Family Dinner & Devos, July 8-14

GO AND DO LIKEWISE...

This week's focus scripture is Luke 10:25-37.  Jesus is asked by a law-expert what he must do to inherit etrnal life.  The man tries to play with words, but Jesus puts words in story-form.  Jesus tells the tale of "The Good Samaritan" and then tells the man "to go and do likewise."  And so that is our main question to hold and ponder and pray about this week... how can YOU "go and do likewise?"  Or, in other words, how can you love your neighbor?  And God?  And yourself?

Join us for chapel this Wednesday at 7:00 PM if you can!

Family Dinner & Devos, July 1-7

Traveling through summer... anchored in faith...

Last week, as we began summer chapels, we talked about a faith-lived-out... about living by the "fruits of the Spirit."  You can call it a summer "to do" list, each day practicing the fruit that Paul writes about to the early church in the city of Galatia:

LOVE

JOY

PEACE

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS

GENTLENESS 

SELF-CONTROL

This was a life passed-on to us... a way of living and being in the world.  As people gather around 4th of July celebrations and history is remembed and people think of a "country passed down" to us, we will gather in the chapel on July 3rd and give thanks to church fathers and mothers, to the faithful of old, who passed down "the faith" to us.  This week's focus scripture is HEBREWS 11:8-12.  It remembers Abraham who followed God faithfully.  Questions to consider are...

• What does it mean to follow God's call?  
• What does it mean to "walk by faith?"  
• How is grace essential as we try to live this life of faith?
• Who has been someone in your life who has "passed on the faith" and helped strengthen or bless your own spiritual journey?
• What are your hopes for our nation in terms of people living out their faith or living in faith?

Ponder these questions and pray together as a family this week... around your dinner table... or picnic table... or in the car as you head all sorts of directions this summer.  May you be blessed with a meaningful, safe, and beautiful "holiday" week.

And don't forget that Wednesday evening chapel service is open to you whenever you can come... families of all ages, shapes, and sizes are welcome.  After chapel, we have dessert at the picnic tables.  We hope to see you there!

Family Dinner & Devos, June 24-30

Traveling through summer... anchored in faith...

This week's focus scripture is Galatians 5:22-23; 25 (this is the New Testament reading for the Revised Common Lectionary that will be used by many churches across the globe this coming Sunday).  This is a well known passage in which Paul lists "the fruit of the Spirit:"

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  

All of these words are "common" words, but your invitation this week as a family is to really mull over each word and talk around your dinner table (or in the car as you are road tripping or heading to the beach) about what these words mean and how you can live them in your life.  Share stories about how you have experienced these words.  Share your own personal goals, like perhaps how you feel you are gentle but you want to be more peaceful.

This week we begin Wednesday evening chapel services for families of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  The services are at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary of Ascension Lutheran Church and will last for about 35-45 minutes and will be led by Pastors Tim & Chamie, Ascension School Music Teacher Kim Harris, and various parents and children and youth.  After the service, families are invited for dessert time at the picnic tables.  This Wednesday we will talk about the fruits of the Spirit... and in particular, the fruit of faithfulness.  We hope to see you there!

Family Dinner & Devos, May 12-19

The Day of Pentecost…

The 50-day journey of Easter comes to an end this Sunday with Pentecost.  Pentecost is the “birthday” of the church.  Pentecost ushers us into a new season… sometimes called “The Season after Pentecost” or “Ordinary Time” or “The Season of the Church.”  On the Christian calendar, we spend approximately 6-months living and learning the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.  Then we spend the next 6-months as the living-breathing people (the church) who are following in the footsteps of Jesus, trying to model our life after the God-Made-Flesh.

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Acts 2:32

This Week’s Scripture Passage:  Acts 2:1-32

Read the scripture passage and then ponder these questions as a family (simplify for younger children – or rephrase as you need to – as you reflect on "Pentecost" and the Holy Spirit)…

1.      On the Day of Pentecost, the sound of “rushing wind” was heard and the image of “tongues of fire” was seen.  “Wind” and “fire” are words used to describe the Holy Spirit.  Why do you think these words are used for the Holy Spirit?  What exactly is the “Holy Spirit”?

2.      Bishop Will Willimon said the following, “In the Acts of the Apostles (which some say should be called ‘The Acts of the Holy Spirit’) the church is always on the move, always pushing out, always outward rather than inward, always being drawn, pulled and pushed by the Holy Spirit into ‘Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.’”  How is the Holy Spirit prodding you?  Are you following the Spirit’s leading in your life?  Are you “on the move” for God?  Are you thinking of others and not just yourself?  Are you telling the story of God both near and far?

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We give thanks for the Holy Spirit that moves amongst us.

May we have the passion of the early church in Acts

            And may we, too, be witnesses to God’s grace.

Give us dreams and visions of a God-breathed world

            And help us bring those dreams and visions into reality.

In Your name we pray,

Amen.

Family Dinner & Devos, May 6-12

LIVING THE RESURRECTION

We are in the midst of the 50 days of Easter… and looking for signs of (new) life… so ask one another:

“Where did you see signs of life this week?”

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.  Acts 16:25

This Week’s Scripture Passage:  Acts 16:16-34

Read the scripture passage and then ponder these questions as a family (simplify for younger children – or rephrase as you need to)…

1.  Paul and his friend Silas were wrongfully thrown in prison.  They were healing and preaching in Jesus' name, but got in trouble with the authorities.  Have you every been unfairly accused of being wrong (like a sibling blaming you for something broken, or a co-worker blaming your for a missed deadline... or someone speaking poorly of you because of your faith in Jesus)?  When that happened, what did you do?
2.  Even though Paul and Silas had been unfairly locked behind bars, they did not spot praising God.  In fact, the scripture says that at midnight, they were "praying and singing hymns to God."  What do you think compelled them to do that?  
3.  In the book THE CIRCLE MAKER, author and pastor Mark Batterson encourages people to "pray through" challenges and to circle our hopes and dreams in prayer.  He and his church "prayed through" the challenges of finances and city ordinances and circled in prayer their vision to open a Christian coffee house on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  The 8th Grade students from Ascension Lutheran School, along with Pastor Steve and Pastor Chamie, visited this coffee house on their trip last week.  They were inspired by the ministry that takes place there.  What is happening in your own life right now that may require you to "pray through"?  What hopes or dreams might you need to "circle in prayer"?
4.  In this Easter season, how is "praying and signing hymns to God" part of resurrection-living?

And the “Easter-season” question…

Ask one another around the table a version of the “Easter-season question”… “Where did you experience joy in life this week?” or “When did you feel fully alive?” or “When did you experience the abundant life that Jesus promised?” or “Where did you see new life?”

Book study…

An invitation to adults… do you ever wonder what “resurrection” means in your daily life?  Why does Easter make such a difference?  How do we live fully?  You are invited to read Living the Resurrection by Eugene Peterson... and later this month we will talk about the book.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for the example of Paul and Silas who prayed and sang in the midst of a challenge.
Thank you for their example of grace.
Help us to "pray through" our own challenges.
Help us to "circle in prayer" the dreams you have for us.
May we sing your praises everyday.

Amen.

Family Dinner & Devos, Apr 15-21

LIVING THE RESURRECTION

We are in the midst of the 50 days of Easter… and looking for signs of (new) life… so ask one another:

“Where did you see signs of life this week?”

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.

Acts 9:40

This Week’s Scripture Passage:  Acts 9:36-43 – and Psalm 23

Quote for the Week:

“The land of the living is obviously not a vacation paradise.  It’s more like a war zone.  And that’s where we Christians are stationed, along with the children, to affirm primacy over death, to give witness to the connectedness and preciousness of all life, to engage in the practice of resurrection.”  - Pastor Eugene Peterson from the book Living the Resurrection

Read the scripture passage and then ponder these questions as a family (simplify for younger children – or rephrase as you need to)…

When Peter is confronted with death, he gets down on his knees and prays.  When we are faced with death and darkness, how does getting down on our own knees to pray make a difference?

2.  Note that Tabitha (Dorcas) was described as a disciple (a follower of Jesus) who was always doing good and helping the poor.  How would you like people to describe you?

3.  The New Testament reading shows the power and strength that comes through prayer, through spending time with God.  What happens in Psalm 23 when one spends time with God?

4.  Reflect on Psalm 23 together and share with one another your favorite word or phrase.

And the “resurrection” question…

Each week during this Season of Easter, ask one another around the table a version of the following question… “Where did you experience joy in life this week?” or “When did you feel fully alive?” or “When did you experience the abundant life that Jesus promised?” or “Where did you experience life in its fullness?”

Book study…

An invitation to adults… do you ever wonder what “resurrection” means in your daily life?  Why does Easter make such a difference?  How do we live fully?  You are invited to read Living the Resurrection by Eugene Peterson; in mid-May, group discussion times based on the book will be offered.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We give thanks that you walk with us through dark valleys

            And that you long to lead us beside still waters and restore our souls.

We bow down to you in prayer, knowing that when we pray,

            you meet us there.

In all those places in our lives that feel dark and without hope,

            we ask that you come and make a way for us.

May we experience the resurrection-power of Easter in our lives.

Amen.

Family Dinner & Devos, Apr 8-14

LIVING THE RESURRECTION

Note – Easter is not just one day – it is 50 days long – a whole season of Easter!  During this season we will be talking about “living the resurrection” and asking ourselves each week this question (or a version thereof): 

“Where did you see signs of life this week?”

Learn-By-Heart Verse for the Week (NIV Translation):

O Lord, you brought me up from the grave, you spared me from going down into the pit.”  Psalm 30:3

This Week’s Scripture Passage:  Acts 9:1-20

Quote for the Week:

“[The gospel writers] come at [the resurrection] from different directions and provide different details, but one element is common to each of them: 

a sense of wonder, astonishment, surprise.”

 - Pastor Eugene Peterson from the book Living the Resurrection

Read the scripture passage and then ponder these questions as a family (simplify for younger children – or rephrase as you need to – as you reflect on “Paul’s New Life”)…

1.      Describe how Paul’s life changed.

2.      In this story, Paul was blinded and then saw again.  Yet the greatest change was that Paul’s hatred towards Christians changed to enormous love for Jesus Christ.  Paul saw things in a new way.  What things (or people or places) do you see differently than you once did?

3.      Verse 16 of Acts 9 says that Paul will suffer in this new life… yet it is Paul, in writing later to the church in Philippi (Philippians 4:4:11-13) that he is content in all circumstances and that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens.  How might our lives be different, even our days of suffering, if we saw them through the lens of resurrection – through the strength of Christ’s life within us?

4.      Psalm 30 talks about how God takes weeping and sorrow and turns them into joy.  You may want to read these words of promise… that new life does indeed come.

5.      Part of “living the resurrection” is that we don’t see things the same way.  We can look with wider eyes and be caught with the wonders of the world.  What part of creation catches you with wonder or astonishment or surprise?  (you could go on a neighborhood walk after your dinner and try to look with “wider eyes” and seek out signs of life and spring and wonder)

And the “resurrection” question…

Each week during this Season of Easter, ask one another around the table a version of the following question… “Where did you see signs of life this week?” or “When did you feel that you had life and energy within you?” or “How did you experience the resurrected Christ in your life?”

Book study…

An invitation to adults… do you ever wonder what “resurrection” means in your daily life?  Why does Easter make such a difference?  How do we live fully?  You are invited to read Living the Resurrection by Eugene Peterson; in early and mid-May, group discussion times based on the book will be offered.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for amazing grace, that we can be blinded but then yet can see.

Thank you for newness… for new beginnings, second chances, and ways out of the pit.

Thank you for spring flowers, buds on trees, and baby animals.

Thank you that you are a God who hears our cries and sits with us,

working within and around us,

transforming our pain into hope.

Amen.