We welcome Tim and Cathy Woller to worship this weekend as we share in the mission of SABA International, working  to support education, nutrition, and shelter for underprivileged youth and their communities in East Africa.  SABA is our special benevolence emphasis for the month of August.

¹ Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

                                                                Hebrews 1:1-2

During the rest of August we will be turning to the book of Hebrews for our Sunday messages. It begins with those verses at the top of the page which echo the message that it is Jesus who is our source and our life. We belong to the one who is greater than all those things which would rob us of joy and faith.  Do we continue to listen to the one who brings life and hope?

As we follow the message of Hebrews we will see how, even then, the message met opposition, and the congregation began to lose its purpose and enthusiasm, but God is by no means done acting in our world and in our congregation. The question for all of us, old and young, is will we step up and claim that strength for today and tomorrow, or will we sit back and watch while God finds a way to call someone else? Either way, the kingdom will go on! But don’t you want to be a part of this great cloud of witnesses that even now is going out to bless, heal, love, forgive, serve and bring joy to this world in Jesus name?

Worship this week:

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

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

7:00 p.m. Worship on the lawn    (No 10:00 a.m. worship this week)

Devotions for the week:

God Has spoken             Hebrews 1:1-4                                    August 8-9, 2015

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. Hebrews 1:1-2

 Just as God’s voice was heard throughout the stories of the Old Testament, so God’s voice can be heard through Christ’s words and actions, and even today through the words and actions of others that reflect Christ, as an imprint reflects its original.

Read:

Sunday, Hebrews 1:1-4, God Has Spoken

Monday, Hebrews 1:5-14, The Son Superior to Angels

Tuesday, Hebrews 2:1-4, Warning to Pay Attention

Wednesday, Hebrews 2:5-9, Jesus a Little Lower than Angels

Thursday, Hebrews 3:1-6, Moses and Christ

Friday, Matthew 3:7-19, Warning against Unbelief

Saturday, Hebrews 4:1-13, God’s Promised Rest

• Where does Jesus fit into the story of God and God’s story? How does Jesus compare with God’s angels?
• Do you think Jesus still speaks to the world today? Where do you see evidence of Jesus’s voice in your community?
• How is your life a reflection of Jesus’ life? Where could you make changes so that your life reflects your values?

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

Get a small diary or journal to carry with you throughout the week. Make a note of every time you hear Jesus’ voice speaking through other people, music, news, worship, and more.

Bless: May God’s voice speak to you each and every day. Amen.

Love is a gift from God. Song of Solomon is a celebration of the passionate love shared between two people. The entire book suggests that this kind of love is a gift from God.

Worship with Holy Communion  this week:

Saturday  at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. traditional worship

10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

Love & Passion                 Song of Solomon                 August 1-2, 2015

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Song of Solomon 8:6

Song of Solomon is a celebration of physical, passionate love. It lifts up love as a gift from God that endures all of life’s challenges.

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

Sunday, Song of Solomon 2:10-13; 8:6-7, Love and Passion

Monday, Song of Solomon 3:1-5, Love’s Dream

Tuesday, Song of Solomon 3:6-11, The Groom and His Party

Wednesday, Song of Solomon 4:1 – 5:1, The Bride’s Beauty

Thursday, Song of Solomon 6:1-13, The Bride’s Beauty

Friday, Song of Solomon 7:1-9, Expressions of Praise

Saturday, Song of Solomon 8:8-14, Homecoming

• What is the nature of these texts? What is the main focus?
• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• How is physical love viewed in your community? Where is it exemplified? Where is it scorned? Why?
• How do you express love for another? How do you know you are loved?

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

Keep a journal of the shows you watch regularly on TV. How is sexuality portrayed in the shows you watch? Discuss with your household where your values are consistent with what you view in your favorite shows and where they conflict.

Bless:    May God bless your love relationships. Amen.

Worship this week with Bishop Mary Froiland preaching:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. traditional worship

10:00 a.m. contemporary worship

11:00 a.m. potluck meal in fellowship hall

(If weather is too warm, we will move to the air conditioned fellowship hall.)

Devotions for this week:

For everything there is season                                         July 25-26, 2015

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.                                                                                                                             Ecclesiastes 3:1

For every human experience, there is a time and a place for the experience to occur. Even though we would prefer to live only in the happy moments, all of the moments of our lives are a precious gift to be experienced fully.

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

Sunday, Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 3:1-17, For Everything There Is a Season

Monday, Ecclesiastes 3:9-15, The God-Given Task

Tuesday, Ecclesiastes 4:9-16, The Value of a Friend

Wednesday, Ecclesiastes 5:1-20, Reverence, Humility, and Contentment

Thursday, Ecclesiastes 6:1-12, The Frustration of Desires

Friday, Ecclesiastes 9:1-12, Take Life as It Comes

Saturday, Ecclesiastes 11:1-10, The Value of Diligence

• How is wisdom compared to other values in these readings?
• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• What do you think of the writer’s words that there are times for both the positive things in life and the negative? How can we honor all the times of our lives?
• What is the most difficult thing you have had to face? Where was/is God in your struggle?

Choose a story from the news that touches your heart. Discuss your concerns with your household or with a friend. Pray daily for all the people involved in the story, whether they are victims, witnesses, or perpetrators.

Close your devotion with a blessing.

May God bless every season of your life. Amen.

Wisdom thrives when knowledge of God is sought. The gift of wisdom is happiness. The seeking of God leads to a deeply embedded joy.

 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: 

The Gifts of Wisdom                                                             July 18-19, 2015

Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

                                                                                    Proverbs 8:10-11

Wisdom is the knowledge of God. Before God created anything, God made sure that knowledge of God was the foundation of all things. Knowledge of God is woven into the fabric of creation itself, and wisdom is the unfolding of that knowledge into our awareness.

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

Sunday, Proverbs 8:1-11, 22-36, The Gifts of Wisdom

Monday, Proverbs 9:1-6, Wisdom’s Feast

Tuesday, Proverbs 9:13-18, Folly’s Invitation and Promise

Wednesday, Proverbs 10:1-32, Wisdom of Solomon

Thursday, Proverbs 13:1-25, Wisdom of Solomon

Friday, Proverbs 18:1-24, Wisdom of Solomon

Saturday, Proverbs 20:1-30, Wisdom of Solomon

• What values do these readings lift up?
• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• How do these proverbs shape the way community is supposed to act? Does your community share and follow these values? Why or why not?
• What values shape your daily behaviors?

God’s wisdom was present even at the time of creation. Make a list of 2-3 of your favorite things that God has created. Do some research online to see how your favorite things contribute to the well-being of creation.

Close your devotion with a blessing.

May God bring wisdom into your words and actions. Amen.