Forgiveness is central to the Christian message, and central to the Lord’s Prayer.  We hear Jesus’ words in Matthew and are asked to consider how much we have been forgiven, and how well we have forgiven others.

We look forward to a presentation this week by the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin’s India Youth Exchange group, including ELC’s own Brighid Monahan, as they will share their experiences of visiting India this past March.  They will share this presentation at both Sunday morning worship services.

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

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.  & 10:00 a.m. in Sanctuary

Don’t forget “Kingdom Rock” Camp ELC – Vacation Bible School begins Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

Forgive Us
June 16, 2013
Matthew 6:12

Key Verse: Jesus said, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: Often people think of forgiveness as letting another off the hook for a wrong done to us. With such a view, it is easy to hang on to resentments and refuse forgiveness. But resentments are toxic, both to those we resent, but more so to ourselves. Resentments poison our souls and make us sick in body, mind, and spirit.

Forgiveness, then, is a cleansing process, ridding ourselves of the toxins of resentment. Forgiveness is a recognition that the scales of injustice are out of balance, and a willingness to live with the imbalance. Some wrongs may never be made right. But we can release the poison and accept the imbalance as out of our control. Such an acceptance and release can be healing for ourselves and our relationships. Jesus’ petition gives us permission to surrender our resentments and live in peace and serenity.

Community: How does our culture’s sense of justice shape the way we view forgiveness and reconciliation? What might happen if we tried to get even less, and tried to reconcile more? How might our world turn differently if we spent less energy trying to control and balance others’ behaviors?

At Home: Who stands in need of your forgiveness today? To whom do you owe an apology? Reconcile with one person this week. Begin with prayer and a plan. Make a commitment to communicate. Thank God for your healthy relationships.

Read This Week:
Monday: Happiness of the Forgiven, Psalm 32:1-7
Tuesday: I Will Remember Their Sin No More, Jeremiah 31:31-34
Wednesday: Bless the Lord, Psalm 103:1-5
Thursday: Forgive for Friendship, Proverbs 17:1-12
Friday: Paralytic Forgiven, Matthew 9:2-8

In a society that often worries both about eating too much, but yet never feeling like we have enough of anything, how do we think about and pray for daily bread?

Worship this week:  Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

Sunday worship will be outside on the lawn (weather permitting) at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.   We’ll have some chairs, but feel free to bring your own.  If the weather is too cool or wet, we’ll move back inside.

Stop by the Youth Brat stand on Main St. after worship through the Frolic Parade!

Our Daily Bread
June 9, 2013
Matthew 6:11

Key Verse: Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: “Daily bread” does not mean only food. It refers to all human needs: food, clothing, shelter, companionship, healthy touch, love. Jesus teaches us to pray boldly for all our needs. God will always respond to our needs, not always in the way we expect or in the timing we expect. But God will always provide.

This petition, however, does not ask God to provide for all our wants. We may want an object that we don’t need, but praying for it doesn’t guarantee getting it. We may want healing for a loved one or self, but perhaps what we need is for God’s strength to carry us through, even in the midst of illness or suffering. But pray boldly anyway. Sometimes God grants healing, too.

Community: How do you reconcile Jesus’ teaching to pray boldly for basic human needs with the reality of poverty and suffering that exists in the world? How might your prayers include the needs of others in the world? Are your words a strong enough prayer, or could you pray for these needs with your actions? Make one change in your life this week that can positively impact lives around the world.

At Home: What do you need that you are praying for these days? Let go of the anxiety that surrounds the desire, and surrender to God’s will. How does surrender change the way you view your need? How does it change the way you view God?

Read This Week:
Monday: Goodness of the Lord, Psalm 145:15-19
Tuesday: Bread from Heaven, Exodus 16:13-21
Wednesday: Elijah Fed, 1 Kings 17:1-7
Thursday: God Provides, Isaiah 40:6-11
Friday: Provide for the Needy, Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Saturday: I Shall Not Want, Psalm 23

Next Week: Forgive Us, Matthew 6:12

Invite your friends and neighbors!  Every one is welcome!!

The ELC Guild invites everyone to the ice cream social today serving at 4:30 p.m..  There will be barbeque sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, pie, angel food cake, and ice cream.  Come out for a great treat and support the mission projects of the Guild.

In response to the disciple’s request Jesus gives them an example of how to pray in the words we know as the “Lord’s Prayer”.  Over the next four weeks we will be looking at those familiar words and how they still speak today.

It is also a new month for our ELC Benevolence Emphasis.  For June we will hear from two organizations that deal with the needs of those who struggle to find shelter in our area:

The Road Home provides emergency shelter for families with children and creates housing solutions (both transitional and permanent), including 30 low-income units through its Housing & Hope capital campaign. All programs come with intensive case management, which is the key to helping families reach goals and move forward.

Porchlight is the largest non-profit supplier of low-cost housing in Dane County, and operates an emergency shelter for men and housing and intensive services for men and women suffering from serious mental illness. Porchlight helps people build stable, independent lives by acquiring job skills and finding permanent employment.

Worship with Holy Communion at all services this weekend:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m.  Worship with traditional liturgy

10:00 am. Worship with contemporary music

Our Father/Your Kingdom Come
June 1-2, 2013
Matthew 6:9

Key Verse: “[Jesus said,] ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ”’” Matthew 6:9-10

Time: 30-33 C.E.

Background: Jesus was talking to the crowds and the disciples when he taught them what we call The Lord’s Prayer. He proclaimed blessing on the marginalized, and warnings against leaders who were abusing power for their own gain. He warned against praying as the “hypocrites,” who prayed aloud for show, but whose lives didn’t reflect the piety of their prayers.

Jesus addressed God as a loving parent. This can be a troubling image for some, since human parents are less than perfect. But remember, the image is of a God who is capable of unconditional love. This was a very different image from the distant, if not vengeful God Jesus’ followers had come to believe in. Jesus’ image of God as a loving parent was consistent with his radical message of selflessness and love.

Community: What images of God has your community of faith claimed as its own?  What does your community’s image for God say to newcomers?  What is God calling your community of faith to do to follow God’s will for your lives together?

At Home: What image for God works best for you? How does God as a loving parent affect the way you live and the decisions you make? How do you recognize God’s will for your life? Listen for God’s voice this week. Follow God’s will for your life.

Read This Week:
Monday: Sing Praises to God, Psalm 105:1-6
Tuesday: God the Shepherd, John 10:1-18
Wednesday: God the Potter, Isaiah 64:8-12
Thursday: God the Rock, Psalm 42:9-10
Friday: God the Mother, Isaiah 66:12-14
Saturday: God the Fire, Psalm 83:13-18

Next Week: Our Daily Bread, Matthew 6:11