Message From Pastor Nancy
Caring For the Earth- Through The Lord’s Prayer Most of these ideas are from Luther’s Small Catechism and an article on the website Lutheransrestoringcreation.org. This is the time of year we like to focus on Caring for Creation! Love in Christ, Pastor Nancy
Our Father in heaven. God is not a birth parent, but Bigger, All and Everywhere!
1-Hallowed be your name. We ask that God’s name becomes holy in us. How might God define holy living amid creation? Living in a holy way could be being mindful about conserving resources: Shut off lights. Recycle. Use less water. Let’s pay attention to our actions as a spiritual discipline.
2-God’s kingdom comes when God is fully reigning. We pray use me to usher in your Kingdom today. If God were fully in charge, everyone on the planet would have enough to eat. How do we care for creation in our efforts to help those less fortunate get food and shelter?
3-Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. We ask that God’s will happens in us on this earth! If flowers bloom to the glory of God, gurgling rapids sing God’s praises, and even rocks do what they’re supposed to do, we can know it is God’s will for us to love all creaturely neighbors on earth.
4-Give us this day our daily bread- Where did your last meal come from? What did it take to produce it? If all Americans went one day per week without eating meat, it would be the same as taking one of every eight (8 million) cars off the road!
5-Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Will seals forgive us our oil spills? Will ancient redwoods and Amazon rainforests forgive air pollution and deforestation? Will stream life and coral reefs forgive us for mountain top removal and burning coal? As atonement, we could plant a tree, ride a bike or find other ways to start making ammends. God eagerly wants to help us!
6-Lead us not into temptation. Sometimes we are tempted to zone out on the TV or on an electronic device! The average TV watcher sees 20,000 commercials yearly. To more enjoy life in a natural state we could shut off the TV or computer, go outside, go for a walk, or sit and enjoy. God help us resist the temptation to ignore creation, rather, help us enjoy and love all living things!
7-Deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. We ask God to deliver us from all kinds of evil—affecting body or soul, property or reputation. We are in God’s care forever. Even in this time of trial where we may fear irreversible harm, God is with us. How does God’s ongoing work for good in this world empower us and give us hope?
Let’s pray that each one of us will love what God loves and save what God saves. Yes it shall be so! Amen!
President’s Message
Prayers Needed!
As I look at the few months remaining in my term as your council president, I have two requests of the congregation. Please pray for these pressing needs. First, that one of your council members will accept the role of president that begins at our annual meeting in February. Second, please pray for a lutefisk team to spearhead (no fish pun intended) the dinner in December.
Two prayer requests. Leadership and Lutefisk.
Thanks, Ginny
Prayers Needed!
As I look at the few months remaining in my term as your council president, I have two requests of the congregation. Please pray for these pressing needs. First, that one of your council members will accept the role of president that begins at our annual meeting in February. Second, please pray for a lutefisk team to spearhead (no fish pun intended) the dinner in December.
Two prayer requests. Leadership and Lutefisk.
Thanks, Ginny