, Nov 21, Israel’s Redemption, Isaiah 27:1-11

Friday, Nov 22, A Rebellious People, Isaiah 30:8-17

Saturday, Nov 23, The Peace of God’s Reign, Isaiah 32:16-20

Next Week: Sunday, Nov 24, Jeremiah, Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

 

 

Elijah, fleeing for his life and confronted with God’s presence, is asked a simple, haunting question:  “What are you doing here?”  Perhaps a question we each ought to consider.   Both “What are we doing?   As well as “What are we doing here?    These are questions not just for worship, but for each and every day.  God accompanied Elijah through both the greatest and darkest days, and continues to walk with us wherever we are as well.

Worship this week:  Saturday at 5:0o p.m. in the Chapel

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. — Sunday School and fellowship

10:30 a.m. — Contemporary Worship

November 9 -10, 2013
1 Kings 19:1-18

Key Verses: “Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”
1 Kings 19:11b-12

Time: 900 BCE

Background: When King Ahab of Israel married Queen Jezebel, he ceased worshiping God alone. Instead, he worshiped his new wife’s god, Baal. This angered God, and God sent many prophets, including Elijah, to warn King Ahab of God’s wrath. But King Ahab and Queen Jezebel remained faithful to Baal, killing God’s prophets. Elijah made a show of God’s power to the prophets of Baal and then killed them. An angry Jezebel swore to kill Elijah.

Elijah fled and fell into despair, believing his life was coming to an end. He complained to God, asking that God end his life. But God remained faithful. God sent Elijah to a cave on a mountain, where Elijah experienced a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But it was in the following silence that Elijah experienced God. God promised Elijah protection and directed him to 7000 faithful followers who continued to worship God, strengthening Elijah’s resolve.

Community: What false gods has culture taught us to worship? What could your community of faith do to be God’s voice in the midst of competing voices?

At Home: What false gods capture your attention? Let go of one idol this week and spend that recovered time worshiping God.

Read This Week:
Monday, Nov 11, Elijah Ascends to Heaven, 2 Kings 2:1-12

Tuesday, Nov 12, Elisha Succeeds Elijah, 2 Kings 2:13-18

Wednesday, Nov 13, Elisha Performs Miracles, 2 Kings 2:19-25

Thursday, Nov 14, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil, 2 Kings 4:1-7

Friday, Nov 15, Elisha Heals Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-19

Saturday, Nov 16, Jezebel’s Violent Death, 2 Kings 9:30-37

Next Week: Sunday, Nov 17, Amos, Amos 1:1-12; 5:14-15, 21-24