7/27/2019 Devotion Week of January 12 2014

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SERMON NOTES:PRAYER REQUESTS

Pray for Ruthann Coburn who had a procedureWednesday on a serious wound on her leg.

Pray for former Mayor Ryback who had a heartattached on Saturday while he was cross-

country skiing.

Linda (Heather Butterfields sister) Godsprotection while away from home.

Peggy Kipling (friend of Jon Black) has terminalcancer. Prayer for Peggy and Brian for strength.

Stephanies mom, Judy (co-worker of HeatherButterfield) who has cancer.

Regina Shu (Judith Shus mother) as shestruggles with diabetic neuropathy affecting her

mobility. Sabrina Corey (classmate of Jenna Fitzgerald)

who was seriously injured in a car accident. She

is home recovering but needs lots of prayers.

Cassie Hermann (cousin of Janna Fitzgerald)who struggles with emotional issues.

Amina, a six year old girl who has brain cancer(friend of Michelle Ott).

Judith Shu as she continues in her search for afamily practice practitioner to precept her. Rose Bih (Sam Atu-Tetuhs wife) as she has high

cholesterol and heart problems.

Ruthann Coburn who is going through manyhealth problems.

Kay Prouty (mother of Pastor Pauls brother -in-law) who has cancer.

Steve Gast (Jennifer Huehns college friend)received new lungs for his Cystic Fibrosis, has

returned home after complications. Pray for

continued healing. Sarah Womack (Nancy Amundsens daughter) as

she searches for a new job. Stephanie (Jerry Hermsens friend) who is

waiting to have an operation.

Beverly Dols (John Ivers sister) as she is inhospice care.

Jessica Johnson (Stacy Foremans cousin) hasbeen diagnosed with Lyme's disease. Due to theside effects and the illness symptoms she is

unable to work.

Joanne Seeman Benick (Jon & Jodi Blacks friend)who has cancer.

Julie Fjeld (Jennifer & Mike Huehns neighbor)who lives with cancer.

John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen) who issuffering from cancer.

DEVOTIONElders are important people in a Presbyteriancongregation. As well read this week the name ofour denomination comes from the word elders.

The office of elder is mentioned in the Bible. Thisweek we have the opportunity to read someexamples when the word is mentioned and canlearn how the role of elders in our new churchmirrors the teaching about elders in the Scriptures.

Enjoy!

Comments about the devotion can be e-mailed topastor@colpres.org.

Monday January 13ReadMatthew3:13-17Yesterday, Pastor Paul shared a sermon calledIdentity. He talked about what is non-negotiablein being Presbyterian. He asked the question, Ifwe stopped doing ___, then we would stop beingPresbyterian. He went on to share in his mindwhat those blanks would be.

Our identity starts with baptism. This story of thebaptizing of Jesus is probably familiar to us, butvery significant for our understanding of our ownfaith. In verse 17 God shared how God saw theidentity of Jesus, This is my Son, the Beloved, withwhom I am well pleased.

How would you fill in the blank of the question inthe first paragraph? What would stop us frombeing a Presbyterian church? The question isimportant as we can still be Presbyterian as long aswe dont do what would stop us from beingPresbyterian.

Jesus never stopped being 1) Gods Son; 2) theBeloved; 3) viewed by God with pleasure. This washis identity. We always want to be clear about ourdenominational identity too.

Prayer: Lord these identity questions areimportant. We have all sorts of identitiesaspeople as a church as Presbyterians. Just as Jesuswas clear about his identity through baptism helpus be clear about our congregations identity asPresbyterians.Today pray for George Black a current elder on theSteering Committee

7/27/2019 Devotion Week of January 12 2014

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2 3 4Tuesday January 14ReadActs11:27-30The English word, elder comes from the Greekword, Presbuteros. We can see that the word,Presbyterian comes from elder. We are adenomination that is run by elders. Pastors arenow called Teaching Elders; people on theSession are now called Ruling Elders.

In this story we see the importance of the eldersliving in Jerusalem. Money was raised from thechurch in Antioch for famine relief. This faminewould take place all over the world. Barnabas andSaul brought the money to the elders in Jerusalem.It was up to the e lders to decide how to administerand make decisions on how this money was used.

The same idea applies to the Steering Committeeor Session of Presbyterian churches. The eldershave final authority on how money is spent andused.

This authority is important and significant. Thebeauty of the system is one person doesnt havethe final say. A group of people, elected by thecongregationthe eldershave this authority.

Prayer: Thank you for the elders who serve on theSteering Committee of Chain of Lakes. Give themwisdom as they make financial decisions for ourcongregation.Today pray for Justin Leitch a current elder on theSteering CommitteeWednesday January 15ReadActs15:1-21Elders sometimes have to make theologicaldecisions for the church. This story is an exampleof what can happen. A dispute arose among thepeople of the church. A group from the Phariseesbelieved and taught that people could not beChristian unless they were circumcised andordered to keep the law of Moses. Acts 15:5.

The elders and apostles then met to make adecision. They were like the jury who made adetermination on what would happen.

The elders decided that people circumcision was

not necessary to be a follower of Jesus. They thensent a delegation to Antioch along with Paul andBarnabus along with a letter to share theirdecision.

How challenging it must have been for thoseelders! And how exciting it must have been forthese elders. Their decisions were having animpact on the direction of the church.

Prayer: Lord this is an amazing story. The decisionby these elders had an impact on the developmentof the church. As our elders meet give themwisdom for the decision they make. Give themdiscernment.Today pray for Melanie Vosdingh a current elderon the Steering CommitteeThursday January 16Read1Timothy5:11-16In this story Paul exhorted Timothy to not neglectthe gifts that were in him. These gifts were givenand confirmed when the elders of that localchurch laid their hands on him.

Part of the task of elders is to see gifts of peopleand then encourage them to use those gifts. It is aspecial task for an elder to do. Imagine howimportant it is to see and confirm gifts that you seein others!

When elders are installed in the church all peoplewho have served as an elder come and lay handson them. This practice follows the example in thisstory in 1 Timothy. The elders are recognizing andconfirming the gifts in these current elders.

Prayer: Help our elders see and confirm the giftsthat they see in others. We have so many gifts butits important that some group sees them,acknowledges them and ultimately confirms them.Give our group of elders wisdom as they do this.Today pray for Val Owens a current elder on theSteering CommitteeFriday January 17ReadTitus1:5Paul shared that he left Titus behind in Crete toappoint elders. He then went on to share thequalities of the elders.

someone who is blameless, married only once,

whose children are believers, not accused ofdebauchery and not rebellious. Titus 1:6

It is important that the elders have personalqualities that are admired and respected. WePresbyterians dont take this passage in selectionof elders. For example elders can serve who havebeen divorced; they arent required to havechildren who are believers.

But the idea of having criteria for conduct for

elders is important. People in a congregation lookup to the elders as examples in faith for them.

Prayer: We pray for the personal characteristics ofthe elders who serve. ont let them be burdenedby this expectation but help them see that theirbehavior is an example for the rest of thecongregation and is noticed.Today pray for Pam Van Meter who will be joiningthe Steering Committee as an elderSaturday January 18Read1Peter5:1-4

In this passage Peter shared what he saw as someof the functions of the elders.

tend the flock of God that is in your charge,exercising the oversight, not under compulsion butwillingly, as God would have you do itnot forsordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over thosein your charge, but be examples to the flock. 1Peter 5:2-3

Make this your prayer for the elders who serve inour congregation.

Prayer: I pray that the elders of our congregationcan tend our flock exercise oversight willingly andwith Gods help. May they be examples to us.Today pray for Dwight Zvorak who will be joiningthe Steering Committee as an elder.