When it seems it is all hopeless, the presence of Christ, the lamb of God, brings new hope.  The time of weeping in Revelation gives way to a song of praise!

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:

The Scroll and the Lamb                                         August 20, 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 5:1-13, Scroll and Lamb

Monday, Revelation 5:14, Amen!

Tuesday, Revelation 6:9-17, Seven Seals

Wednesday, Revelation 7:1-8, 144,000 of Israel

Thursday, Revelation 8, Seventh Seal

Friday, Revelation 9, Seven Trumpets

Saturday, Revelation 10, Angel and Scroll

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8)

 John’s secret message to the persecuted Christians continues as cryptically as before. Only now a familiar presence appears. The resurrected Lamb, worthy to reveal God’s message—can there be any doubt of his identity?

 Tell of a time you knew God was protecting you.

• Wonder: Why did John use the image of the Lamb? What comes to mind when you read this text?

 PRAY: Living Christ, you are our hope when all hope has failed. Gather us under your wings of mercy, and renew your song of praise within our hearts. In your holy name, we pray, Amen.

BLESS:  May God hold you in God’s protection and care. Amen

Too often the book of Revelation has been used to induce fear and suspicion, but if we read it carefully it is a story of  God who loves us, and come to live with us in all the ups and downs of life.

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 this week:

Joy & Hope Amid Sorrow                                        August 13, 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 4:1-11, Joy and Hope Amid Sorrow

Monday, Revelation 1:1-8, Introduction

Tuesday, Revelation 1:9-20, A Vision of Christ

Wednesday, Revelation 2:1-11, Message to Ephesus, Smyrna

Thursday, Revelation 2:12-29, Message to Pergamum, Thyatira

Friday, Revelation 3:1-13, Message to Sardis, Philadelphia

Saturday, Revelation 3:14-22, Message to Laodicea

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

 The writer of Revelation so well cloaked his letter to the early Christians in bizarre imagery, it seems he was destined to be misunderstood. But the message is clear: God’s power transcends everything; there is nothing to fear.

• Tell of a time you felt sorrow or grief. Describe a light you found, even in the midst of your darkness.
• Wonder: If this story in Revelation was made into a movie, who would play the roles? What might the characters look like? The sets?

 PRAY:  Heavenly Creator, we live in a world of increasing confusion and mixed messages. Show us clearly the path that you have set, the way that leads to you alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 BLESS:  May God bring joy and hope amid sorrow. Amen.

Paul encouraged people to gird themselves with truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and God’s word — not with the armor and weapons of earthly armies.  What might our world look like if we were to equip ourselves with these life-giving attributes?

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

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:

Put on the Armor of God                                          August 6, 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, Ephesians 6:10-20, Put on the Armor of God

Monday, Ephesians 5:25-29, The Christian Household

Tuesday, Ephesians 5:30-33, The Christian Household

Wednesday, Ephesians 6:1-4, Children and Parents

Thursday, Ephesians 6:5-9, Slaves and Masters

Friday, Ephesians 6:21-22, Closing

Saturday, Ephesians 6:23-24, Blessing

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

 God’s armor doesn’t look like ours. It is comprised of truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and proclamation. It’s not designed to protect against the dangers of combat, but rather the forces that seek to destroy humanity.

 What spiritual armor do you wear already?

• What spiritual gifts do you still need to work on? (Truth, righteousness, faith, etc.)
• Wonder: What would happen if you approached your greatest enemy with love and acceptance?

 PRAY: Mighty God, your weapons are spiritual and your armor is truth. Teach us not to be defensive, but to stand in the strength of your Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

BLESS:  May God clothe you with spiritual armor. Amen.

 

We celebrate God’s goodness with a hymn sing this week.  Join us as we share favorite hymns at 5:00 p.m. Saturday or 9:00 a.m. Sunday.

Devotions for this week:

Sing God’s Praise – Psalm 150                                                July 30, 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, Psalm 150

Monday, Psalm 2

Tuesday, Psalm 22

Wednesday, Psalm 25

Thursday, Psalm 50

Friday, Psalm 106

Saturday, Psalm 119

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

(Psalm 150:6)

• Imagine handing out instruments to a roomful of children, and what the sound would be like. The psalmist encourages us to praise God with every note, every breath, in every corner of creation.
• Tell of a time you were so happy, you danced.
• Wonder: What makes God dance? What is God’s favorite musical instrument? Why?
• Do: Make music. Dig out an old musical instrument, or make one. Remember a favorite hymn or song. Play along to your favorite song or make up your own song of praise.

 PRAY:   God in whom we praise, there is no place on earth or in heaven where our praise cannot reach you. Receive the offering of our hearts, and join our voices in one hymn of thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 BLESS:  May God fill you with music. Amen.

It is now no longer enough simply to sit back and marvel at God’s gift of grace offered freely to all; the time has come to listen hard to the Spirit calling us to use our unique gifts for the good of the community.  What impact is your life having in response to God’s great love?

Worship this week:  (All Services in air-conditioned fellowship hall)

Saturday  – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

10:30 a.m.  Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

Unity in Christ, Ephesians 4:1-16                     July 23, 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, Ephesians 4:1-16, Unity in Christ

Monday, Ephesians 4:17-24, Old to New Life

Tuesday, Ephesians 4:25 –5:2, Rules for the New Life

Wednesday, Ephesians 5:3-5:5, Renounce Old Ways

Thursday, Ephesians 5:6-14, Renounce Old Ways

Friday, Ephesians 5:15-20, Renounce Old Ways

Saturday, Ephesians 5:21-24, The Christian Household

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

• It is now no longer enough simply to sit back and marvel at God’s gift of grace offered freely to all; the time has come to listen hard to the Spirit calling us to use our unique gifts for the good of the community. Game on!
• What gifts do you bring to the body of Christ? (What are you good at?)
• Wonder: What drives or motivates people who are vastly different from yourself? How different are they, really?

 PRAY:  God of unity, you have brought us together for a purpose. Show us each the way in which we might use our unique gifts in service to all. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.

BLESS:  May God use your gifts well. Amen..