Summer Power in the Spirit, 2021
July 11, 2021
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We're glad you're a part of the Power in the Spirit online community this week. Here's what you can expect each day:
- This Morning Devotional, including writings, a recorded message, and at-home arts and crafts
- An Evening Workshop at 6:30 PM, led by presenters from the Virginia Synod and beyond. To see the complete schedule of workshops, click here. We will open the Zoom Room at 6:15 PM each day so that sessions can begin promptly at 6:30 PM.
- An Online Evening Prayer Service, beginning at 7:30 PM. This is also in the Power in the Spirit Zoom room.
Want to catch up on past sessions and devotionals? Visit the Power in the Spirit page at the Virginia Synod website. We'll keep updating this throughout the event, so be sure to check it frequently. Click here to view past sessions and devotionals.
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Click the image above for a closer view. |
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How to join the Zoom Room, and other tips |
Our evening sessions begin at 6:15 PM, Sunday through Thursday. After gathering and announcements, our presentations begin promptly at 6:30 PM. To join the Zoom Room, look for the link that you received in your confirmation email.
We will resend the confirmation email at noon on Sunday.
If you still don't have a link to Zoom by Sunday afternoon, please email Pastor David Drebes at pastordrebes@gmail.com. |
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This Year's Theme:
Advent in July!
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About this year's theme: the season of Advent is a season of waiting. The Church waits to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and the Church waits for his return in the fulfillment of time. The Church spends the season of Advent waiting, even though we know what to expect on Christmas day. The Church spends this season waiting, not knowing “the day or the hour” when Christ will come again.
Over the past year and half, the Church has been called to wait in other ways, aside from our traditional waiting season. The events of the last year have required us to delay or cancel plans, to drastically change the ways we worship, and to look for signs that change is coming.
Power in the Spirit Online, 2021, will be “Advent in July” as we reflect, wait, prepare, and celebrate.
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A Poem for the First Sunday of Advent: |
Advent
© Edith Blake
As we prepare for His coming,
Let us rejoice in the light.
Open our hearts to His grace
To live in His abundance.
Grow in peace and understanding
Lift our hands in praise.
Give thanksgiving for His coming
Join in celebrating the season.
Reach out to those in need
Sharing His love with those around us.
Let us be mindful of His coming
In everyday living.
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Design by Vickie Devilbiss |
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Our daily themes are based on the traditional antiphons and readings for each Sunday of Advent, plus Christmas Day. Advent is a season for hope, and these readings, prayers, and reflections can help direct our hopes in the proper direction. Today's theme is trust.
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A Reading from Scripture: Psalm 25:1-5 |
To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
My God, I put my trust in you;
let me not be put to shame,
nor let my enemies
triumph over me.
Let none who look to you
be put to shame;
rather let those be put to shame
who are treacherous.
Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted
all the day long.
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Reading: Martin Luther on the First Commandment |
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The Large Catechism (1529) [trans. composite]
“You are to have no other gods.”
That is: you are to regard me alone as your God. What does this mean, and how is it to be understood? What does “to have a god” mean or what is God?
Answer: A “god” is the term for means that to which we are to look for all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in someone or something with the your whole heart.
As I have often said, the trust and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust are right, then your god is true. On the other hand, if your trust is false and wrong, then you have not the true God. For these two belong together: faith and God. That upon which you set your heart and put your trust, I say, is properly your god.
Therefore it is the intention of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart, which fly directly to the one true God and cling to Him alone. That is to say: "See to it that you let me alone be your God, and never seek another." In other words, “Whatever good things you lack, look to me for it, and seek it from me; and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep to me and cling to me. I myself, I will give you enough and help you out of every danger. Only let not your heart cling to or rest upon anyone else.
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A Word from Pastor Sandy Wisco |
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Each morning we hear from a leader in our Virginia Synod who speaks about today's theme. Today, we give thanks for this message from the Rev. Sandy Wisco. Click the video to hear her reflection. |
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Do you need closed captions? YouTube will generate them for you! Once you're on the video page, just look for the "cc" symbol and click it. |
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Tonight's Live Workshop on Zoom, 6:30 PM |
Join us on Zoom at 6:15 PM tonight! Our presentations will begin promptly at 6:30 PM! Look for an email from Zoom at noon today with your special link!
Stay for worship at 7:30 PM!
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Keynote I: “Coaching: What Is It, Why Is It Helpful?”
As the VA Synod beings a coaching ministry, this session introduces a framework asking questions and defining successful change.
The Rev. Cathy Mims, First Lutheran, Norfolk; Coaching Coordinator for Coaching Ministry of the VA Synod
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Worship Tonight at 7:30 PM! |
Worship will begin after our evening presentation. We will stay in the same Zoom Room for both the presentation and worship. |
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As the story goes, in 1839, a Lutheran minister working at a children’s mission in Germany created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. The minister placed 20 small red candles out the outer ring of the wheel and four larger white candles inside the ring, lighting the red candles on weekdays and the four white candles on Sundays as a way for the children to countdown the days until Christmas.
Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/advent-wreath-meaning-of-advent-candles.html
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Debbie Mintiens provides an example of her "do it yourself" Advent Wreath. You can make your own using candles, cardboard tubes, or anything else! For additional ideas, click here.
We'll add to our display over the course of the week with a new craft or activity each day. Consider sending in a picture of your work to be posted on the Power in the Spirit Facebook page! Email Pastor Drebes at pastordrebes@gmail.com to share your work. |
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Give to Support the New Guinea Islands District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea! |
There is no fee to attend Power in the Spirit Online, but we do suggest a donation. All funds received by Power in the Spirit this summer will be used to benefit our global companion synod: the Islands District of the Evangelical Church in Papua New Guinea.
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Power in the Spirit
A Ministry of the Virginia Synod, ELCA
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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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