Staying Connected Through Crisis

* On _____________ we remember all the _________ made by those defending our country.

* We also remember over 116 died in Joplin, MO, 300 died in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

* ELCA Disaster Response is on the scene

1. When crisis strikes tell God how you _________.

Lamentations 2:19b (NLT) 19bLift up your hands to him in prayer. Plead for your children as they faint with hunger in the streets.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT) 11Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

2. ____________ God in all ______________.

Job 13:15 (NLT) 15God might kill me, but I cannot wait. I am going to argue my case with him.

3. ______ God for ____________ and _________ others.

Psalms 105:4 (NLT) 4Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

4. Keep ____________on _________and _______________.

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18 (NLT) 16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

John 16:33 (The MSG) “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

* All ___________ are ________________.

* God will _________ a crisis for __________ purpose.

* Keep your __________ fixed on the ___________.

Sermon Study May 8

1. Today's Gospel even takes place ___________ . They are on the road because it is time

to ___________ and ___________ . They are joined by ___________ . It is

___________ .

Did they recognize him? ___________

John Sculley was president of ___________ . He left it to work for ___________ .

Why did he change jobs? With Apple he saw an even greater ___________ .

Do we see the vision ___________ has for us? Do we walk in his presence but do not ___________ him?

2. That morning the women told their story of seeing Jesus at the tomb. These two

intelligent fellows ___________ . As they walked with the Risen Lord, they did not

___________ him.

3. Why didn't they recognize him? Sometimes we just will not let ourselves ___________ or

___________ .

There are signs along the way reminding us ___________ . Millions have.

On their journey, the Lord taught the two doubters about the Scriptures and how the events of Holy Week had been ___________ . Still they did not ___________ .

4. Sometimes we question why we do not ___________ .

Dan Wakefield says that belonging to Church gave him a sense of living in a larger context,

of being part of something greater than what I could see through the tunnel vision of my

personal concerns.........He had a hunger and thirst for spiritual understanding.

Like the two on the road, can we be in the presence of the Risen Lord and ___________ ?

In the house at eventide, Jesus takes bread, blesses it, gives it to them, and ___________.

When the man with the mask removed it, he found _______________________________.

Jesus, our Lord, ___________ and is __________ .

He comes to us in ___________ and ___________ .

He stand before us in the form of our___________ and ___________ and ___________ .

Do you ___________ ?

Get Ready For Christmas

I watched the Dow plunge another 600 points yesterday, the attacks in India were still headlines, people look to our President elect to solve a host of problems, and the job market is just plain scary. Is there any good news out there? The Good News, with a capital G and a capital N has been there for two millennia but we fear what is going on right now rather than looking with trust and faith to the consistency of God and the promise of a present and future guided not by markets and malevolent dictators but by the Christ. Christmas is about Good News. Good News announced to shepherds and wise men, to Kings and cattle, and to star gazers and carpenters. It is good news for everyone.

Over the next few weeks we are going to explore what the Good News is and what it means for us. One thing is for sure Christmas is less about consumerism and more about Christ. This week we will pick up the theme Get Ready for Christmas. We will explore three ideas: 1. If Christ brought us Good News we should know what it is. Read Psalm 107:2 and Philippians 4:4; 2. We need time to tell others the Good News. Read Matthew 11:28; 3. We need to share the Good News “on purpose.” Read Luke 2:15. Good News is not wrapped up in warm fuzzy stories that warm the heart. It is news that remains consistent dependable over the eons and stirs hope and faith in the midst of massive world troubles.

I will explore these three themes and make a few suggestions on how to live the Good News this Christmas season. We are putting ads in the Herald Argus over the next few weeks so you can point to those to tell a friend or neighbor about it. We can also run off color flyers for you to share with others if you like. Just give us a call or stop by the church office to get a few to pass out. We will also be decorating the sanctuary and hallways on December the 10th at 6:00PM with sloppy joes, chips, and hot cider and then try to make quick work out of decorating. As the saying goes, Many hands make light work. C U in church!