Tired, alone, and away from the divided family he had left behind, Jacob encounters the promise of God’s continuing presence, even though he was a deeply flawed human being.  Where is God coming to reach you today?  Will you be aware of God’s presence?

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

Jacob’s Dream, Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17
September 24, 2017

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 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17, Jacob’s Dream

Monday, Genesis 27:30-40, Esau’s Lost Blessing

Tuesday, Genesis 27:41-28:5, Jacob Escapes

Wednesday, Genesis 28:6-9, Esau Marries Ishmael’s Daughter

Thursday, Genesis 29:1-14, Jacob Meets Rachel

Friday, Genesis 29:15-35, Jacob Marries Laban’s Daughters

Saturday, Genesis 30:1-24, Rachel’s Jealousy

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (Genesis 28:13)

With a little help from Mom (and some hairy goats), Jacob cheats his older brother out of his blessing. But is he prepared for the overwhelming responsibility that comes with the gifts of God

• Tell of a time you have tried to force God’s hand.
• What could you do to give control over some aspect of your life to God?
• Wonder: Why were angels climbing up and down the ladder? What were angels doing on the earth?

PRAY: Great God, you have offered us the richness of your blessings. Make us worthy to be the bearers of your life-giving word to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BLESS:  May God give you God’s best blessing. Amen

All that we have, even our own lives and those of the ones most dear to us, belong ultimately to God, who gave them to us in the first place. The story of Abraham and Isaac assures us that God will provide, that God will be present.   But the next question for us is:  “How do we deal the gifts entrusted to us?”

Worship with Holy Communion:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m Sunday School

10:30 a.m.  Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

Binding of Isaac, Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14
September 17, 2017

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 21:1-3; 22:1-14, Binding of Isaac

Monday, Genesis 24:1-27, Choosing of Rebekah

Tuesday, Genesis 24:28-49, Choosing of Rebekah

Wednesday, Genesis 24:50-67, Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah

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

Friday, Genesis 25:29-34, Esau Sells His Birthright

Saturday, Genesis 26:1-33, Isaac and Abimelech

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

[God] said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” (Genesis 22:2)

Wood, fire, and knife. Father and son have all the elements required for their sacrifice to God. All but an animal to be offered, that is. Who could imagine the degree to which Abraham’s faith is about to be tested?

• How does this story make you feel?
• What do you think is the point of the story?
• When have you experienced life testing you beyond what you thought you could handle?
• Wonder: Do you think God understood Abraham’s grief when God lost Jesus to crucifixion?

 PRAY: Faithful God, you do not bestow gifts only to take them away again. Train our eyes and hearts upon your steadfastness, so that we also might be found faithful to your covenant. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BLESS:  May God bless you when life tests you. Amen.

The creation story models a healthy perspective for ourselves and for our relationships.  It reminds of the wonder of creation, and the need for rest.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. Modified traditional worship in Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

Creation by the Word, Genesis 1:1—2:4a                 September 10, 2017

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 1:1—2:4a, Creation by the Word

Monday, Genesis 2:4b-25, A Second Account of Creation

Tuesday, Genesis 3:1-13, The First Sin

Wednesday, Genesis 3:14-24, Punishment

Thursday, Genesis 4:1-16, Cain Murders Abel

Friday, Genesis 4:1-26, Beginnings of Civilization

Saturday, Genesis 18:1-15, A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.     (Genesis 1:1-2)

God is hard at work crafting each aspect of the universe, sparing no detail. But even the Almighty Creator takes time to rest. What does it mean for God to be the beginning and the end?

• What does it mean that you are created in God’s image?
• What about yourself reminds you of God?
• Wonder: What is God’s favorite thing that God created?

 PRAY: Beloved Creator, everything in heaven and earth bears your signature. May we ever rejoice that you have made us, and that you have made us your own, through the loving-kindness of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

 

BLESS:   May God continue to create and re-create you each day. Amen.

The Bible’s story concludes with a vision of the new creation that God has kept for us. Death and destruction will never have the final word, not as long as our God is the beginning and end of all things.  All creation is made new!!

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:  Alpha and Omega, Revelation 21:1-6; 22:1-5
September 3, 2017

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, Revelation 21:1-6, 22:1-5, Alpha and Omega

Monday, Revelation 17, Woman and Beast

Tuesday, Revelation 18, Fall of Babylon

Wednesday, Revelation 19, Rejoicing in Heaven

Thursday, Revelation 20, A Thousand Years

Friday, Revelation 21:7-27, A New Jerusalem

Saturday, Revelation 22:6-21, Closing

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)

Finally, we have a vision of the new creation that God has kept for us. Death and destruction will never have the final word, not as long as our God is the beginning and end of all things.

• What does it mean for God to be the beginning and the end?
• Is there anything that exists outside the realm of God?
• What about the devil? Does the devil exist outside the realm of God?
• Wonder: If God exists outside of time, how can God be the beginning and the end?

PRAY: Faithful God, when all has passed away, you remain. May our hearts be glad and our hope restored, that we might live each day to the praise of your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BLESS:  May you live within the realm of God, the beginning and the end. Amen.

 

While John’s vision in Revelation portrays the very real, and very dire threats that surround God’s people, the ultimate truth is that there is nothing on earth that can withstand the love of our powerful God.

Join us for worship this week!

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. modified traditional worship in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for his week –

The Four Horsemen                                                    August 27, 2017

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, Revelation 6:1-8; 7:9-17, Four Horsemen

Monday, Revelation 11, Two Witnesses, Seventh Trumpet

Tuesday, Revelation 12, Woman and Dragon

Wednesday, Revelation 13, The Beasts

Thursday, Revelation 14, The Lamb and 144,000

Friday, Revelation 15, Angels with Seven Plagues

Saturday, Revelation 16, Bowls of God’s Wrath

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)

 The apocalyptic vision has become extreme indeed—horsemen unleashing disasters on an unimaginable scale. To persecuted Christians, they are more real than imagined. The final and complete deliverance of God’s faithful ones is the best possible news they could receive.

• What images in this text scare you the most? Why?
• Wonder: What might the horsemen ride if they arrived today? How might they be dressed?
• Would they bring the same sorts of judgments, or would they be different?

PRAY: Almighty God, your strength far outstrips any earthly power. May we put our fears aside and our trust in you, in whom our hopes will not be disappointed. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill you with passion and fire. Amen.