2017 Summer Devotions, weeek of August 13

August 13: Luther’s Catechism – The Lord’s Prayer          

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Share your highs and lows with each other, or write them here:

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Read

Read the following texts:

Luke 11:1-4

Colossians 1:3-14

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and were given the gift of the Lord’s Prayer.  While there are a few variations depending on the church that you attend, this is one of the most familiar prayers (i.e. in place of “trespass”, some will use “debt” or “sin”; most Roman Catholic churches don’t include the final line).

Luther invites us to look at each part of the prayer to see what it is that we are really praying to God about.  In some ways, this prayer is its own kind of Creed as it tells us a lot about our relationship with God and what it means to live as God’s people.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      What does this prayer tell us about God?

2)      How does it invite us to live?

3)      Share about an experience of prayer that was especially meaningful to you. 

4)      How does the reading for today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray

Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “May God’s will be done in your life today,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Look up different ways to pray and try them out (or see Pastor Jen for some ideas).   Here is one example: Take an item out of  your backpack, wallet, purse or pocket – how might that item become a prayer? 

2017 Summer Devotions, week of August 6

August 6: Luther’s Catechism – Creeds      

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Read

Read one or more of the following texts:

 John 14:1-7

Genesis 1:1-5

There are 3 Creeds (statements of faith) that have been used by the Church over the years: Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed and the lesser known Athanasian Creed.  The Creeds were developed during the 4^th century as a way to summarize and clarify what the Church believes about God.

They each talk about the essential character of God as revealed in the Trinity (see back to first week when we talked about the Trinity).   It reminds us of the One who created us in his image and forgives us through his enduring love and guides us in our daily lives.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      Write your own Creed (statement of faith) about what you believe about God.  Share it with someone else.

2)      What do you think is the most important thing about God that others need to know?

3)      How does the reading for today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray
Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “You are blessed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:
Look up the Athanasian Creed (if  you have a copy of the green Lutheran Book of Worship, it is on page 54).   Try reading it out loud and see how long it takes you to read it.  Or look up the history of the Creeds online.

2017 Summer Devotions, week of July 30

July 30: Luther’s Catechism – Ten Commandments 

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Read one or more of the following texts:

Exodus 20:1-17

Luke 10:25-28

Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a teaching tool for parents to use with their children.   As we draw closer to the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation (Oct. 31^st), we take the opportunity to reflect on his catechism and how we too might learn and grow in faith.

The Ten Commandments are fairly straightforward – you shall and you shall not.  Luther expands on each of them to get at the fuller sense of what was their original intention.  For example, it is not just what we shall not murder but “we are to fear and love God, so that we neither endanger nor harm the lives of our neighbors, but instead help and support them in all of life’s needs”.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      Jesus words to the lawyer (Luke passage) summarize the Ten Commandments.   How do we love God by living out his commandments?

2)      Create your own list of commandments:

a.      What rules might help people love each other and God more?

3)      How does the reading for today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray

Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “God loves you today and always,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Get a copy of Luther’s Small catechism and read through his explanation of each of the Commandments.  Pick one of these explanations and plan on specific ways that you might live it out this week.

2017 Summer Devotions, week of July 23

July 23: Psalm as a Call to Praise                 

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Read

Read one or more of the following texts:

Psalm 150

John 4:24-26

In this final psalm, we are called to praise God with all that we have.  While it is the end of this book of the Bible, it is a call to a way of living out our faith daily – by praising God with our whole being.

With a whole orchestra of instruments, we are invited to lift up our praises to God.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      Do (or have) you play any kind of instrument?

a.      If you still have it, take it out to praise God by playing it.

b.      If you don’t have an instrument, what might you use?

2)      How else might you praise God with your whole being?

3)      How does the reading for today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray

Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “God loves you today and always,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Check out this YouTube video that shows how a community makes instruments out of recycled material.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiYFcuIkBjU) 

2017 Summer Devotions, week of July 16

July 16: Psalm of Thanks      

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Read

Read one or more of the following texts:

Psalm 30

John 6:67-69

This psalm of thanksgiving is about more than just our general thanks for our everyday blessings.  It speaks of a desperate time and how God has acted amidst the darkness.  It moves us from lamenting to giving praise to God.

 Lutheran author, Walter Wangerin, wrote a book called “Mourning into Dancing” where he explores the different kinds of “deaths” in our lives and how it is through these times (and not in spite of them) that God can bring joy and hope amidst our mourning.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      When did you learn how to dance?

a.      Have you ever danced as if no one was watching?

b.      Try it!

2)      Have you ever experienced a difficult time that resulted in something joy-filled that you never expected?

a.      How might you share that experience with others?

3)      How does the reading for today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray
Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “May the joy of Christ’s love inspire you today,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Discover different kinds of dance moves on YouTube or other sources.  Practice your favorite ones; teach it to someone else.

2017 Summer devotions, week of July 9

July 9: Psalms of Trust                      

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Read

Read the following texts:

Psalm 23

John 10:1-4

Psalm 23 is probably the best known and most beloved of psalms in the entire bible.  Even when memories fade, many of our elders can recite these comforting words.

While shepherds are not a common sight in our communities today, a shepherd is one who protects, guides, and offers sustenance for life’s journey.  This shepherd in this psalm offers peace, comfort, strength and care.

This psalm exhibits trust in that shepherd amidst the dark valleys and enemies.  It takes psalms of praise and of help together to rely upon the One whom we can trust.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      Who do you trust?

a.      What is it about them that elicits your trust?

2)      Is there a particular verse in this psalm that means more to you than the others?

a.      Has that changed over time?

b.      Try to memorize this Psalm.  Each day, focus on one verse to learn throughout the week.

3)      How does the reading today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray

Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “May Jesus shepherd you through your day,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Look up information about shepherds and what some of the responsibilities are/were.   How are those characteristics of a shepherd similar to Jesus? 

2017 Summer Devotions, week of July 2

July 2: Psalms of Lament                              

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Read

Read the following texts:

Psalm 13

John 6:35-40

Psalms of lament sing of our deepest struggles and sorrows.  We cry out to God for help and to answer all those unanswerable questions.   They do not try to shield God from our hurt and anger, but rather we plead for God’s intervention and attention.   We seek the light of God’s loving strength and presence amidst our darkness.

St. John of the Cross called them the “Dark Night of the Soul”.  It was the darkness that this mystic encountered God and felt drawn into the very presence of God.  The dark nights remove all the distractions and move us to greater awareness of our need for God.

Talk

Questions for conversation or personal reflection:

1)      Have you ever had an experience when you were scared in the dark?

a.      What helped you at that time?

b.      Find a small flashlight or nightlight to keep near you for those dark nights of your soul as a reminder of God’s presence with you.

2)      What might your own lament psalm sound like?

3)      How does the reading today connect with your highs and lows?

Pray

Pray about your highs and lows, and any other needs you might have for today.  If you wish, write your prayers here:

My prayers

Bless

Offer a blessing. Use “May Jesus’ light shine upon you,” or make up your own as a reminder of God’s love in your life.  Make the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead as you do this.  If desired, use water to make the cross.

Bonus Activity:

Do you know someone who is going through a tough time?  Send them a note (email, text, notecard) and/or call them to let them know that you are thinking and praying for them.