We hear both Hannah’s heartfelt pleas for mercy, and her glad song of thanksgiving, and we are reminded to share all things in our life with God.

Worship with Holy Communion this week:  (all services in fellowship hall):

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

July 1 – Hannah 

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

 READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, 1 Samuel 1:1-8  Elkanah and his two wives

Monday, 1 Samuel 1:9-11  Hannah’s vow

Tuesday, 1 Samuel 1:12-18  Eli & Hannah

Wednesday, 1 Samuel 1:19-28  Birth and dedication of Samuel

Thursday, 1 Samuel 2:1-10  Hannah’s prayer

Friday, 1 Samuel 2:18-21 The young Samuel at Shiloh

Saturday, 1 Samuel 3:1-18  Samuel’s vision

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

¹⁵But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.”                           1:Samuel 1:15-16

 Hannah pours out her pain and discouragement before the Lord, and then rises to begin again.  God listens, and she will return to offer thanks and praise. 

 Do you share your pain and trouble with God in prayer? 

• Have you followed through on the vows you make in troubled times?
• Do you respond with thanks and praise when things go well?

PRAY:  Holy God, help us to continually come to you both in times of trouble, and in times of rejoicing.  Let us know that you are with us in every season of our lives.    Amen.

 BLESS:  May you know that God hears your prayer today. Amen.

Want to follow along with the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston.  Here’s some ways you can keep up with the livestream and social media:

 

In the story of the garden of Eden we hear of both blessing and disobedience, and through it all, God’s presence and care.  Years of interpretation have given us a certain view of the impact of this tale, but perhaps we need to look at Eve, and ourselves in a little different light.

Worship this week:

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

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional

10:00 am. Contemporary

Devotions for this week:  Eve

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, Genesis 1:26-31  The first telling creating humans

Monday, Genesis 2:4b-25 The second telling

Tuesday, Genesis 3:1-7  The fruit of the tree

Wednesday, Genesis 3:8-24  The consequences

Thursday, Genesis 4:1-16 Cain and Abel

Friday, Genesis 4:25-26 The birth of Seth

Saturday, 2 Corinthians 11:3  Paul cites Eve as example of sin

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.                       Genesis 3:6-7

Eve is often blamed for bringing ‘sin’ into the world.  We have read and re-read this story many times, and it is covered in centuries of interpretation.   Yes, there is disobedience, but what is the Bible trying to convey about human beings and their relationship to God?

 Does the creation story talk only about guilt and sin?

• Does the story describe the complexity of being human, knowing both the beauty and fragile nature of life?
• Has Eve been made a scapegoat for all human disobedience?

 PRAY:  Help us Lord, to see both the beauty and the pain in our world and in our actions.  Then help us walk with you, trusting that you still care for us.

BLESS:  May you find wonder in all that God has created.

 

There are interesting stories in Jesus’ family tree.  This week we hear a bit about Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba.  The stories of these women are the stuff of scandal, and intrigue, but they become part of Jesus’ family tree.

All worship services this weekend in the air-conditioned fellowship hall.

Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (Traditional) & 10:00 a.m.  (Contemporary)

Devotions for this week:   Tamar, Rahab & Bathsheba

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

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding

Sunday, Genesis 38:11-26  Tamar’s story

Monday, Joshua 2:1-21  Rahab and the spies

Tuesday, Joshua 6:22-25  Rahab and her family spared

Wednesday, 2 Samuel 11:1-5  David sees Bathsheba

Thursday, 2 Samuel 11:6-25 The death Uriah

Friday, 2 Samuel 12:1-15  Nathan confronts David

Saturday, 2 Samuel 12:19-24  The birth of Solomon

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

³and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, ⁴and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,                                                          Matthew 1:3-6

Jesus’ family tree has some unexpected names, Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba  (we’ll meet Ruth later).  These women, all outsiders, come into the story in unusual circumstances, but are named as part of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus.

• Have you investigated your own family tree?
• Did you find any unexpected or unusual characters?
• What does the inclusion of these stories tell us about God’s family and who is part of it?

PRAY:  Dear Lord, your family is often bigger than our imagination.  Help us to see how you call unexpected people into our story.  Amen.

BLESS:  May God enrich your understanding of family today.

We continue our series on the women in the Bible story with Abigail, who used her  strength, wisdom, and tact to diffuse a difficult situation.  Her courage in intervening outside of the normal ‘roles’ helps bring safety and justice for her own household and David’s as well.  What could we still learn from Abigail’s witness?

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a  a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:  Abigail  June 10, 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

Sunday, 1 Samuel 25:1- 8  David’s dealing with Nabal

Monday, 1 Samuel 25:9-13, Nabal turns David’s servants away

Tuesday, 1 Samuel 25:14-17 Abigail told of Nabal’s actions

Wednesday, 1 Samuel 25:18 – 22 Abigail prepares a plan

Thursday, 1 Samuel 25:23-31 Abigail intervenes with David

Friday, 1 Samuel 25:32-35  David’s response

Saturday, 1 Samuel 25:36-43 The death of Nabal, David & Abigail marry

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

 ³²David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! ³³Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand!

                                                             1 Samuel 25:32-33

When she can see problems arising, Abigail intervenes.  She was a smart, strong, young woman who ultimately helped her husband by going against his wishes.  She uses her wisdom to care for her whole household, and see to the safety of those around her. 

• Have you ever had to intervene to head off trouble between people?
• When has someone helped you to see a situation differently?
• How might we use our wisdom to step in to difficult situations today as well?

PRAY:  Lord, help us to avoid rash words and actions which we might regret, and help us to do what we can to prevent others from causing harm as well.  Give us your grace and courage this day.  Amen.

BLESS:  May God give you grace and good sense for this day!