Today’s psalm reminds us that, despite our faithlessness to God, God continues to be faithful to us. God has the power to turn sorrow into joy.

10:00 a.m. – Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

Psalm 30                                                                                     July 2, 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 30

Monday, Psalm 34

Tuesday, Psalm 40

Wednesday, Psalm 57

Thursday, Psalm 66

Friday, Psalm 116

Saturday, Psalm 138

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

2O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

3O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. (Psalm 30:2-3)

• The praise of a soul lifted up from despair cannot be silenced. The psalmist knows deep grief; thanksgiving for deliverance from that grief is deeper still.
• Tell of a time you felt God restored you from grief or illness. How did it feel when you were grieved or sick? How did it feel to be restored?
• Wonder: If sadness was a place, what would it look like?
• Do: Reach out to someone who has recently experienced a loss. Bring a meal or offer a listening ear.

PRAY: God of life, you have the power to bring us up even from the depths of death. Dry our tears and lift our heads to the light of your healing love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

BLESS:  May God restore you to wholeness. Amen.

  Today’s psalm is an expression of ultimate trust. We do not know what perils may lie ahead. But we do know our shepherd, who guides and protects us.  What could our lives look like if we could live free of worry, fear, and always wanting for something more?

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 9:00 a.m. Combined worship (Followed by special meeting of the congregation)

Devotions for this week:

Psalm 23                                                                     June 25, 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 23

Monday, Psalm 11

Tuesday, Psalm 16

Wednesday, Psalm 46

Thursday, Psalm 52

Friday, Psalm 121

Saturday, Psalm 131

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

• Today’s psalm is an expression of ultimate trust. We do not know what perils may lie ahead. But we do know our shepherd, who guides and protects us.
• “The Lord is my shepherd.” What other images for God speak to you? (Rock, friend, parent, lifeline, breath) Why?
• Wonder: What does God love about sheep?
• What does God love about you?
• Think of something you have been reluctant to turn over to God. (A relationship, a struggle, control) Make a decision every day this week to let God handle it without your help.

 PRAY:  Loving God, you see the dangers ahead long before we could imagine them. Keep our eyes trained on the path, following in your trustworthy footsteps, by the grace of your spirit. Amen.

 BLESS:  May God guide and protect you in all that you do. Amen.

This week’s Psalm is a cry for help.  These psalms give expression to the deepest moments of human pain. But they do so in a way which claims the promise of God’s presence in the midst of our suffering and also the promise that the God-who-is-with-us will preserve us from evil and bring us to a new day.

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:

Psalm 13                                                                      June 18, 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 13

Monday, Psalm 3

Tuesday, Psalm 51

Wednesday, Psalm 69

Thursday, Psalm 90

Friday, Psalm 102

Saturday, Psalm 140

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1)

• We come to God in times of suffering, seeking relief, seeking light, seeking answers. And God hears it all, without judging or abandoning us.
• Tell of a time you had to trust someone, even though it was hard. How did it turn out?
• What makes trusting difficult?
• What makes trusting rewarding?
• Wonder: Does God trust me? Why or why not?
• Keep a photo journal this week of all the places you see God. Post the photos to your social media, #GodSightings.

 PRAY:  Holy Lord, all things come from you, and all things might be found in you. Open our eyes, O God, that we might know your presence and trust once more in your steadfast love. Amen.

 BLESS:  May God show God’s trustworthiness to you. Amen.

Too often we rush through our days not taking the time to acknowledge the wonder of the creation, and the even greater love that God has shown us.  We gather to express that joy and love in our worship.

Worship 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:

Psalm 100                                                                    June 11, 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 100

Monday, Psalm 103

Tuesday, Psalm 105

Wednesday, Psalm 111

Thursday, Psalm 135

Friday, Psalm 147

Saturday, Psalm 149

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

• The whole creation erupts in praise for its Creator, and we are a part of it. The time has come to rejoice in word, song, and action.
• Where do you see God working in the world? What makes you praise God?
• Did you ever wonder: What brings God joy? What is God’s favorite animal? Geography? Weather? Food? What are some of God’s other favorites? Why?
• Take 5 minutes each day this week to praise God in a unique way. Here are some ideas:
  • Sing your favorite Christmas carol,
  • Smile at someone who doesn’t expect it
  • take a photo of something beautiful
  • close your eyes, take a deep breath, and exhale a prayer of thanks

PRAY:   God of all, you are ever worthy of our praise. Show us your blessings anew and open our eyes to what has always been before us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

 BLESS:   May God bless you as you praise God! Amen.

 

Pentecost, the third great festival of the church year, celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.  The coming of God’s Spirit is not just about gifts of language, or  tongues of fire, but about the way God continues to touch and bless each of our lives.   How is God’s Spirit moving in your life and our world?

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend:

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:

Pentecost                                                                       June 4, 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: Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7

Monday: Paul Greets the Ephesians, Ephesians 1
Tuesday: One in Christ, Ephesians 2
Wednesday: Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles, Ephesians 3
Thursday: New Life in Christ, Ephesians 4
Friday: On Being Christian, Ephesians 5
Saturday: Put on the Armor of God, Ephesians 6

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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.  Act 2:1-2

• How can the Word spread to the ends of the earth if its hearers can’t even understand the language? The Holy Spirit is about to take care of that.
• The Holy Spirit’s first gift was understanding through shared language.
• How does the Holy Spirit’s light explode in the new world?
• How is your life shaped by the gift of the Holy Spirit? How does it shape your behaviors, and relationships with God and others?
• What have you seen recently that has gone viral? Does it deserve its following? What have you done that you would like to go viral?
• Go online and view the top posts in your social media. Make a note of what goes viral. What do you think attracts people to the post? What does that say about what is needed in this world? Post something uplifting and see what reactions you get.

PRAY: God of fire, Your Spirit rushes in and sweeps us up in its wake. Send us forth in the fire of your inspiration, to light up the world with the witness to your unquenchable love, in the name of the Risen One, Amen.

BLESS:  The Holy Spirit lights your life. Amen.