The life of the early church was full of joy and growth, but also discord and sacrifice.  In this week’s stories we see the promise and the challenge of being the church both then and now.

This weekend’s schedule: 

Saturday – 10:00 a.m.  – “Breaking bread & Prayers” in St. Olaf Room

                     5:00 p.m.  Worship in Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult Class, Fellowship

               10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

                 7:00 p.m. Youth Group – Video & Discussion on bullying

 

Notes for this weekend’s worship:

Stephen is Martyred
April 14, 2013
Acts 6:1-14, 7:47-60

Key Verses: “While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.” Acts 7:59-60

Time of Events: 30-40 C.E.
Written: 80-85 C.E.

Since Last Week: As word of Jesus’ resurrection spread, communities of believers started to form throughout the lands. These early converts were baptized and given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Background: Some of the followers were appointed to stay put and care for those in their community. Others were appointed to travel and proclaim the good news. Stephen was among those chosen to care for widows and others in his community. Non-believers who were threatened by the new teachings stoned him to death. Many other martyrs also died proclaiming the risen Christ.

Community: How have the duties in your faith community been distributed? How might you do things differently to best honor the gifts of those in your community?

At Home: What role do you play at home, at work, or at church? How are you best using your gifts to do God’s work in the world?

Read This Week:
Monday: Saul Persecutes the Church, Acts 8:1-25
Tuesday: The Conversion of Saul, Acts 9:1-19a
Wednesday: Saul Preaches in Damascus, Acts 9:19b-31
Thursday: Peter and Cornelius, Acts 10:1-33
Friday: Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit, Acts 10:34-48
Saturday: Peter in Prison, Acts 12:1-19

Next Week: Philip Baptizes an Ethiopian, Acts 8:26-39

We celebrate new life as Jesus meets us on the road this week, both in the Bible story,  but also in the daily travels of our lives.  How do we show the living Lord’s presence in our gathering, our breaking bread and prayers?

Saturday Worship – 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday Morning – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                       9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Adult study and fellowship

                                     10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Sunday, April 7th – Camp Sunday – Sunday School children 1st grade through 5th grade: come and meet the new program director of Sugar Creek Bible Camp, learn some popular camp songs and try some of the most favorite Sugar Creek snacks during Sunday School!  Camperships for summer Bible Camp will be our monthly benevolence emphasis.

The Road to Emmaus
April 7, 2013
Luke 24:13-35

Key Verses: “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’” Luke 24:31-32

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: After the women found the tomb empty, some of the disciples left Jerusalem.

Background: It was on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about seven miles, that two of the disciples encountered the risen Jesus. At first they were kept from recognizing him, but their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread.

Community: In what ways does your community of faith reveal Jesus to one another? What might your community of faith do to help others know Jesus?

At Home: What things are your eyes closed to, that you could or should be looking at in your own life? How might you face some of those things this week? Who can help you see and work through the difficult issues you face?

Read This Week:
Monday: Peter and John before the Council, Acts 4:1-22
Tuesday: Believers Pray, Acts 4:23-31
Wednesday: Believers Share, Acts 4:32-37
Thursday: Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:1-11
Friday: The Apostles Heal, Acts 5:12-16
Saturday: The Apostles Are Persecuted, Acts 5:17-42

Next Week: Stephen is Martyred, Acts 6:1-14, 7:47-60

 

 

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . . .  ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home^* and ate their food with glad and generous^* hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.   Acts 2:42, 46-47

In the very early days of the church, weeks and months after Easter, the early gathering of believers faced a world that was busy, uncertain, and hostile to the faith.  Our predecessors in faith responded by living out their faith in basic and consistent daily acts like the “breaking of bread and the prayers”.  They weren’t known for the brilliance of their arguments, or their obvious success in worldly pursuits, but that they did all with “glad and generous hearts.”  This daily witness to the love of Christ active in their lives, led more and more to come and hear the story of faith, and the Lord worked through them to bring more and more to faith.

Today we still face a world that is busy, uncertain, and sometimes hostile to the faith.  Now maybe it is because the winter has dragged on so long, or maybe it is because the world around us remains unsettled, but there are days I wonder if we are still known for our “glad and generous hearts”.  It is sometimes easy to stay at home, stay busy, and stay away from the breaking of bread and prayers.  I know I can find it easy to dwell on every shortcoming and fix blame for every difficulty, instead of humbly and prayerfully asking God to restore us to life, love and joy.

So I resolve this Easter season to let the Risen Christ bring new life to my daily walk, setting aside the coldness that creeps into my heart, and seek to let joy and generosity of spirit be my witness to the world.

God’s Peace,

Pastor John

 

Feliz Pascua de Resurrección! (Happy Easter!)

Happy Easter Pastor John!

He has risen!

I’m attaching a picture of our Easter Cross that you can share with the congregation.  This is a tradition in our church, it is prepared by members of Divino Salvador and we always have the service at 5:35 am so we can witness the transition from darkness to the Light that is Christ our Lord of Life.

That the Lord of Life continues to help our congregations on sharing the good news with our communities!    We continue to pray for Mt. Horeb.

Hope you are having a wonderful Easter!

Pastor Carmelo

Easter Worship – 7:00 a.m. Sunrise Worship

                                         9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship

                                         (No Sunday School this Sunday)

                                         10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Easter Breakfast served by Youth  – 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Easter
The Tomb is Empty
March 31, 2013
Luke 24:1-16

Key Verse: “The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’” Luke 24:5

Time: 30 C.E.

Since Last Week: Jesus spent his final days in Jerusalem preparing his disciples for the work to be done following his death and resurrection. After he shared his last meal with his disciples, he went out to pray on the Mount of Olives. There he was arrested and put on trial. Jesus was tried before the Council, before Pilate, and before Herod. Although none could find fault with him, he was sentenced to flogging and death by crucifixion. He died on the evening preceding the Sabbath, so his body was temporarily placed in a tomb to wait for a proper anointing for burial.

Background: It was the morning following the Sabbath when the women went to the tomb to anoint his body. There they found he had been raised from the dead!

Community: Easter marks the most significant event in a Christian’s life. Who could you share this news with?

At Home: How will you honor Christ today?

Read This Week:
Monday: Jesus Appears to His Disciples, Luke 24:36-53
Tuesday: Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas, Acts 1:12-26
Wednesday: The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-13
Thursday: Early Christians, Acts 2:14-47
Friday: Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar, Acts 3:1-10
Saturday: Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico, Acts 3:11-26

Next Week: The Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13-35