In a world where bad news gets far more attention than good, what would it be like if we could practice telling each other the good truths, our testimony, about what God is doing in our lives?

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

                                   Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in Sanctuary

                                                   10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship in Sanctuary this week!

 Questions for the week:

• Was there a time when you felt God active in your life? Can you tell that story, speak it out loud?
• Do you feel anxious when considering speaking about faith?
• Can your articulate the reasons for your anxiety?

Tasks for the week: Be deliberate about speaking out loud the truth that God is connected to your daily life: Bless your family members (out loud); Hand your worries to God, and say so out loud; Give yourself permission to testify to your faith

Devotions for the week:

Monday: Exodus 5:14; Mark 1:13-14

Thank you Lord, that even when I wander, your angels watch over me.Lead me, forgive my impatience, and assure me of your love.

Tuesday: Exodus 33:20; John 4:9

Lord, forgive my preoccupation with distant things when you want to connect to my present life through the love of your Son.

Wednesday: Isaiah 62:2; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank you, Lord, for calling me by my name and claiming me as your own. Help me to let go of things past, and live as your new creation.

Thursday: Psalm 42:8; Luke 6:12

Help me to make prayer the key to the morning, the seal at the end of the day, and a constant conversation with you as I move through the day.

Friday: Psalm 63:7; Romans 8:38-39

Help me to trust when I don’t feel deserving, to stay connected when life seems to pull us apart, and know that nothing gets in your love’s way!

Saturday: Isaiah 60:2; John 12:46

Thank you, Lord, for coming as the Light that lightens our darkness, and the love that flows within us!

Next week: Practicing Discernment

 

“I just don’t have the time” seems to be the refrain of our age. Yet God calls us to take time for worship, rest, and renewal. Could it be that we would have better lives by observing Sabbath?

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

                                   Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in Sanctuary

                             10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship on church lawn (weather permitting)

July 26-27 – Practicing Keeping Sabbath

Questions for this week:

• To truly keep Sabbath in your life, what would you most need to rest from?
• If you kept a true Sabbath, how would the rest of your week change?
• What difference might true rest mean for your spiritual and physical health?

 Hymn of the week:

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto me and rest; lay down, O weary one, lay down your head upon my breast.”   I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn, and sad; I found him in a resting place, and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live.” I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.

Devotions for the week:

Monday – Genesis 2:3; Hebrews 4:9-10

Faithful God, thank you for the strength and will to work, and the fullness that work adds to my life, but also let me rest in assurance that your work for me is complete.

Tuesday – Zechariah 7:10; James 4:17

Merciful God, how quickly I blame my problems and insecurities on others. Help me to trust in you, that I may let go of fear, resentment, and covetousness.

Wednesday – Deuteronomy 16:19; John 5:44

I praise you, God, because you are free from any human control, I want to live in your freedom. Lead me to love and lead me to you.

Thursday – Habakkuk2:20; Luke 10:39

God, there is so much clamor and racket everywhere. Help me to hear you Lord.

Friday – Isaiah 44:21; Romans 11:2

Lord, by your hand you form, hold, tend, and nourish us to become people of promise and purpose. Forgive my forgetting this power.

Saturday – Isaiah 25:9; 1 John 1:3-4

Forgive me when I take grace so seriously that I am no longer gracious or glad. Help me delight in fellowship with you and not wait to be gracious with others.

 

A new school year is just around the corner…
You can help make the year successful for the youth of our church
Volunteer as a Confirmation Guide for the incoming 7th grade class
or
Take on a leading role in Sunday School
(we’re still looking for someone to team teach 1st grade every other weekend,
a couple of adults to team up to help with 4th grade, and
some adults who are interested in guiding conversations with the high school youth)

 

https://elcmthoreb.org/2014/07/23/2363/

We are a people who love to have choices, but that doesn’t necessarily make it easy to choose. How can we faithfully say yes to things which nurture faith and love, and find the strength to say no to those things which rob our joy?

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend: Saturday 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

      Sunday 8:30 a.m. Traditional worship (Firehouse Minstrels provide special Music)

                    10:00 a.m. Contemporary worship in Sanctuary (due to art fair)

 July 19-20 – Practicing Saying Yes and Saying No

Questions for the week:

• What is the most demanding yes you’ve ever said?
• What has been the most difficult no?
• How does faith in Christ shape these decisions?

 Hymn of the week:

O Holy spirit, enter in, And in our hearts your work begin,
And make our hearts your dwelling. Sun of the soul, O Light divine,
Around and in us brightly shine, Your strength in us upwelling.
In your radiance Life from heaven Now is given Overflowing,
Gift of gifts beyond all knowing.

Left to ourselves, we surely stray; Oh, lead us on the narrow way,
With wisest counsel guide us; And give us steadfastness that we
May follow you forever free, No matter who derides us.
Gently heal those Hearts now broken; Give some token You are near us,
Whom we trust to light and cheer us

 Devotions for the week:

Monday – Psalm 77:2; Matthew 5:4

Lord, all life comes of you and returns to you, and there is in truth , nothing I should fear except losing you.

Tuesday – Psalm 103:14; 2 Corinthians 4:7

God, how wonderful are all your works. When I take a moment to ponder this my foolish pride is banished. You alone are worth of praise and honor.

Wednesday – Psalm 90:8; 1 John 1:8-9

Lord, you know my deepest secrets, yet you assure me of love and forgiveness.

Thursday – 2 Chronicles 30:8; John 1:45-46

Surprise me Lord, overcome by unbelief and pull my gaze to see you each day.

Friday – Proverbs 24:11-12; Matthew 25:45

Have mercy, O God, and move me to action on behalf of those who need you. Lord help me to love as you love me.

Saturday – Psalm 42:6; John 6:37

Thank you, God for your gracious welcome even when I have failed you.

 

 

We’ve had a great week at VBS & local missions, working with our neighbors at Immanuel Lutheran Church.    On Sunday at 10:00 a.m. members of both congregations will gather on the church lawn (weather permitting) for worship and have a chance to hear from our young people about their week.

Following worship we’ll host a potluck meal in the fellowship hall — bring a dish to pass!!