Sugar Creek Bible Camp

“Where all generations encounter Christ through God’s people and creation”

We look forward to having Don Shunkwiler, executive director of Sugar Creek Bible Camp, with us for worship this week.

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:

The Council at Jerusalem                                                           May 14, 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: Council at Jerusalem, Acts 15:1-18

Monday: The Conversion of Lydia, Acts 16:11-15
Tuesday: Paul and Silas in Prison, Acts 16:16-40
Wednesday: Paul Sails for Rome, Acts 27:1-12
Thursday: The Storm at Sea, Acts 27:13-38
Friday: The Shipwreck, Acts 27:39-28:16
Saturday: Paul Preaches in Rome, Acts 28:23-31

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

The early leaders of the faithful had an ever-growing task on their hands: to keep adding to the numbers of converted while trying to reconcile the old customs with the new message. Opinions are strong, and the young church faces one among many threats of division. There are many things that can divide a church today, yet many more that can unite us.

• What issues have divided the church in the past? Are they still important?
• How does division affect our witness?
• Do you live as though you were saved by grace or by your good works? What difference does it make?
• How does your faith inform your behaviors?
• What is your favorite dramatic or exciting biblical story? Why?

PRAY: God of great mission, You have set before us a great task, O God: keeping sight of the things which matter. Steer us away from our preoccupation with issues that do not bear on our eternal salvation, focusing instead on all who still long to hear your word of grace. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BLESS:  God unites us through Christ’s love for witness and service to the world. Amen.

When directed by the Spirit to  ‘get up and go’, Phillip discovered that God prepares unexpected opportunities to share faith and hope.  Let’s be ready to move into God’s world with purpose, and may our eyes be open to those God places in our path this day.  There are still unexpected opportunities, and sometimes unlikely people, to encounter with the compassion of Christ.  In those encounters we may bless, and discover blessing.

Worship this week with Holy Communion –

Saturday 5:00 p.m.  Modified traditional worship 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:

An Ethiopian comes to believe                                                   May 7, 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: Ethiopian Comes to Believe, Acts 8:26-39

Monday: The Death of Herod, Acts 12:20-25
Tuesday: Barnabas and Paul Commissioned, Acts 13:1-3
Wednesday: The Apostles Preach in Cyprus, Acts 13:4-12
Thursday: Paul and Barnabas in Iconium, Acts 14:1-7
Friday: Paul and Barnabas in Lystra and Derbe, Acts 14:8-20
Saturday: Return to Antioch in Syria, Acts 14:21-28

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

The disciples’ mission is now springing up everywhere, this time in the middle of the desert, with a high-ranking foreign official. What will this Ethiopian say when Philip reveals to him the astounding truth of the scriptures?

• How is the apostles’ preaching beginning to spread throughout the world?
• How does your community of faith engage in the exchange of ideas concerning the things of faith? How are you personally engaged in a community to help you grow in faith? What might your community of faith do to engage more of the community inside and outside your church?
• If you have had a conversion experience, who have you told? If you have been a person of faith your whole life, who have you told? Who might be hungry for the Word and the story of how you experience God?

PRAY: God of encounters, Your good news stops us in our tracks with amazement, O God. Renew our wonder at the word and all the promises contained within it, gifts especially for us, your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BLESS:  God delights in the joy you experience hearing God’s word. Amen.

 

God’s dream, God’s vision, God’s intent for the world is reconciliation.  This is the task we were given as Jesus’ followers — to be ambassadors of reconciliation.  Join us as we hear Bishop Froiland’s message this weekend.

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:

Stephen’s Witness                                                                         April 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: Stephen’s Witness, Acts 6:1 – 7:2a, 44-60

Monday: Saul Persecutes the Church, Acts 8:1-25
Tuesday: The Conversion of Saul, Acts 9:1-19a
Wednesday: Saul Preaches in Damascus, Acts 9:19b-31
Thursday: Peter and Cornelius, Acts 10:1-33
Friday: Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit, Acts 10:34-48
Saturday: Peter in Prison, Acts 12:1-19

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.    Acts 7:59-60

Introducing Stephen, a man of spirit and grace who seems to speak with the authority of God. The powerful are known for attracting attention, but it may not be the sort that Stephen would have wanted. How far are Jesus’ followers willing to go?  Sometimes the proclamation of truth is dangerous.

• What happened to apostles that preached Jesus?
• How have the duties in your faith community been distributed? How might you do things differently to best honor the gifts of those in your community?
• What role do you play at home, at work, or at church? How are you best using your gifts to do God’s work in the world? Are you doing what God has created you to do, or is it time for a change?

Keep a calendar this week of everything you do  At the end of the week, evaluate your calendar. How is your time reflecting your values? Make one change next week so your time honors your values.

 PRAY: Holy Lord, Your servant Stephen was bold in the face of danger and death. Make us faithful in our witness, even under threat of opposition to your word, in the name of Jesus, Amen.

BLESS:  God has created you with unique gifts. Use them well. Amen.

Great things can happen in the simple act of sharing a meal.  The walk to Emmaus begins in discouragement as the men proclaim:  “We had hoped that he was the one”.  But in the midst of their discouragement Jesus comes to break bread with them, and brings a new hope and life.

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

11:30 a.m. Community potluck

Devotions for this week:

The Road to Emmaus                                                                     April 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: Emmaus Road, Luke 24:13-35

Monday: Peter and John before the Council, Acts 4:1-22
Tuesday: Believers Pray, Acts 4:23-31
Wednesday: Believers Share, Acts 4:32-37
Thursday: Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11
Friday: The Apostles Heal, Acts 5:12-16
Saturday: The Apostles Are Persecuted, Acts 5:17-42

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32

Two disciples walked on a long road with plenty of time to ponder the incredible events of their week. But, who on earth is this stranger who seems not to have heard what everyone else is talking about? The stage is set for one more surprise.  Even before Jesus revealed himself to the disciples, they revealed Jesus within them to him.

• How does Jesus reveal himself to people?
• Who in your community is hungry? How might feed them?
• What things are your eyes closed to, that you could be looking at in your own life? How might you face some of those things this week? Who can help you see and work through the difficult issues you face?

Invite to dinner someone you don’t know well – a coworker, your kids’ friends’ parents, someone homebound from your congregation, a lonely neighbor. Notice how Christ shows up simply by sharing a meal.

PRAY: Risen One, In all our grief and confusion, you walk alongside us, O Lord. Reveal yourself to us as the comforter of our souls and the savior of our lives, in whose name we pray, Amen.

BLESS:  Eat, share, and let Jesus be revealed to you. Amen.

The women approach the tomb to honor their dead friend, but are amazed by the new reality that Jesus’ love is stronger even than death!

Come celebrate at worship this Easter Sunday:

Sunrise Worship at 7:00 a.m.

Traditional Worship at 9:00 a.m.

Contemporary Worship at 10:30 a.m.

Easter breakfast served by youth from 7:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Devotions for this week: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone or with others; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

Risen Lord,
You have been true to your word, and you have shown that death could not defeat life. Pour the joy of your resurrection into our hearts, that our lips would also overflow with the joyous news. In the name of the risen Christ, Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verse from Sunday’s reading.

The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Luke 24:5

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.

It’s been a grueling week for the followers of Jesus, but still they faithfully carry out the rituals due to the dead. How could these grieving women have known that their anointing oils would not be needed, for the best reason imaginable?

Consider: Consider this theme for the week’s text.

We live grounded in the mystery of the resurrection.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading,
ask the follow-up questions.

Sunday: Empty Tomb (Easter), Luke 24:1-12

Monday: Jesus Appears to His Disciples, Luke 24:36-53
Tuesday: Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas, Acts 1:12-26
Wednesday: The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-13
Thursday: Early Christians, Acts 2:14-47
Friday: Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar, Acts 3:1-10
Saturday: Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico, Acts 3:11-26

How did Jesus’ resurrection change the world?

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

Easter marks the most significant event in a Christian’s life. Who could you share this news with?

How will you honor Christ today?

Do: By acting on what we learn we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.

Sing your favorite Easter hymn every morning when you wake up. If you don’t have a favorite Easter hymn, sing whatever favorite song reminds you that Jesus is alive!

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.