This Sunday we welcome Pastor Emily Tveite of Lutheran Campus Ministry in Madison to share a message this week about Esther — who used her position and courage to save her people.

We’ll worship this week in the air-conditioned fellowship hall 

Saturday at 5:00 p.m.  (Pastor Nicole Espe preaching)

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:  July 15 – Esther

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, Esther 2:15-18  Esther becomes queen

Monday, Esther 3:1-6  Haman plots to destroy the Jews

Tuesday, Esther 4:1-8  Esther is told of Haman’s plans

Wednesday, Esther 4: 9-17  Esther agrees to help

Thursday, Esther 7:1-10  Haman’s evil exposed

Friday, Esther 8:1-8  Esther intervenes with the King

Saturday, Esther 9:18-32  The festival of Purim established

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

¹² When Mordecai was told what Esther had said, ¹³ he sent back this reply, “Don’t think that you will escape being killed with the rest of the Jews, just because you live in the king’s palace. ¹⁴ If you don’t speak up now, we will somehow get help, but you and your family will be killed. It could be that you were made queen for a time like this!”                             Esther 4:12-14

Esther sees that her place of authority is not just a privilege, but provides the opportunity to use that position to intervene on behalf of justice for her people.  

• Do we seek to use our influence to help others?
• Where has God placed you in this life, and what purpose might you serve for God’s kingdom in the place you are?
• What the particular challenges in our world, our society, that we might be here to face?

PRAY:  Mighty God, You call us to courage as we witness to our faith in you. Set us apart, as you did Esther, to be people brave enough to engage in your life-saving work for this world your son gave himself up for. In his name we pray. Amen

 BLESS:  May God give you a sense of purpose for this day.

Ruth and Naomi show us what it is to live as a family in faith, placing that relationship above the traditional distinctions of race and clan.  Who do we stand with as our family in faith?

Worship this week:  Saturday at 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 8 – Ruth & Naomi

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, Ruth 1:1-5  Naomi and her family in Moab

Monday, Ruth 1:6-14  Naomi sets out for Judah

Tuesday, Ruth 1:15-18 Ruth’s Promise

Wednesday, Ruth 2:1-7  Ruth meets Boaz

Thursday, Ruth 2:8-20  Boaz provides for Ruth

Friday, Ruth 3:1-18  Ruth and Boaz on the threshing floor

Saturday, Ruth 4:1-22  Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas

 ¹⁶But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” ¹⁸When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.   Ruth 1:16-18

In a time of tragedy and uncertainty, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi forge a loving relationship, and through faith, perseverance, and kindness they settle together and find a new beginning.

• Who would you stand with during hard times? Who would stay with you?
• Have you ever had to begin again after your plans fell apart?
• Can you see God’s presence in the kindness of others?

PRAY Loving God, As your followers, you give us to one another. Help us to follow the example of Ruth and Naomi as we are knit into the new family your son created in his name. Amen

 BLESS:  May God give you companions on your life’s journey!

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.