Hannah prayed in faith that despite her situation God would hear.  While prayer is not always answered in the way we expect, our God is faithful.  God hears our prayers and can continue to do great things in our lives.

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

Saturday 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Adult class

10:30 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

God Answers Hannah                                                      October 16, 2016

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: God Answers Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1-10

Monday: God Calls Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:1-18

Tuesday: The Ark of God Captured, 1 Samuel 4:2-11, 6:2, 11-13

Wednesday: Samuel Anoints Saul as King, 1 Samuel 9:27-10:8, 10:17-27

Thursday: Saul Rejected and David Anointed, 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Friday: David Defeats Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:1-54

Saturday: David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 6:1-23

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah…In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:19-20

• What are the benefits and drawbacks for Israel to shift from a tribal nation to a kingdom? How might our political system serve God?
• How do you think prayer works? How did Hannah’s prayer affect her life? How did affect the future of Israel?
• What have you asked God for that still awaits an answer? What did you bargain in return for a favorable answer? Does God require something in exchange for answered prayer? Where do you see God working while you wait for the answer?

 PRAY:  You are a Lord of mercy who heeds the prayers of your people. Grant us those requests which will glorify you and bring us into more perfect devotion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 BLESS:  May God hear your prayers and answer favorably. Amen.

At its heart, worship is about what we value most, what is worth our time and devotion.  Impatient and anxious people sometimes make very foolish choices.   In Exodus 32, when Moses is delayed on the mountain, the people are persuaded to create a false god to worship.  How can we maintain our trust in anxious times?

Worship this week:

SATURDAY EVENING at  5:00PM

• A modified traditional worship service, generally less than 45 minutes.  We gather the smaller chapel on the Front Street side of the building

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
8:30 AM — Traditional Worship

• We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship, accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent choir.

9:30 AM Sunday School Classes

• Classes for age 3 and up are held throughout the building, while there is time for coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall.

10:30 AM — Contemporary Worship

• Led by our Praise Team we share contemporary Christian music, God’s Word and prayer in the sanctuary.

Devotions for this week:

Israel and the Golden Calf                                         October 9, 2016

 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: Golden Calf, Exodus 32:1-14

Monday: God Calls Joshua, Joshua 1:1-11

Tuesday: Rahab Helps God’s People, Joshua 2:1-24, 6:1-27

Wednesday: Deborah Helps Barak, Judges 4:4-10

Thursday: Gideon Tests God, Judges 6:36-7:23

Friday: Samson and Delilah, Judges 16:1-31

Saturday: Ruth and Naomi, Ruth 1:1-22

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, …’” And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. Exodus 32:13-14

• How did the people move from the wilderness to the Promised Land?
• How does a peaceful crowd become a rebellious riot? How can we lead groups of people to behave faithfully and peacefully?
• What kinds of things take God’s place in your life? How can you rid yourself of false idols and follow only God?
• In an absurd response to Moses’ delay, the Israelites are persuaded to melt down their jewelry and form a golden calf to worship. Hmmm…what might God think of that?

PRAY: Your patience, O God, is never ending and your wrath quick to subside. Teach us to cast aside all that is false and turn to you alone, for the sake of Jesus, Amen.

It must have seemed impossible, but after years of bondage, God gives the people instructions for the time of their departure, when God will act powerfully to liberate them. They only had to act in trust that the God who loved them could make a new future.  We, too, are called to come together as a community of faith, to tell again the power of God’s liberating love!

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday at 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:

Passover and Deliverance                                                           October 2, 2016

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

Read:   Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text.

Sunday: Passover and Deliverance, Exodus 12:1-13; 13:1-8

Monday: Pillars of Cloud and Fire, Exodus 13:17-22

Tuesday: Crossing the Red Sea, Exodus 14:1-31

Wednesday: Songs of Moses and Miriam, Exodus 15:1-21

Thursday: Manna and Quail, Exodus 16:1-36

Friday: Jethro Advises Moses Concerning Leadership, Exodus 18:1-27

Saturday: The Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1-21

Talk:  Consider some of these ideas –

”You shall tell your child on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”  — Exodus 13:8

• A secret command, a strange ritual, and an epic journey begins. Could Israel have even imagined the adventure which lay ahead, their tour guide none other than the Almighty God?
• Some of God’s grandest moments happen when the community comes together.
• What did God do for the people of Israel? Where was God faithful? Where were the people faithful?
• How can you, like Moses, help set people free today from bondage, addiction, poverty, abuse, and more?
• In what ways has God set you free? In what ways do you still feel bound?

Pray:  You have led your chosen people for generations, O God. Keep us mindful of your faithfulness and trusting in the next step you have in store for us. For the sake of Christ our Lord, Amen.

Bless: May God deliver you from bondage to sin and death. Amen.

Join us as we hear from Emily Tveite, Director & Campus Pastor at the Lutheran Campus Center in Madison.  Pastor Emily will share the sermon at worship and join us during the coffee hour to tell us more about the ministry that we share to the University community.

Worship this week: 

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Conversation with Pastor Tveite

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

God Works through Joseph                           September24-25, 2016

 SHARE:   What was a high point/low point of your day?

 READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text:

Sunday: Joseph’s Dream, Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34; 50:15-21

Monday: Egyptian Midwives Save Hebrew Babies, Exodus 1:1-22

Tuesday: Birth and Youth of Moses, Exodus 2:1-25

Wednesday: God Calls Moses, Exodus 3:1-15

Thursday: Plagues 1-3, Exodus 7:1-8:19

Friday: Plagues 4-6, Exodus 7:20-9:12

Saturday: Plagues 7-9, Exodus 9:13-10:29

How does God move from being the God of a single family to the God of an entire nation?

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

• Joseph is the golden child with a colorful coat, destined to be noticed wherever he may end up. Can he prevail in the face of jealousy, danger, and deception?
• Sometimes following God is difficult and dangerous. But God remains faithful to those who follow.
• In what ways is it unsafe to follow Jesus today? How do you respond to God’s call in light of the potential dangers?
• What gifts has God given you? How can you use your gifts for good?

PRAY: You have brought us through many trials, O Lord. Look with favor upon us yet, and keep on showing us how best to glorify your name. Amen.

BLESS:  May God remain faithful to you each and every day. Amen.

In the small hours of the morning, Abram wonders.   Things haven’t worked out like he imagined thus far.  Perhaps you know this feeling too?  While the answer is not simple, God’s promise is profound.  Step back and look at the grand sweep of things, and trust that God’s promise remains true.

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday at 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:

God’s Promise to Abraham                          September 17-18, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point/low point of your day?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text:

Sunday: Abraham’s Descendants, Genesis 15:1-6

Monday: Abraham’s Sacrifice, Genesis 22:1-19

Tuesday: Isaac and Rebekah, Genesis 24:1-67

Wednesday: Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing, Genesis 27:1-29

Thursday: Jacob Marries Leah, then Rachel, Genesis 29:9-30

Friday: Jacob Wrestles an Angel, Genesis 32:22-32

Saturday: The Rape of Dinah, Genesis 34:1-31

How do the people in these stories try to take matters into their own hands?

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

• After years of no discernible fulfillment to God’s promise of descendants, Abram is losing heart. What will it take to restore his faith?
• Where do you see people in your community trying to take matters into their own hands? Where do you see God acting on their behalf?
• What has God promised you? How might you live and behave this week knowing that those promises are upheld?
• Go outside at night. Watch the stars. Imagine that those stars represent the people God promised to bless through Abram. Which ones shine brightest? Why?

PRAY: O God, our faith can be shaky and temperamental. Show us your steadfastness and restore our hope in you. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

BLESS:  May God bless you as abundantly as God created stars. Amen.