While we might be tempted to think of the story of Jonah as a funny story about a big fish, it really addresses hard issues.   Jonah, God’s chosen messenger, decided that his opinion of others’ worth and value was more important that what God said. 

But God’s mercy will not be denied, and if God’s messenger was unfaithful, things were going to get stormy.  Meanwhile God’s Word continues to be heard by unlikely people.  In the end, God offered mercy to Jonah’s enemies and to Jonah. Neither was more deserving than the other, but God alone chooses whom God will love.

All are welcome to join us for worship!

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP 5:00PM

• A modified traditional worship service, generally less that 45 minutes.  We gather the smaller chapel on the Front Street side of the building

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 AM
Traditional Worship

• We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship, accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 AM  Sunday School Classes

• Classes for age 3 and up are held throughout the building, while there is time for coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall.

10:30 AM
Contemporary Worship

• Led by our Praise Team we share contemporary Christian music, God’s Word and prayer in the sanctuary.

Devotions for this week:

Jonah & God’s Mercy         November 13

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday: Jonah and God’s Mercy, Jonah 1:1-17; 3:1-10 [4:1-11]

Monday: Zephaniah Prophesies Against the Kingdoms, Zephaniah 1:14-18

Tuesday: Nahum Prophesies of God’s Wrath, Nahum 1:1-11

Wednesday: Habakkuk Prophesies and Prays, Habakkuk 3:1-19

Thursday: God Calls Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:1-19

Friday: Ezekiel Sees a Vision, Ezekiel 1:1-28

Saturday: The Valley of Dry Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:10

If you want a job done, don’t send Jonah. Chances are he’ll end up on a cruise heading in the opposite direction, or putting his fellow sailors in mortal peril. And when he finally (reluctantly) relents to the task at hand, he regrets his own success. Is God’s mercy great enough even for the resistant prophet?

• How does God show mercy in these readings?

• What countries or cultures do you most dislike? Why? How will you treat these neighbors knowing that God has asked you to love and serve people there?

• When have you been angry with God for being generous with a someone you felt deserved punishment? What could you do to show love, rather than anger or hatred?

PRAY: You see our failings, Lord, and know the weakness of our hearts. Set us right and fill us with love and zeal for the people whom you love, just as Jesus has shown us. Amen

 BLESS:  May God bless you. May God bless your enemies. Amen.

When Isaiah is made clean, he finds himself open to God’s call.  As we are forgiven in Christ, do we make ourselves open to God’s Call?   This week we celebrate All Saints’ Sunday, and as we give thanks for those who bore witness to the faith for us, we must ask ourselves:  What does our life witness to those whose lives we touch?

Worship with Holy Communion  this week – Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday SPECIAL WORSHIP SCHEDULE – One Worship Celebration at 9:00 a.m. followed by the annual meeting of the congregation.

Devotions for this week:  Isaiah’s Call and Sending, November 6

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday: Isaiah’s Call and Sending, Isaiah 6:1-8

Monday: The Peaceful Kingdom, Isaiah 11:1-10

Tuesday: Impending Judgment on the Earth, Isaiah 24:1-23

Wednesday: God’s People Are Comforted, Isaiah 40:1-31

Thursday: A Hymn of Praise, Isaiah 42:10-20

Friday: The Suffering Servant, Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Saturday: A Promise of Abundant Life, Isaiah 55:1-13

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah is overcome by a fantastical vision of the Lord, sent just for him. He feels bewildered, unworthy, until God’s messenger forgives his sin and frees him for the greatest adventure of all.

• What does God desire for God’s people?
• Are there prophets among us today? What prophetic message do you think God sends today?
• How does God speak to you? What does God call you to do? What stands in your way of following God’s call for your life?
• What can you do to remove obstacles so that you can continue to move forward?

 PRAY: Lord, you are earnestly, repeatedly calling our name. Give us courage to respond with willingness, ready to travel the path you have set before us. In the name of Christ, Amen.

 BLESS:  May God speak to you through prophets of today. Amen.

When resources are scarce, we are tempted to cling to what little we have. If the widow of Zarephath had done the same, she would never have known the unpredictable joys of welcoming Elijah the prophet.  When have we closed doors on opportunities for God to touch our life?

This week we celebrate God’s promises to us, as well as the affirmation of baptism for our 9th grade class at Confirmation worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.  We also remember the faithfulness and courage of Martin Luther and those who have sought to call the church again and again to be faithful to God’s Word.

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP  5:00PM  — A modified traditional worship service, generally less that 45 minutes.  We gather the smaller chapel on the Front Street side of the building

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
8:30 AM Traditional Worship  — We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship, accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 AM  Sunday School Classes  —Classes for age 3 and up are held throughout the building, while there is time for coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall.

10:30 AM  —  Contemporary Worship  — Led by our Praise Team we share contemporary Christian music, God’s Word and prayer in the sanctuary.

Devotions for this week:

God’s Care for the Least                                   October 30, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday: God’s Care for the Widow, 1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24]

Monday: Elijah Meets God, 1 Kings 19:11-18, 2 Kings 9:30-37

Tuesday: Elijah Ascends to Heaven and Elisha Succeeds Elijah, 2 Kings 2:1-18

Wednesday: Elisha Heals Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-19

Thursday: Amos Prophesies Against Israel, Amos 5:18-24

Friday: Hosea Prophesies Against Israel, Hosea 2:1-13

Saturday: Micah Prophesies to Both Kingdoms, Micah 6:1-8

 TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 1 Kings 17:13-14

• What is going on in the world at the time of Elijah? How is Elijah’s world like ours? How is it different?
• When have you accepted or offered help to someone whose skin is a different color, or who speaks a different language? What can you do to provide food or water to someone who is in need?
• What have you been refraining from doing because it’s hard to trust God? What can you do to demonstrate trust in God this week?
• By acting on what we learn we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week. Plant some bulbs that will grow in the spring. Over the winter, pray for the healing of our planet. In the spring, as your bulbs sprout and blossom, celebrate the planet’s resilience.

PRAY: Lord, our vision is often too small to see the vastness of your abundance. Open our clenched hands, that in so doing we might find them already full of your blessings. In Jesus’ name Amen.

BLESS:  May God bless all who care for the planet and its people. Amen.

 

 

After early worship and Sunday School, we’ll gather in the church for some instructions and a blessing.  We have leaves to rake, weeds to pull, and various other projects at church and in the community.  At 1:00 p.m. we’ll gather in fellowship hall for a meal.  Hot dogs and brats will be provided, bring something else to share.

We’ll also have activities for children during the work time, and we’ll have the building open for anyone in the community to look around from Noon to 3:00 p.m.

It should be a great day!

How often to we pray, telling God what we want?  How often do we take time to listen to what God wants to see happen through our lives?  David was busy making plans for God’s house, but all the while it was God who was accomplishing even better things through David.

Worship this week:

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

8:30 AM
Traditional Worship

• We gather in the main sanctuary for liturgical Lutheran worship, accompanied by the pipe organ and featuring our excellent  choir.

9:30 AM  Sunday School Classes

• Classes for age 3 and up are held throughout the building, while there is time for coffee and conversation in the fellowship hall

In place of our 10:30 am Contemporary worship this week, all are invited to join in our God’s Work/Our Hands service projects around the community, followed by Open House and lunch at 1:00 p.m.

Devotions for this week:

God’s Promise to David                                                  October 23, 2016

SHARE:   What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

READ: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding:

Sunday: God’s Promise to David, 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Monday: David Commits Adultery and Murder, 2 Samuel 11:1-26

Tuesday: Nathan Condemns David and Solomon is Born, 2 Samuel 12:1-25

Wednesday: David Loses His Throne to Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:1-17

Thursday: David Regains the Throne, 2 Samuel 19:9-15

Friday: Solomon Becomes King, 1 Kings 1: 1-53

Saturday: David’s Instruction to Solomon, 1 Kings 2:1-12

 

TALK:  Consider some of these ideas:

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.   2 Samuel 7:4-6

• King David wants to honor God, out of respect and gratitude for everything he has received. But more than an earthly house, God wants to see the promise of David’s ancestry fulfilled.
• How do these readings portray David as a leader? What does this say about humanity’s faithfulness? About God’s faithfulness?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of having a permanent place of worship? How might your church building serve God?
• Have you ever desired to do something for God, just to have God turn around and do something for you? In what ways can God’s blessings for you become blessings for others?

PRAY: O Lord, we claim to know what pleases you, yet you desire only our faithfulness. Help us to trust in your promises, and to make your home our only dwelling. Amen.

BLESS:  May God fulfill God’s promises to you. Amen.