God loves us, though we are flawed, enough to bestow God’s treasure within us.   As we worship and live each day, we ask God to help us to recognize the treasure that each person is in God’s eyes.

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:

Treasure in Clay Jars                                                           June 4-5, 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, 2 Corinthians 4:1-15, Treasure in Clay Jars

Monday, Colossians 1:15-23, The Supremacy of Christ

Tuesday, Genesis 1:1 – 2:4, Creation

Wednesday, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Proclaiming Christ Crucified

Thursday, Hebrews 13:1-19, Service Well-Pleasing to God

Friday, Galatians 6:11-18, Final Admonitions and Benediction

Saturday, Romans 8:31-39, God’s Love in Christ Jesus

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”

                                                                                 2 Corinthians 4:7

Paul builds up the Corinthians, motivating them to persevere in the zeal of their mission. We may be imperfect, damaged, downtrodden – but never destroyed. For we possess the one thing which cannot be suppressed: the life of Jesus.

• What does it mean to you that “we have this treasure in clay jars”? What is the treasure? What is the clay jar?
• How does God’s power work in and through your life? Tell a story of a time you felt God’s power within you.
• Try this: Get a chunk of clay from a craft store. Create something that reminds you that God values you enough to store God’s treasure within you. Display your artwork somewhere that you can be reminded daily that you are valuable to God.

PRAY:  Creator of all, you have made us fragile, yet unbreakable in your trustworthy hands. Give us good courage to persevere in your mission, with Christ always alive in us. Amen.

BLESS:  May God fill you with God’s power and treasure. Amen.

“Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.”  — II Corinthians 2:10

Paul has seen the pain caused by his own words and actions, and the damage done to the community by the pain, guilt, and grudges of unforgiven sin.  He encourages them, and us, to live in the grace and forgiveness that is ours in Christ, so that our lives and our communities may know renewed life!

Worship this weekend:

5:00 p.m. Saturday in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship   (Note new time for summer!)

Devotions for this week:

Forgiveness, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10                             May 29, 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, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10, Forgiveness

Monday, 2 Corinthians 2:11-17, Paul’s Anxiety in Troas

Tuesday, 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Ministers of the New Covenant

Wednesday, Galatians 6:1-10, Bear One Another’s Burdens

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

Friday, Philippians 2:19-30, Timothy and Epaphroditus

Saturday, Matthew 18:21-22, Forgiveness

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:10

Paul urges the Corinthians to forgive one who has wronged them, that they might also know freedom and live as Christ’s true followers.

• What can you learn about forgiveness from these texts?
• What kinds of things are hard for you to forgive? How can God help?
• Tell of a story of a time you did something for which you needed forgiveness. How did it turn out?

Do:  Consider someone with whom you currently have a broken relationship. Make a point to pray for the well-being of that person a few times each day this week. At the end of the week take note of how your relationship or your attitude toward that relationship has changed over the course of the week.

Bless: May God mend your broken relationships. Amen.

The Christian life is always a mixture of joy with time of hardship.   Paul writes of a time when “we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. ”  (2 Corinthians 1:8)  It is in those times we need to trust God’s presence, and also be present for one another to share God’s strength.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m.  Worship through music led by the Senior Choir

9:30 a.m. last day of Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

A note of Consolation, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11           May 22, 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, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Consolation

Monday, 2 Corinthians 1:12-24, The Postponement of Paul’s Visit

Tuesday, Colossians 1:24 – 2:5, Paul’s Interest in the Colossians

Wednesday, Romans 8:12-17, Life in the Spirit

Thursday, 2 Timothy 2:1-13, A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

Friday, Acts 19:21-41, A Riot Breaks Out in Ephesus

Saturday, Romans 15:22-33, Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

The opening of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is a powerful word of comfort from one who knows and understands the afflictions of his beloved community. Paul’s letter models remorse and repentance, but also a recognition that God can console us in any situation, and in God we are reconciled.

• What themes of Paul’s can you identify from these letters and acts of Paul?
• How does God console those who are suffering? Where do you see suffering that seems inconsolable?
• Tell a story of a time you needed to be consoled. Who helped you?

Do: Consider someone in your life that need consoling. Reach out to that person this week. Offer to bring a meal or share a conversation and coffee with them. When you visit, do more listening than talking. You don’t need to have all the answers; a listening ear can be incredibly healing.

Bless: May God console you in your pain and rejoice with you in your joy. Amen.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the musical gifts of the ELC Senior Choir as they lead ‘Worship Through Music’ this Sunday, May 22nd,  8:30 a.m. at ELC.   The choir, under the direction of Diane Dangerfield, will provide a variety of choral numbers, along with congregational singing as we praise God in this very special worship event.

 Join us as we celebrate our 2016 High School graduates with the gift of a blanket and blessing.  Join as we send them off with these words: 

Wherever you wander, no matter how dark the night, may the warmth of this blanket, the love of your parents, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fellowship of this church, the power of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forever. Go with God’s blessing. Amen