When was the last time you had to let out a cheer, a shout, or song of rejoicing.  Perhaps it was at a ball game, or a performance, but do you ever stand back and consider all that God has done for you?  Perhaps it’s time to share a song of thanksgiving and praise!

Worship this week –

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

Sunday 8:30 a.m.  Traditional Worship

10:00 a.m.  Contemporary Worship

Devotions for this week:

A Song of Thanksgiving – Psalm 40:1-10                         June 27-28, 2015

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3

The psalmist is blessed to see God’s goodness working in the world. He calls upon God, and God responds in a way that the psalmist is compelled to share. God’s faithfulness and love desires a joyful audience.

These psalms of thanksgiving offer gratitude to God for a variety of God’s good works.

Sunday, Psalm 40:1-10, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Monday, Psalm 30, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Tuesday, Psalm 32, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Wednesday, Psalm 34, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Thursday, Psalm 57, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Friday, Psalm 66, Psalm of Thanksgiving

Saturday, Psalm 116, Psalm of Thanksgiving

• What kinds of things did the psalmists thank God for?
• Who in your life offers gratitude and who withholds it? How does offering and withholding gratitude affect others?
• What has God done for you that awaits gratitude?

Create a photo gratitude journal for the week. Every day, take pictures of things you are grateful for. Post your photos on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. Include in each post #gratitudejournal. At the end of the week, review your photo journal and notice how much God has shown up in your life. Look at the posts of others to see where God has shown up in the world.

May God be present in your life so that gratitude comes spilling out of you. Amen.

Mission Impossible is off to an amazing start!  The youth have been to Second Harvest Food Bank to package and label pizzas and sausage for distribution; helped people “shop” at The River Food Pantry; cleaned the Mount Horeb Museum; scanned photos, transcribed historical documents, and entered data from post cards for the Mount Horeb Historical Society; tied fleece blankets for the Ronald McDonald House and disinfected toys there; pulled weeds behind church; tie dyed cross t-shirts; and several other activities that are bringing smiles to many while fulfilling their baptismal promises!  Amazing times.  Amazing kids!

Tie Dying
    group photo

     Second Harvest Food Bank

 Mount Horeb Historical Society

   tied fleece blankets for Ronald McDonald House

What are you afraid of?  There are many forces in all of our lives that can cause fear,  the question is where do we turn in the midst of these things?  The psalmist expresses trust in a God that delivers. This trust makes it possible to be brave in the face of danger, knowing that God will be present despite the threats around us.

Worship with Holy Communion 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:

A Song of Trust – Psalm 27:1-6                                         June 20-21, 2015

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The psalmist expresses trust in a God that delivers. This trust makes it possible to be brave in the face of danger, knowing that God will be present despite the threats around us.

These psalms of trust describe faith in a God that provides for us in our need.

Sunday, Psalm 27:1-6, Psalm of Trust

Monday, Psalm 11, Psalm of Trust

Tuesday, Psalm 23, Psalm of Trust

Wednesday, Psalm 46, Psalm of Trust

Thursday, Psalm 63, Psalm of Trust

Friday, Psalm 121, Psalm of Trust

Saturday, Psalm 131, Psalm of Trust

• What does God provide in times of need? How does the psalmist express faith and trust?
• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• In what or whom does your community/culture place its trust? How could some of that trust be redirected toward trust in God?
• What are you hanging on to that you could safely give to God?

Write down 1-3 things that you eagerly control in your life. Every day be intentional to let go of control and put trust in God to manage it better than you can.

May God be faithful to you today. Amen.

This Wednesday, June 17th from 6:00 to 8: 00 p.m.

Grundahl Park Pavilion

For  grades 1 – 12

This month’s theme – “PLAY BALL”

Join us for Pizza, Gagga Ball, Basketball games and Kick Ball. We will begin with songs and end with a short prayer. The games will be on a rotation based on age groups. We look forward to seeing you!!

PLEASE RSVP CHERYL MORTVEDT  at MORTVEDTC@GMAIL.COM or 608.279.6363.  Questions can be sent to the same location.

At times God’s people have felt overwhelmed by the world, and this psalm is a cry of lament, a cry for help, to the Lord who is trustworthy even in the midst of the flood.

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:

A Song of Lament – Psalm 69:1-16                                   June 13-14, 2015

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Psalm 69:13-14

This psalm of lament calls upon God’s faithfulness to deliver the psalmist from suffering that is caused, in great part, by the psalmist’s faithfulness to God. The psalmist, though weary from waiting, remains persistent, knowing that God will answer his pleas and deliver him in God’s own time.

These lament psalms give God’s people permission to express themselves to God.

Sunday, Psalm 69:1-16, Psalm of Lament

Monday, Psalm 22, Psalm of Lament

Tuesday, Psalm 51, Psalm of Lament

Wednesday, Psalm 70, Psalm of Lament

Thursday, Psalm 108, Psalm of Lament

Friday, Psalm 123, Psalm of Lament

Saturday, Psalm 139, Psalm of Lament

• What kinds of things do the psalmists complain about? How does God show up in the lament psalms?
• For what does your community/culture cry? Who suffer that have no voice? How could you be a voice for them?
• What keeps you awake at night? Where is God when you are struggling?

Choose five to ten of your favorite songs to play when you are sad or suffering. Choose five to ten of your favorite songs to play when you are feeling great. Create a playlist that moves you from sadness to trust to joy.

May God walk with you in the sadness and in the joy. Amen.