Just when things seem hopeless, with threats and chaos on all sides, God’s people are told to keep still, and trust.  How do we hold our ground and watch for God’s deliverance?

Worship this week – 

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – One Worship at 9:00 a.m. 

followed by “God’s Work, Our Hands” service projects for all ages!!

Devotions for this week:  Rescue at the Sea – September 30, 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, Exodus 15:1-21, Songs of Moses and Miriam

Tuesday, Exodus 15:22-27, Bitter Water Made Sweet

Wednesday, Exodus 16:1-21, Bread from Heaven

Thursday, Exodus 17:1-7, Water from the Rock

Friday, Exodus 17:8-16, Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated

Saturday, Exodus 18:13-27, Jethro’s Advice

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.” (Exodus 14:13-14)

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?

• What is your community enslaved to? (technology, peer pressure, economy?) How might God deliver you and your community from enslavement to these things?
• How does God show up in your life? Where has God been faithful, despite your own lack of faith?
• For the littles: What is the hardest thing to wait for? God can give us patience.

PRAY:  O Lord, your chosen people had no choice but to trust you and you delivered them. Keep our eyes fixed on you when the waters rise and the troubles of our lives seem insurmountable, for you are our savior and guide. Amen.

BLESS:  May God grant you patience to wait. Amen.

God blessed Abram, so he would be a blessing to “all the families of the earth,” and we too are blessed to be a blessing to others. The gifts and skills God gave us are meaningless unless we share them.  What will the story of your life tell?

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:   Call of Abraham – September 16, 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, Genesis 15:1-6, God’s Covenant with Abram

Tuesday, Genesis 21:1-7, The Birth of Isaac

Wednesday, Genesis 25:19-28, The Birth of Esau and Jacob

Thursday, Genesis 35:16-26, The Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel

Friday, Genesis 37:1-11, Joseph Dreams of Greatness

Saturday, Genesis 37:12-36, Joseph is Sold by His Brothers

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

Abram spends his golden years—the time when most are relaxing and looking back on their lives—to follow God’s leading on a long and uncertain journey. He risks everything on the promise that the best is yet to come.

• How is God’s covenant with Abraham fulfilled today? If all humankind is now in covenant with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus, then how shall we treat one another? Where are you accepting of others? Where are you intolerant?
• How has God blessed you? What are you grateful for? Practicing gratitude is a holy practice. Do it often this week.
• For the littles: Can you keep all your promises? God can!

PRAY:  Faithful God, Abram and his family trusted you with their lives and all that they owned. May we also place our days within your hands, sure of the promise you have made us: to go before us, beside us, and after us with your protection. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
BLESS:  May God keep God’s promise to walk with you every step of your life. Amen.

Even if we grow weary, and wonder about the future, in the story of Noah we hear that God’s promise is that God will never give up on God’s creation—animals, plants, and humanity—ever again.

Worship this week:  

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

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 Education and fellowship — sign up for Sunday School this week

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:  Flood and Promise – September 9, 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, Genesis 9:18-28, Noah and His Sons

Tuesday, Genesis 10:1-14, Nations Descended from Noah

Wednesday, Genesis 10:15-32, Nations Descended from Noah

Thursday, Genesis 11:1-9, The Tower of Babel

Friday, Genesis 11:10-26, Descendants of Shem

Saturday, Genesis 11:27-32, Descendants of Terah

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17)

Noah’s story shows us how saddened God can be at our thoughtless actions. How that same creator has the power to destroy us all with one swipe. And, miraculously, chooses not to.

• How does God’s covenant with Noah shape the relationship humanity has with God today? Where do you see God’s promises lived out in this world?
• How does God show up in your life? How and where do you connect with God?
• For the littles: What is your favorite animal that God created? God saved all the animals from Noah’s flood—and some people, too!

PRAY:  O Lord, you preserved Noah as a sign that you hadn’t completely given up on your creation. Assure us of your mercy that we might live to proclaim it and share your promises with all humanity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

BLESS:  May God keep God’s promises in your life. Amen.

 

Paul commends the faith of previous generations in the witness of Timothy.  May we also be strong examples of faith for those who come after us.

Worship this week with Holy Communion

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:  Eunice/Lois

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, Hebrews 12:1-2 The Cloud of witnesses

Monday, Psalm 100:1-2  Praise for God

Tuesday, Psalm 100:3-5  God’s faithfulness

Wednesday, 2 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul’s Prayer for Timothy

Thursday, 2 Timothy 1:3-4 Paul’s thankfulness

Friday, 2 Timothy 1:5 The example of Eunice and Lois

Saturday, 2 Timothy 1:6-7  Rekindling the gift of the Spirit

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 ⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you                                                2 Timothy 1:5

As Paul charges young Timothy with a call to ministry, he evokes the witness of faith of the generations before.  Faith is not inherited, but the loving witness of family can impact generations to come.

 What do you remember of your parents’ and grandparents’ witness to their faith?

• Do your family members, your children or grandchildren know what it is that you believe?
• What heritage of faith is passed in your family?
• What are you willing to do to share your faith with a generation to come?

 PRAY:  Gracious God, help us to honor the witness of those who’ve gone before us in faith, and act in the boldness of the faith shared with us.      Amen.

 BLESS:  May you know the Spirit of power, not cowardice.  Amen.

Christian service to others was modeled by Jesus in his ministry and carried on by the early church.   May we also joyfully give of our seemingly ordinary, but extraordinary, selves to others.

Worship this week:  Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:  Dorcas/Tabitha

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,  John 14:7-10  Jesus shows us the Father

Monday, John 14:11-14  Jesus’ followers share his power

Tuesday,  Psalm  22:26-31  God’s compassion for the least

Wednesday, Acts 9:36 Tabitha/Dorcas the disciple

Thursday, Acts 9:37-38 Dorcas Dies/Peter summoned

Friday, Acts 9:39 Peter arrives/people share Dorcas’ gifts

Saturday, Acts 9:40-43 Raising of Dorcas

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ — Acts 9:39-40

 

Dorcas was beloved in her community for her service to others.  Peter, by the power of God’s Spirit, calls her back to life.

 

• Who are those you’ve known who have impacted a whole community?
• Do those people realize how they have impacted others?
• Do we dare act in faith that God’s Spirit will work through us?

 

PRAY:  Holy God, thank you for the saints whose lives impact so many.  Help us to act boldly, trusting your Spirit’s power.   In Jesus’ name Amen.

 BLESS:  May you hear the Spirit’s call to life.  Amen.