We are all, like Paul, called to be saints.   Not because we excel in doing good, but because God has loved and forgiven us.

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 / New member orientation

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:

Gospel as Salvation                                   May 3, 2015, Romans 1:1-17

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

 Even though Christians understand that we are saved by faith and not by works of the law, it is still tempting to believe that we go to heaven because we are good, not because God is good. We often want to believe others may not go to heaven because they are bad. But our world is not made up of such absolutes. God saves not based on our goodness or badness. God saves because of God’s goodness. Salvation is ours because we have a righteous God. Salvation is ours by faith through God’s grace.

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

Sunday, Romans 1:1-17, Gospel as Salvation

Monday, Matthew 9:10-13, Call of Matthew

Tuesday, Romans 2:17-3:8, The Jews and the Law

Wednesday, Romans 3:9-20, None Is Righteous

Thursday, Romans 3:21-31, Righteousness through Faith

Friday, Romans 4:1-12, The Example of Abraham

Saturday, Romans 4:13-25, God’s Promise Realized through Faith

 What is Paul’s purpose for writing Romans? How does he describe God’s righteousness?

• What sins do you consider unforgivable? What sins can be easily overlooked? Does God make a distinction between the two?
• What shames or embarrasses you about your life in faith? What would make that shame or embarrassment lessened?

Bless: Saving God, reveal the beauty of your grace to us in the reading of the scriptures today. Amen.

 

This week we will worship, following the story of Paul’s early ministry in Acts 13 & 14,  but we will also be about the ‘hands on’ work of our church.

Please note the schedule for this Sunday:

(worship on Saturday is 5:00 p.m in chapel)

Sunday, April 26

8:30 a.m. Traditional worship

9:30 a.m. Eleanor Sibert, our Synod representative for the ELCA Malaria Campaign, will discuss efforts to rid the world of this devastating disease. World Malaria Day is the preceding day, April 25.

10:00 a.m. – Brief worship time followed by service activities ( see details below)

Our Ch rch isn’t Church Without U

EVERYONE is invited to join in a day of service at ELC on Sunday, April 26th from 10am until noon.  Various opportunities to serve within the ELC community will be available and then a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship will follow at noon in the Fellowship Hall.

Here are some of the activities that will be available following the abbreviated 10am service.

Handprint quilt in MARK – everyone should stop and add their handprint to the “God’s Work. Our Hands” quilt

Prayer Shawls in FAITH – quilting or crocheting prayer shawls or hand stitching the tags on to the shawls

Baby blanket tying in Matthew – using a needle and yarn to tie two pieces of fabric together to create blanket that will be finished later

Spring Cleaning outdoors – bring a rake and some gloves and help clear the dead “stuff” from around the building

Spring Cleaning indoors – meet in the sanctuary to get “dusting” instructions and supplies

Spring Cleaning windows – meet in fellowship hall by fireplace to get assigned area

Letter Writing for Compassion Kids and College Students in Luke

Usher training – if you have been an usher or want to be an usher, meet by the sound booth in the sanctuary

Some drywall patching is needed, if anyone is qualified and equipped

There will also be some heavy lifting, assembly and destruction work if anyone is interested.  Meet by the chalkboard in Fellowship Hall.

Around 11:30 we’ll start to return to the fellowship hall where information about various ministry teams will be available for you to look at in “Discipleship U” and indicate interest in joining – including a possible new Circle, men’s group, summer VBS volunteers, and a summer Teen Music Team!

Potluck at noon.

Just a reminder that Lutherans Against Bullying (LAB) will be hosting a workshop at Barneveld Lutheran Church this Saturday, April 25th, from 9am until 2pm. There will be a track of breakouts targeted for youth 11+ and a track of breakouts targeted for adults. The cost is $10 and includes lunch. The day will end with worship at 1:30pm.

The ELC Youth Choir presents their musical at worship this weekend – “It Happened at Camp Willomocky”  –Join Camp Leader Miss Rigby who whips the “troops” into shape for fun and learning about the Bible and Big Chief Willomocky. It’s all here: a campfire, sleeping under the stars, hiking, a thunderstorm, rainbows, butterflies and a contest to determine the best camper. Meg has her own plan on how to win…but she and all the campers learn some very important truths along the way.

Worship this weekend:

Saturday at 5:00 pm in the chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

 

After the great events of Holy Week and Easter, the message of Jesus’ victory is entrusted to his followers, and us, to carry into the world.  We may feel unready, but Jesus promises to be with us each step of the way.

Worship this week:

Saturday – 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

The Great Commission                                       April 12, 2015

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus spent much of the book of Matthew teaching the disciples to look at the world in a new way; to see the lowly as worthy, and to challenge the authority of those who had let power corrupt them. After his death and resurrection, it became time for the disciples to continue the work Jesus came here to do. Yet they did not work apart from his presence. They were not challenged to succeed in converting people. They were commissioned to go, baptize, and teach others to look at the world in a new way; the work of transformation still remains with Jesus.

Follow the stories of early believers and missionaries.

Sunday, Matthew 28:16-20, Great Commission

Monday, Psalm 40:9-10, Psalm

Tuesday, Acts 7:54-8:1, Stoning of Stephen

Wednesday, Acts 8:4-25, Philip Preaches in Samaria

Thursday, Acts 8:26-40, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

Friday, Acts 9:1-19, The Conversion of Saul

Saturday, Acts 9:36-43, Peter in Lydda and Joppa

• How did Jesus prepare the disciples for the work they were commissioned to do?
• Who are the people within your community that are viewed as less-than? How can you work to welcome them into God’s kingdom?
• If God changed your name as a sign that you have been set apart to serve God, what name would you want God to choose? Why?

Bless: God of grace, thank you for loving us even when we doubt. Expand our faith as your word is shared today. Amen.