In the midst of dark days, Isaiah proclaims that God will overcome the
powers those threaten Israel. Can we continue to proclaim God’s power in our own dark days?

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday -5:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Bishop Thomas-Breitfeld preaching

9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Fellowship, Adult Study

10:30 a.m. – Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:  Swords into Plowshares – November 18, 2018

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, Isaiah 36:4-12, Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

Tuesday, Isaiah 37:8-13, Hezekiah Consults Isaiah

Wednesday, Isaiah 37:14-29, Hezekiah’s Prayer

Thursday, Isaiah 37:30-38, Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death

Friday, Isaiah 38:1-22, Hezekiah’s Illness

Saturday, Isaiah 39:1-8, Envoys from Babylon Welcomed

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:2-3a)

Israel now faces defeat at the hands of the Assyrian army. King Hezekiah is in a panic. But Isaiah has the long vision.

• How do you suppose God decides how to arbitrate when communities are at odds with each other?
• When have you trusted in God at a time when trusting took great courage? How did it turn out?
• For the littles: Would you rather climb a tall mountain or swim in a deep ocean? Why?

PRAY:  Dear God, though the way ahead may seem uncertain, our fortunes are in your hands. Give us patience and vision to see what future you have for us, for we put our trust in you, Lord. Amen.

BLESS:  May God rejoice with you on the mountaintop. Amen.

 

“Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God”.  The instructions seem clear, but so often we need to be called back to this simple truth.

Worship this week:  

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – One Worship Service at 9:00 a.m.

Annual Meeting of the congregation at 10:00 a.m.

Children’s activities in St. Olaf room at 10:00 a.m.

Devotions for this week:  Micah 

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, 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

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

    He has told you, O mortal, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,  and to walk                                 humbly with your God?  (Micah 6:8)

From where will Israel’s ultimate ruler come? Micah puts his odds on the obscure little clan of Bethlehem. The Lord really does seem to love a humble heart.

• 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 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?
• For the littles: What do you do that shows kindness to others? God asks us to be just (fair), kind, and humble (not selfish).

 PRAY:  God, you come to call not the righteous, but sinners. Count us among your redeemed people, that our lives might proclaim your grace in all we say and do. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill you with justice, kindness, and humility. Amen.

On this All Saints’ Sunday, we see how God calls all sorts of people, from the powerful prophet Elisha, to the unnamed servant girl, and the reluctant Naaman.    We will also take time in worship to remember those who have passed to the church triumphant as well as those baptized into the family of God in the past year.  

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. – Sunday School/Adult Study and Fellowship

10:30 a.m. – Contemporary worship

Devotions for the week:  

Elisha Heals Naaman – November 4, 2018

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 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

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!”   (2 Kings 5:10-11)

Naaman has pinned a great deal of hope on Elisha’s ability to heal his leprosy. But how will this great commander respond when, after such a long journey, the prophet tells him to simply take a dip in the river?

• 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? Can you reach out to help?
• For the littles: Do you swim or take baths? Do you like the water? Why or why not? God can do many things with water.

PRAY:  O God, you call us to humble ourselves in the face of your wisdom. Open our minds that we might be enlightened beyond the limits of our own expectations, and heal us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

BLESS:  God who blesses all, help us hear your word and obey it. Amen

Solomon is offered the chance to ask for whatever he wishes.  By choosing wisdom and discernment, Solomon has chosen care for his subjects over glory for himself. Can we focus our lives and wisdom on the needs of the world around us?

Worship this week –

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult Bible Study and fellowship

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship and Rite of Confirmation!

Devotions for this week:  

Solomon’s Wisdom (Confirmation Day) – October 28, 2018

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, 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

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

And God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David… Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:5-6a, 9)

The enslaved Israelites made it out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership. So far, so good. But now, the Egyptian army advances nearer. How long will faith in their leader endure? Perhaps the better question is, who is really in charge here?

• Where do you see justice carried out in your community? Where do you see injustice? What might you do to further the work of justice in your community?
• What does wisdom mean to you? How can you use your wisdom to do God’s work?
• For the littles: Who is the wisest person you know? God gives people wisdom, and will give you wisdom, too.

PRAY:  O Lord, your wisdom is often beyond our grasp. Give us discerning minds to know your will, and willing hearts to carry it out, for the sake of your son, Jesus. Amen.

BLESS: May God grant you wisdom. Amen.

David is unable to admit his own sinfulness until confronted by the prophet Nathan. Are we willing to examine our own actions with honesty?

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult Bible Study and fellowship

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week: 

David and Bathsheba – October 21, 2018

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 Samuel 12:15b-23, Bathsheba’s Child Dies

Tuesday, 2 Samuel 12:24-25, Solomon Is Born

Wednesday, 1 Kings 1:1-21, The Struggle for Succession

Thursday, 1 Kings 1:22-27, The Struggle for the Succession

Friday, 1 Kings 1:28-53, The Accession of Solomon

Saturday, 1 Kings 2:13-25, Solomon Consolidates His Reign

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?” (2 Samuel 12:7-9a)

King David thinks of himself as a good person. So what if he slips up now and then: an illicit affair here, an unjust murder there? No one will know, right? No one but God, that is.

• Where do you see power struggles within your community? In these struggles, who gets hurt? Who gains the most? How might God shape how power is distributed within your community?
• When have you committed a sin that you were unable to see? How did you come to realize your sin? What did you do next?

PRAY:  God, we stand convicted by our sin and we cannot deny it. Show us your mercy and the path back to wholeness with you, our neighbors, and ourselves, for the sake of him who gave his life for us. Amen.

BLESS:  May God see your sin and forgive it. Amen.