The Spirit Porch

Advent Devotional - 29th Day

2011-12-23T16:51:00.002-05:00

Christmas Day! December 25th, 2011

Written by: Diane Bechtold

Readings: John 1:1-18

How often we’ve read and heard about the trials of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census. The streets and inns were crowded with people whose only purpose was to fulfill their civic duty. Surely, this new baby was an unexpected entry of God the Son to humankind. Angels praised God as they announced the Christ’s arrival to shepherds. What a night of awe and mystery.

This was God’s quiet entry into the midst of our life on earth. He came to us as an innocent baby, of lowly birth. Those looking for the Messiah often missed this gift because they were looking for earthly power and might. They looked for a king in royal robes who would be served by armies that would free them from Roman oppression; instead, they received innocence and the directive to love God and one’s neighbor.

Prayer: God Almighty, we pray to recognize You when we are expecting someone else. Teach us to look for what You have for our lives rather than for what we want for them. Help us to watch and listen as you speak to our hearts. Amen.

Family Moments:

Sunday, December 25: Christ, The Son of God, Chi-Rho Symbol
Make a Birthday Card for Jesus. (Parents, save these cards for when they are older!) Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 28th Day

2011-12-23T16:45:00.003-05:00

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Written by: Dennis McClellan

Readings: Luke 2:1-20

There is so much more to the story we’ve become used to hearing about the arrival of the baby Jesus, his parents’ selection by God, their trip to be part of a census, and the less-than-pleasant conditions of his birth behind an inn. This lowly event was the first ripple in God’s new covenant with humans. With “no vacancy” signs greeting Mary and Joseph, as they arrived in Bethlehem, God gave the world the most wonderful gift – his son, born of an innocent girl and man who must have been the most outstanding earthly father figure possible.

Those “no vacancy” signs still hang throughout the world today. Jesus has been told, in so many ways, in so many languages, that there is “no room” for him in our lives. Yet God’s gift breaks down barriers, finds the slightest openings to enter into our very being, and offers us what we all seek – unquestioning and absolute love.

Let’s not get hung up on a children’s version of the Christmas story – one that we’ve heard all of our lives, but rather, let’s embrace the reality that God reached out to us (he selected us) and gave us the gift of life, forgiveness and salvation through the birth of that small child so many, many years ago. That gift continues to give, even when we are the least likely recipients. Let’s understand that part of the story.

Prayer:
Give me the strength to see through my own “no vacancy” signs and accept the best gift I could ever be offered. Allow me to tear down barriers that keep me from being a better disciple for the baby Jesus. Amen.

Family Moments:

Saturday, Decemberr 24: Jesus , Birth of the Messiah, Manger
Go to Christmas Eve worship as a family. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 27th Day

2011-12-22T17:29:00.002-05:00

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Written by: Karole Schuster

Readings: Matthew 2:1-12

Just as the Magi followed God’s path to Jesus, we too must have faith to follow the path that has been given to us. God has a unique path for each of us. Sometimes, that path has clear skies and is well lit. Other times we perceive it as stormy and dark. It is only with the trusting eyes of a child that we can see clearly, remembering that each person’s journey may be different. It is with God’s grace and everlasting love to guide us, and our covenant with God will be fulfilled.

This is a reminder that God often uses others, such as the Magi, to show us the way. The Magi were not of “the Chosen People”, they could almost have been considered enemies of the people of Israel. Yet, God brings them to the babe to show that they recognize that this is a special child, a part of God’s plan. God has kept HIS promise, the child is from David’s line and from David’s city Bethlehem. BUT he is God’s choice. His covenant with David is complete. Jesus is the Messiah!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your Son and this Advent season. Keep watch over us and help us to be grateful and gracious. Give us strength to remember that our journey to you can be found in our GPS (God’s Plan for Salvation) aka your Word.
In your Holy name we pray. Amen

Family Moments:

Friday: Week 4, Magi, Worship, Matthew 2:1-12, Star or Candle
Cut stars out of paper or use glow in the dark stars and lead your children on a “star hunt.” Start with a small star and have the stars get progressively larger (as possible). Have the largest star over your nativity set. Discuss what it might have been like to travel so far following a star. Was it scary to travel at night? Do you think they ever wanted to give up? Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 26th Day

2011-12-21T17:22:00.005-05:00

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Written by: Russ Hauck

Readings: Matthew 1:19-25

Can you imagine what a shock it must have been? All at once, Joseph the carpenter finds out that his bride-to-be Mary is inexplicably pregnant and then, while he is trying to figure out how to quietly divorce her and cover it up, he is told by an angel that Mary will give birth to the Messiah! What’s a guy supposed to do when his whole world is turned upside down?

Joseph gives us the answer through his actions. He trusts God’s word and God’s promise. He believes that God has a plan and a purpose, and he sees that he and Mary are a part of that plan, and so he acts accordingly. But this isn’t just a story about Mary and Joseph. It’s about us, as well, because we too have a part to play in God’s plan.

Trusting God’s promise gives us the tools that we need to live our lives fully, just as God has intended for us.

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes we search around in our toolbox looking for just the right tool for the job to be done and never find it. Like Joseph, lead us to trust in your word and in your promise – to the right tools for building your kingdom. Amen.

Family Moments:
Thursday: Week 4 , Joseph , Trust, Carpenter's Square or Hammer
Jesus had an earthly father named Joseph, who was a carpenter. God sent an angel to talk to Joseph in a dream. The angel explained that God had chosen Mary, and that Mary’s baby would be very special. When Joseph woke up, he knew that he and Mary were a part of God’s plan. Joseph knew that he would be a good father to Jesus. How are some of the ways that God talks to you? Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 25th Day

2011-12-21T17:16:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Written by: Anita Bergh

Readings: Luke 1:57-80

In the sugar plantations of Trinidad, the first African slaves were forbidden to talk to each other, so they broke their silence by singing songs. This " calypso" music was their way to communicate. Years later, in 1973, four of us were walking along a dirt mountain road in Trinidad when we met a man carrying a ukulele. He broke the silence of our strangeness to ask our names. Then, in calypso fashion, he sang about each of us and folded us into his praise of God. We carry the memory of his blessing to this day.

We have just read of Zechariah who was tongue-tied for 9 months until his son was born. He named him "John", a Hebrew name that meant "God is gracious", before bursting forth in song. In almost calypso fashion he sang of his son, his place in life, and folded him into the blessing and grace of God. I said, "almost calypso fashion" because the man we saw for just a few minutes in Trinidad seemed to interpret our names to mean "God is gracious". He sooo affirmed our lives that he placed a melody of praise in our hearts. What remarkable evangelism!

Heavenly Father, we sing your praises in grateful song. Help us to always sing forth praises to you to the whole world. Amen.

Family Moments:

Wednesday: Week 4, Zechariah, Anticipation, Pencil and Tablet
(verse 63&64) John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin – sent by God to prepare the way for Christ. John’s father, Zechariah, didn’t believe when the Angel Gabriel proclaimed that John would be born. This resulted in Zechariah being mute for the entire pregnancy of John. When John was 8 days old Zechariah asked for a tablet (since he couldn’t talk) to tell everyone to name the child John. Make a list of people who don’t have a voice – children, the poor, etc. Pray for them and think of ways you can be their voice. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 24th Day

2011-12-19T16:11:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Written by: Jeremy Bloor

Readings: Luke 1:39-56

The feeling of a baby’s kick from inside its mother is a wondrous event. I can only imagine what Elizabeth felt when her baby leaped within her at the sound of Mary’s voice. Luke tells us that Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and she asks, “why am I so honored?”

Mary and Elizabeth remind me to be thankful for the blessings the Lord has given. Why am I so honored to grow up in the United States, to have a loving family, to live in a vibrant community? Elizabeth tells Mary, “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” Mary’s song praises the Lord for the blessings he brings. How often should we sing praises for the blessings God has promised and given us? Mary and Elizabeth, two mothers-to-be, embody those blessings. Even today, a baby’s smile or a kick from the womb reminds us of the wonderful miracles God promises us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for honoring me with your blessings. Thank you for filling my life with the joys and challenges of living in your Kingdom. Thank you for all you have promised and given, from the simple joy of a baby’s smile to Jesus’ enduring love. Amen.

Family Moments:

Tuesday: Week 4, Elizabeth, Joy, Mother and Child
(1:44) When Mary (pregnant with Jesus) visited Elizabeth (pregnant with John), John leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Just being in the presence of Jesus (still in utero!) was a source of palpable joy! We have the opportunity to be in Jesus’ presence so many times – with our family, while in worship, even in nature. Share with each other things that make you feel joy in the Lord’s presence. Have a “happy dance” contest to see who can create the most unique “happy dance.” Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 23rd Day

2011-12-19T11:26:00.002-05:00

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Written by: Elaine Cornelius

Readings: Luke 1:26-38

When a long awaited announcement comes, we often meet it with not only joy, but trepidation. Like Mary, we may ask “how” or “why me.” As reality sets in we realize there is much work to accompany the honor bestowed on us. We may not feel ready for what will come. At times, it may not feel like an honor at all. Yet, the added responsibility comes because someone believes in us and trusts us to do the job well. This passage from Luke illustrates God’s trust in Mary.

God trusts us. He trusts us enough that in following Him we will find challenges. Our path won’t always be easy. But, God loves us and will be with us in all that we are asked to do. Bearing and raising the Messiah would not be an easy task. Still, He trusted Mary to see it to completion. He knew she was faithful and would rely on Him for strength to get through. As a loving parent, God gives challenging paths to His children whom He loves so that we may learn to fully trust in Him. When we remember to rely on God, that all things are possible through Him, we become like Mary. We become a willing instrument of God’s grace and with the Lord we can do great things.

Loving Father, help me to be open to your will for my life. Give me courage to face the challenges that You entrust to me. I pray that you will show me how to be an instrument of Your grace. Amen.

Family Moments:
Monday: Week 4, Mary, The Hope for a Future, White Lily
Mary was a young girl when the angel appeared to her, declaring her to the Mother of God. How do you think Mary could have responded to the angel? (Run away? Cry? Freak out?) But Mary chose to be obedient - a servant of the Lord. How can you serve the Lord today? Who did you meet today who was a servant of the Lord. Tell God’s servants how thankful you are for them! Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 22nd Day

2011-12-16T17:12:00.002-05:00

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

Written by: Phyllis Chen

Readings: Luke 3;1-20, 7:18-30

My husband’s parents played an important role in the naming of our children. In following of Chinese tradition, besides the common family name, descendants often specify another common character in their given names for each generation. This common character in given name is called the "Spreading Character", which is an indication of the person's generation within the family system. Here, “Character” refers to the way the name is written in the Chinese handwriting. The importance, as I understood it, was directed at the other meaning of “character’, reflecting good attributes or greatness. They believed the name would reveal an essential destiny of our children. I felt so blessed to marry into a Christian family that revered such ideas.

“The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. … he formed me in the womb to be his servant (Isaiah 49:1, 5).

John the Baptist was born to prepare the way for Jesus, and so he was named by God and not in the following of the tradition of his family. In him we see that God already has a purpose for His children before they come into this world, and so the challenge of life is for them to discover this purpose and to be faithful to its demands.

“Heavenly Father, by the birth of your son and your promises, you adopted us into your family. During the celebration of the season of His birth, may we live out our days knowing the plans and purposes you have created us for and how very special we are in your family.” Amen.

Family Moments:

Fourth Sunday: John the Baptist, Repentance, Scallop Shell
John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, and he did so by baptizing them with water in the Jordan River. Jesus himself was baptized by John (that was the first thing Jesus did in his ministry). Martin Luther once said that every day when you wash your face you should remember your baptism. Wash your face and feel the cleansing, refreshing water make you clean. Then use some water to make the sign of the cross on the foreheads of your family members and remind them that they are a child of God. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 21st Day

2011-12-16T16:40:00.002-05:00

Saturday, December 17th. 2011

Written by: Barbara Johnson

Readings: Nehemiah 1:1 - 2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22

In these verses from Nehemiah, we meet a man who has faith that his prayers will not only be heard, but answered. He loves his fellow Israelites, and he loves his God enough to risk his life for both.

When we pray do we expect our petitions to be answered –on our timeline? In this day of instant gratification, are we patient while waiting for God’s answer? Do we know for certain that God is always available to guide us in our everyday life?

Nehemiah asked in prayer that he be instrumental in restoring the Israelite’s dignity and rebuilding the wall surrounding Jerusalem. This wall had lain in ruin for nearly 150 years. Yet the entire reconstruction project – Nehemiah’s prayer answered – took only 52 days. Now that is a prayer answered!

Whether our prayers are answered in days, or years, our faith must lead us to know that our heaven sent petitions will be answered by our trustworthy God .

Dear Lord, open our ears to listen for your answer to our prayers, and the patience to wait for those answers – on your timeline. Amen.

Family Moments:
Saturday: Week 3, Nehemiah, Return and Rebuilding, City Wall
(1:11) Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem, to bring honor to God & God’s people. Nehemiah wasn’t even in Jerusalem, and he had many obstacles in his way – getting time off from his job, safe travels, and procuring the materials, to name a few. But Nehemiah knew this was what God wanted and prayed to God for success. And guess what? God answered Nehemiah’s prayer – and gave Nehemiah success, faster than anyone could have imagined. Get some blocks/sticks/legos and see who can build the fastest tower. Then work together using your blocks to build a sturdy wall. Share your ideas of what it would have been like to work on the wall of Jerusalem with Nehemiah. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 20th Day

2011-12-15T16:49:00.003-05:00

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Written by: Erin Swenson-Reinhold

Readings: Habakkuk 1:1 - 2:1, 3:16-19

Advent is a time of reflection and contemplation. It offers us a chance to recognize our tendency to complain about the inequalities, inequities and injustices in our lives. Advent offers us an opportunity to release these moments and turn the into rejoicing. In this reading, we hear Habakkuk crying out to God – the familiar complaints that have resounded through the generations.

1:2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?

God responded by saying,
1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

God offered a Habakkuk a different perspective – an alternative view of reality that reflected the grace and gifts God was so freely offering. Habakkuk responded by affirming God's presence and presents in our lives. My hope and prayer for you this Advent season is that you all have a moment to affirm God's presence and feel the grace that is ever bountiful in our lives.
Blessings on your Advent journey!

Dear God,
Thank You for loving us despite our complaining hearts and spirits. Thank you for showering us with Your daily gifts of grace. Please keep us ever mindful of Habakkuk's words, and help these words become instruments of change in our lives today. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength.” Amen.

Family Moments:
Friday: Week 3, Habakkuk, Waiting, Stone Watchtower
Habakkuk cried out to the Lord, and he stood waiting at the tower to see what the Lord’s reply would be. Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord’s arrival at Christmas. Talk about how we can see more the higher we are (in a tree, tower, or airplane) vs. being on the ground, surrounded by our stuff. Even if everything was gone – no presents under the tree, no stockings filled, no humongous meal to share – the love of Jesus would be enough. Make a card or gift today to tell someone about Jesus’ love for them. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 19th Day

2011-12-14T17:03:00.002-05:00

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Written by: Doug Carey

Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22 - 9:11

A dominant theme found in these verses is the relationship that the children of God chose to have with their Father. In most of the verses the people allowed themselves to be distracted and they began to worship false gods even when they had all they would ever need.

Jeremiah tells the people that even though they and their ancestors strayed from God, the people would not be forgotten. In time, God’s faithfulness would pass through the generations until it would culminate with the birth of Jesus.

Keeping our focus is one of the challenges we face during Advent, when we will be inundated with advertisements and commercials that seek to secularize Christmas. We will be given numerous opportunities to become distracted like the people that Jeremiah spoke of in these verses. We will be presented with numerous false gods to worship. Will we act the same way and forget what is important? Will we become like the people who Jeremiah spoke of? Or will we overcome complacency?

Lord, I pray that this Advent season I stay focused on preparing myself for the birth of Jesus, and to stay faithful by disregarding the distractions that will confront me each day. Amen.

Family Moments:

Thursday: Week 3, Jeremiah, The Exile, Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11, Tears
Jeremiah is often referred to as the weeping prophet – he wept for the sins of the Israelites. Jeremiah was called to see the things that broke God’s heart, and tried to call them to the attention of his brothers and sisters. When you look around, what things do you see that would break God’s heart? Make a picture of tear drops, labeling each tear with things that you think would make God cry. How can you be a solution to those problems? Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 18th Day

2011-12-13T15:56:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Written by: Shirley Evans

Readings: Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11 - 9:7

In these verses of Isaiah we see the sin of Israel and of humankind in many forms. Isaiah 1:10-20 speaks to God’s desire for sincere worship – not showy and meaningless religious activities and sacrifice; not heartless display without any real love for God. Isaiah warns of judgment and destruction if attitudes are not changed.

In Isaiah. 6:1-13 we begin to see this sin and rejection of God juxtaposed with God’s cleansing of Isaiah’s silenced, unclean lips with the coal – God’s cleansing grace. We see hope despite the judgment and near destruction of the people of Israel. The believing remnant will remain from which a Holy Seed will come – a shoot of the tree from which the Messiah will come and a Godly nation will grow again – both Jew and Gentile.

Then in Isaiah 8:11-9:7 the dismal circumstances are pierced by a new light - the true hope of the world that is to come – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah urges us to celebrate with joy that our darkness has turned to light.

Dear Lord, Thank you for your mercy and grace. Let me joyously celebrate the new light of the Messiah as I “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” (Is. 1:16-17) I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Family Moments:

Wednesday: Week 3, Isaiah, The Call to Holiness, Fire Tongs with Hot Coal
Isaiah confessed his sins to God and was forgiven (as evidenced in the cleansing with a hot coal). Today we have the meal of Holy Communion to remind us how Jesus forgives us. What are some things in your life that need forgiveness – from God or from others? Say a prayer of confession to God. Take comfort in knowing that God forgives and cleanses us from sin. Now, share that forgiveness with someone who needs your forgiveness! Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 17th Day

2011-12-12T16:55:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Written by: Elaine Cornelius

Readings: 2 Kings 18: 1 - 19:19, 19:32-37

It can be very difficult to stand up for what you believe in. Some people will disagree with you. Some may even mock you. But, it is in times of trial that we learn the truth of our faith. Do we do what is right? Do we make amends when we don’t? Are we willing to go to God with our concerns? Do we look to other sources for relief? From whom or what do we draw our strength? Do we pay attention to what the Lord has to say to us?

“Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel.” He did what was right. The proof of his faith was in his actions. He destroyed the idols and places for immoral behavior. Those wanting to overtake Judah questioned his actions. They did not understand what made his faith different from that of those who worshipped idols and manmade gods. Hezekiah refused to be turned away from his trust in the Lord. It set him apart from those both before and after him. He was blessed in his obedience and God gave him victory.

In this season of Advent, as I prepare for the coming of the Messiah, I prepare my heart to make room for Him. For me, this means clearing my heart of false gods that I have let invade over the year. Pride, greed, self-righteousness all must be torn down and cleared out so that I am ready for the blessings God is prepared to give.

Lord, help us to be like Hezekiah, holding fast to our faith and keeping your commands. Let us not be persuaded to turn to earthly things and away from Your steadfast care for us. I pray that you remind us of the blessings we find in obedience to You. Amen.

Family Moments:
Tuesday: Week 3, Hezekiah, Faithfulness and Deliverance, Empty Tent
The Israelites were losing faith because the King of Assyria was mocking God. Isaiah turned to God in prayer for salvation – not salvation so that he may live, but for salvation so that all may know God. How has God been acting in your lives so that all may know God? Pray a prayer asking God to use you as His light in the world, specifically praying for people you know who need to see Jesus’ light this Holiday season. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 16th Day

2011-12-12T09:54:00.002-05:00

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Written by: Nancy Ulerich

Readings: 1 Kings 17:1-16, 18:17-46

Elijah’s story teaches me the power of patience, waiting on God and trusting God through all situations, one day at a time, one moment at a time.

Elijah boldly does great things to validate God to His people who have fallen astray, worshiping false gods. Elijah raises a Gentile widow’s son from the dead, and he demonstrates God’s power in accepting his sacrifice with fire, while hundreds of the prophets of Baal fail.
Elijah is prepared to do great works as he patiently lives through difficult and uncertain times, trusting God to provide and guide him. Elijah must trust God one step at a time. God hides Elijah by the Brook Cherith, feeding him via unclean Ravens. He has no security; the food comes one meal at a time. Elijah watches the brook dry up in the drought, without knowing the next step of the plan. He must patiently wait in hiding, watching his water supply dwindle. When the brook dries up, God sends Elijah to an unclean gentile widow who is down to her last bit of oil and bread. Together they move forward, God supplying just enough flour and oil to survive each day.

Dear God, Help me to follow Elijah’s example, to trust you day by day, having enough in each moment, waiting on your movement. Allow me the faith to see through current problems and pain, feeling your presence in each moment, trusting you are with me, so that I, like Elijah, will be available in your time to eagerly do your work when I am called.

Family Moments:
Monday: Week 3, Elijah, The Threat of False Gods, Stone Altar: The people of Israel had stopped believing in God. So the prophet Elijah gathered all of the people and built an altar to God for sacrifice. Then, Elijah prays to God to send a fire for the sacrifice. But there is one “problem” - Elijah (intentionally) made the altar soaking wet! Fires won’t start with wet wood! But our God can do anything God wants to do – so God sent a fire and the fire burned up all of the water, and everyone believed in God again. What things have you seen that help you believe in God (a rainbow, a sunset, a new baby, illness healed, etc?) Say a prayer of thanks to God for the “reminders of His power” we’ve seen. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 15th Day

2011-12-09T17:03:00.002-05:00

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Written by: Ken Schuster

Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1 - 17:58, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 7:1-17

When we first look at the words from Samuel we see the familiar story of David becoming King of Israel and God’s commitment that the Messiah will be from David’s line. It is easy to “skip over” much of the story because the “linage of the Messiah” seems to be the main purpose from our modern perspective. However, when we slow down and reread we see that there is a message that is greater then the linage of the Messiah. The overriding message is that GOD has a plan and that it is God’s plan which man then wants to second guess.

From the beginning we have Samuel questioning his role, and the way God wants him to proceed. Then David goes down this path and actually disobeys God, even committing adultery and murder. Yet God has two things to tell us, I will forgive you and centuries before it happens I know that I will have to redeem you and it is MY plan for you. If we listen to God’s message, He keeps telling us to have faith, I have THE plan, I know how I want it done and it will be on MY schedule not yours. But the greatest message is that the unconditional covenant that God makes with each of us is not invalidated by our sinful actions. God loves his creation and will not part from us even when we disobey HIM.

God’s plan for us, as he shows us here through the struggles of Samuel and David, is that God will give of Himself, through Christ, to save us. Through David God says and demonstrates that I am with you for always. Thus He sends Jesus to become like us to die for us. Without God’s plan for us there would be no birth; without the birth there would be no death upon the cross; without the death upon the cross there would be no resurrection and without the resurrection the covenant between God and David would have no meaning for us. Trust in God – He has THE Plan!

Lord help us to learn to listen to Your Word and accept that You have THE plan that will save us, even from ourselves through Christ our Savior.

Family Moments:
Third Sunday: David, A Shepherd for the People, Shepherd's Crook
Today’s readings introduce us to the man Jesse, of the Jesse Tree. Samuel goes to Bethlehem looking for a King – much like how at Christmas our hearts are turned towards Bethlehem looking for a King. Samuel was distracted by the beauty of Jesse’s sons –much like we can be distracted by the sparkly and glamorous things of this season. (There is no sparkle glamour in a stinky manger!) But the Lord doesn’t look at things like we do – people look on the outside but God looks at the heart. Take a moment to turn off the Christmas lights. Admire your tree for the beauty God created. Ask God to help you to look on the inside (at the heart of people!). Color and hang your ornament.

Advent Devotional - 14th Day

2011-12-09T16:53:00.002-05:00

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

Written by: Andee Myatt

Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-21, 7:1 - 8:22, 9:15 - 10:9

Our family, biological and chosen, influence who we are, how we think, what we feel. It is likely that we spend the most amount of time with extended family when we “go home” for the holidays. And that is when the drama begins.

Norman Rockwell did not paint our family gatherings. They are expensive, stressful, and sometimes downright painful. We eat dry turkey, strive to keep up with the favorite cousin and pretend that everything is perfect, just perfect. We plaster a smile on our face, try to pretend we did not have a fight in the car on the way over, and hope no one notices that we wore the same holiday sweater last year and it had to have shrunk in the wash because you could not have possibly gained that much weight in one year. Right?

When we are stressed, over tired, and over fed, when we are worried about money, and running through the ever growing list of things to do, we feel alone. We feel isolated. We don’t feel like God is near, because God has to have more important things to do than help us go to sleep and stop worrying about the gifts yet to be wrapped. And yet, God is, “calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”, And Samuel said, “Speak for your servant hears.”

My guess is we don’t hear God above the din, and wouldn’t ask him to speak even if we did, because the idea of one more thing to do is almost terrifying. Samuel, above all the family drama, the uncertainty of the time, asks God to speak. Through Samuel’s life he serves the Lord, even when unpopular, and asks God’s people to follow God’s law, without worrying about what their favorite cousin is doing.
And so I pray, “Dear God, you call to us like a parent to a child. Speak to me and help me to hear. Amen.”

Family Moments:
Saturday: Week 2, Samuel ,The Beginning of the Kingdom, Crown: For many years Samuel had been a Judge over the people of Israel. As he became too old, his sons became the new Judges. But the people were not happy with Samuel’s sons – they wanted a King. Until that time, there had not been a King because God was the King of their lives. What are some things that replace God as the King (priority) of our lives? Look through a magazine or newspaper and cut out images and/or words of things that sometimes take priority over God. Offer those things to God with a prayer of forgiveness. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 13th Day

2011-12-08T16:56:00.003-05:00

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Written by: Evelyn Nasworthy

Readings: Judges 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 6:11 - 8:28

My, that was a long passage to read and digest. In a nutshell: it seemed that whenever the Israelites went out on their own, they went against the wishes of the Lord. They would worship idols as well as doing other things to provoke God’s wrath. He tried to save them by having the judges to show them the proper way, but after a judge’s death, they would go back to their misguided ways. The Lord punished them at the hands of others and then He would give them another chance. But they just didn’t get it! Finally, God sends Gideon to them and he, through the guidance of God, is able to ”show them the light” and the Israelites are freed from the Midianites. But being foolish AGAIN, they want Gideon and his sons to rule them. Gideon is quick to point out that it is the Lord who will rule over them not him!

Who (what) do you worship? That new car? Your 60 inch HD television? The seventeen pairs of shoes in your closet? Or that pay check you get? Your spouse or children? I believe that we do place these things in high regard, and perhaps some should be. But NOTHING should be held in higher esteem and worshiped than THE LORD. Without him (or her) you would have NONE of the other. ALL that we have is from God. Do you “get it??”
Heavenly Father, why are we so slow to learn from you and follow the path you want us to follow? Help us Lord to “Really get it!” Amen.

Family Moments:
Friday: Week 2, Gideon, Unlikely Heroes, Clay Water Pitcher: Many times God uses unlikely and everyday people to be a hero, just like Gideon. Who are some of the everyday heroes in your life (Firefighters, Police Officers, Teachers, etc?). Say a prayer for the heroes in your life to know God’s love and protection. . Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 12th Day

2011-12-07T16:51:00.002-05:00

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Written by: Bill Nasworthy

Readings: Joshua 1:1-11, 6:1-20

In these verses in the book of Joshua, the Lord is giving specific directions to Joshua telling him how to take the city of Jericho. The Lord gives detailed instructions to do first, second and so on. Joshua follows them to the letter. Amazing to me was that Joshua never said “I can’t do it” or “Why me, Lord?” He just listened and did what God told him to do. Wow, if only we’d listen more and think less.

I was in an impossible situation at work. My boss was so hateful and uncaring of others and especially me. She’d heap on the work and then fuss when it wasn’t finished on her time table. Many weekends and evenings I’d spend working on documentation, just to avoid more angry words from her. I tried to get in different departments within the company to no avail. Just when my nerves were shot and my health suffering, I began to pray for either the perfect spot for me to open up within the company or for her to be moved to another department. After what seemed like endless prayers, the Lord saw fit to find me a position in another part of the company. Yep, I couldn’t do it, but God did. I thought it was an impossible task, but a position was actually created just for me. God was good to me!!

The Lord has a plan for each of us. It is just that simple. Allow Him to lead you…..it will be a better life!

Dear Jesus, let us hear your message and listen to what you want us to do. You need to be the guide in all things. All we have to do is ask you. Amen.

Family Moments:

Thursday: Week 2, Joshua,The Fall of Jericho, Ram's Horn Trumpet: In Joshua 1 God tells Joshua to study the laws and meditate on the laws. Then, as the people marched around Jericho they brought God with them (via the Ark of the Covenant). Since we know that God is always with us, how can your family acknowledge God’s presence in your lives? Where/how/when have you seen God? Sing the song “God of this city” or blow horns and make a loud noise for God! Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 11th Day

2011-12-06T17:35:00.003-05:00

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Written by: Gail Seeram

Readings: Exodus 19:1 20:20

In Exodus 20, we are reminded of the Ten Commandments. As Christians, we learn the Ten Commandments early on in Sunday school and as adults strive to follow these commandments through our daily lives. I want to reflect on the following verse: “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy”. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. (Exodus 20:8-10 NLT)

Some Christians observe Sabbath on Saturday, some observe Sabbath on Sunday and others don't observe Sabbath at all. God has built us so that we need a day of rest. We should not ignore the importance of a day of rest. The Sabbath should be a day dedicated to worship, meditation on the word of God, and restful time with the family. As our cars need regular maintenance, we also need regular rest.

Personally, I struggle for quiet time to read my Bible and meditate on the word of God. In the world today, we have so many distractions (smart phones, laptops, iPads, television, YouTube, Facebook, twitter, etc.), that we are constantly updating our status and checking emails. However, I challenge you to truly observe Sabbath and dedicate a day to the Lord - a day of rest and a day to recharge your mind and soul.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you help me to observe your Ten Commandments through my every day life. Thank you for each day of life you have given me. Help me to observe the Sabbath and guide me to plan restful time to meditate on your word. Amen.

Family Moments:

Wednesday: Week 2, God, Giving the Torah at Sinai, Tablets of the Torah: God gave the people rules to live by on Mount Sinai. This would help people to know how to be helpful and loving toward God and towards other people. What are some rules in your family? (We don’t lie to each other, we always kiss goodnight, we always ask permission before doing ____,etc.) Which rules can be hard to follow? Which rules are easy to follow? Thank God for loving us regardless of how well we follow the rules! . Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 10th Day

2011-12-05T16:54:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Written by: Gardner Hussey

Readings: Exodus 12:1 - 14:31

The Passover: The Israelites were told to put the blood of an unblemished lamb on their door posts so that when the Lord passed over them, he would not destroy them but destroy the first born males and animals of the Egyptians and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.

The Exodus: Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron and tells them to take all the Israelites and leave the country, all 600,000 of them. They were led by day by a pillar of clouds and by night by a pillar of fire. Pharaoh changed his mind because now he lost many of his slaves and servants, and pursued them. When the Israelites saw this they were afraid and angry with Moses. Moses told them, “Do not be afraid, stay firm and see.” The Lord commanded Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and the water parted and the Israelites were able to cross over. When Pharaoh’s army tried to cross over, the Lord, with Moses , closed the waters over them and all perished. When the Israelites saw the Lord’s great power displayed they put their trust in Him and Moses His servant.

The Meaning: The Israelites were slaves and under bondage to a foreign ruler. The blood sacrifice of the unblemished lambs was a sign not to slay God’s people but set them free from the yoke of a foreign power. When they left Egypt, God guided them day and night. When the oppressors tried to recapture them the Lord destroyed them. When the Israelites saw God’s awesome power they put their trust in Him. The blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus) sets us free and we are no longer slaves to another power (sin). All we have to do is put our trust in Him.

Lord, let us never forget your awesome power and that you are always with us. Amen.

Family Moments:

Tuesday: Week 2, Israelites, Passover and Exodus, Lamb
(Exodus 13:8-9) God saved the Israelites and delivered them from Egypt. Then, God commands the adults to explain to their children the meaning behind the traditions God is instructing. Use this opportunity to look at a nativity and explain to your family what Christmas is all about – the birth of Jesus Christ. If possible, watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” as Charlie Brown struggles to learn the true meaning of Christmas. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 9th Day

2011-12-04T09:08:00.003-05:00

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Written by: Frank Raike

Readings: Exodus 2:1 - 4:20

The Lenten Season is a burning bush. The branches a flamed, burning, but not being consumed. An announcement of what is and what is to be. “I AM WHO I AM.” The cries of misery were heard, deliverance from oppression was completed, and placement was made into “a land flowing with milk and honey.” This is a place where God can be worshiped and served in peace and joy instead of one having to serve Pharaoh in hard service. God promised Moses and the Israelites to be with them and to be their God, and they would be His people.

Now, a different branch is set a flame within our hearts, coming from the Tree of Jesse and never being consumed nor burned away. This Branch serves as an announcement of grace and faithfulness of God through Jesus., a promise to all of us that God is with us.

Dear Jesus,
During this Advent Season, let the fires continue to burn in our hearts and never be consumed. Let it serve as a reminder that you are our God, we are your people, and you are always with us. Amen.

Family Moments:

Monday: Week 2, Moses, God's Leadership, Exodus 2:1-4:20, Burning Bush
God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. How does God talk to us (through sermons, songs, nature, friends, family?)? Can we hear God if we are not listening? Find a recording of the Christmas song “Do you hear what I hear” and sing it as a family. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 8th Day

2011-12-02T16:50:00.002-05:00

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

Written by: Matthew Swope

Readings: Genesis 37, 39:1 - 50:21

The story of Joseph and his brothers is a familiar yet complicated one. No family is perfect, and at the heart of this story are twisted circumstances that make many modern families look far from dysfunctional. The themes of favoritism, jealousy, and betrayal are all issues that we struggle with in our own lives and likely in our own families. Joseph’s journey and the evolution of his family reveal that, through it all, God is present and at work in our lives and our relationships.The Lord had a purpose for Joseph and his gifts, even amidst the trials of family discord and imprisonment. By trusting in the Lord, Joseph rises above his circumstances and therefore can compassionately say to his brothers, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:5). This is a profound statement of Joseph’s principles of faith, forgiveness, and trust in the Lord.As Joseph went forth to prepare Egypt for the famine, we must also make preparations during this time of Advent. In preparing for the birth of Jesus, let us forgive and plant anew, let us grow our faith like the grain of fields, and let us reap the joys of sharing our “stockpiles” with others.
Prayer: Dear God, guide us in our own relationships so that we might know your true forgiveness and with open hearts prepare for the birth or our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Family Moments:

Second Sunday: Joseph, God's Providence, Sack of Grain, Genesis 50:21
Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and tried to hurt him (Gen 37). But God used those ugly circumstances to put Joseph in a position of power – Joseph was able to feed his family and keep all of Egypt fed! Look around you and find “ugly” things that God can make beautiful (think caterpillar into butterfly, acorn to oak tree, tadpole to frog, etc). Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 7th Day

2011-12-02T16:41:00.002-05:00

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Written by: Russ Hauck

Readings: Genesis 27:41 - 28:22

This passage from Genesis is the story of Jacob’s ladder, in which Jacob dreams of a ladder or stairway connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending on it. And God speaks to Jacob in this dream and gives him a promise that he and his descendants will be richly blessed.
In this story, heaven and earth are linked and God presents Himself to Jacob here on earth. God’s promise is that He will dwell among us and take care of us – not that He will observe us from some far off place. He was with Jacob and He is with us. This is a foretelling of the coming of Jesus, who will be our bridge, or ladder, between heaven and earth: the Jesus who has pitched His tent among us.

Prayer: Lord, God, we give thanks for your promises kept. On this day and in the days to come, make us ever mindful of your presence. “Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. We want to see You!”

Family Moments:

Saturday: Week 1, Jacob, Assurance of the Promise, Ladder
After Jacob’s dream, he exclaimed “Surely the Lord is in this place and I wasn’t even aware of it!” (Gen 28:16). Discuss how God is always with us. List some of the places you went today and how you encountered God in each place (in someone holding a door, in the nature around you, in someone’s smile, etc). Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 6th Day

2011-12-01T19:01:00.002-05:00

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Written by: Rob Coble

Readings: Genesis 22:1-19

“On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Faith. How many of us claim each Sunday our Faith but try and take back control of our lives the minute we walk out of our places of worship? Is it our will or God's by which we choose to live our lives? As I grow older I am learning the difference between what I want and what I need. I am fortunate and blessed that I have never gone hungry or found myself without shelter, yet at times I take for granted the things that are provided for me on a daily basis. I find that my life is a lot less complicated when I get out of the way and let God take care of me. The more I try to steer the ship the more chaotic it usually becomes. Finding a quiet time to spend in conversation with God provides the direction I need to navigate life, but only if I listen to his word and his direction. I know that God believes in me and wants the best for me.

Dear Lord, you give so much yet ask for so little. Help me remember and focus on the gratitude in my life and comprehend your love for me and my well being. By understanding your love for me, I can't go wrong if I get out of the way and follow your direction. Amen.

Family Moments:

Friday: Week 1, Isaac, Offering of Isaac, Ram
In today’s story, God provided the ram for the sacrifice. Talk about the things that God has provided in your life that you could sacrifice. Clean out your pantry of canned and boxed foods that you can bring to church on Sunday. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 5th Day

2011-11-30T16:36:00.002-05:00

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Written by: Peter Lund

Readings: Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6

One thing that has always fascinated me is any character who is referenced once in the Bible; these were real people, with dynamic personalities and their own life story, yet all that remains of them is a passing reference. They are not accorded the complete life histories like Abraham, David, or any of the other “big hitters” – they simply get one reference, as if that’s all we ever find out about their lives. This Eliezer of Damascus is one such character.
No matter how Eliezer felt about the situation, the story did not play out in a way in which he was involved. Had Abraham not become a father, the biblical story would have ended right there: Some guy named Eliezer inherits Abraham’s assets, lives out his life, and dies. The end. Instead, God has other plans, and ultimately, through Abraham’s son Isaac, the genealogy plays out the results in David, and ultimately, Jesus. I’m sure Eliezer would not have had any idea what was to transpire; all that he saw was a situation in which the inheritance he thought he would be receiving was ultimately redirected. Sometimes, I think, this is how events transpire in our own lives - we don’t get what we want, we don’t get what we feel is “our due,” but ultimately there may be a larger story playing out - one that we cannot even fathom. How do we respond in these situations? Assuming Eliezer is the unnamed servant in Genesis 24, he appears to be more devoted to Abraham than ever, and helps him find a wife for Isaac. He didn’t get what he wanted, but he rolled with the punches, and served his “master” as faithfully as he always had before; if we are able to do the same in our own lives, and be devoted to our TRUE master no matter what events transpire, I believe the bigger story, in which we are all important players, becomes more clear to us all.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to see beyond my own selfish desires, and help me to keep the big picture in focus, knowing that you have a plan; help me to trust fully in You. Amen.

Family Moments:

Thursday: Week 1, Abraham The Promise, Field of Stars
God tells Abraham he is blessed to be a blessing to others (Gen 12:2). With what has God blessed you that God can use to bless others? Is it a beautiful singing voice, or other artistic talent? Is it plenty of food or toys? Identify a blessing for each family member that could be used to bless someone else. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 4th Day

2011-11-29T16:59:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Written by: Char Klima

Reading: Genesis 6:11-22, 7:17 - 8:12, 20-9:17

Genesis is a book about relationship. God is Creator-in-Chief and we are His creation. It's when we try to swap positions that we run into trouble. God instructs. God disciplines. God loves and works with His creation as a potter with his most precious clay. In the midst of disaster God always makes sure a remnant of creation in which He has so much invested survives. Noah and his family represent a remnant that showed potential, and the flood story with its rainbow ending is God's continuing story of salvation.

God used a beautiful rainbow to confirm the Divine side of this first in a series of covenant promises revealed throughout the Bible. We as Noah's descendants are part of the salvation story. The rainbow pales in comparison to the glorious light of Christ who brought the ultimate promise of salvation to all creation. Thanks be to God.

Let us pray:
Let our sacrifice of praise rise to you, O Lord. You alone sustain us through the floods of this present journey and bring us safely to your side. Amen

Family Moments:

Wednesday: Week 1, Noah The Flood, Rainbow or Ark
In today’s story, we learned that the rainbow is a reminder that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood. Rainbows point to heaven to remind us that God is faithful. After dark and rainy times, we always see the rainbow as a reminder of God’s love for us. Today, make a card for someone who is having a dark and rainy time in their life to remind them of God’s love. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - 3rd Day

2011-11-28T16:48:00.003-05:00

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Written by: Barbara Hauck

Reading: Genesis 2:4 - 3:24

This is the familiar story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We all know how they were tempted by the serpent, gave in to that temptation and disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God confronts them. Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent – and God punishes them all.

This is a vivid and colorful story. We can relate to Adam and Eve, because we know what it is like to make a mistake and our human nature often leads us to try to find some excuse “for what we have done, or for what we have left undone.” And, those of us who are parents can certainly relate to God’s angry response.

But the important point for us to take away from the story of Adam and Eve is that God is faithful to us, no matter what - even when we mess up badly. God did not give up on them, just as He has not and will not give up on us. So, this story points us towards Jesus our Savior, and God’s plan for salvation.

Let us Pray:
Lord, thank you for accepting us as we are and for giving us the gift of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

Family Moments:

Tuesday: Week 1, Adam and Eve, The First Sin, Tree with Fruit or Apple
Why did Adam and Eve do something they knew was wrong? What bad choices have you made that you knew you shouldn’t? Isn’t it great that God loves us no matter what choices we make! What was the punishment Eve thought she would receive from eating the fruit?(Death, see Gen 3:3). In reality, the real consequence was much less severe (Gen 3:16-24.)

Advent Devotional - 2nd Day

2011-11-27T12:41:00.003-05:00

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Reading: Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Written by: Barbara Reynolds

"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good."

As I read the headlines and listen to the news I often wonder what is good about today's world. There is so much hate, greed and misuse of the resources God gave man dominion over. And yet, with every new sunrise I sense God moving over the surface of the deep and I feel God's Spirit filling the void. With the birth of Jesus, the light is spread and we are again separated from the darkness and I can clearly see that it was and it is "very good".

Let Us Pray:
Let the light and love of Jesus spread over the trials of daily living and shine for the world to see. Amen

Family Moments:

Monday: Week 1, God, Creation, the Dove
When God created everything, God put human beings to care for the earth and everything in it. How does your family do a good job of caring for the earth? What more could your family do to care for the earth (save electricity, recycle, help animals in need, etc?). Make a plan to be conscious of God’s creation this Advent season. (If available, watch Disney’s “The Lion King “ and note how the pride lands were destroyed when Scar was ruler, compared to the vitality of the pride lands under Mufasa or Simba’s rule. Discuss the difference in caring for the earth and the delicate balance of the circle of life.) Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotions: First Day of Advent

2011-11-25T10:03:00.003-05:00

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Isaiah 11:1-10

In the 1 Samuel lesson, God has directed Samuel to find the new King of Israel. After looking over Jesse’s seven sons, God finally directs Samuel to find the new King in a young shepherd boy named David. After generations, a new King – Jesus – will be one of David’s descendants. He also is of humble origin and Jesus rises to the greatest of power, power over death. He is the bringer of peace.

God chooses and judges by the heart and spirit rather than as the world would choose or judge. God uses the lowly and humble to lead the world and to show his glory.

Prayer:
Lord, we are thankful that you see past our surface into our hearts and that you can use our weaknesses to show your power. We pray that your peace and glory are shown to the world as we await the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Family Moments:
First Sunday: Introduction of the Jesse Tree, The Tree

The Jesse tree has its base as a stump. The lineage of Christ – the Savior of the world – comes from an ordinary family! Go outside and collect sticks, representing the stump, for all of the members of your family. Share with each other how God is using each member of your family for good in the world. Color the ornament and add it to your Jesse Tree.

Advent Devotional - Theme & Intro: The Jesse Tree

2011-11-25T09:53:00.004-05:00

This Advent Season our theme is “Home for the Holidays”. We have many wonderful holiday traditions that we follow. The Jesse Tree is an ancient tradition that we are resurrecting this year. We will base our devotions on the Jesse Tree scriptures readings that come from this tradition. Each weekend our children will place ornaments on a tree that represents symbols used in the ancient days. Ornament packets will be given to the children to color at home and will be available for adults too. Match the ornaments pictured with each devotion to the ornament packet you or your child were given.

The picture above is a replica of a Jesse Tree. Jesse was the father of David, who was blessed by the prophets to establish a royal family. One thousand years later, Jesus was born of this royal line in Bethlehem. The Jesse Tree is the family tree of Jesus. It tells the story of His lineage through symbols and readings from scripture, one for each day of Advent. Over the next 29 days we will post the devotions written by our own members who will inspire you with their thoughts. May you be blessed through these scriptures & devotions as Advent unfolds and the celebration of Christ’s birth becomes a reality.

God’s Peace

There But for the Grace of God…

2011-10-04T09:11:00.004-04:00

Driving along any street or highway, it so easy to go from point A to point B and be oblivious to your soundings. Knowing that to your left is a Staples or a Mickey D’s, to your right is a Methodist church or a physician’s complex, is so “every day.” We ignore what we pass, and few of us even give the slightest thought that people – men, women and children – are often living behind the buildings or in the unmowed weeds in the adjacent property. I know I don’t.

How many of us, upon arriving at the Publix, have three doors to select from. The closer we get to our door of choice, what appears to be a homeless man maneuvers between us and that door – and so, another door becomes our choice? I know I’ve done this.

This raises a question. Is that what Jesus would have done? A wiser person than me suggested that I consider what Luke had to say on the subject. It’s obvious, even to someone with a casual relationship with the Bible, that Jesus had a special sense of mission to the poor. Some suggest that he announced his “mission statement” in the synagogue in Nazareth, when he read from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

Well, due to some prompting by members of our church community (Diane Bechtold and Cyd Law), I agreed to participate in the recent iDignity event at the Missionary Baptist Church in Sanford. The not-for-profit group, iDignity, is dedicated to assisting homeless people and others at risk in obtaining important documents (such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, and other forms of ID). These documents are sought for a variety of reasons that include: seeking a job, getting a cheap room for a night or two, proving state of birth and age, seeking to dissolve a marriage, obtaining healthcare for themselves and children.

Roughly 50 volunteers from various Christian church groups joined together on September 22 to serve those who showed up at the church. I felt that it was “serving” and it gave me a good feeling to believe one small thing could help another person feel better about themselves. As the day ended for me, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I felt better about myself.

The people I met that day were such a variety of ages, personalities, needs, frustrations, complexities, educational backgrounds, and medical condition. My assignment was to sit and meet individuals as they entered the building and complete an “intake” form that contained lots of personal questions – ones needed in order to locate the ID materials. For me, this was quite an education.

To illustrate what these people live with, the following were things that were shared with me:
• A man in his early 50’s was seeking a birth certificate, simply so he “might” find out what his fathers’ name was. He has never known, and before she died, his mother never told him. When I asked one of the mandatory questions, “Where did you spend last night?” I was told, “Where I’ve spent every night for the past 27 years.” Since that was a surprise answer, I asked for further explanation, and he told me that he lived in a mental facility.
• One woman in her 60’s was seeking a Social Security card, so she might find getting a job easier. In addition, she wanted a birth certificate and a copy of her marriage license from Pennsylvania. Her hope is to get a job, save some money, and “escape” (as she put it) back to Philadelphia (where she had left two children). The reason given for being homeless: no job and abuse at the hand of the man she had left Philly to move to Florida. He, by the way, was in the Seminole County jail for beating her.
• One guy told me that he was homeless primarily because, as he put it, “I don’t get along with people.” When I pointed out that the two of us seemed to be getting along pretty well, he told me, “This is rare.” He was well educated (attempted college in his 20’s), but suffers from mental health issues, and mistrusts everyone. (He wanted to show me that he takes legitimate medication, and pulled a bottle out of his pocket.
• And then there was a woman (in her 40’s), who was there with her fiancée and two children (both over the age of 18). They had come to Orlando about 4 months ago, from Flint, Michigan, to “find work.” There has been no work for any of them. On June 29, they were living in Kissimmee, at the Vacation Lodge motel, when it caught fire and burned to the ground. They lost everything, including all forms of ID. When I met them, they had found a way to come all the way to Sanford in an attempt to get assistance.

The line that wound outside the church and down the street seemed very long, when I first arrived. The stories the people told were endless. The needs were unique and extensive. The people were ALL courteous and appreciative. When I shook hands with each person, as they approached the table, they all seemed surprised. But, when they left the table, most of them reached out “first” to shake hands. It was good for both of us.

Few walked out with all of the paperwork or ID’s they sought that day. Many will have to wait for things to arrive (at a safe location, if there are mail concerns). But, for a few minutes, they weren’t anonymous. They had faces and names, and they were aware that others cared about them.

When one guy in his 50’s told me that he had spent the night with a friend, he smiled as he mentioned it. When I asked where had been prior to his friends’ place, he said, “You know that Walmart (and he pointed in some direction)? There’s a spot that doesn’t get too wet, when it rains. That’s my place most nights.” Well, I saw that Walmart, as I drove back home – and I doubt that I’ll ever ignore that place or look at it in the same way in the future. Someone I “know” lives there. There but for the grace of God….

Jesus commanded us, “Love your neighbor.” My neighbors live in pretty nice homes with property, their kids attend pretty nice schools (some private), they eat. But that’s a limited definition. Jesus defined “neighbor,” as anyone who is need, including social outcasts. He instructed us, “…when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” IDignity’s event wasn’t a “banquet,” but it was warm and welcoming and fulfilling. For those of us who participated, we were blessed.

“I have compassion on these people,” Jesus said, speaking of the poor. The question can be asked: Is anyone listening? From the way the Christian strangers, who gathered at the iDignity event, worked together and reached out with joyous hands to those who came seeking help, I’d say “YES.” These people were (and are) listening.

Jesus told the disciples, "Ye have the poor with you always." He understood that the poor in society were (and are) a fact of life. And he challenged others (us) to provide for them. One way we can provide, is to extend a hand to those seeking identity and self-respect. So, when the next iDignity event occurs (which will be in January), I really hope that one of you reading this will give us a call and tell us that you are onboard.

Dennis McClellan

An Intentional Faith

2011-08-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

August is here, and if your home is like mine and it’s still populated by children, the back-to-school shopping has com¬menced – crayons, pencils, lined paper, pencil boxes, Trapper Keepers, new pants, new shirts, new shoes. Crazy! But there it is...still pretty important stuff for this reason: we all want our kids and grandkids to be equipped for the learn¬ing that will take place in their lives over the next year.
Sam is entering middle school this year, and Erin – in a stroke of mommy genius – thought it would be terrific for the adults in his life to write him notes of blessing as he steps into this new chap¬ter of his life. So the letters have begun to come in and I’ve been thinking about the things I want to share with my old¬est son.
Right or wrong, I think we all have some sort of image of the sort of future we want for our children...perhaps educa¬tional paths, vocational paths, and rela¬tional choices (in that order :-) we hope that they will make. Parenting is this delicate balance of mentoring, coaching, pointing, and then slowly over time let¬ting go as they make their own choices.
I don’t know what Sam will become, but I know that Erin and I have the most signif¬icant role to play in the formation of his faith...how it is he frames, with meaning, the world around him, the universe, and the purpose he has within it. And this has meant certain things for us:
1. Regular and intentional prayer with him in the usual places before meals (learning prayers of gratitude) and before bed (thanksgiving for today and for the promise of a tomorrow).
2. Always having an age-appropriate Bible in his hands as a part of what we read with him and as a part of what we invite him to read. As he has taken more and more owner¬ship of this, he comes to us with the faith questions! It’s powerful.
3. Being open and available to him for the questions he has and the wres¬tling with life he goes through.
4. Being open with him (as is age ap¬propriate) with how we struggle with faith and our own Christian walks.
5. Using the news of the day as con¬versational pieces about the nature of God’s grace, justice, and mercy.
6. Regular worship in our community of faith. Perhaps you all take it for granted that they have to be there... but the only person who has to be in worship is me (PN). That Erin and our children are in worship on a weekly basis has to do with our commitment (primarily Erin’s com¬mitment because Sundays are work days for me) and knowledge that aside from everything else we do in our home, the next most powerful thing we do is have their persons in worship week after week, month after month, year after year...where they can be shaped by the message of grace that rests at the center of our Christian identity, and where we are formed by a community of faith that helps us live out that story in our day-to-day lives. And yes...we worship even when we’re on vaca¬tion! Two weekends ago (July 10th) we were Episcopals in Sanibel!
You get the picture. Erin and I have the incredible privilege of discipling Sam (and Ephraim and Emma). But that discipling is intentional.
Sam probably won’t be a world class basketball player, gymnast, or the next A-Rod. But there’s absolutely nothing stop¬ping him from getting his Ph. D. in grace and Jesus. Let me tell you...you retire from those other things. But you never retire from your faith.
This Long View isn’t about Sam or about the Swenson-Reinholds. We are just a foil for the “in the trenches” work of rais¬ing children who know and love Jesus. And Saints...this doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of intentional investment in our children.
My back-to-school prayer for all of you... parents and grandparents alike: That the Lord of faith empowers you to engage the faith development of your children and grandchildren intentionally.
You are all more important to your kids and grandkids than you know. Don’t squander your impact!
In this work of growing faith with you,
Pastor Nathan

Homelessness and hunger can never be good news

2011-07-11T14:23:00.005-04:00

Good News

Homelessness and hunger can never be good news; however, when I look at the ways in which members of St. Stephen have stepped up to help the children who are homeless and hungry in our “neighborhood” I can reflect that there is good news. Since June 12th, we have delivered several carloads of food to schools in the surrounding area who distribute food to homeless families. This effort has not been satisfied to go to only the closest schools, but, at the direction of Families in Transition has traveled to other Seminole County schools where the food pantry was either low or non-existent. If you’re able to distribute food during the daytime, please contact Cyd Law at gisellel@earthlink.net or Diane Bechtold at dbechtold@cfl.rr.com and one of us will “hook you up” for this opportunity.

We have another group of St. Stephen members who are seeking funding for the feeding effort and are writing grants and finding sources to continue this work. As a result, this group has facilitated the receipt of $500 from Thrivent Financial to purchase meals from Second Harvest at a very reasonable rate. If you’re willing to contribute, just send a check to St Stephen Lutheran Church and indicate “Feeding Homeless Children” in the memo line. Another way to find funding is to ask. You can figure out who to ask.

Another effort underway is for some St. Stephen volunteers to participate in the IDignity effort in Orlando on July 21st and possibly in Sanford sometime in August. We’re not sure when the August event will be scheduled – but I’ll keep you posted. If you want more information about how this works to provide social security cards and ID cards for the homeless – or how you can volunteer – log on to their website at www.idignity.org and get all you need to sign up.

ConAgra Foods has a national campaign to help feed the homeless. If you go to this website, http://www.childhungerendshere.com/Html/EnterCode.html and enter the UPC codes, they will donate a meal to 2nd Harvest for each entry. You can then donate these items to our food for homeless children campaign and effectively double your contribution. ConAgra foods include Chef Boyardee, Marie Calendar, Healthy Choice, Peter Pan, Kids Cuisine, and Banquet foods. Please consider taking this extra step. You can even do this right from your own home.

We have over 70 people who volunteered to help this effort. If you’re one of them, or would like to jump in – do it! We’re not having any meetings, not developing an organization – what we’re doing is finding ways to fill the ranks of existing organizations. The Sharing Center needs us, school food programs need us, and people need us. So – think about what you can do – and do it!

Author: Diane Bechtold

In a Couple of Words…

2011-07-05T14:59:00.002-04:00

By: Dennis McClellan

As I write this, we’re coming up on the 4th of July. When you read this, the 4th will be past.

However, like anyone who blogs, I wonder how many of you will actually read this and how many others will let this gem get by unread. Needless-to-say, odds aren’t in my favor, I fear.

With that said, let’s look at a natural topic for this first week in July: FREEDOM. That’s certainly a topic that’s bandied about and a word that’s been used (and often misused) over the years. But still, its one of those words that represents the true essence of our nation – what the United States stands for (or, is supposed to stand for).

So…here’s my short-and-sweet blog (and challenge) for the week: Let me know what freedom means to you. In one or two (OK, even three) words, express yourselves, and let me know what “FREEDOM” means to you. When you see me on campus or around church, when we bump into each other at Publix or the movie theater, just come up to me and give me the code. Your one, two or three words will express what you’ve been thinking about, since reading this, and what freedom means to you.

Aren’t we fortunate?! Some people actually have to pray for freedom. We’ve actually got to think about what it means – because we’ve got so much of it to immerse ourselves in. Aren’t we fortunate?!

Doing Community in a Netflix World:

2011-06-16T14:51:00.002-04:00

The Long View

The Power of
a FUEL Quad
June 2011

You’ve probably heard Nicole Eastwood talk about them, or me reference them. At present, 1 in 10 of you are involved in one and many of you are beginning to ask questions about them. I’m talking, of course, about FUEL Quads, small discipleship communities that commit to intentional faith development with each other over the space of a year or two.

Remember for a second that FUEL is an acronym that stands for Faith Unleashed in Everyday Life. Our identities as baptized children of God formed as a community that follows the voice of Jesus in the world may begin in worship…but its goal is living the Grace of Jesus in our everyday lives. Faith is MEANT to be unleashed in everyday life. This is God’s intent for the power of the gospel that flows through each of us.

We know however, as a matter of pragmatism, that faith in our lives is nurtured and grown. We give it water, fertilizer, sunlight and good soil, and God takes care of the rest. What FUEL Quads recognize is that Jesus’ best discipleship didn’t occur with 70 or 12. Jesus was most effective with just three…Peter, James, and John. Discipleship can and does occur in larger groups of 8 to 12 in intentional faith conversation, accountability, community and study. But the power to develop real spiritual intimacy, accountability, trust, and growth comes from very small community.

I met with my Quad recently. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to spending that time with those three men twice a month. One of those encounters occurs face to face. One of us brings dinner in and we break bread together. Then we share our faith journeys together, have conversation about faith materials we are reading and interacting with, and then pray for each other. It’s awesome. My particular Quad then meets one other time each month via a SKYPE video call. It’s been hard to get used to this part of our monthly gatherings…mostly working out of the technological bugs, but it’s again a face-to-face encounter with one another, deep faith conversation, and again prayer. Each of us would say we’re stronger for it.

Last month I talked about what it means to be the Church in a Netflix, on demand, world. Not surprisingly as our lives become increasingly digital and privatized, the community of faith formation becomes ever more important. This faith community can and does occur through digital media. The conversations we have on the St. Stephen Facebook page for instance, or at the Spirit Porch blog are rich and deep. But human contact isn’t going to go by the wayside anytime soon. If anything, in our world, it’s going to become increasingly precious and valuable…and we’ll engage these times with more intentionality and appreciation.

Please consider how faith in Jesus is growing in your life right now. If you’re in a faith stall and God seems far away, then it’s time to do your faith life differently. And personally, I think it will begin with an intentional small Christian community.

If you are interested in joining a FUEL Quad (they are always gender specific), please let me or Nicole Eastwood know. We’ll get you equipped and coached and empowered to embarq on this journey.

Don’t be surprised if you discover a whole new depth and richness to life.

Here’s to hearing the voice of Jesus in our lives more clearly! More importantly, here’s to hearing that voice with others!

God loves you and I do too!

Pastor Nathan

What does hunger look like?

2011-06-09T16:27:00.001-04:00

I grew up hearing about children starving in far-away lands – lands I just knew, as a child coming from a working-class household, that I would never see. There were the admonitions to eat everything on my plate because starving children in China would just love to have what I was ignoring on my plate. There were the pictures of starving children in African countries with distended abdomens and rail-thin limbs, hungry children in South American countries who were victims of the never-ending civil wars, pictures of hungry children in the projects of Philadelphia who were victims of racial and social injustice. None of these pictures seemed any more real to me than those I saw in National Geographic - tales that just as likely could have been from the Brothers Grimm.

Several weeks ago, my brother-in-law told me about what the real faces of hunger look like. A 60 Minutes piece aired, and reported that there are over 1,000 homeless children in Seminole county schools. So….. hunger might look like the children who sit next to your child or mine in classrooms or play with them on playgrounds, or who ask if they are going to finish their lunches and ask for whatever remains.

Many of the families are not in shelters, as I thought, where they might lose their dignity, but are at least fed and provided shelter. Because many of the shelters separate families across gender lines, or are full – those who have minimal access to work are living in the cheap motels all around the county – some very close to St Stephen Lutheran Church.

How do we assure that the face of hunger is not the face of our next-door neighbors?

I’m not real sure, but I’m going to investigate. We do know meals were being provided while the children were in school; now that there is a summer break, we have discovered that there are still feeding centers at local schools – Altamonte Springs Elementary is one. Our church has provided some support for the Sharing Center and we are now going to begin to expand that outreach to the school feeding centers to help send food home for weekends. Please consider helping the hungry children right in our community by participating in a drive for foodstuff. Perhaps your child has a classmate who was always asking for extra food, or who you heard was living in a motel, or a car – could you seek him/her out to help? Check out this link and see what else you can do http://cmfmedia.org/web/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/50_Ways.pdf

Could you suggest other ways to help?

Author: Diane Bechtold

What does the face of a leader look like?

2011-06-06T09:43:00.002-04:00

By:Dennis McClellan

The concept of leadership will NOT be tackled in his this brief commentary. Besides, there are way too many books on the topic, and I’m not an expert by any stretch of the term. That doesn’t mean that I don’t know one, when I see one…or work with one.

The idea behind taking someone with talent, skills, understanding, or “the right chemistry,” who isn’t involved in a leadership position…or…doesn’t want to be involved or take on a project…and turning them into a reluctant success story, is something that I find interesting. It isn’t unfamiliar to us. We’ve been raised on such stories. Remember Moses? Boy, he sure didn’t want the job he was given by God – and, as I recall, he fought long and hard not to take on the leadership of the ancient Hebrews. As the Biblical story goes, he lost that battle with God.

It was Joseph Campbell, who described persons, such as Moses, as “Heroes with a Thousand Faces.” In a book that was written when I was a small boy, and reprinted many times, and reissued in 2008, Campbell (the former Catholic priest and expert on myths and the importance of mythology) wrote:

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region
of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and
a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious
adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

Well, that very well may have been a fair description of Moses, or some of the others that he wrote about – including Osiris, Prometheus, the Buddha, and Christ.

So…here’s my question: “What does the face of a St. Stephen Lutheran leader (our local heroes) look like?” And, once we identify those faces among us, how do we get them to put their natural and learned skills and talents to work for the betterment of our congregation and the community at large?” Here’s my answer: “The next time you’re in the sanctuary or parish hall or church office, look to your left and right. There’s a leader sitting or standing (even if they aren’t aware of that fact).”

This isn’t a myth. It’s a fact. What fact?

St. Stephen is ripe with people who are leaders. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, and interests. Some are younger than might be typically expected. And, they are both male and female. Some already serve on the church council. Others head up quad groups. A few are charged with ministry roles. And the real fact is that we are blessed with members who volunteer to feed the homeless, those who mentor teens in Solid Rock, assist with communion, sing in choirs, take charge of audio-visual projects – all without being called “leaders.” They just “are.”

What is, is! There is no standard face of leadership. There is no standard level of education, work experience, or parental background that renders someone more appropriate to be a leader at St. Stephen.

The primary ingredient is making one a leader is “desire to serve.” If anyone has the attitude of a disciple and servant, they have the basic DNA. Around our campus, you’ll see a endless flow of bodies doing the work needed to help us grow, spreading the DNA to others, and keeping the flame burning.

The first weekend in June saw some 60+ people gather for a leadership retreat here on campus. It was an honor to be included. It was quite a gathering – and we didn’t stop until the clock ran out. I observed first hand the high level of desire to serve that permeated the group, and came to appreciate more than ever that leadership isn’t about the leader. It isn’t about me. It’s about others – the people served, the people led, the people encouraged to “join” in, and about helping others to grow, take over and become leaders.

The face of leadership might be compared to looking into a bowl of M & M’s. When you pick a handful out of that bowl, the grouping is always different. It never looks the same. You can’t expect the appearance of that selection to always appear the same. The same is true with how leaders appear. They don’t look alike, think alike or sound alike. And when mixed with others, the groupings will always take on a different look. That diversity can make for some interesting “flavors.” And, it can make for some outstanding examples of leadership.

Why not give yourself the opportunity to experience personal growth and work toward becoming a leader at St. Stephen? Your skills, talents, interests, desire to serve, and willingness to set ego aside and become a servant leader might be the best move of your life – and add to the life at St. Stephen.

How do you become a leader? Just show up. The best leaders around our campus are those who you might not immediately suspect are leaders. They are involved; they don’t always wear a nametag; they might be the ones sweating or with the dirty hands. They’re the ones that lead by example.

Aren’t we fortunate?!

What to do? What to do? What to do?

2011-05-13T17:01:00.001-04:00

Since I was old enough to form opinions, I have been an advocate for social justice. I believe that all people have the right to lives that are without hunger and want. I believe that opportunities should be available to all without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, age, etc.

Today, I have been questioning my “beliefs” because I am realizing that “sayin’ ain’t doin.’” Sure, I write checks to support worthy causes, both at church and in the community. Sure, I donate items I can no longer use. Sure, I even crochet shawls and lap afghans for our support of the women’s shelter.

I know I could do more.

Smokey, my husband, recently had the opportunity to attend the Florida-Bahamas Synod gathering and has made me think about how we could more fully participate in helping others who are in real need. He was introduced to the notion that there really ARE programs and agencies that are in place locally – all we need to do is support what they are doing to relieve suffering and want. We do not have to spend energy re-inventing programs and processes – we just have to roll up our sleeves and get involved in their good work.

We’re supporting the mission work in which our youth are engaged, and have been impressed with the impact of their giving when they return from such trips. They have talked about how they felt closer to God and each other when they engaged in helping in the most basic ways. Those feelings don’t have to be limited to youth; there are plenty of ways for adults to get involved in helping those facing really devastating times right now and right here.

I’m going to look for a way to serve right in my own community. Please join me in this effort to operationalize what social justice really means.

Author: Diane Bechtold

What Made Me Happy…

2011-05-05T14:09:00.003-04:00

Blog – May 4, 2011

Dennis McClellan

Recently I had an experience that caused me great happiness – one that I really wasn’t looking forward to – an event that I thought was going to be laborious and boring. My wife had volunteered and I followed along like a lifeless mannequin.

After the lengthy evenings she had put into preparing for Holy Week and the festivities centered around Easter, I could only imagine how tired she was (as were all the others involved in evening practices and rehearsals). I found it easy to put myself into her place (even though I wasn’t part of all those long hours), and I became “tired” for her. Somehow, by the end of services on Easter, I had convinced myself that I deserved a break as much as she did.

And so, on the Sunday following Easter, I “sort of reluctantly” followed her to the church campus and into the Parish Hall to pack 50,000 meals for Haiti.

I’m sure anyone reading this can relate, in some way, to that feeling – a feeling that says, “No more right now; I just want to roll up in a ball and veg.”

Well, as it is said, “God moves in mysterious ways.” Boy did I find that out on May 1, 2011.

That afternoon I watched as bunches of adults and kids jammed into the Parish Hall, lined up at 10 pre-set tables, and spent the next two hours (just two hours) filling clear plastic bags with a mixture of food products and vitamins that can sustain life for thousands of individuals and families.

The work was joyous and the sound was overwhelming. That sound was a combination of laughter and chatter brought on by all those assembled – many of whom didn’t really know each other before that day. Many had seen each other, but didn’t know names or hadn’t interacted due to age differences or because they attend different services. Nevertheless, they lined up on either side of a production line, where barriers of age and being nameless were broken down quickly – and, I believe, permanently. By the time we all departed that afternoon, we had done a lot more than pack 50,000 meals for Haiti --- All of us had made new friends. We had a great time communicating and discovering and laughing. The competition between tables was hilarious and just plain fun.

What’s the bottom line here? It’s simple.

I had a tremendous time that afternoon. I forgot about my “supposed tiredness” and overlooked my desire to lie on the sofa and watch golf on TV. And seeing my wife have a great time supervising her table – and not allowing all the time she had spent (like so many others) preparing for Easter get in her way – became a strong wake-up call for me. It was apparent that it is possible to find strength and enjoyment when doing something for others – even when you won’t see the results. Just knowing that you are doing something of value for others can be very invigorating. And, nothing can beat being part of a winning team.

Lenten Reflection - April 17th, Palm Sunday

2011-04-15T17:00:00.003-04:00

Written by: Diane Bechtold

Reading: John 20:21

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

We’re commissioned! Think about the St. Stephen mission statement, “Love God. Love People. Make Disciples.” This isn’t just a catchy phrase, developed by a zealous pastor or council – it’s the call to service straight from Jesus. His model showed us that he associated with all people – not just the rich and famous. He served all people – foreigners, the poor, the sickly, the outwardly sinful and the covertly sinful – and wants us to do the same.

Glorious Savior: Help us not to say, “Is it I, Lord,” but to know that it is I who should go out to serve and share the Good News. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 16th

2011-04-15T16:49:00.003-04:00

Written by: Pastor Nathan Swenson-Reinhold

Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

I love to eat with people. I love to do lunch with people. I enjoy people. I enjoy people even more when it involves food. Call it wiring...call it what you will...people and food go together. There’s an old adage: “Where there is food, there is community.” This is of course exactly what’s going on when we gather together for communion. The “meal of messiah” becomes the “meal of the people of the Messiah” ... a community formed around Jesus’ death and resurrection. Enemies are reconciled. Friendships are renewed. Healing is wrought. Relationships are strengthened. This is comm-union, literally “with unity.”

Paul commends to us the Lord’s Supper not because he (or Jesus for that matter) wanted to give us another empty ritual, but because he felt that the things that we DO and in fact do together in community should point to Jesus. And the Last Supper, the Lord’s Supper, does just that. It allows us, in unity, together, to point to Jesus.

Communion...the Supper of our Lord isn’t just a biblical command. It’s also the point of the Church. WE are the community that gathers, and in our doing so, points to God’s love revealed in Jesus. This Lent, it’s good to be the Church.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for gathering a people of a thousand agendas and focusing our purpose on a single thing: witnessing your death and resurrection. As I gather with others, may the bread I break and the community built there always point to you. Amen

Lenten Reflection - April 15th

2011-04-14T17:01:00.002-04:00

Written by: Bonnie Broadie

Reading: Romans 6:5

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

In this scripture, God is reminding us that we are one with Jesus through our Baptism and through his death and resurrection. Our baptism is our constant reminder that Jesus died for us allowing us to live in His eternal path. When Jesus was buried in the tomb, we too were buried with him. When He rose to salvation through the glory of the Father, we also began a new life with the Father. The 40 day journey leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection allows Christians to focus on how God wants his only son’s death to be the reason for us to live in eternal faith with Jesus. During the 40 days of Lent, I reflect on my faith with God and how he has given his only son for me. I wonder what I would do if I were asked to give up one of my children. The idea of sacrificing in order to be united with God should be very simple. But in our every day struggles, the mere thought of giving up something can be a challenge in and of itself. But God never thought twice to give up his son for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to be that unselfish, caring disciple of Christ when asked to sacrifice or to give unto you and to my neighbor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 14th

2011-04-13T16:43:00.003-04:00

Written by: Marie Hoder

Reading: Luke 24:36-40

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

Jesus risen and alive seemed to be too good to be true, even though the disciples were talking about the sightings. But they needed to know he was real, that he really did rise from the dead. He wanted to turn their fear and doubt into belief. He wanted them to be his witnesses.

Sometimes we feel Jesus is too good to be true as well. HE died for me? He knows all my secrets and He still loves me that much? But it is true! Jesus is all that. He wants to turn our fear and doubt into belief. He wants us to be his witnesses in our world. We can celebrate victory over death with the risen Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, You are amazing! Thank You for loving us even when we doubt and our faith is not strong. May we be Your witnesses in the world, to show the light of Your love to others. Amen!

Lenten Reflection - April 13th

2011-04-12T15:39:00.003-04:00

Written by: Margene Wampole

Reading: Mark 15:33-39

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[a] 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[b] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

A direct quote from Jesus, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus, son of God, lived among us as a man. He asks nothing of us he did not ask of himself. He took life from birth to agonizing death... for us. Jesus walked our journey and promised us he would always be with us. As we deal with our valley of trial or our peak of joy we have Jesus beside us. We can ask, but are not promised the pain will go away or the problem will be resolved happily. When Jesus was dying the immediate view was that it was "over". God's intervention of the Resurrection was not apparent then as God's reasoning is often not apparent now. We are promised that God did not forsake His Son, Jesus, and will not forsake us. God is a loving Father and Jesus a loving Son.

Jesus, you endured. You suffered the doubts, the pain, death, the results of your commitment to your Father's will as you saw it as a human. We ask in your name as the Son of God, to help us endure in faith as loving children of God. Strengthen us with your grace. Amen

Lenten Reflection - April 12th

2011-04-11T16:38:00.003-04:00

Written by: Austin Bechtold

Reading: John 1:10-14

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Our rebirth as children of God and life eternal is Jesus’ priceless gift, not something that we, with all the powers on earth, could ever willfully attain on our own.

How amazing it is that an all-powerful Creator would choose taking human form to bring us into the light. The majority of the Jewish people at this time could not accept anything less than a physical superhero of a king who would wipe away all the ills that had befallen them with a wave of a hand. A simple carpenter who walked and ate with sinners and preached “love your enemies” was the antithesis of what they envisioned for a messiah. He subtly made his point that he was truly one of the common folk. He was the embodiment of “grace”, the gift of unconditional love for all humankind. His “truth”, was evidenced through words and miracles that his being one with the Father was divinely undeniable to those who witnessed and accepted Him.

Lord God, as your children let us carry your message of grace and truth in everything we do and say in our daily existence. Help us to give then humbly and sincerely with our sole reward being Your delight in Your creation. Amen

Lenten Reflection - April 11th

2011-04-11T09:36:00.003-04:00

Written by: Peter Lund

Reading: Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. 2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? 3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

As seems to be the case with many of the psalms, Psalm 43 is a cry to God for help. I have always been a “doubter,” and to be completely honest, I have always been very skeptical. I know some people who have never had any trouble believing, but I am not someone who fits that description. Despite having been a religion major in college (or perhaps because of it), I find myself doubting my faith most of the time. Over the course of my life, however, I have truly come to view my doubt as a gift; to me, after all of the doubt, after all of the seeking and struggling with questions, finally making a break through, even if it is just a glimpse, is worth the entire journey. As such, I have always been drawn to a psalm such as this, because the psalmist expresses doubts of his own, asking why God has “rejected him.” However, after having seemingly doubted God, the psalmist ends with a message of hope in verse 5.

I can understand the feelings the psalmist has, because despite any doubts and skepticism, the underlying faith in God is always there, and gives us hope. The Lenten season is a time that reminds me very much of my faith life: it can be a long and sometimes dark journey, but it is a journey that always ends with Light, and the Resurrection.

Prayer: Lord, in the words of the 9th Chapter of Mark, “I believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” In this Lenten season, help me see through the darkness of my doubts, to the Light of your Resurrection. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 10th

2011-04-08T16:58:00.005-04:00

Written by: Carolyn Champagne

Reading: Zechariah 9:9-10

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim

and the warhorses from Jerusalem,

and the battle bow will be broken.

He will proclaim peace to the nations.

His rule will extend from sea to sea

and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah is reminding us of God’s promise or covenant to send us a King, His Son Jesus. God had promised other things too throughout history; such as promising to Noah to never destroy the earth with a flood or the promise to Abraham that his offspring would be blessed. But this last promise had the most impact on the world with the birth of his son. Jesus did not proclaim war, but peace. He did not come in royal robes, but was a carpenter’s son. He was not what people expected. God then gave his son over to die on a cross to save us from our sins. This is the ultimate sacrifice anyone could make – actually we couldn’t! But God did! The Lord wants us to believe in Him that he had to die for us and our sins so we can be together in heaven when that time comes. It gives me pause to think of the sacrifice He made and that He loves us that much.

Lord Jesus, as the hymn we love reads, “All glory laud and honor to you Redeemer, King”. Thank you for your sacrifice for our sake. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 9th

2011-04-08T16:48:00.004-04:00

Written by: Pastor Ron Lee

Reading: John 5:19-29

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

If you are a parent, this teaching of Jesus, makes all of the sense in the world. Even when our children are misbehaving, one of the two parents will look at the other and say: "Well, Johnny is acting just like you!" Or, the real powder keg comment: "Sarah is acting just like your mother!" It is usually said with tongue in cheek, but there is, also, always, a lot of reality behind the remark. In their strengths, and in their weaknesses, our children very often act like us.

That is no surprise. They are a combination of the DNA we pass on to them. When they excel, we want to take credit and put a bumper sticker on our cars that proclaim we have an honor student or a soccer star in our families. When they act out, like it or not, if we are honest, we can see something of what we did in our own childhood rebellion in their behavior, except, often, truth be told, we did worse.

The scandalous thing that Jesus is saying here, for any religious person listening to him, is that he has his Father's DNA. He is proclaiming that he is his Father's son, even in life and death, and, as a result, you can count on him. God is the creator. God gives life. God loves his people, and even brings life out of death. Everyone listening knew and believed that.

It is still true. If you believe in the Father, and what he can do, then, believe in the Son, and what he can do. Life. Real. Abundant. Eternal. Now. Life. A gift from the Father and the Son, to all of us.

Lord, help us to recognize this gift from our Father in the form of His Son, Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 8th

2011-04-07T17:10:00.003-04:00

Written by: Lisa Krist

Reading: Psalm 30:8-10

8 To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.” I admit it. I am a prayer peeker. I can’t keep my eyes closed during Pastor’s prayer – even when his words are meaningful and valid. I find myself looking around at all the other people who seem so comfortable with their heads bowed and their hands folded together, and I wonder, “Does God hear me even though I don’t pray as peacefully as they do?” I prefer to talk to God during afternoon walks with chirping birds and children’s voices acting as background noise; to reflect on my blessings while waiting in a carpool line; and to ask for His favor when I hear ambulance sirens and know that (as my daughter says), “Someone isn’t having a very good day.” Lent is a time to reflect on the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ and to give thanks for His resurrection. It is a time to join together in service so that we are reminded of the story of His life and the gift He gave to us. Lent is a formal time to pray, but it is not the only time to pray.

Dear God: Thank you for giving me 24/7 access to you through prayer. The season of Lent is a time to be mindful of the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to be thankful for the hope that He brings to the world. Please help me to be less selfish and more selfless during this time of reflection, and to give thanks to God for all that I am blessed with.

Lenten Reflection - April 7th

2011-04-06T16:29:00.003-04:00

Written by: Jim Detzel

Reading: John 3:14-17

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

“For God so loved the world…..” is one of the most known and recognized verses in the entire Bible. But KNOWING a verse and TAKING TO HEART the message are different activities. What do you think of this statement of God’s love? What does it bring to mind? I think of Genesis Chapter 22, in which God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. How would you and I react to this extreme request? I have two sons and I can honestly say I would have had real trouble with such a request. How would one garner the strength to carry it out?

I think, in God’s plan, this was a precursor of what was to be asked of His Son – to give up his life in atonement for our sins and allow us to enjoy everlasting life. How have we responded to that enormous gift? Have we done everything in our power to respond to God’s request to love one another, as He has loved us? We have been spared a request to sacrifice our children (Thank God!) but we have been asked to respond. What are our intentions?

During this time of Lent, let us look inward and review our daily lives and see where we need to repent for our transgressions and remedy those things that keep us from being more Christ-like in our living.

Dear God, please help us to accept Jesus as our Savior and in doing so, mimic him in our everyday lives.

Irony

2011-04-06T12:52:00.001-04:00

I’ve always had a tough time with the word “irony” and when and how to properly apply it. It’s one of the great words in our language, but one that is typically not used or understood by most people – even though it all around us every day. Here’s an example: March 30, 2011 was designated, by the U.S. Congress, as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” in remembrance of the day back in 1973, when the final military personnel were ordered to depart from Vietnam. For me, it was almost a gesture too late in coming. At the same time, I knew people who “needed” this sort of closure -- even if had to be legislated. And so I sent out a ton of emails, announcing this event to my entire address book – but stressing that if anyone knew or ran into a Vietnam vet, to just say “Welcome Home” or “Thanks.” When I told one person, face to face, her response was, in my eyes, “ironic.” I said, “Well, after more than 35 years since the last soldiers were pulled out of Vietnam, Congress has created “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.” She looked at me, her body shifted as if uncomfortable, and replied, “Oh, that’s nice.” To me, that’s irony. For lots of people, especially those who weren’t even alive in 1973, Vietnam is a couple of paragraphs (if that many) in a history textbook. My own sons once told me that they had studied Vietnam in history class (and that was in the early 1990’s). But Vietnam, per se, isn’t the focus of this blog. Since then, we’ve had Granada, Desert Storm, the Afghan and Iraqi wars. Every one of these events has created veterans – some with amazing and hard stories of their return to civilian life. It’s a fact, with the continued recession we’re experiencing, more people of all ages in America are having trouble getting enough nutritious food to stay healthy. And, this is also a fact, Veterans are being hit especially hard. Recently, the Los Angeles Times published an article showing an increase in the number of people requiring food assistance programs just to make it through the month. Los Angeles County's 1.7 million residents struggling with hunger is the highest among all U.S. counties. The reason, according to experts, is the extremely high cost of living combined with low wages. As a result, six million people in California alone are considered to be "food insecure," with one-third not qualifying for government nutritional benefits. Eligibility for these benefits is tied to income, a fact that does not sit well with many experts because it hits the working poor particularly hard. This is a group too poor to afford enough nutritious food, but not poor enough to quality for aid. Over half do not meet the requirements for food stamps, and nearly 33% of children fail to be eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches. Additionally, the number of people served by the Los Angeles Food Bank has increased from 674,000 to 1 million in just three years. Despite the increase in the number of those needing help, feeding organizations cannot keep up with demand and are having to turn people away. The sad truth is that Veterans are at a higher risk of being in groups who struggle with hunger—the underemployed, the unemployed and the homeless, by almost a 2 to 1 ratio. The main challenge facing today's Veterans, causing them to be in situations that have them going hungry, is that the transition from military life into the civilian world is often so difficult. Many recent Vets no longer recognize the world they left behind, and have trouble adjusting to a life after multiple combat tours. This new generation of combat Veterans suffers from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury at higher rates than Vets from previous wars for a variety of reasons, one being that with improvements in battle gear, they are surviving explosions and other trauma that killed soldiers in earlier conflicts. So they're surviving, but they're not successfully reintegrating back into the civilian world. And this is to say nothing of the difficulties many Vets face when re-entering the workforce. For some, it is tough to show how their combat experience and training has prepared them for the job market. For others, job searching can be made even more challenging when having to create resumes and navigate stressful job interviews while dealing with TBI and PTSD. Another mountain, which many Veterans have to climb, is that some companies do not place a priority on hiring Vets. In fact, some companies actually have a bias against hiring Veterans, feeling that it is a burden to bring on employees who have additional needs based on their adjustments back to a post-combat life. With all of these challenges facing our heroes, it is clear to see how and why Veterans comprise one-third of our nation's homeless population. The process of Veterans' reintegration can be daunting, and combined with deficient readjustment services; they too often end up on the street. To cope, many end up using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, which only serves to reinforce the cycle of homelessness, stagnation, incarceration and hospitalization. The end result of these serious issues is that a disproportionate number of Veterans are in the high-risk categories of being unemployed and homeless, and they are going hungry at rates higher than that of the country's working poor. There are outreach programs operating in the greater Orlando area that deliver food to the homeless every week, of which St. Stephen Lutheran Church has been an active participant for years. They do a great job, but they are fighting an uphill battle. Typically, there are a number of soup kitchens and shelters in areas where large numbers of homeless men and women congregate. These programs do not meet all the hunger needs of all homeless citizens, Veterans or otherwise. Many hungry and homeless Veterans live in rural areas that are far from these services. Other Veterans may have no idea where the nearest assistance center is. When we drive under an overpass anywhere within twenty-five miles of our church, there are people of all ages making that their “home.” It is difficult to imagine who these people are, what brought them to this point in their lives and what’s next for them. I suspect that most of us don’t think that one of these homeless faces might belong to a person who once fought for this country, and, due to circumstances, they now spend their days roaming streets and their nights under the pavements or in cardboard cartons in the woods near our own homes. For these men and women (and there are thousands upon thousands of homeless female veterans across this nation), this isn’t the “Welcome Home” they deserved. They are among us. They are the nameless faces we drive by every day. They are the ones pushing overstacked shopping carts along busy streets. They’re the one’s we hope won’t approach us in a parking lot. They, for the grace of God, could be us. Isn’t that ironic? Let’s not forget. By: Dennis McClellan

Lenten Reflection - April 6th

2011-04-05T16:10:00.002-04:00

Written by: Cindy McClellan

Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When I read this passage, I thought of a phrase I often heard growing up – “The best things in life are free.” Not until I became an adult did these words begin to make sense. Certainly, we want to feel the successes of our own accomplishments. But true joy, the honest delights, come from gifts we receive just from being alive - the sound of laughter, the warm sand beneath our feet, a hug from a trusted friend. These gifts are ours at no cost to us– we just need to open our eyes and our hearts to appreciate them.

In Ephesians, Paul reminds us of God’s ultimate gift to us. Even in our most human form, God chose not turn us away, as with Adam and Eve, or destroy our communities, as he did with Noah. Instead, from pure love, God gifted us His only son. With Jesus, we have the ultimate blessings of eternal mercy and Grace – and the knowing of unconditional love. And what is our cost for a gift so divine? Nothing – but our faith. Truly …. The best things in life ARE free !

Dear God: Help us be mindful of your ultimate gift of Jesus and appreciate its meaning. Help us to be good stewards of this gift and through our faith and our actions share it with others. We are blessed this Easter season and all days with the gift of Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 5th

2011-04-04T18:08:00.003-04:00

Written by: Genon Murray

Reading: John 2:13-22

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a] 18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

We rarely see Jesus angry. Because his actions seem so out of character to us, they get our attention and make several points. We can’t buy our way into God’s good graces with sacrifices and offerings. Although we offer gifts out of gratitude, obedience and love for God, they do not buy us God’s favor. Jesus knew he was going to be crucified soon as the ultimate sacrifice of grace and love in our relationship with God. His gift of his life makes bargaining for God’s love cheap and insulting. His power to rise from the dead proves the ultimate authority regarding what makes our relationship right with God. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the indisputable expressions of God’s love for us and nothing we can do or offer is comparable in exchange.

Dearest Jesus, Forgive us for our arrogance in thinking our gifts, sacrifices, lifestyle or acts of service are better than others and buy us special favors with you. Help us to make offerings to you out of love and gratitude. Thank you for making the point that you are in charge of grace and thank you for showing us your fierce and powerful love for us. Amen

Lenten Reflection - April 4th

2011-04-04T09:15:00.003-04:00

Written by: Renee Rose

Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

The two words that came to me when I read this verse and other readings related to it were responsibility and obedience. When first thinking of these words I would describe myself as a highly responsible individual. I would also say that I was fairly obedient as a teenager and even in my adult life I am moderately to highly obedient. Until writing this I never thought about this further but as I write this I found myself asking how I would apply these two words to my faith. The bottom line is I fall short. I am sure that we can all identify areas that we fall short in our responsibilities and obedience in life, but perhaps especially in our faith. Perhaps like me you are struggling with the conflict between responsibility to your life and responsibility to your faith and making it grow. Where do the two meet or do they? What do I know for sure? Christ is with me and I have known that all my life. I have never questioned that. I also know that he is pushing me to make the next move but why am I holding back?

Christ I pray that you give us the strength to be obedient and responsible in our faith and give us the strength to make the next move. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 3rd

2011-04-01T17:17:00.003-04:00

Written by: Frank Raike

Reading: John 7:25-31 25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” 30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”

These verses from John remind me of Thursday Night TV at 9:00 when “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” comes on. In the opening credits, the theme song is heard, “Who are You?” by the Who. For the next hour, the show captures our attention with a fast-paced drama about a team of forensic investigators trained to solve crimes by examining the evidence. They are on the case 24/7, scouring the scene, collecting the irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that will solve the mystery.

The people of Jerusalem questioned of Jesus, who are you ? They object to Jesus’ teaching because they are convinced that he is not educated enough or, at least, that he was not educated by the ‘right’ people or the ‘right sort’ of people. They object to him because they know where he is from. They keep looking for reasons to not follow Jesus and searching for excuses not to believe in him. They ignored the evidence and fail to put all the pieces together.

People thus reject Jesus’ teaching at their own peril. In rejecting His teaching they are rejecting the authority behind the teaching (the Father), the subject of the revelation (God’s Will), and the intentions behind the prophecy (transformation by God’s intent). Do people of the world still question Jesus, who are you?

Christ Our Savior: help us not to be ignorant that it prevents us from knowing and loving Jesus. Assist us to learn the evidence and not reject our Lord. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - April 2nd

2011-04-01T16:55:00.003-04:00

Written by: Genon Murray

Reading: Psalm 103:1 1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. David is shouting prainses to God. His praise comes as an expression of his soul; of all that he is. His praises are not only what he says and what he does but also how he thinks and how he feels in the deepest, most secret parts of himslf. Everything that makes him who he is praises God. This is the time for us to praise God. During Lent we are celebrating the power of God and His deliverance of us due to His unending love for us. How can we do anything else but praise Him with all that we are?

Great and Almighty God, everything we are, believe and do is an offering of praise to you for all that you have done and do for us. We praise you for your unfathonable power and your unexplainable grace and your amazing love. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Amen.

Lenten Refrections - April 1st

2011-04-01T16:26:00.002-04:00

Written by: Susan Wollner

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Everyone likes something new. You can see the smile on a child's face when he received a new toy. I remember the joy of finding the dress I wanted for prom in my closet when I was told we could not afford it. My parents sacrificed, that I might have something new. When a couple is married and a new family is forned there is joy. When a baby is born, all celebrate a new life. Paul tells us in this letter to Corinth that our life is made new through Christ. We are not reformed, rehabilitated or reeducated through Christ-we are recreated. We have new life when we reconcile with Christ who had not sin, but dies for our sin. We are therefore to be ambassadors for Christ, to reconcile to Him and to make His appeal of reconciliation to others. We are to be ministers of reconciliation to Christ. What an awesome responsibility!

Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to reconcile my sins. Please help me to be a minister of reconciliation to others. Help me to share the live of Christ with others and to live a new life each day in Christ. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 31st

2011-03-30T16:23:00.003-04:00

Written by: Pastor Ron Lee

Reading: Exodus 20:1-17 1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

We are in the process of adding a new member to our family, not a grandchild this time, but a wonderful Shetland Sheep dog, named Chance. He is a miniature Lassie, two and a half years old, and has a sweet disposition and a twinkle in his eye. And the first thing we will do? Show Chance, we love him, to help ease his fears about his new surroundings and relationships, of course. We have two other dogs that are part of our extended family, so the process of creating a new pack will need to take some time, and make a real effort, as Chance becomes part of our "pack". If you have ever gone through the process of adding a new member to your family, human or otherwise, you probably know the drill. Love isn't just pats and snuggling. It is, also, setting out the boundaries for acceptable behavior that keeps the new one, and the rest of the family safe and free from harm. There is a fence, a leash, and you scan the environment for anything that would be dangerous or might cause harm. People and pets that do not have boundaries provided by loving parents, are usually out of control and miserable to be around. Great love, and healthy community, always develops in an environment of safety and trust. So it is with God and us. It isn't a matter of God telling us to "obey the commandments to prove that you are a good person." That would be to see the commandments from our perspective. Instead, they are God's great way of saying to us: "Now that I have made you part of my family, and surrounded you with my love, here are the 'house rules" to keep you safe. Break them, and I will still love you. But if you do, you will be a danger to yourself and to the rest of the family." So God commands things like these: Love and honor me, your father and mother, don't kill, steal, lie about the other members of the family, or steal their bones! We will have our house rules for Chance, because we already love him and want him and the other members of our family to do well. Now that you are part of God's community of love, how are you doing with his house rules, the ten commandments? Can you see beyond the fence God erects around us, to the heart of love that enfolds us?

Lord, thank you for your love, and that you would give me such a clear vision of what you command and desire that my life might be rich and full. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 30th

2011-03-29T17:05:00.003-04:00

Written by: Joanne Spalding

Reading: Hebrews 11:1, 6-7

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

When I was diagnosed with cancer why was I unable to take my diagnosis and fears to God when my faith was truly needed? Initially, I followed the grief cycle, passing through each stage; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Something was missing with acceptance. I needed to share with God. I remembered the Bible passages from both Abraham and Noah – both trusted God when their lives took some unexpected turns. Real faith produces startling results. I needed to take my fears to God. Faith is especially needed when we face our immortality. Each day, I pray in early morning and late night, thanking him for getting me through another day and just keeping God aware of my complete faith in him. Results are not always visible but sharing my faith in him feels good immediately.

God – Grant me the strength to focus on my goal of understanding the importance of faith in my daily life on good days and on bad. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 29th

2011-03-28T16:39:00.004-04:00

Written by: Carolyn Champagne

Reading: Jeremiah 17:7-8

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Trust is sometimes such a hard thing to have. It means letting go of your fears and anxiety. It means having faith in Jesus to know that He hears us and will do what is right for us. How often have you worried about something, whether it is an illness, a bad argument with someone, or stress over money, etc. You pray about it, but you still worry. If you totally give it up to the Lord and trust in Him, He will be there for you. Many years ago my dad was in the hospital and had gone through heart surgery and a bleeding ulcer, all in the span of a few weeks. He had had 3 surgeries to repair all that was needed and was in a coma. Only one doctor thought he would pull through. This was one time that I had to trust in Jesus that he would do what was best for my dad no matter what the outcome. It was hard, but also freeing at the same time when you realize that it is not in your hands any more.

Dear Jesus, Lord and Savior, thank you for giving us these messages to live by which should make our lives easier. Help us remember to fully trust in you, realizing that you know what is best for us and won’t leave our side. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 28th

2011-03-28T09:55:00.003-04:00

Written by: Diane Bechtold

Reading: Philippians 2:7-8

7 he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Over and over again, we read how God hunbled Jesus to come to us as a human. this savior of the world died to redeem us from the woeful load that sin had cast and gave us the glorious model of Grace. His death was agonizing and degrading; but served to release humankind from the poser and correuption that sin holds. We all live in a "Good Friday" world, and have been released from it by what is to come.

Gracious Lord: Thank you for taking on the power of sin so that we might live for the promise of Easter. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 27th

2011-03-25T16:40:00.002-04:00

Written by: Bill Nasworthy

Reading: John 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John reports to us that Jesus says that if we believe in God’s teachings and “live” them that we will be “set free”. And reading further in John, it tells us that we are a “slave to sin” and only living God’s word (the truth) will free us. Therein lies the battle…we strive to do good works as God requires of us, but we sin on a daily basis.

Father, thank you for leading us in your way. Help us to live as your disciples and assist us when we fall short. As we continue through Lent, allow us to keep our eyes on your Holy Son and appreciate all he suffered for us to live. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 26th

2011-03-25T16:34:00.002-04:00

Written by: Lou Shives

Reading: Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

What an amazing scripture. During this Lenten season, I am reminded of the love of God who gave His only begotten Son as a living sacrifice for my/our sins. Micah encourages me by saying that God is not an angry God, but rather a merciful and compassionate God who pardons my iniquities and casts my sins into the ocean. As a parent, I can’t imagine how it would feel to have a child become a living sacrifice. At times I question myself, “Does Jesus know what His death and resurrection mean to me?”, “Do I thank God enough for all that He has done for me”? and “Do my actions reflect my love for God?” What comfort to know that while I try to become more like Him, He forgives me for my imperfections as an individual and parent. To Him be the glory both now and forever.

Lord: You gave Your life as a living sacrifice for me. I am Yours. Enable me to glorify You in everything I do, in everything I say, and with everything I have. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 25th

2011-03-24T16:53:00.003-04:00

Written by: Frank Raike

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“They are taking more away from us!” We were promised an income, benefits, and a future. Now, it’s slowly being taken away. Many are without jobs or have settled for a time on employment that is less than where we were before. Others have not had a raise in years. Health Care costs are rising. House values are decreasing. Gasoline is going up again. The retirement plan isn’t looking good. It’s not fair!
Matthew 5:1-12 are referred to as the Beatitudes and part of Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls us to look at the world in a new way, to value and respect things differently than what we know in our society. Our ordinary ways of understanding are turned around, and the world is given a new direction. This was true two thousand years ago, and it’s so true today.
From the same blessings heard on the mount, they still ring true for today: God's ways value justice for all people. Understand that each of us who are poor, sorrowful, and oppressed physically, mentally, financially, and morally have much to rejoice for. Our faith inspires us as a community and individuals to speak up and act out against injustices in the world. Look to the recent events of peaceful protest throughout the world today, and know we bear witness to the power of God's love.
Christ Our Savior: teach us the eight principles of the Kingdom of God that we can live a justice life. Help us focus positively on what we should be like rather than on what we should not do. Keep us from evil and lead us to truth. With the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, let your love and holiness dominate our lives. Amen

From Joe's view...

2011-03-24T14:39:00.002-04:00

Mary Knurek reminded me this weekend that my blog was due. Getting the chance to pontificate is a wonderful shot in the ego, but it carries with it the burden of a deadline. Gail Seeram also asked for my evaluation of Pastor Nathan, for about the 3rd time. We’re on the church council and councils do such things. I generally shy away from written evaluations of leaders, though. They’re not engaged in repetitive tasks, so the critique and correction model really doesn’t apply. But I suddenly realized that I could kill two birds with one stone and half my workload. So this month’s blog is my evaluation of Nathan. I love being clever.
_________

Nathan has a Pastoral heart. It oozes out his pores. He loves this congregation, and he embraces us with his affection before he even opens his mouth. He is delighted to see us each and every week. He also has an uncanny sense of which battles to fight and when to let mercy have the better part of judgment. In short, he has a barrel full of emotional intelligence.

He knows where the end zone is, and he’s kept this congregation from running itself out of bounds over issues that are not central to the mission – getting to that end zone. Consequently, St. Stephen is cohesive and growing, while most mainstream churches are shrinking and splitting. I’d say that makes him a consummate political leader.

He’s actually Biblically and philosophically literate; surprisingly well-read for someone with no snow on the roof. And I understand that a great and powerful wizard is granting him a diploma that proves that he, like the scarecrow, obviously has a brain. I think that qualifies him as a scholar and theologian. Congratulations, Doc.

Business leaders and owners seek his opinion on the operation of their firms. They accept him as a peer and are warmed by the camaraderie they share. That, my friends, is an impressive feat. And despite his busy schedule, he actually shows up at ball practice and concerts and performances. His kids rush toward him, not away. And his wife still welcomes his embrace. All in all, I’d say he’s pretty well balanced.

And here’s the one I like the best - 73% of his sermons have a pin-drop moment; that instant where no one breathes or moves as the previous point strikes home. I’d say that makes him a consummate performer as well.

There are no gaping wounds that bleed pathos where sunshine belongs. No baggage that trips him up or gets in the way of his taking care of my wounds and baggage. I go out of my way to say “you gotta meet this guy!” instead of mumbling “he’s actually ok once he get to know him.”

So how do I put a number on him?
• Compared to Moses, Elijah and the Apostle Paul, I give him an 85%. It’s all good, he just hasn’t transcended on a cloud or anything truly impressive yet.
• Compared to the rest of the ELCA clergy, though, I’d give him a 97%. He’s the complete package, but I just wanted to leave him a little room for improvement and growth or he’d get antsy.

We got a great deal on a Cadillac, folks. He’s clearly above the norm. That’s cause for us to celebrate the hard work of the call committee, the hand of the Holy Spirit and plain old dumb luck. We found him in Nebraska, after all --- preaching to a corn stalk. Hallelujah, and again I say --- hallelujah.

Ok, ok, ok. Calm down. Cause I got bad news too. This is also cause for us to mourn the ill fortune of all those other congregations who are served by lesser folks. How sad and painful for them.
And I’d like to ask one simple question ---

---- “WHY IS THAT?”

The Nathans of the world ought to be the norm, not the exception.
• Every pastor ought to be well balanced, emotionally intelligent, theologically versed and gifted with the tools of the trade. Every one of them.
• No pastor should be unable to minister because of the massiveness of his own weaknesses and shortcomings. They simply should not be in a pulpit. They are God’s precious children, just as we all are. They just need to sit in the pews.
God’s work is serious work and should be handled by the best and brightest among us.

So why is that not the case?
And what are we going to do about it?
We need to recruit better, train better, weed better, reward better, pamper better and demand more.
Where can we impact that process?

This ought to be a burning issue for us, because we’re going to dive back into that ELCA talent pool one of these days. Nathan will not live forever. Or maybe he will, but just in a different venue. Either way, I don’t want to rely on hard work and dumb luck finding us another winner. I’d like the talent pool so well stocked that finding the next winner is easy. Real easy.

I think we’ve got work to do.

Joe Anderson
3/24/2011

Lenten Reflection - March 24th

2011-03-23T16:31:00.002-04:00

Written by: Ann Shaffer

Reading: John 5:1-18
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The Authority of the Son
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

For this devotion, we were asked to write a Faith story. The first thing that came to mind happened recently when we relocated back to Florida from Texas. Due to family situations in Florida, we really wanted to move back. We didn’t know how we were going to accomplish the move, but we prayed and asked God to help us. One big factor in the move was selling our house in Texas. The morning the photographer was to take pictures for the realtor turned out to be a grey rainy day and not very good conditions for taking pictures. I was a little disappointed, but kept working and continued to pray. About ten minutes before the photographer was to arrive, the clouds passed over and the biggest sunny blue sky appeared. When the photographer arrived, she commented on how she had been taking pictures all morning long in the grey overcast and it was amazing how the sky had cleared up as she was driving into our neighborhood. She took the pictures and they turned out great. Right after the photographer left, the sky clouded up again. We had a contract on the house the first day it went on the market. The whole story is too long to write about here, but the summary is that within a 3 month period, my husband and I both had new jobs, sold our house in Texas, bought a house in Florida and moved all our belongings. Everything just seemed to click and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that God answered our prayers and helped us to move. We had faith that God would answer our prayers and give us the wisdom to see his answers.

This Scripture reading shows us how Jesus did such miraculous things for people. At first the man questioned how it could be done, and then Jesus told him what to do. He followed Jesus with amazing results. How many times in our lives do we find ourselves in situations where we don’t know what to do and think that it is hopeless? God is always there for us and will help us in any situation. It requires Faith on our part to never have doubt and know that he is always there for us and will give us the answers if we would just take the time to pay attention to what he is telling us. Thanks be to God.

Lenten Reflection - March 23rd

2011-03-22T16:44:00.002-04:00

Written by: Evelyn Nasworthy

Reading: Matthew 3:1-17
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

In this Scripture from Matthew, we hear the story of John the Baptist and the eventual baptism of Jesus with the Holy Spirit (dove) descending from heaven. This is a very powerful story that shows us how our baptism connects us to Christ and what a wonderful promise there is for us through the Holy Spirit. Water is life and has a different meaning with the “new life” it brings each of us. Water nourishes your body AND your soul. Remind yourself of the promise God has made to you through the Holy Spirit and dip your hand into the water at our Baptismal Font and “renew” yourself. You can never do it too often.

Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing the spirit of the Lord to each of us. Be with us as we venture through this Lenten season. Remind us of the promise from God and renew my life. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 22nd

2011-03-21T16:52:00.002-04:00

Written by: Genon Murray

Reading: Mark 8:31-38
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be tortured, killed and then rise from the dead after three days. Peter can’t accept thi,s but Jesus informs him that God is in charge of the plan and disobedience is not an option for a follower of God. Jesus is offering the supreme example of an obedient, devoted, faithful relationship with God. He explains that our devotion and faith is what we can offer God as our part of a loving relationship with him. Choosing to be disobedient to the way God asks us to live causes us separation from God. What could be worse? Choosing to be obedient, devoted and faithful offers us a loving relationship with God. What could be better?

Loving Father, help us to look to Jesus as an example of being faithful and obedient to you. Few of us will make supreme sacrifices in your Name, but if we are called upon to do so, help us have the strength and faith to know that separation from you is the worst that could happen. Being in a loving relationship with you is the most important thing. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 21st

2011-03-21T08:53:00.002-04:00

Written by: Shirley Evans

Reading: Romans 4:13-25
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[b] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Paul’s discussion here is that we cannot be saved by the law, whether it is Old Testament law or the moral standards of the Gentiles. If we try to justify ourselves by law, we find faith has no value, God’s promises are worthless and it will bring God’s wrath.

Abraham’s faith was not in the law (which didn’t exist in Abraham’s time, although that’s not Paul’s argument), but instead his faith was in God’s promise – a land given to him and his descendents, blessings on his heirs and a Redeemer to come. The promise comes through faith, by grace, not by law – and by believing in the impossible, Abraham is credited with righteousness and declared faithful.

Abraham’s faith was grounded in Christ, the “seed” to come through his progeny that would be the promised Messiah. Our faith and hope too is grounded in Christ and in the grace of God – not in good works or the law.

Dear Lord, let Abraham be an example to me of one of God’s faithful. Let my works become God’s work in Jesus Christ as I trust in the promise of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 20th

2011-03-18T16:17:00.002-04:00

Written by: Diane Bechtold

Reading: Psalm 22:23-31
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you[a] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!

As we use this Lenten season to reflect, the psalmist points to the needy in their suffering, and lets us know that the rich and the suffering will be side-by-side in receiving God’s gifts.
Those who remain steadfast and those who return to God will be subject to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Just as God doesn’t ignore the suffering of God’s creation – let’s not ignore those we can help. Let’s use God’s model of helping, even those we see as undeserving, to honor our Lord.

Blessed Lord: Help us to see all of your people as worthy of our love and help us to share that love in significant ways. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 19th

2011-03-18T15:46:00.002-04:00

Written by: Nancy Ulerich

Reading: Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

What a different world this would be if we could follow these commandments. We fall so short. Jesus, however, modeled a fully loving God by submitting to crucifixion. He was able to love God the Father enough to have the strength to follow His plan. And, he was able to love his neighbors enough to perform the ultimate sacrifice for them.

Jesus’ sacrifice of love ended all sacrificial needs. My need for his sacrifice is so clear when I consider how far short I fall from following the greatest commandments.

Dear God, help me to love you more. Let me align my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength with love for you. Grant me more patience and acceptance to be a better follower of the commandment to love my neighbor as myself. I know it is only through my acceptance of your love that I can even attempt this. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 18th

2011-03-17T16:38:00.002-04:00

Written by: Char Klima

Reading: Ezekiel 36:22-28
22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Did you take a shower or a bath today? What an impertinent question. It's nobody else's business. But God makes it His business to clean us up time after time. We disappoint Him, we disobey, we ignore Him, we put worldly idols before Him, we get dirty. Thankfully our God is patient and forgiving. In verse 25 He says, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you...." In verse 26 He declares, "A new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you...." We desperately need His loving and tender care every day of our lives. Thanks be to God!

Gracious God: Accept our humble plea for you to be with us day in and day out as we make our earthly journey, getting dirty along the way, but trusting in your mercy to sprinkle us yet again so we may be acceptable to You. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 17th

2011-03-16T16:14:00.002-04:00

Written by: Frank Raike

Reading: Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime around 1528. The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.

A Mighty Fortress" is one of the best loved hymns of the Lutheran and Protestant traditions. It has been called the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation" for the effect it had in increasing the support for the Reformers' cause. It served to giving hope to change.

Today, this psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power and gracious presence with his church in these challenging times. It also directs us to give God the glory of what he has done for us and what he will do.

Like all the psalms, Psalm 46 gives us permission to speak to God about all our joys and our pains. Whatever sentiment we feel in our most intimate thoughts, can be expressed and shared openly with the Lord. Even in our darkest moments, God surely welcomes our conversation, our pleas for help, our deepest prayers and petitions. God is present with us in all our joys and our sorrows.

Christ Our Savior: You are our Mighty Fortress at times of threat, fear, and loss. You are our Mighty Fortress at times of success, joy, and prosperity. Thank you for your sweet salvation to us of grace, hope, faith, and love. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 16th

2011-03-15T16:01:00.002-04:00

Written by: Barbara Lee

Reading: Mark 1:9-15
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[a] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark describes for us the events leading up to the beginning of Jesus’ adult ministry. It may come as a surprise that despite God’s favor, Jesus is not spared the struggles, temptations and worries associated with new beginnings. In our own discipleship journey, as we grow in our relationship with God and serve God’s people, we too will be asked to take on new projects or new life directions that create uncertainty and fears. How reassuring to know that our Savior has walked that path as well and knows our trials. Jesus did not call on God to take away the struggles, but to be in relationship with him and provide the support he needed to fulfill God’s will. What a comfort to know that as God did not abandon Jesus in the wilderness, God does not abandon us on our journey either.

God and Savior, continue to hear our prayer as we seek to know you better, and strive to do your will. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 15th

2011-03-14T16:27:00.002-04:00

Written by: Carol Bechberger

Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

During this season of remembrance of Jesus’ awesome love, I remain amazed. His compassion, his concern for all of us brings tears to my eyes. But did you ever stop to think that His great sacrifice did not begin with Gethsemane? No, His sacrifice began the day He was born into a human body in Bethlehem.

Think about all He gave up. There was such great peace and beauty in His heavenly home. He heard the angelic choirs singing. He knew no physical pain. I don’t believe there is even any dust in this heavenly place. He came into a mortal body, with all the accompanying problems. All those chemicals and special wiring that give us our personality and our emotions were also a part of Him. What lead us humans to react emotionally and illogically He overcame.

Jesus saw the violence of the people and the suffering. People had forgotten to love and have compassion. People become too involved with their daily distractions. He came to touch our lives and awaken us to His glorious plan. He gave up His heavenly home because He loves us so much. He had a mission to fulfill and was committed to carrying out God’s plan for our salvation. As Peter point out, we only have to reach out to Jesus, ask forgiveness and trust in Him.

Thank you Jesus for your awesome love. Thank you Holy Spirit for ministering to us and for choosing me to be part of the family of God. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 14th

2011-03-14T08:55:00.003-04:00

Written by: Barbara Vincent

Reading: Psalm 25:1-10
1 In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.

2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.

4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good.

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

As a child and young adult, my prayers fell into 4 categories; “thank you” prayers, “bless and keep” prayers, “help and please” prayers, and “redemption” prayers, filled with remorse and regrets for daily transgressions. In retrospect, most of the last group were minor and my guilt was often exaggerated. Through prayer and in time, I found the strength to own-up, face the consequences and get on with life; prayers helped so much! I knew that the Lord heard me, that He would guide and help me to be a better friend, daughter, and eventually, wife and mother. Steadfast love and faithfulness were the paths I needed to follow – I still do! My prayers haven’t changed that much either.

Dear Lord, Just as David did, I put my faith and trust in you everyday. I remain assured that you will always be with me, guiding and teaching. Ours is a lifetime of waiting; Lent is a season of opportunity to learn more about patience, faith, and salvation. Amen.

Preparing for Easter

2011-03-13T10:48:00.002-04:00

Lent entered my consciousness, this year, after having had a discussion with several of my friends about the upcoming season, and how each of us might keep a “Lenten discipline.” Having been a Lutheran all my life, and having grown up in a largely Roman Catholic neighborhood, I am keenly aware of the traditions that have many of us eschewing chocolate, particular foods, favorite activities, Facebook and the like “for Lent”; however, I have often wondered if those “deprivations” really did anything beyond helping the individual lose weight, spend less money, or have more personal time.

I know the model for self-deprivation is Jesus’ rejection of the temptation of earthly food and power that Satan dangled; however, it occurs to me that, like Jesus, we might think less of ourselves during this time of preparation and prayer and, instead, use the Lenten discipline to try to serve others.

What I’m suggesting is to change something about ourselves that is a burden to others -for example – maybe that tongue of yours that is quick to criticize could be curbed to “love others,” maybe the funds that would have been spent on chocolate, movies, etc. could be donated to another. Maybe, instead of depriving yourself, you could do something extra to serve others.

I’m going to try to change one of my most obnoxious behaviors toward others. Will you join me? Diane Bechtold

Lenten Reflection - March 13th

2011-03-11T16:50:00.003-05:00

Written by: Shirley Evans

Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

After the Flood – A New Beginning
Have you ever been frightened during a terrible thunderstorm? Perhaps you remember yourself as a child or one of your own children terrified at the cracking of lightening or the rumble of thunder. God foresaw such fear with Noah and his descendants. At the first raindrop or rumble, would they fear it would be the beginning of another devastating flood? Noah had been righteous and obeyed; therefore God promised Noah – and every living creature on earth - never again would there be a universal flood. This covenant is sealed with the rainbow to be a reminder to us and a reminder to God of His promise – “never again” and “for all generations.” This is God’s new beginning, His unconditional divine promise never to destroy all earthly life with natural catastrophe.
As we examine our relationship with God through this Lenten season, let us think of this Noahic Covenant and look to the cross and resurrection as a “new beginning” in our lives. Let the rainbow represent to us not only the covenant with Noah, but a reminder of the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, thank you for your love and faithfulness to me. Whenever I see a rainbow, let it remind me of your covenants – both old and new. Let it serve to remind me of an eternal new beginning given to us in Christ. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 12th

2011-03-11T16:43:00.002-05:00

Written by: Cyd Law

Reading: Proverbs 27:23-24
23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Our society in recent years has stressed the idea that no matter what we want, we deserve it and should buy it for ourselves. “We are worth it.” This attitude has gotten our whole nation into trouble. People are filing personal and business bankruptcies and losing their homes and businesses because they have been duped into believing this idea. As a result we have made poor business and personal decisions. God wants us to pay attention to our herds and to know the condition of our flock. That means we should watch our finances and spend with in our means because we never know when bad times will happen. God does not promise us that we will always be successful or that our time at the top will last forever. God wants his people to be good stewards. In being good stewards we protect ourselves, our businesses, our church, our nation and ultimately our world.

God, we pray that you will guide us in our financial decisions. Help us care for what you have given us and know that we are always in your care no matter what happens to us. Amen

Lenten Reflection - March 11th

2011-03-10T15:33:00.002-05:00

Written by: Julie Parker

Reading: Luke 5:27-32
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Lent gives us a period of time to consider the life of Jesus and the choices he made to give each of us eternal life through our faith in him. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He understands each of us completely.
As a doctor, Luke is clinical in his descriptions of the life of Jesus. Luke tells of Jesus collecting the men whom he asks to walk with him and become his disciples. One was the tax collector Levi, and it seems that people of Jesus' time thought of tax collectors with even greater distain than we view the IRS today. So, many questioned Jesus choosing Levi; but Jesus answered "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives."
What comfort that should give each of us. Jesus is looking for us, imperfect, broken, and weak. He calls us to join him and be his disciples on earth, until he calls us to join him in heaven.

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you willingly claimed the cross so that I might have eternal life. Let me walk with you each day of my life, being a reflection of your love. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - March 10th

2011-03-09T16:18:00.002-05:00

Written by: Char Klima
Reading: Matthew 6:1-6

Motivation and attitude appear pretty important to Jesus. The beginning of the sixth chapter of Matthew is a stern warning against personal pride, immediately following His statement in chapter 5 about being perfect. Contradictory? Not at all. God wants us to strive for perfection─God's perfection─but for His glory, not ours. Big difference! What did Jesus demonstrate in His life? Humbleness, compassion, sincerity, servant hood, obedience. The world certainly doesn't applaud these virtues and we don't get any earthly points either. Jesus says, "Follow Me," and God will reward you. Are you willing to trust God for His reward? Remember, only our Holy God has the credentials to exalt Himself.

Dear Lord: Humble my heart so that I might try to imitate your dear Son and serve You alone, looking for your loving grace as my only reward. Amen

Lenten Reflection - Ash Wednesday, March 9th

2011-03-09T08:29:00.003-05:00

Reading: Psalms 51:1-12
By: Matthew Swope

Sometimes God shouts…not in an angry way, but in a way that hits us over the head with His Word. As I reflected upon Psalm 51 today, He did just that. The psalmist’s cries for mercy and forgiveness struck with memories from my high school days. First, today I received a facebook message from a high school acquaintance. In the note, my former classmate apologized for an offense committed long ago. Although this particular incident was long forgiven and indeed long forgotten, the delayed apology reminded me of my own role in confessing and seeking God’s forgiveness.

In continuing the “shouting,” God’s Word also brought fond memories of high school youth group in which we would close each meeting with a circle prayer around a solitary candle. This was a time for sharing, for confession, for healing, and for embracing others. Following the prayer time, we would sing the last few verses of Psalm 51, asking God to “create in [us] a clean heart.”

Whether in high school or away from high school longer than we care to admit, we are reminded by the psalmist’s words of the need for confession and forgiveness. Likewise, we see brilliant reminders of God’s comfort and grace. During this time of Lent, we too approach God with contrite hearts, acknowledging our flaws and our sinful ways. In doing so, we look to the true “joy of [God’s] salvation” as fully realized on Easter morning.

Lord God, this season I pray that I will rise each day with a pure heart and a renewed spirit, striving to hold steadfast to your enduring Word. Restore me, sustain me, and lead me in a life worthy of you. Amen

A Different Form of “March Madness

2011-03-06T08:50:00.002-05:00

Did you know -- or do you care – that the following events are celebrated by some people (I can’t imagine who or why) in March?

How about “National Pig Day” (1st) or “I Want You to Be Happy Day” (3rd, which also shares the day with “If Pets Had Opposable Thumbs Day”)? Then you’ve got other out-of-this-world events, such as “National Pound Cake Day,” “Multiple Personalities Day” (one of me really enjoys this one; the other me can’t stand it), “National Cheese Doodle Day,” and “National Crown Roast of Pork Day.”

I found it interesting that “Be Nasty Day” was celebrated on March 8th, at the same time “International Women’s Day” was being held. I found it upsetting that the next day was “Panic Day.” Now a real winner falls on the 11th, when we look forward to “Middle Name Pride Day.”

“Worship Tools Day” had me confused. I wasn’t sure what it meant, until I visited the website (sure, everyone and everything has a website). Now maybe because I’m dense or because I’m writing this for a “church blog,” I saw the word “Worship” as the key term in the phrase. And I assumed the day recognized the “tools” used in the “worship process.” Not at all. In no way. The site made it clear that the day was about “worshiping tools.” Perhaps I really am dense.

Well, this entire silliness can get carried away. As the month of March creeps along, we have the opportunity to celebrate “Alfred Hitchcock Day,” “National Baked Scallops Day,” “Ear Muff Day,” “National Open an Umbrella Indoors Day,” “National Potato Chip Day,” “National Save a Spider Day,” “Dumbstruck Day” (which I thought was a daily occurrence), “Everything You Think Is Wrong Day,” which is followed by “Everything You Do Is Right Day,” then “Awkward Moments Day,” “Extraterrestrial Abduction Day,” “National Goof Off Day,” topped only by the dynamic duo of “National Chip and Dip Day” and “National Melba Toast Day” (both on March 23). Then, as the month comes to a close, we have the ever-exciting “National Joe Day,” “Something on a Stick Day,” “Supreme Sacrifice Day,” “Forgive Mom and Dad Day,” “Smoke and Mirrors Day,” “I’m in Control Day,” the ever popular “Bunsen Burner Day,” and finally ending on March 31 with “National ‘She’s Funny That Way Day.”’

Sure, among all this craziness, some truly worthwhile days appear on the calendar:
• Mothers Day
• Girl Scouts Day
• Good Samaritan Day
• Incredible Kid Day

Now, with all that behind me, please allow me to sort of wonder out loud about another reason to celebrate this March. Recently I had an opportunity to attend a crafts festival sponsored by St. Stephen, that hosted professionals and amateurs who work in photography, painting, cloth and leather, ceramics and jewelry. This took lots of time and coordination between and among a number of volunteers. There was the pleasure in seeing success come from all the effort, but not much in the way of any “special recognition.”

On the same day, a CPR course was being run in the Parish Hall. Here were gathered heath care professionals, who with the help of members of our care giving team, were training people of all ages (and there were young people present) to save lives in emergency situations. I don’t see a day set aside to single out these volunteers for recognition.

The more I thought about it, my mind went to all of our members who work Saturdays and Sundays during services to assist with communion and the readings. What about those who offer up their voices in the choir (which, happily seems to be growing), as well the emerging bell choir. This summer will see all manner of volunteers stepping up to help with the various programs offered to members and non-members.

I’m thinking, the list could go on and one (pot luck suppers, Sunday School teachers and assistants, those who spruce up the campus with fresh plants and mulch). Actually, it’s difficult to list them all. Too many to enumerate, without missing or forgetting some (unintentionally).

Well…what’s my point?

We spend lots of time creating days for tons of crazy and often meaningless events and groups and things. I’m asking all who read this to make March 2011 an entire month in which we put our focus on those worthy of recognition: St. Stephen Volunteers. Without them, we’d sink. Without them, lots would go undone. Without them, we wouldn’t be the community we’ve come to be – and will grow to become.

Congratulations VOLUNTEERS. March is dedicated to YOU. Thanks.

Dennis McClellan

A Real Sort of Valentine

2011-02-18T10:48:00.003-05:00

The Long View
February 2011

Ok. Truth-telling time. St. Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. I think it started early for me in elementary school. I remember the kids who always had the cool Valentine’s cards: Spiderman, Superman, or even the highly prized Voltron and Thundercats Valentines. But my mom always shopped at the dollar store for those sorts of things, and I was always sent to school with the frilly generic cards that had hearts and some sort of schmaltzy Hallmark sentiment. It was really emasculating, and I probably need some therapy to get over it!

Then there was high school when I either had a girlfriend (yes—there were a few) and I fretted over the perfect gift, or didn’t have a girlfriend and was sad-so much pressure around one little day that’s supposed to be about amorous love, giving, and sharing that love with another.

Here’s what will blow you away about this holiday: associated with amorous love in the 14th century for unknown reasons, there were three separate priests/bishops who were martyred in the first 500 years or so of the Church’s history. There were no amorous situations, just three separate guys who loved Jesus enough to die for him and who were killed for their love.

Now, in that truth lies an important conversation. But hold on just a minute. We will get there, but not before we answer the so what question for today.

When Arizona Representative Gabby Gifford and 18 others were shot on the morning of January 8th, it affected me. Tucson is where I grew up in a community known for its diverse spirituality, weird brand of liberal conservatism, and generally easy and laid back pace of life.

It was easy for us all to jump to the conclusion that the shooting was politically motivated, something that now appears untrue. The 22-year-old was simply mentally unstable, and there were plenty of warning signs all of which went unheeded. But Sarah Palin’s graphic with gun sights over 22 congressional districts surfaced, and Barack Obama’s campaign speech where he said, “…if you bring a knife, we’ll bring a gun…” were all quickly recalled, and we were reminded how thin the veneer of civilization.

There’s so much disagreement in our nation with the language of revolution floating around everywhere, language that like it or not is simply a step away from violence…because that’s where revolutions go. Violent words and violent rhetoric meant for political posturing quickly gets adopted as physical acts. As Joe Anderson points out in this week’s blog post on The Spirit Porch, it happened 40 years ago and is happening again today. It was the Kent State massacre in Ohio that brought us back to the table and into conversation with each other, and today it’s 19 shot and six dead in Arizona, including a 9-year-old girl.

Why is it that the blood of martyrs seems to be necessary to call us back to our highest sense of ourselves, a perception manifested in what’s best in civilization, structured civil discourse and mostly slow and laborious social change?

The original Valentine’s Day, and the only one ultimately worth paying attention to, climaxed on a garbage heap outside of the gates of Jerusalem in a place called The Skull. And the first Valentine wasn’t a Christian martyr. No, the inscription over his head read, “King of the Jews.”

The real Valentine’s Day is where Jesus shows us in the most practical possible way what Loving God, and Loving People actually looks like. Are you willing to die for your enemies? Jesus was. He died at their hands, forgiving and not condemning them.

So this Valentine’s Day I would like to call us all back to our first vocation of love. Not the amorous schmaltzy kind of love. I want to remind us all who were baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and who call ourselves Christian, that the kind of love we are called to demonstrate in civilization is lived out in service, sacrifice, and forgiveness…not hot and angry words.

What do you think? Could this sort of Valentine’s Day change the world? Personally, because of my Lord Jesus, I would like to give it a try.

From our Longwood lanai, God loves you, and I do too!

Pastor Nathan

Simple Love

2011-02-12T09:34:00.001-05:00

Valentine’s Day is coming up – a day filled with pleasure for some and apprehension for others. How many children worry that they will be the only one in the class who doesn’t receive a card? How many teens worry and wonder if they will receive a card, or if they should send a card – not to mention presents. How many adults keep florists, restaurants, confectioners, jewelers, very busy and prosperous for this one “special” day in the year?

As a kid, I was lucky – my school required that if children were bringing in Valentine cards for one, they had to bring them in for everyone in the class. From kindergarten through grade eight, I had the wonderful experience, in school, of feeling “liked” and being surrounded by others who looked forward to sharing Valentines, too! The day, in our house, was one that was mostly recognized in school – with my mother participating through her foresightedness by purchasing the packages of “kid cards” for my brothers and I to sign and distribute.

My parents didn’t need to do anything “special” because they demonstrated their love every day by participating in the daily acts of family life. We ate meals together, watched TV together, talked and argued together – all in the surrounding assurance that we had someone at our backs. That’s not to say that we were not also punished for childhood misbehavior – we definitely were – but it is to say that we were assured that parental love would always be ours. We knew that our parents would protect us from want and keep us safe from ourselves and others.

Both of our parents are gone, now, and even into late adulthood I retain the aura of their love. Through their examples I learned how to parent and even how to come to God’s grace. I did nothing to earn their love and devotion – they gave it out of the generosity of their souls, just as God did in giving us the crucified and risen Jesus. When Pastor Nathan talks about Grace, I always have to keep in mind that it’s nothing I merit, nothing I can either earn or reject – God gives it, through Jesus, whether I acknowledge it or not. What a comfort.

Author: Diane Bechtold

Civil Discourse

2011-02-04T10:20:00.003-05:00

Three topics to always avoid: sex, religion and politics. No matter how even-handed you try to be, someone will always be genuinely offended by your words on either of the three. So I did religion for my last topic. I might as well do politics for this one.

I started college in Chicago the same week that the Democratic Convention began in 1968. The year that the anti-war movement hit it’s prime. The year that the Chicago police and the Illinois National Guard rioted and jeopardized an entire city with their rage . The year that civil discourse crumbled due to the Left’s disruption of every gathering, from the Convention to college campuses, to Sunday School classes, with their angry chants and fiery rhetoric. And that rhetoric continued to build, and hatred was spewed from every platform, from both the left and from the right in equal measure. Hatred spread throughout this country, and we learned to dismiss and loudly condemn those who disagreed with us. We called down the wrath of God on one another, and claimed the almighty honored only our own view, whatever it was. We gave the green light to vile behavior in support of moral principles, and celebrated our uncompromising righteousness --- until the Ohio National Guard took it upon themselves to open fire on the unarmed students at Kent State University and killed kids in cold blood, on National TV for everyone to see.

Then and only then, in 1970, did the nation sober up and step back from its self-righteous zeal. For the next 25 years we kept our self-righteous bad behavior in check, realizing that civil discourse is our only chance at making this nation work. Ronald Reagan on the right and Tip O’Neil on the left, showed us that we could disagree, yet still share a drink, a story and good fellowship, even friendship. Things were going pretty well.

Then Newt Gingrich decided to become Speaker of the House and re-animated self- righteous anger as the horse he rode to glory. We quickly forgot our hard won lessons, and for the past 15 years civil discourse has crumbled; giving way to angry chants, fiery rhetoric and denial of the other’s basic humanity and nobility. The only difference from 1969 is that this time around, the nastiness is led by the right not the left. Limbaugh, Hannity, Palin, Beck and their ilk have replaced Jerry Rubin, Abby Hoffman and their ilk. The same self-righteous rage just spit from the opposite side of the fence.

Then a misguided nut job pulls a trigger and a congresswoman takes the Kent State kids place on the ground.

This is the kind of thing that happens when we forget the humanity of those with whom we disagree. It is a central reason why civil discourse is a must in the public realm. When you create an environment of violent rhetoric, violent action is a tiny step away.

And the worst offenders are folks who cling tightly to their Bibles and claim to be defending the faith. Christians have a long history of this kind of “defense of God” thinking. The problem is that the rhetoric of rage is about as un-Christian as you can get.

God the Father Almighty; the creator of the universe, the alpha and the omega, doesn’t need our puny help, or protection. To suggest otherwise is to deny His omnipotence and diminish His grandeur. And when I read the New Testament, I fail to see a Christ who condemns, belittles or dehumanizes anyone – not even the soldiers who nailed him to a cross. All I see there is acceptance and grace.

So where does the Christian Right get the notion that decidedly uncivil discourse is doing the will of God? And if it’s not following the will of God, then who does all the thunder and lighting serve? I could be wrong about this, but I’m thinking it might just be playing into Satan’s hands. He’s a sly devil, he is. He also loves the irony of the defenders of the faith destroying the faith. And we stand around with egg on our faces.

Of course, I could be wrong. Joe Anderson, author
______________
1 This was the official assessment of the Walker Commission. Dan Walker, who chaired the commission, became the governor of the state of Illinois.

DISCLAIMER: The Spirit Porch is a St. Stephen Lutheran Church community platform for ideas and conversations about faith and life. Because of this the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of St. Stephen Lutheran Church as an institution, or those of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Is It Important that Abraham was “Real” – or That He Is “in Us?”

2011-01-27T15:49:00.003-05:00

January 2011

Recently I felt a wave of guilt sweep over me, as I read a “reminder” from the church office that my monthly blog was not only due, it was past due. Remberences of my tarnished youth swept over me: late homework, incomplete essays, and book reports that were best accomplished through the help of a once-popular comic book, Classics Illustrated (pity those of you who are too young to be unaware of this superior, pre-Cliff Notes means of gaining quick knowledge).

I was given email and phone forgiveness by Mary Knurek and Pastor Nathan, and encouraged to submit something as soon as possible. Note: the primary reason for my negligence was due to the fact that I’ve entered into the realm of those ancient ones we used to see on Sundays – the ones with all manner of health issues and even walking devices. In my own case, much of 2010 was spent in one form of surgical procedure or related healing cycle. By the time January 2011 rolled around, I had shelved “blogging” somewhere between “I’ll get to it” and “Maybe they’ll forget about it.”

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I hope that you’ll work with me as I attempt to share my thoughts on a subject that is near and very dear to my heart: Biblical metaphor.

During the healing process for arthroscopic knee surgery (which failed) and total left knee replacement (which I’m told is progressing satisfactorily) – an orthopedic passage which began in March 2010 and is still a work in process as 2011 begins, I came across a new book (more addictive than hard drugs to a publisher who can’t get enough). Written by a former Southern Baptist, tweaked by Roman Catholicism, and Episcopalian educated, John R. Coats’, Original Sinners: A New Interpretation of Genesis, offered me validation that I was far from alone in how I view (and have viewed since my years as a teen in a German Reformed congregation in suburban Philadelphia, PA) the Bible.

As I explored the pages of this fascinating work, Coates reinforced my feelings that the metaphors, found within the stories of the first book of the Bible, apply to all of us – the religious, less-religious and nonreligious alike. The lives portrayed in Genesis (love, loyalty, betrayal, stupidity, brilliance, greed, as well as madness) wonderfully illustrate how we (all of us) have inherited the moral and ethical DNA deeply embedded in this ancient text.

If, like me, you were raised in a family with strong-willed -- what I call “old school religion” grandparents, you might relate to how Bible characters (not to forget God) were portrayed. My grandfather drew the line in the sand, when it came to “knowing” these people: they were real, they lived, and they were far from “stories” used to illustrate a point. My grandmother once slapped me for telling her, after I fell and hit my head, remarking that it “hurt like the Devil.” She made it clear that one never “evokes” his name, because it makes him “live.” And…one never challenged the reality of these characters or asked for proof of their existence. “Historical characters” weren’t as important as “faith characters.”

Over the years, probably beginning when I was around twelve, the metaphor concept began to rattle around in my head. And by the time I was in my late teens and, definitely as a young married in my mid-twenties, the fear (“tyranny” is Coats’ word) within the Bible was lost to me. Today, in my own grandfather stage of life, the metaphors of the entire Bible (not just those illustrated in Genesis) bring a new appreciation for the “unhidden humanness” (Coats’ words) in all the people portrayed on those pages – including Jesus. It is through metaphor that I can read the Bible, comfortably participate in Bible study classes (such as the last one taught by Pastor Nathan, or the new one coming up this Spring), when listening to sermons, or discussion in one of the adult St. Stephen Sunday School classes.

Reading the Bible and reflecting on the vast array of metaphors found in every nook and cranny, has given me an entirely fresh approach to understanding. Rather than spending time, as my grandparents had on the “admonishments” found throughout the Bible – the rights, the wrongs, the good, the bad, metaphoric reading allows for reflection on our own lives (both individually and collectively). Those Bible characters that I grew up with (before I could read or write on my own) were no longer “people of story.” They were “me.” They lived out their lives in ways little different than my own. Their woes were mine. Their acts of bravery were mine – as well as those of stupidity. I agree with Coats, when he suggests that reflective use of scripture in teaching is a model that makes sense. It makes the Bible accessible to everyone – even those with no religious point of view.

While my point of view may not be for everyone, I appreciate you giving some consideration to it. And, if you agree or not, you might find Original Sinners: A New Interpretation of Genesis by John R. Coats a worthy read. Composed by:Dennis McClellan

Love and Guidance

2011-01-18T11:30:00.003-05:00

We had the pleasure, this week, of having our granddaughter – age 3 – visiting us. Lily is the only grandchild, so you can just imagine how she is loved and doted upon. She lives in the north, so our in-person visits with her are widely spaced, and we use Skype to assist us in a “personal” communication as we watch her grow and develop, Because we’re not used to having a small child in our midst, we hang on her every word and gesture, we gasp if she stumbles, we hurt if she cries - in short, we’re in love with this precious child.

Even as we love Lily, we’re also mindful that she has free will and that her explorations will take her in directions that we know could be harmful; therefore we set limits on her such as a fence around the pool, belting into a car seat, not reaching to the stovetop. You see, out of love, we limit her access to danger and provide a supportive environment for her to explore and learn. She is dependent on her parents and other adults for her worldly needs just as we’re dependent on God for grace.

I’ve been reading, in Acts, how the early Christian church was provided leadership by God through the Holy Spirit, how the apostles were empowered to teach and heal, and how the Gentiles received the gifts of grace and faith. In much the same way that Lily is unaware of how her parents love and guide her daily, and attend to even the needs of which she is unaware, we can be sure that what we need for eternal life was provided by our God through the risen Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, Lily and other children are not the only ones unable to care for themselves. We heard about the children (and adults) of Haiti, still living in need. We heard Pastor Nathan exhort us to not only see the needs of others, but to find a way to act to help. Look around and find someone to love by providing for their needs. Remember that Jesus told us that what we do to the least, we have done to Him.

Author: Diane Bechtold

The Long View

2011-01-17T07:52:00.004-05:00

Forward
January 2011

A National Public Radio segment this morning (December 20, 2010) said that Miriam Webster’s word for 2010 was austerity! It is one thing to hear this…but I know that many of us lived it. I have a privileged seat in our proverbial house. I see the lost jobs, hear about the struggling marriages, counsel the despairing, and my staff and I have fielded many calls from people in need. But I also see things turning. Many who have lost jobs have found jobs, homes that were overshadowed by foreclosure are safe again, and there is a smattering of hope in our world. There still remain trials and stress, but my prayer as we exit 2010 is that we might move from a hunkered down austerity and discover a new word for the year 2011.

If I might be so bold, I have an idea. I am casting my vote early for the word forward. I know. It is a simple word and pretty uncomplicated. I remember a conversation with my maternal uncle, David, a California almond grower, almost a decade ago. When he was approaching the 20-year mark in that particular vocation he was getting a bit restless. Through some soul searching he decided to remain in farming…a profession that even in the downturns has been good to him. But what sticks out so prominently in my mind is what got him through those hard patches of boredom and uncertainty. “Nathan,” he would say, “You’ve got to have things to look forward to!” In his life that would be trip a to their favorite vacation spot at Pismo Beach a couple times a year, the next Michael W. Smith concert, or managing the downs at the local Friday night high school varsity football games. He looked forward to things within his work as well (harvest time for all its hard work is actually revitalizing and fun…and reminds you why you do what you do), but having a diversity of things on the horizon gave him the motivation and energy to persist through difficult times.

At St. Stephen, I find myself looking forward to many new things that will be happening amongst us. Some of it is going to make our worship better, some of these new things are going to prepare us for the building of our new Community Life Center in the near future, and some of these things are simply going to widen our scope of impact on the world as God’s people.

So here’s my list of things I’m looking forward to at St. Stephen:

A family at SSLC has given a new digital camera for use in worship. Ever had a hard time seeing what’s going on during the sermon or children’s sermon? That’s about to change! Be patient with us as we learn how to use the new technology!
A new member is a local radio personality and has approached me about taking the audio from my sermons and turning them into a professionally produced Podcast. He’s created a demo, and it’s incredible. So starting in January…
In February we will begin a fund drive both in the congregation and community to raise $12,500.00 to make 50,000 meals for the people of Haiti. Yes…you read that right: 50,000 meals. Folks, we are going to have a HUGE impact!
When we begin construction on our new Community Life Center, we will lose the ability to use the Learning Center, Nursery, and Choir Room for more than nine months. To accommodate our needs for nursery space, Christian educational spaces for Sunday School, Solid Rock Youth activities, and choir rehearsals, things on our campus are going to get a bit tight. One of the ways we are going to get around that is by creating two Sunday School hours in the Fall of 2011…preparing ourselves for a year of transition. In addition, we will be moving the 9am worship service to 9:30am (we’ll do this in June 2011), and offering those two Sunday School hours concurrent with our worship services – one at 9:30am and the other at 11am. Because they are relatively close together and because we have a congregational ethic of worshipping with our kids, we are hoping that families will still choose to do worship at one hour and Sunday School at the other. Folks, I’m excited about this. It’s going to make our transition into new space easier, and it’s also going to create more space for kids, both now and the future. Oh…and we’ll all get an extra half hour of sleep on Sunday mornings!
I have been approached by leadership in the Synod to have St. Stephen be an Internship site for a student preparing to be a pastor. If all goes well, it looks as if there will be a grant that will pay for about half the cost of an Intern. This intern pastor would join us for a period of 12 months starting in late August. This is NOT hard and fast yet…but I’m excited. St. Stephen is exactly the sort of congregation that should be training the next generation of pastors!
This keeps on being put off…primarily because I have not needed another thing on my plate while finishing up my doctorate. But that should be done in the Spring, and in the Fall I will be planning a trip back to Haiti. Want to come along?

These are just some of the things that have me fired up for 2011 and moving forward in my heart and head. What are you looking forward to?

From my Longwood lanai…forward with all of you in mission and ministry for the sake of God’s kingdom! It is 2011! Let’s make this year great!

Pastor Nathan

Advent Devotion - December 25th

2010-12-24T11:03:00.003-05:00

Christmas Day
Written by: Diane Bechtold

Reading: Luke 2:1-14

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:9-11

How often we’ve read and heard about the trials of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census. The streets and inns were crowded with people whose only purpose was to fulfill their civic duty. Surely, this new baby was an unexpected entry of God the Son to humankind. Angels praised God as they announced the Christ’s arrival to shepherds. What a night of awe and mystery.
This was God’s quiet entry into the midst of our life on earth. He came to us as an innocent baby, of lowly birth. Those looking for the Messiah often missed this gift because they were looking for earthly power and might. They looked for a king in royal robes who would be served by armies that would free them from Roman oppression; instead, they received innocence and the directive to love God and one’s neighbor.

Prayer: God Almighty, we pray to recognize You when we are expecting someone else. Teach us to look for what You have for our lives rather than for what we want for them. Help us to watch and listen as you speak to our hearts. Amen

Advent Devotion - December 24th

2010-12-23T16:31:00.004-05:00

27th Day of Advent
Written by: Nicole Eastwood

Reading: Psalm 46:7-11

“Be still , and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

The name “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” Jesus is God come to earth – never to be separated from His people. This is made perfectly clear when the curtain in the temple (once used to separate worshippers from God) was torn in two from top to bottom at the moment of Jesus’ redeeming death (Mark 15:38).

Since God is with us always, how do we respond? Do we talk with God all the time? Do we start to forget God’s presence until we need something? In this busy Advent season, do we rush with our to-do lists, making time for God only on Christmas Eve or Sunday? I’ve often wrestled with Psalm 46:10’s call to “Be still and know I am God.” I don’t like to do anything slowly. Never mind-stop and be still!

Ever present God: This season I pray that I will choose to be present with you in spite of my hurriedness and busyness. Grant me the patience to slow down and spend time with you. Thank you for being with me always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 23rd

2010-12-22T15:50:00.002-05:00

26th Day of Advent
Written by: Julie Parker

Reading: Luke 12:35-38

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.”
Luke 12:35-36

During Advent Christians all over the world once again, joyously anticipate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let us think about this scripture where Luke tells of Jesus message to always be ready to serve God, as we never know when he will come again; we should remain steadfast in our faith, honoring him with our service. If we keep God foremost in our hearts, speaking with him often in thought and prayer, and walk each day with Jesus at our side, we will be blessed.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ and the love for me you show each day. During this season of Advent help me to remember I am your servant, ready to do as you ask. Help me learn to turn my burdens to you, so that I may be free to follow you with an open heart. Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 22nd

2010-12-21T17:12:00.003-05:00

25th Day of Advent
Written by: Rob Coble

Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Mary will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
And they shall name him Emmanuel”
Matthew 1: 21-23

The incarnation of our lord was a gift from God. A divine gift in the form of flesh and blood. Jesus would walk amongst us as man in order to experience what it is to be human.
The miracle birth of our Lord is celebrated today by many as a reason for personal gain and less for seeing the examples God has provided for us to experience through the life of Jesus Christ.
God sends his son to the world to experience human nature. It would have been easy to create and maintain a world of perfection but God also gave man the gift of choice. What choices do we make on any given day? Do we follow the examples set forth by Christ the man or use our own will to make choices centered on self.
Emmanuel means “God with us”. God is with us always. It is when we forget this that we start to feel the stress and chaos that the busy time of year can bring. When we forget God is with us we take needless control over all our situations and feelings and forget that God is the one who leads the way. When I step back and let God take charge, I find that my life is filled with serenity and the crowds, traffic and fast pace of the season doesn’t seem so bad after all. Have you seen the bumper stickers that say “God is my Co-pilot”? I prefer it the other way around. With God as my Pilot I am happy to take second chair.

Dear Lord,
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, help me to remember the examples set down by Jesus, the man and gain a true understanding and appreciation for the magnificent gift you have given us in the form of your son on earth. Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 21st

2010-12-20T15:55:00.002-05:00

24th Day of Advent
Written by: Marnee McClellan

Reading: Luke 2: 25-32

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
According to your word;
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
Which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A light for revelation to the Gentiles
And for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2: 29-32

For many the anticipation of Christmas is camouflaged by the hype of the season. Rather than looking forward to the birth of a savior, there is an eagerness to see what presents will lie under the tree and produce momentary pleasure. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could reach deeper inside ourselves and beyond our personal and limiting needs for material goods and seek the one thing that will bring us the true gift of the season -- the arrival of the Messiah and the salvation his birth promises?!

As one old man named Simeon discovered about two thousand years ago, if our sites are set on the real goal of Advent, we too can experience the joy that comes from "waiting for the birth of the Lord." Whether we sleep in the cold winter of the north or the warm breezes of the south, we can sleep safer and more snug knowing that our lives are secure in His all-loving and forgiving embrace.

God...give me the strength to understand the importance of the season and to look into the eyes of the Christ child and understand the gift he brings to my life -- the gift of salvation. Before my life comes to an end, allow me to see the life the Christmas child allows me to experience. Don't let me die before my life has begun. Open my eyes, like the eyes of Simeon. Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 20th

2010-12-17T16:46:00.002-05:00

23rd Day of Advent
Written by: Nancy Ulerich

Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9: 6

What do you want for Christmas? We spend so much time preparing for Christmas. Getting photo cards made, writing Christmas letters, shopping, buying gifts, wrapping presents, decorating, trimming multiple trees, baking, cooking, partying …
But, are we prepared to receive our gift?
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Dear Everlasting Father: Please help me make time to prepare for the richest of all gifts. Allow me to receive your gift of a wonderful, counselor, mighty God and experience the fruits of the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 19th

2010-12-17T16:41:00.002-05:00

22nd Day of Advent
Written by: Gardner Hussey

Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David….
Jeremiah 33: 14-15a

These verses are verses of hope. Hope that is in Jesus who is the righteous Branch from David’s line as promised by God to Israel and the house of Judah. It is also our hope and a promise to us that Jesus is coming again to establish righteousness and His kingdom on earth. Are we not Israel? Are we not descendents of Abraham? Of course we are. We are the people of the promise. “Death will be no more, mourning and crying or pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). What a promise one can count on! In these times of uncertainty it is easy to lose our focus. But God is in charge and He will fulfill His promises to us of eternal life. May we continue to focus on Him and His promises to us. We may break our promises but God does not. Our God is a God of righteousness, who is merciful and has given us forgiveness and eternal life through belief in His Son our Savior Jesus Christ. “But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions– it is by Grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Hallelujah, Jesus is Lord!

Lord Jesus, keep us focused on you and the promise of eternal life with you. Thank you for the mercy you show us each day in the forgiveness of our sins. Only through your promise of grace will we be saved. Amen.

Advent Devotion - December 18th

2010-12-17T16:36:00.002-05:00

21st Day of Advent
Written by: Carolyn Champagne

Reading: Psalm 98:4-9

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
The world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
Let the hills sing together for joy
At the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
To judge the earth.
Psalm 98: 7-9

The Psalms is a book of many writings by different people used by individuals, communities and kings. Psalms means “praises”. It is an accumulation of 150 prayers, songs, liturgies and poems. Psalm 98 is a hymn of praise which gives witness to God’s love and grace. In these verses the writer even calls up the roaring sea and the floods, as symbols of the chaos that resists God’s will. The psalmist calls them to praise the Lord, for the Lord is coming in judgment.

This writing sounds so scary and overwhelming, but at the same time I see beauty and the Lord all around. I hear singing, music and laughter. It helps me to visualize the beauty of our world and how much more beautiful it will be in heaven. When you read the words doesn’t it make you want to sing along? Just like the Christmas music we sing this time of year. You want to sing out and praise our Lord. What a joyful time it is. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord!”

Jesus, Lord and Savior, thank you for bringing us these glorious psalms to glorify your name. Let the words we speak sing praises to you and to your glory. Amen.

2010-12-17T12:29:00.004-05:00

The Long View
Right Here

Light looked down and saw darkness.
‘I WILL GO THERE,’ SAID LIGHT.
Peace looked down and saw war.
‘I WILL GO THERE,’ SAID PEACE.
Love looked down and saw hatred.
‘I WILL GO THERE,’ SAID LOVE.
So he, the Lord of Light, the Prince of Peace, the King of Love,
Came down and crept in beside us.

The Christmas story is a powder keg of beauty and potential…an unsettling tale of the God who creeps in beside a humanity who believes that he is far off, distant, judgmental, hateful, and damning. As the liturgy above indicates, Immanuel, “God with us,” is anything BUT these things.

I have to confess I’ve been humming Christmas music for over two months now. It began in mid-October, and I can’t tell you exactly why, just that I feel excitement over the coming of this season this year. Rather than smirk at the commercialization of Christmas in decorations and seasonal items that are already out at Target, Costco, and Home Depot, I’ve found myself greeting them this year…embracing this season even if in all of the

commercialization of Jesus it misses the point.

This is the point for me: The Christmas story is not only about the God who is already come in Jesus, but the God who still comes to a world, a people, a culture, a Christianity, and yes,

even a Nathan who doesn’t fully get how important and

wonderful it is that God comes to us.

We don’t have to make a journey to him.

This is good news. That I can sit up in the morning and say, “I know you are here.” I can get out of my car after a traffic accident and say, “You God, are here.” I can face a cancer ravaging my body, and because of this Christmas message know for a fact that,

“I know Jesus, you are here with me.”

Right here. Jesus is right here--in my life--in your life.

Right here in the rough hewn mangers of our lives

bringing his particular light and peace and order

into the disorderly chaos of our existences.

Today, this season, this year, this is enough. And for me, it’s the best news on the planet.

As the Brits say, “Happy Christmas!”

God in Jesus LOVES you, and I do too.

Pastor Nathan

Advent Devotion - December 17th

2010-12-16T16:31:00.002-05:00

20th Day of Advent
Written by: Genon Murray

Reading: Luke 1:39-45

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Luke 1: 42

In this beautiful passage, Mary runs to the home of her relative, Elizabeth, to share what the angel Gabriel had told her about their pregnancies. The news was just too amazing for Mary to hold inside and she needed to share it with a trusted friend.

This is a story about believing that anything is possible with God and about sharing that faith with each other. It’s also a story about being a faithful partner with God to bring His light and love into the world. It’s about taking God at His word even when and maybe especially when those promises seem too great to be true.

We each need to hear the promises of God from each other and be reminded of His greatness and faithfulness in blessing us. And when God blesses us with a miracle too good to be true, to share it with each other strengthens the faith of both the bearer of good news and the listener.

The good news that the Son of God was born to save us is God’s impossible promise coming true. As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Savior, will we be so filled with the amazing news that we will be inspired to share it?

Loving Jesus, thank you for the miracle of your coming and for fulfilling the promise of salvation. Help me to have faith when things seem impossible and to remember that anything is possible for you. Help me to remember to share the amazing news of salvation and that you choose the humble and insignificant to partner with you in bringing your love to the world. Amen

Advent Devotion - December 16th

2010-12-15T16:33:00.002-05:00

19th Day of Advent
Written by: Anita Bergh

Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt..”
Jeremiah 31: 31-32a

“It’s a gift! It’s a gift!” shouts the child as the delivery man deposits a package at the door on or about December 24th. And the child is jumping with joy. That is the way I picture myself as I read about the “covenant” God has given us, his people. The covenant lets us know with absolute certainty that he remembers our sin no more. (vs. 34) “ …. for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” We celebrate, with a new spirit, the great gift of the covenant ---we are free to jump and shout, “It’s a Gift!”

Oh Lord, this Advent instill your goodness in my heart, just as you have promised through your covenant with us . Your covenant will be the pinnacle of joy for all of us this Advent season. Amen.