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!

God’s people have a history of straying away from the worship and service of God.   One of the first people called to bring them back was a wise, strong woman named Deborah.  We look at her story and ask ourselves if we are ready to listen to whoever God calls to speak the truth to us today?

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: Deborah

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, Judges 4:1-5 Israel sins, turns to Deborah

Monday, Judges 6-9:14-16, Deborah & Barak go to battle

Tuesday, Judges 4:17-24 Jael  and Sisera

Wednesday, Judges 5:1-11 Deborah’s song (part 1)

Thursday, Judges 5:12-22 Deborah’s song (part 2)

Friday, Judges 5:23-31 Deborah’s song (part 3)

Saturday, Judges 6:1-10 Israel sins, new judge arises

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

⁸Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.’ ⁹And she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’      —  Judges 4:8-9

When the people sinned and turned away from God, the Lord raised up a judge to call them back to faithfulness.  Barak looks to Deborah as a source of wisdom and strength, and depends on her counsel and presence before he acts. 

• When have you had to admit that you needed to change something in your life? Who could you turn to give you guidance and counsel?
• Women like Deborah were seen as leaders early on in the Bible story, why have later generations been slow to acknowledge the wisdom and strength of women as leaders?

PRAY:  Holy God, help us to recognize your voice speaking through your people, and help us to trust your promise and presence..  Amen.

BLESS:  May you listen to God’s counsel this day. Amen.

 

We begin a summer series featuring women in the Bible story with the story of the women in the Exodus.  It is Moses’ mother, his sister, and other women who, in the midst of great danger and desperation, act in love and hope to preserve this child’s life.  With their courage and love God acts to bring about the liberation of the Hebrew slaves.

Worship this week:  (Note change to summer schedule)

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:  Miriam, and the women in the Exodus story

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, Exodus 2:1-10  The baby in the basket

Monday, Exodus 2:11-22 Moses marries Zipporah

Tuesday, Numbers 12:1-9  Miriam and Aaron confront Moses

Wednesday, Numbers 12:10-16 Miriam stricken and healed

Thursday, Numbers 20:1-11 Death of Miriam, water from rock

Friday, Micah 6:1-8 Miriam recalled in prophet’s words

Saturday, Exodus 15:20-21  Miriam’s Song

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 ²¹And Miriam sang to them:
‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’

                                                                        Exodus 15:21

While Moses was often at the center of the story of the exodus, he did not get there on in his own.  His mother, Pharoah’s daughter, and his sister Miriam were vital to God’s mighty story of freedom.  The midwives who protected him, his sister Miriam, Pharoah’s servant and his daughter, his wife, and others were crucial along the way.

• Who are the women who have played a key role in your story of faith?
• How does God work in sometimes unseen ways to accomplish great things?
• Whose story should be lifted up?
• When have you joined in a song of praise?

PRAY: God, you continue to write the story of salvation in many people in our lives.  Use us as well to act, and to bring praise when we notice the opportunity.  Amen.

BLESS:  May God surround you with strong helpers. Amen.

 

 

Today we mark the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives and our family of faith.  This Spirit can change the way we see ourselves, and our neighbors.  We celebrate the gifts of the Spirit in many ways as we gather this weekend.  In addition to our regular worship we celebrate the gift of music at Worship through Music, we mark the stepping stone of graduation for our high school seniors, and we give thanks for the gifts our many volunteers with an appreciation reception.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m.  Worship with Holy Communion in chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m.  Worship through music – led by ELC Senior Choir

9:30 a.m. – Sunday School, Volunteer Appreciation reception

10:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion, Senior Recognition 

Volunteer Appreciation continues

Pentecost – Rejoice in the Lord, Acts 2:1-21; Philippians 4:4-7
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, Acts 2:1-21; Philippians 4:4-7, Pentecost; Rejoice in the Lord

Monday, Acts 3:11-16, Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

Tuesday, Acts 3:17-26, Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

Wednesday, Acts 4:1-12, Peter and John before the Council

Thursday, Acts 4:13-22, Peter and John before the Council

Friday, Acts 4:23-31, The Believers Pray for Boldness

Saturday, Acts 4:32-37, The Believers Share Their Possessions TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Acts 2:2-4)

The Spirit’s descent upon the newly formed church is so powerful that spectators can only assume these multi-lingual proclamations are the effect of too much wine. But as it’s only nine in the morning, it might be worth seeking another explanation.

• Tell of a time something happened to you that changed you from the inside out. Was the change positive or negative? How has the change shaped who you are today?
• Wonder: Where is God’s spirit leading me today?

PRAY: Holy Spirit, you move within and among your people. Make us eager to go where you are sending us, open to being transformed by your Gospel’s power, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill you with the Holy Spirit. Amen.