As we await the day of the Lord’s return, how are we using our days for the benefit of our Lord?

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

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

Devotions for this week:

March 15, 2015                                                       “The Parable of the Talents”

Study: In following the theme of abundant invitation and grace of the past few weeks, this story moves now to the expected response to such an invitation.  In the parable, the master was gone for a time, and then returned at an unexpected time. But those waiting were expected to be prepared for the return. The servants were expected to invest what they had been given, so that at the master’s return they would have even more to return. The parable shows that action is expected on the part of those waiting.

Read:  Follow the parables and teachings of Jesus, as Jesus challenged followers to do more for God’s kingdom.

Sunday, Matthew 25:1-13, (25:14-30), Bridesmaids (or Talents)

Monday, Psalm 43:3-4, Psalm

Tuesday, Matthew 22:15-33, Questions for Jesus

Wednesday, Matthew 22:34-46, The Greatest Commandment

Thursday, Matthew 23:1-36, Woes

Friday, Matthew 23:37-39, Lament over Jerusalem

Saturday, Matthew 24:1-28, Teachings of Jesus

• How is the tone of these later chapters different from earlier chapters? What was Jesus trying to tell people?
• Do people live as if Jesus might return any day? How might your community look different if people behaved as if Jesus was on his way?
• What is one thing you can change about your routine or behaviors so that you are behaving as if Jesus was going to return at any moment?

Do: Make a bucket list of 5-10 things you would like to do before Jesus’ return.

 

God keeps inviting people into the feast of the kingdom. How do respond to this invitation?

Worship this week — Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m. – Sunday School  and presentation by LUAD (Lutherans United, Assisting after Disaster) in the fellowship hall

10:30 a.m. — Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:

March 8, 2015                                   “The Parable of the Wedding banquet”

Study: The king in the parable of the wedding banquet was a generous king, but also one who refused to be taken advantage of. Initially he invited family and friends to the banquet, but they would not come. This may have been a parallel to the Jewish leaders who refused to walk in God’s ways, even as they were claiming to do just that. The king then invited everyone to come, perhaps an open invitation from God to come into God’s kingdom. A twist near the end shows one man, improperly dressed for the banquet, thrown out of the party. This may have been to indicate that God’s people were expected to behave in a manner fitting of guests of the king; to treat one another with kindness and respect.

Read: Follow the teachings and actions of Jesus. See how his actions angered and frightened those in power.

Sunday, Matthew 22:1-14, Wedding Banquet

Monday, Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm

Tuesday, Matthew 20:17-34, Works of Jesus

Wednesday, Matthew 21:12-22, Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Thursday, Matthew 21:23-27, The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Friday, Matthew 21:28-32, Parables of Jesus

Saturday, Matthew 21:33-46, Parables of Jesus

• Who are the insiders and who are the outsiders in your community? What happens when the lines get blurred? Who benefits when insiders and outsiders begin to work together? Who is hurt?
• How is Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet good news for you? How is it bad news? Which do you prefer to see: the good or the bad?

Do: Invite someone to coffee that you normally would not invite (a co-worker, a neighbor, a parishioner). Come with no expectations. Enjoy the company of someone new.

 

This week’s song is a modern recounting of the events of Christ’s life, told to a familiar tune.   This season of Lent is a good time to focus anew on the story of God’s great love for us that begins at creation, and goes on to eternity.  Join us for worship this Wednesday!

Lenten worship at 11:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall (followed by a soup/sandwich lunch)

or at 7:30  p.m. in the chapel.

All are invited to Wednesday evening potluck at 6:00 p.m.

This week we begin a series of Jesus’ parables with the ‘parable of the vineyard. 

This parable reminds us of God’s generous love, which is given out of grace, not because of hard work or merit.

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

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:

March 1, 2015                                                     “Laborers in the Vineyard”

“[The landowner said,] ‘Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:15-16

Study: Our sense of fairness is challenged in this parable. Many of us have been raised to believe we get what we earn. To imagine someone else might receive what we receive for having earned far less challenges our sensibilities. But what if we are not the laborer who has earned a day’s wage? What if we are the laborer who cannot possibly work hard enough or long enough to earn a day’s wage? Perhaps Jesus was teaching here that God offers love more abundantly than anyone can possibly earn.

Read: Follow the parables and teachings of Jesus, as Jesus challenged followers to do more for God’s kingdom.

Sunday, Matthew 20:1-16, Laborers in the Vineyard

Monday, Psalm 16:5-8, Psalm

Tuesday, Matthew 16:1-12, Teachings of Jesus

Wednesday, Matthew 16:13-23, Jesus Foretells His Death

Thursday, Matthew 17:9-27, Teachings of Jesus

Friday, Matthew 18:10-14, Parables of Jesus

Saturday, Matthew 19:1-30, Teachings of Jesus

• What is God’s role in the parables Jesus told?
• What would happen if Jesus’ idea of abundant generosity was played out in your community?
• What difference does it make to your life that you have been given abundant, unearned, generous love from God?

Do: Notice how practicing abundant generosity changes you. Perhaps be an extravagant tipper this week

Bless: Generous God, our hearts are sometimes stingy. Speak love to us in the reading of your word. Amen.

Jesus offers abundant forgiveness and instructs his followers do to the same. How does our life show the abundant grace of God first given to us?

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

 Devotions for this week:

February 22, 2015                                                       Forgiveness                        

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus often used parables to teach people about God and God’s kingdom. In today’s parable, Jesus taught that forgiving others makes sense in light of the abundant forgiveness God has extended to us. Jesus suggested that reconciliation is more important than being right. His suggestion to forgive 77 times was not to limit forgiveness to a specified number of times, but to suggest that we forgive an unlimited number of times.

Follow the parables and teachings of Jesus, as Jesus challenged followers to do more for God’s kingdom.

Sunday, Matthew 18:15-35, Forgiveness

Monday, Psalm 32:1-2, Psalm

Tuesday, Matthew 13:24-43, Parables of Jesus

Wednesday, Matthew 13:44-58, Parables of Jesus

Thursday, Matthew 14:1-12, Death of John the Baptist

Friday, Matthew 14:34-15:20, Teachings of Jesus

Saturday, Matthew 15:21-39, Teachings and Miracles of Jesus

• What is the kingdom of heaven like? How might Jesus’ parables be told using images from today?
• In our litigating society, how does culture view justice? How does it view forgiveness? What might happen if people practiced forgiveness over blame and the need for restitution?
• Who stands in need of your forgiveness? What would it take to make you ready to forgive?

Bless: Gracious and loving God, soften our hearts as we hear your word today. Give us the will and the power to be forgiving. Amen.