Many who attended worship this Sunday took time to send pictures, greetings and prayers for baby Devon, born last month in England to a church family living there, and has been hospitalized since birth.  Many children also created hand-colored greetings to share our love and support with Devon and his family.

 

All good things are possible because we have a loving God. Therefore it is right and proper that the name of the Lord is to be praised.  We begin a series on the psalms this week with a Psalm of praise – Psalm 113.  Join us as we give thanks and praise to the God who made all things, and continues to lift up those in need.

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  (Please note time change for summer months)

Devotions for the week:

A Song of Praise – Psalm 113                                               June 6-7, 2015

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 113:1-2

The name of the Lord is to be praised. It is God who has the power and the willingness to raise the poor and needy from the dust and to treat God’s children as royalty. All good things are possible because of a loving God.

These psalms of praise describe the many things God has done that are worthy of praise.

Sunday, Psalm 113, Psalm of Praise

Monday, Psalm 8, Psalm of Praise

Tuesday, Psalm 68, Psalm of Praise

Wednesday, Psalm 100, Psalm of Praise

Thursday, Psalm 111, Psalm of Praise

Friday, Psalm 122, Psalm of Praise

Saturday, Psalm 150, Psalm of Praise

• What kinds of things do these praise psalms praise God for?
• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• What does our community/culture praise? Where does God fit in with the things we praise?
• What is the most wonderful thing God has done for you? How has that changed you?

Write one different praise word on a slip of paper every day. Concentrate on that word throughout the day. Notice how often God shows up in your world.

May God show up boldly in your world today. Amen.

Sponsored by the ELC Guild

Serving begins at 4:30 p.m.

Menu includes Barbecue and Egg Salad Sandwiches, Potato Salad, Angel Food Cake, Strawberry Sundaes, Pie and Ice Cream, Lemonade and Coffee.

Everyone is Welcome!

Please note special worship schedule for Sunday – One worship service (with traditional music)  at 10:00 a.m.

This week we will share in theme of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin’s Assembly:  “The Open Table — Always room for one more!”.

As we worship we’ll be asked to consider:  “Who first invited you into the fellowship of Christ’s church?  Who isn’t represented in our gathering?  How can we invite and include those who might be left out?

Worship this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 10:00 a.m. with traditional music in the sanctuary.

Devotions for this week:

Introduction to the Psalms                                               May 30-31, 2015

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.  — Psalm 1:1-2

In this instructional psalm the Lord makes a clear distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous. Those who do not follow in God’s ways do not find happiness, while those who meditate on God’s law day and night find peace and contentment.

These wisdom psalms describe the life of righteousness and unrighteousness.

Sunday, Psalm 1, Introduction to the Psalms

Monday, Psalm 14, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

Tuesday, Psalm 19, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

Wednesday, Psalm 53, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

Thursday, Psalm 90, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

Friday, Psalm 119, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

Saturday, Psalm 128, Instructional/Wisdom Psalm

• How do these psalms view the laws of God? Are God’s laws good news or bad news? Why?
• What might this world look like if people took God’s laws seriously?
• Which of God’s laws is hardest for you to follow? Why? What could you do to make a change in your behavior?

Make a routine of reading the psalms by yourself or with your household. Pick one thing from a psalm each day to work on for that day.

Close your devotion with a blessing. Bless yourself or other members of your household.–May God bless you with wisdom and delight. Amen.

 

Especially when times are hard we have the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to remind us that there is something greater than our suffering – salvation through God’s love in Christ.  Come celebrate the great festival of Pentecost.  The color of the day is red, so bring out your brightest red clothes to fill the house this Sunday.

Worship this week with Holy Communion

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. — Traditional worship

10:30 a.m. — Contemporary worship

Devotions for this week:

Pentecost                               May 24, 2015, Acts 2:1-4; Romans 8:18-39

 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.                 Romans 8:38-39

 On this Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit that is God’s presence with us. In the midst of suffering, it is God’s Holy Spirit that “intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Despite human suffering, there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. This love gives us hope that we can endure any suffering, knowing that we are not alone.

 Follow the book of Romans, as Paul explains humanity’s relationship with God’s righteousness.

Sunday, Acts 2:1-4, Pentecost

Monday, Romans 8:18-39, Pentecost

Tuesday, Romans 14:1-12, Do Not Judge Another

Wednesday, Romans 14:13-23, Do Not Make Another Stumble

Thursday, Romans 15:1-13, Gospel for All

Friday, Romans 15:14-21, Paul’s Reason for Writing So Boldly

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

 What were Paul’s next plans?

• In light of God’s promises, how do you make sense of the times in life when God’s presence seems terribly far away? How do you make sense of evil?
• How do others know you are a child of God?

Do: In honor of Pentecost, light a fire (safely, in a fireplace or outdoor fire pit). As the wood burns, consider how God’s Holy Spirit is like the fire. How can you use the image to shape your behaviors this week as someone who can never be separated from God’s love?

Bless: God of the nations, speak to us in words that change our lives. We long for your Spirit in vibrant new expressions. Amen.