This Sunday, March 10th, from 8:00 – 10:30 a.m., the Youth and Family ministry of ELC will be serving a pancake breakfast in the fellowship hall.  All funds raised will be used to help defray the costs of our own Brighid Monahan’s mission trip to India with the South Central Synod of Wisconsin coming up later this month.

Stop by for a delicious breakfast, or if you don’t have time to eat,  it’s a great time to drop off a donation as well.

 

 

Jesus’ parable prods us to consider who we listen to, and who we notice as we go through our daily decisions.

Worship this weekend

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. Worship in Chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m.  Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult Class and fellowship time

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

 

Parable: A Rich Man Ignores Lazarus
March 10, 2013
Luke 16:19-31

Key Verse: “[Abraham] said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:31

Time: 27-30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus continued to teach in parables. These parables and teachings indicated that people’s hearts would be measured by faithfulness, and that faithfulness would be rewarded. However, since it is impossible for people to get into heaven by their good works, God would have to open heaven to them another way.

Background: Luke regularly indicated that Jesus was the fulfillment of Hebrew scripture and prophetic voices. In this parable, a rich man refused to heed scripture and the voices, which required him to care for those in need.

Community: Whose voices are you listening to? Whose voices are draining? Whose voices are life-giving? Whose voices could you listen to this week?

At Home: How often are you tempted to believe that your sins are keeping you from heaven or that your good deeds are securing a place for you there? If good works are not the way to salvation, then what is? What, if anything, is required of you?

Read This Week:
Monday: Sayings of Jesus, Luke 17:1-10
Tuesday: Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers, Luke 17:11-19
Wednesday: The Coming of the Kingdom, Luke 17:20-37
Thursday: The Widow and the Unjust Judge, Luke 18:1-8
Friday: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18:9-17
Saturday: The Rich Ruler, Luke 18:18-30

Next Week: Jesus Welcomes Sinners Like Zacchaeus, Luke 18:31-19:10

Because of the forecast snowstorm for tomorrow, the parenting seminar scheduled for Tuesday, March 5^th has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 19^th at 6:30 p.m.

Heather Douglas and Jennifer Ebbott will offer a Becoming a Love and Logic Parent^® introductory class on Tuesday March 19th, 2012 in the St. Olaf room of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mt. Horeb.

The Becoming a Love and Logic Parent^®curriculum was developed by Jim Fay, Charles Fay, Ph.D., and Foster W. Cline, M.D., of the Love and Logic Institute, Inc., in Golden, Colorado. Heather is an independent facilitator of the Becoming a Love and Logic Parent^®curriculum.

The Church’s Spiritual Growth and Fellowship Committee is sponsoring these sessions.

        

    On Easter morning we will read these words from Luke 24:5.  The women in the story have gone back to the tomb to perform the traditional burial rituals, thinking that Jesus’ life was just a thing of the past.  Now after having heard the end of the story for so many years you’d think we’d begin to behave differently, but some days it seems that we are still behaving as if Jesus’ life is just a piece of the past, a story written many years ago with no impact on our lives today.

Perhaps we fall into the habit of simply doing what is traditional, revisiting old scenes from our own past and expecting nothing different in the future.  Perhaps, despite knowing that endless pursuit of money, pleasure, power, and status are ultimately dead ends, we keep wasting our lives chasing things that won’t last, and can’t bring life.  Maybe we still are intent on honoring old dead bones and thinking that that’s all that lies ahead.  Why do we spend so much time looking for the living among the dead?

The Easter story does not end with that question, but with a declaration:  “He is not here, he is risen!” (Luke 24:5)  We worship and follow a living Lord, who is still at work in our world bringing healing, sight, forgiveness, and life.  We can choose to wallow in the misery of our past, or listen instead to the voice that calls us out into a new day.  Jesus’ life is not a thing of the past, it is our present and future hope, it is a promise that we can never be separated from the power of the one who loves us!

These weeks of Lent are a time to look where we’ve been, but not to give in to hopelessness or apathy, but instead to re-commit our lives to the one who lives at Easter, and lives today.

God’s Peace,

Pastor John Twiton

 

 

Jesus’ parables describe the depth of God’s love as the one who won’t stop searching for the lost, and rejoices greatly when one is found.  We celebrate that love in worship this weekend.

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. Worship in Chapel with Holy Communion

Sunday — 8:30 a.m.  Traditional Worship with Holy Communion — Youth and Cherub Choirs sing

9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult Class and fellowship time

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion

5:30 p.m. High School Youth meeting for summer “Faith Ventures” Trip

7:00 p.m.  Youth and Adults – “Christ in the World Ahead”  with guest speaker Rochelle Ripp, Alice in Dairyland, to speak on “Communication in the Spotlight”

 

Parables: A Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Prodigal Son
March 3, 2013
Luke 15:1-32

Key Verse: “We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” Luke 15:32

Time: 27-30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus continued to heal and teach in parables. He also started to indicate that following him would be costly, not only in terms of money and possessions, but also in terms of personal sacrifices. They would need to dramatically change their hearts and be prepared to give their lives for him.

Background: These parables told of the extravagant love God has for God’s people. In suggesting that a shepherd would leave the 99 to find the one, Jesus wasn’t saying he would sacrifice 99. In fact, a flock of that size would have had several shepherds. Jesus was saying that the shepherd wouldn’t be content losing even one. Likewise, God isn’t content losing even one of God’s beloved children.

Community: Who in your community has been outcast or has lost their way? How might you help them become found? What message of God’s love could you bring? How could you support them in their struggles?

At Home: How far from God have you strayed? What will you do this week to spend intentional time with God?

Read This Week:
Monday: The Law of the Firstborn’s Inheritance, Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Tuesday: Stoning a Rebellious Son, Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Wednesday: Penitent’s Psalm, Psalm 51
Thursday: A Righteous Heart, Proverbs 21:1-5
Friday: The Parable of the Dishonest Manager, Luke 16:1-13
Saturday: The Kingdom of God, Luke 16:14-18

Next Week: Parable: A Rich Man Ignores Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31