God promised to bless Abraham so that Abraham would be a blessing to the world.  But this blessing was not always what Abraham wanted or expected, yet God has  blessed us all through Abraham.  We also continue to receive blessings to share, and like Abraham we might find those blessings very unexpectedly.

Worship this weekend: 

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

September 13-14, 2014

Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

God of blessing, you promised Abraham many things that seemed unlikely. Yet you remained faithful to every single promise. Give us hope that you will remain faithful to us, even when we are tempted to lose hope, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Reflect:Reflect on the key verse from Sunday’s reading.

I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.

God promised Abraham land. Abraham was a nomad, a wanderer in the desert with few possessions. Land would have been an unlikely blessing. But throughout his life he continued to encounter kings and others who feared Abraham’s God and gave him possessions and land to keep Abraham’s God from punishing them.

God promised Abraham descendants. Although he and his wife, Sarah, were old, and Sarah was barren, God gave them a baby, Isaac. Through Isaac, a great nation was born. Nothing is too great for God to accomplish.

God promised to bless Abraham so that Abraham would be a blessing to the world. Indeed, through Abraham’s descendants King David, and then Jesus Christ came to this world. The whole world has been blessed through Abraham, as we continue to receive those blessings even today.

Read:Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.

Follow the genealogy from Abraham to Joseph. See how God’s covenant with Abraham continued throughout the generations.

Sunday, Genesis 12:1-9, Call of Abraham

Monday, Genesis 15:1-6, God’s Covenant with Abram

Tuesday, Genesis 21:1-7, The Birth of Isaac

Wednesday, Genesis 25:19-28, The Birth of Esau and Jacob

Thursday, Genesis 35:16-26, The Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel

Friday, Genesis 37:1-11, Joseph Dreams of Greatness

Saturday, Genesis 37:12-36, Joseph is Sold by His Brothers

How did God use each of the men and women in these stories to carry out God’s covenant with Abraham and with humankind?

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• How is God’s covenant with Abraham fulfilled today? If all humankind is now in covenant with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus, then how shall we treat one another? Where are you accepting of others? Where are you intolerant?
• How has God blessed you? What are you grateful for? Practicing gratitude is a holy practice. Do it often this week.

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.

God’s blessings and promises are as numerous as the stars. Go outside at night and count the stars. Take notice of God’s blessings in your life throughout the week.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.

God who blesses others through us, through your word inspire us to live lives trusting in your promise. Amen.

As we begin a new year of sharing the Bible’s story, we open again to Genesis where God promises Noah and his family that God will never again destroy the earth in response to humanity’s corruption.

Worship with Holy Communion this weekend:

Saturday 5:00 p.m. in chapel

Sunday 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

             10:00 a.m.  God’s Work — Our Hands.   Gather in Sanctuary to hear options for serving (or gather at the Happy Place by the Intermediate Center)

               12 noon – potluck lunch at Church

God’s Story – Your Story

Noah, the flood, and the promise

September 6-7, 2014

Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

God of covenant, you promised Noah that you would never again destroy the world by flood. Remind us daily of your intense love for humanity, and help us to love as you love, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verses from Sunday’s reading.

God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:12-13

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.

Humankind was wicked in Noah’s day. So wicked, in fact, God regretted having made human beings. So God made the decision to destroy humanity.

But God loved the rest of God’s creation. God chose Noah to be the one to care for God’s creation while the rest of humanity suffered for its sin.

Something changed in God, however, while Noah and his family were caring for the animals and vegetation on the ark. God decided to give humankind another chance through the descendants of Noah. When the flood ended and the water receded, God remembered Noah and his family. God placed a bow in the sky as a reminder to God that God promised never again to destroy humankind by flood for its wickedness.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.

Follow the stories of Noah and his descendants as they lead up to the call of Abraham and God’s covenant with him.

Sunday, Genesis 6:16-22; 9:8-15, Flood and Promise

Monday, Genesis 9:18-28, Noah and His Sons

Tuesday, Genesis 10:1-14, Nations Descended from Noah

Wednesday, Genesis 10:15-32, Nations Descended from Noah

Thursday, Genesis 11:1-9, The Tower of Babel

Friday, Genesis 11:10-26, Descendants of Shem

Saturday, Genesis 11:27-32, Descendants of Terah

How did God’s promise to one man, Noah, become a promise to a nation? How did the people respond to God’s second chance?

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• How does God’s covenant with Noah shape the relationship humanity has with God today? Where do you see God’s promises lived out in this world?
• How does God show up in your life? How and where do you connect with God?

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.

Donate time or money to a local animal shelter. Remember God’s covenant with Noah and God’s love and care for God’s creation, as Noah helped God save the animals from the flood.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.

God who keeps promises, wash us in your word this day. Shine the light of your love in the darkest parts of our lives. Amen.

 

GOD’S WORK. OUR HANDS.
Join us Sunday, September 7th
Worship at 8:30am
Service Projects at 10am
Potluck at Noon!

There are a wide variety of service projects so that people of all ages and all abilities can join in the activities of this day as we use our hands to do God’s work.

https://elcmthoreb.org/2014/09/04/2449/

Our Lutheran tradition has always held music in high regard. Martin Luther wrote: “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man that he should proclaim the Word of God through Music.”  We conclude our “Practicing our Faith” series with a music-filled worship weekend!

Worship this weekend:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m.  Traditional worship music (including a chance to request your favorite hymn!)

Sunday — One worship service at 10:00 a.m. led by our contemporary praise team!!
 

August 30-31 – Practicing Singing Our Lives

Questions for the week:

• How often have you had a tune ‘stuck in your head’?
• What songs can you sing by heart?

Hymn of the week:

My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—How can I keep from singing?

Devotions for the week:

Monday: Psalm 66:5; Ephesians1:3

Lord, I stand in wonder of the deeds of power you have worked in my life. Forgive me when I demand new signs instead of trusting you.

Tuesday: Psalm 145:13; Philippians 4:6

When worry, fear, and anxiety overtake me, remind me that you are not far off. Turn my fear into trust in you.

Wednesday: Psalm 16:2; John 6:66-68

Lord Jesus, each day restore me in faith, and keep me close. Turn my life around and call me to follow you alone.

Thursday: Micah 7:19; John 12:47

Compassionate God, thank you for taking my sins far from me. Bury my lack of faith that I may rise again in your grace.

Friday: Psalm 31:15; Matthew 6:30

Lord God, release me from my need to control times and seasons. Help me to live today for it is on this day you come meet me, and sustain me.

Saturday: Isaiah 61:1; Romans 8:14

When the world tells me otherwise, remind me that I am a beloved and blessed child of God.

 

“Asante” is a Swahili word translated “Thank You” in English. The Asante Children’s Choir is made up of children from East Africa, a region recovering from years of civil war and genocide that have claimed millions of lives leaving thousands of children and women as orphans and widows. The Choir is dedicated to spreading love, hope and joy while raising awareness for the desperate plight of orphans and other vulnerable children. Their colorful clothing, pounding drums and sweet voices demonstrate their hope and dream for a brighter future. Their inspirational stories of resilience have instilled hope in the hearts of all those who have seen them perform.  For more information visit:  www.asantechoir.org

Come  join us for this wonderful concert and invite your friends and neighbors.