Coming home after years in exile brought mixed responses, for the young, it was a grand celebration. For the elders, a bittersweet reminder of the past.  We may face the same range of response this season as we remember the past and prepare for a new day.

Worship this week with Holy Communion: 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: Rebuilding the Temple – December 15, 2019

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Ezra 3:5-13, Foundation Laid for the Temple

Tuesday, Ezra 4:1-5, Resistance to Rebuilding the Temple

Wednesday, Ezra 4:6-24, Rebuilding of Jerusalem Opposed

Thursday, Ezra 5:1-17, Restoration of the Temple Resumed

Friday, Ezra 6:13-18, Completion & Dedication of the Temple

Saturday, Ezra 6:10-22, The Passover Celebrated

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the Lord with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel.”  (Ezra 3:10)

When Persia defeated Babylon (who had defeated Judah) King Cyrus let the exiled Jews return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.  For the young, it was a grand celebration.  For the elders, a bittersweet reminder of the past.

• Where does your congregation worship?  Does the history of the building cause conflicts or is it a celebrated space?
• What place is your safe space?  What makes it special to you?

PRAY:  O Lord, you restore what has been destroyed.  Rebuild our lives in the strength of your Spirit, and restore our joy in being your servants.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  May you feel the celebration and love of God in all spaces. 

To a fearful and weary people, Isaiah proclaims a word of comfort. We need to hear that same word in our fears and weariness.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: Promise of the Messiah – Dec. 1, 2019

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Mark 8:27-29, Who Do You Say that I Am?

Tuesday, Jeremiah 1:4-10, I Am Only a Boy

Wednesday, Jeremiah 1:11-19, Boiling Pot

Thursday, Jeremiah 2:1-8, Jeremiah Speaks

Friday, Jeremiah 33:19-26, Covenant with David

Saturday Jeremiah 34:1-7, Promise of Salvation

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”                                                        (Jeremiah 33:14)

Judah was decimated – conquered and exiled by Babylon.  Through Jeremiah, God promised an end to their misery.  A savior from the line of David would come one day.

• Think of a tough promise that someone kept.   Why do you think they followed through?  What makes someone good at keeping promises?
• When have you felt brokenhearted, was it easy to hear that things would get better?  What helped you move on?

PRAY:  O God, you can be trusted to remember and fulfill your promises.  We wait with hopeful anticipation for our savior, eager to spread the light of your coming kingdom.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  You are beloved and worth the promise of God’s love.  Amen.

God is faithful, even when people aren’t faithful to God. God promised a savior, and in this time of Advent we await the savior promised.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Communion is celebrated at all services on the first and third Sundays of the month, and the preceding Saturdays.

Devotions for this week: Promise of the Messiah – Dec. 1, 2019

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, Mark 8:27-29, Who Do You Say that I Am?

Tuesday, Jeremiah 1:4-10, I Am Only a Boy

Wednesday, Jeremiah 1:11-19, Boiling Pot

Thursday, Jeremiah 2:1-8, Jeremiah Speaks

Friday, Jeremiah 33:19-26, Covenant with David

Saturday Jeremiah 34:1-7, Promise of Salvation

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”                                                        (Jeremiah 33:14)

Judah was decimated – conquered and exiled by Babylon.  Through Jeremiah, God promised an end to their misery.  A savior from the line of David would come one day.

• Think of a tough promise that someone kept.   Why do you think they followed through?  What makes someone good at keeping promises?
• When have you felt brokenhearted, was it easy to hear that things would get better?  What helped you move on?

PRAY:  O God, you can be trusted to remember and fulfill your promises.  We wait with hopeful anticipation for our savior, eager to spread the light of your coming kingdom.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  You are beloved and worth the promise of God’s love.  Amen.

Despite Josiah’s youth, his willingness to listen and learn from God’s Word brought about a time of peace. A true leader knows that they are there to serve.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE 

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP

5 p.m.
Modified Traditional Worship
A modified traditional worship service; generally less than 45 minutes.
We gather in the chapel on the Front Street side of the building near Fourth Street

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 a.m.
Traditional Worship
We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship,
accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 a.m.
Sunday School, Adult study, Coffee & Fellowship

10:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship
Led by our Praise Team, we share contemporary Christian music,
God’s Word and prayer in the main sanctuary.

Devotions for this week: Josiah’s Reform

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Monday, 2 Kings 22:11-13, Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

Tuesday, 2 Kings 22:14-20, Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

Wednesday, 2 Kings 23:4-14, Josiah’s Reformation

Thursday, 2 Kings 23:15-20, Josiah’s Reformation

Friday, 2 Kings 23:21-27, The Passover Celebrated

Saturday, 2 Kings 23:28-30, Josiah Dies in Battle

Go to clergystuff.com/daily-devotions for devotions on the daily readings.

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.”  (2 Kings 23:3)

Josiah was quite young when he became king of Judah.  But God know this young man had the heart to bring the nation back to God.

• Who have you known that came to leadership at a young age?  What gifts did they have to share?  How did they handle the pressure?
• What kind of leader would you be today?  What would have you been as a teenager?  What’s changed?  What’s the same?

PRAY:  Holy Lord, you rejoice when your people are faithful.  Guide us in all wisdom and keep us close to your heart as we navigate these days and the challenges of our lives.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

BLESS:  Be faithful, humble servant, and be filled with God’s Peace!