February 2010

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From the Desk of Pastor Matt

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  (Hebrews 13:2)

 Last year I tried out an idea to help the congregation focus on a theme in a variety of different ways and I think it went pretty well.  We looked at Stewardship last year and there is some evidence that the theme may have taken some hold on the congregation:  One, there were a number of people that came back to me with their own stewardship ideas and, two, we are the only congregation that I know of that ended the year in the black.

This year I plan on focusing our congregation on hospitality.  I have chosen this topic for a couple of reasons: 1) we are good at it, and 2) it is one of the major attributes God upholds among God’s people.  It may seem counter-intuitive, but it is usually better to work on your strengths instead of your weaknesses.  Our strengths are the gifts God has given us while are weaknesses are not.  Our strengths can grow much stronger quite rapidly, while our weaknesses have limitations and develop slowly.  Hospitality is something we can make the cornerstone of St. Olaf, and make it our known trademark. 

Secondly, hospitality is one of the most important things God looked for from God’s people.  When God chose Abraham and Sarah as the founders of God’s chosen people, God linked his decision to the abundantly hospitable way they treated even strangers.  When Jesus sent the 70 out, he told them that if a home welcomes them they are to stay there, but if not they are to shake the dust off their feet.  And throughout the letter to churches the disciples encouraged hospitality, including our above verse: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  (Hebrews 13:2).  Hospitality is important to God.

But before we go much further, let us be clear what Hospitality looks like.  In Middle Eastern Culture, it was considered a cultural norm to take care of the strangers and foreigners living among you. Perhaps the most extreme example is provided in Genesis. Lot provides hospitality to a group of angels (who he thinks are only men); when a mob tries to rape them, Lot goes so far as to offer his own daughters as a substitute, saying "Don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." (Genesis 19:8).  Hospitality is not only caring for those among us, but also the stranger.  Hospitality includes all people.  It becomes a way of life.

There are a couple of ways we can go about doing this here at St. Olaf.  One is be aware of those you do not know and then be welcoming to them—not only in church but in life.  The other is to look at the activities we do, and ask ourselves, how can we make these activities open and welcoming to all people and then go ahead and take that next step by doing it.  Finally, as we grow in awareness of all the things we do here at St. Olaf, find ways to make it known that what we offer is not just to those in the church but to all people. 

This next year, we will have education opportunities and encouraging talks to enhance what we are already good at—hospitality.  As we do so, God will bless us, for it lies dear to God’s heart.

God’s peace,
            Pastor Matt

Contemporary Worship
Our Praise worship services will continue with the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m.  Get the word out, pray for us, and join us! 

Meeting Time
Please mark your calendars for the Women of Grace meeting on Monday, February 22 at 7 p.m.  

Let's put together some Health Kits
We will be collecting Health Kits during the various weeks of Lent.  Health kits help people who have been displaced by natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti or to help refugees living in exile.  Please help us to collect these items for Lutheran World Relief.  If you prefer to donate items at one time, feel free. Thanks in advance for your donations.

Ash Wednesday -  One hand towel, dark color recommended

First week of Lent - One washcloth, dark color recommended

Second week of Lent - One bath-size bar (4 to 5 oz.) of soap, any brand, in its original wrapping

Third week of Lent - One adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging

Fourth week of Lent - One sturdy comb

Fifth week of Lent - One metal nail file or nail clippers with file attached, remove packaging (do not substitute cardboard emery boards for the file)

Holy Week - Six Band-Aids, preferably 1/2" to 3/4"; secure together with a rubber band

Recharging the Building Fund
Recharging the Building Fund is a continuous campaign.  Saving spare change in your small battery at home and occasionally emptying it into the large battery just outside the sanctuary is an easy and effective way for young and old to help pay down the principal on the mortgage, and you'll never miss the change.  In 14 months this campaign has collected $3,000. We are making a change without ever missing the change.

Annual Meeting of the Lake Country Mission Cluster
Saturday February 27, 2010  8:30-11:30
Galilee Lutheran Church

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 with a short business meeting to follow.  Our Bishop Elect Jeff Barrow will speak to us about his vision for the future of the Greater Milwaukee Synod.  There will be a short seminar about "Going Green for God". Call Gwen (414-531-7924) Lake Country Mission Cluster Secretary at with questions.

   February Anniversaries & Birthdays

   15    Randy & Mary Buth

   1       Gwen Downing
   3       Abbey Fick, Laura Lee
   4       Kelly Bates, Dave Johnston
   6       Katelyn Piller, Andrea Roth
   7       Braden Bohen
   8       Julia Benson
   9       Doris Bohen, Ronelle Christenson
   10      Marilyn Carlson, Christopher Dauss
   11      DeAnn Slade
   12      Blondie Green
   15      Dawn Christ, Shawn Piller
   16      Scott Rohlffs
   17      Ronald Egelseer, John Roth
   18      Randall Bates, Caleb Christel, Chris Schultz
   19      Aldon Schlieve, Joseph St.George
   20      Pamela Eggert, Donald Freiburger
   21      Brian Solveson
   22      Eric Kraft
   24      Hannah Roraff
   26      Donald Henninger, Garrett Monis, Pat Warnecke

February Lay Ministry Schedule

Altar Guild: Kathie Howell and Jon Evert
Counters:  Mark & Linda Fredrick and Al & Pat Davies

Quilting
The quilters will meet on Fridays beginning February 19^th at 9:00 a.m.  Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come.

St. Olaf is 165 Years Old.  So What?  
by Roger Johnson

165 years ago on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1844, St. Olaf's Parish was organized by Rev. James Lloyd Breck of the Nashotah Mission.  Our first minister, Rev. Gustav Unonius, wrote the following in his report to the First Convention of the (Episcopalian) Diocese of Wisconsin in 1847.  "These settlers (at Ashippun River), then numbering about 20 families, united themselves into a parish in communion with the (Episcopal) Church, which parish, under the name of St. Olof's, was organized the 8th day of December, A.D. 1844 by the Rev. J. Lloyd Breck".  The report appears in the Journal of the Primary Conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Wisconsin.

These families had just arrived earlier that year in this wilderness they called the Ashippun River settlement.  Their homes and the shelters for their animals were temporary - hastily built to survive that first winter.  They did not have a regular pastor of any faith much less a Norwegian Lutheran.  They would not have a consecrated cemetery until the following spring.  They would not be able to begin serious organizational meetings for another three years.  They would not be able to afford building a church for another four years.  But at least they managed to create a congregation, and they persevered through hard winters, epidemics, and financial depressions. 

They passed on to succeeding generations what they had started, and they knew they had done a good thing.  Their descendants were joined over the years by many others who recognized a good congregation when they saw one.  Together they built St. Olaf's into the Church and good and faithful congregation it is today.

When financial times get hard and spare time seems nonexistent, we should think back on the really hard times of previous generations, marvel at what they managed to accomplish and pass on to us, and thank God for their strong faith and perseverance.  If we strive to match the Christian standards set by these previous generations, St. Olaf's Congregation will be just fine.

Don’t Be a Sap -  Be Sweet
Making real syrup from our maple trees is one way to practice stewardship of the land.  Last March's production produced $790 for St. Olaf's general fund.  We can double or triple that amount in 2010.  This is a cross generational project.  On a recent crisp December day, men and youth of St. Olaf's cut and hauled to a sap cook site enough firewood for the cook next March.  They had a ball doing it and look forward to another day in the woods to cut and haul firewood to the second cook site.  If you would like to get some exercise and fresh air in the great outdoors while at the same time getting to know some of our young people and turn time into treasure for St. Olaf's, call Roger Johnson at 474-3168.  We'll be cutting more wood this winter, and next March we will need people to carry sap and tend the fires.

U.F.F.D.A.
Saturday, February 6^th, 2009--- 12:30-3:30

Uniting Faith and the Forty Developmental Assets

In order to meet the needs of the Shorehaven residents, February’s UFFDA has been switched from Sunday to Saturday, February 6, 2009.

Your family’s help is needed. St. Olaf, partnered with Hartford Area Project Care, has received a grant to provide bus transportation to Shorehaven in order to provide service to others (one of the assets!).

While at Shorehaven the children will sing songs, pass out heart projects made at the past UFFDA, visit and read with residents, and enjoy a snack. Adults are especially needed to assist residents to and from the activity room.

For safety reasons, children should be at least 4 years old for bus transportation. Also, please note that this activity requires direct family supervision. Students younger than high school level need to sign up with an adult. Make it a family event for this Valentine-themed service project!

Families are encouraged to sign up soon at the kiosk to reserve seats. Please direct any questions to Jenni Guenther-474-7725 or jjtbguenther@aol.com.

Final Figures for 2009 Lutefisk Dinner:
577 tickets were sold (453 last year). 
Bake Sale:  $2,686.10
Net Profit/Lutefisk Dinner:  $4,914.91
Again, many thanks to all our "helping hands"! 

--Lyn Johnson, Treasurer, Women of Grace

Next Five Years Will Decide the Future of St. Olaf                  
by Roger Johnson

The financial burden was great when it was decided to invest in our vastly improved church facility and it caused terrific controversy, the fallout of which is still felt today.  Personally, I would not have been in favor of building the entire facility all at once.  However, I am a strong advocate of accepting the decision and moving forward recognizing what a huge asset it has been to our ministry. I am an advocate of paying for it with a minimum of money being shelled out for the interest on the loan.

What a miracle it was that we were recently able to borrow $733,000, which is the balance of our mortgage, for 5 years at 4.5%.  There is a huge difference in interest payments between our old rate of 6.95% and 4.5%. Given the significant potential for inflation to set in within the next few years, we may be paying 7 or 8% or more in interest when we have to refinance again in 5 years.

When God presents us with such a miracle, I believe he wants us to do the rest.  Whether or not we take advantage of this 5 year opportunity to pay off a huge chunk of our mortgage principal will determine the future of this church and its ministry.

Let's say you now contribute $20 / week to the general fund and $20 / week to the building fund.  What will happen when the mortgage is paid off?  Will you continue to contribute $20 / week to the general fund and keep the $20 you had been contributing to the building fund in your pocket, or will you conclude that since you have been able to afford a total contribution of $40 / week to the church, why not continue to contribute $40.  That entire amount would go into the general fund and make all the difference in the world to our ministry.

First I want to address those who faithfully support the building fund.  With our current level of giving to the building fund, the new 4.5% interest rate will save us $97,000 in interest over the next 5 years and reduce our principal $220,000.

If everyone who supports the building fund contributed an additional $1 / week for the next 5 years, the total increase in contributions would only be $30,000, but they would reduce the principal $104,000.

            If everyone who supports the building fund contributed an additional $5 / week for the next 5 years, we could cut the mortgage principal in half.

            Now I want to face some facts.  33% of the congregation does not contribute anything to the building fund.  Of the 67% that does contribute, half of them provide 92% of the money donated to the building fund. 50% of the congregation provides only 8% of the contributions to the building fund.

I have been told by more than one person that the general fund needs their contribution more than the building fund.  I believe that there are those who think that a portion of the money in the building fund is banked for future building or improvements.  They do not understand that the building fund is only for making the mortgage payments.  Therefore I have been an advocate of renaming the building fund the "mortgage fund".

I wonder how much more we can expect the good contributors to give. 

$1 -$5 / week might be possible.  If, however, we can get every member to understand:

1.  That 100% of the building fund goes toward paying the mortgage.

2.  That it is the improvements to our church facility that provides our only chance of surviving as a congregation in this day and age.

3.  That paying for these improvements is a hurdle to be jumped over rather than an obstacle to block our path.

4.  That if we can convince the other 50% to increase their contributions of treasure or at least their time and talents toward the generation of income, we can make huge strides toward having a debt free building.

            Just imagine how much less money out of our collective pockets the building will cost us if we could get the mortgage paid off in 10 years rather than 20 years.  The savings would be astronomical, and much of that money could go toward our ministry rather than to the bank for interest.  We can make that happen, and we had better work on it.      

Thanks to the January Stewards
Ron & Linda Egelseer, George & Clara Birkel,

Todd, Cindy, Trent, Ariel & Ethan Birkel, Esther Christenson, Jane Christenson , Mark, Ronelle, Tyler & Caylyn Christenson, Mary Clark, Bryan, Kerry, Hannah & Abbey Fick, Jake & Michelle Homulos, Wayne, Judy & Morgan Kielisch, Jim Lumsden & Paula Olson & John Straight, Virginia Peterson, Shaun, Lisa, Kaeden & Katelyn Piller, Scott & Jessi Rohlffs, John, Andrea, Max, Rachel & Alaina Roth, Tim Schuett, Chris, Justin, Melissa & Kevin Schultz.

Taking Faith Home
Epiphanies
By Marilyn Sharpe (TYFI.org)

 The day of Epiphany commemorates the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem to worship the infant Jesus. What an unlikely scenario – scholars from the East, bringing gifts fit for a king, following a star and astrological predictions, challenged by the jealous and unscrupulous King Herod, arriving to find the son of a peasant couple, falling down to worship this unlikely king! Elderly Anna and Simeon, present in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus to be dedicated, through the Holy Spirit, recognized this baby as God’s redemption and salvation. This is the story of the entire season of Epiphany – people in unlikely settings, times, and places see Jesus, and through a knowledge not their own, recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Now, 2,000 years later, the Holy Spirit still works through unlikely people in improbable places to recognize Jesus in daily life. Where have you met this Jesus? Are you on the lookout? Often, it is our children who help us with these sightings of the holy, in the midst of the mundane.

Trevor turned four in mid August two years ago. His mother came in to a class I was teaching that day with his story. Too excited to sleep, Trevor was up before the sun and woke his mom. She wrapped him in a quilt and they sat on the patio, waiting for the sunrise. When the sun crested the eastern horizon, Trevor gasped and turned to his mother. “Mom,” he exclaimed, “How did Jesus know that orange is my best color?” A meteorologist could have explained the color, but it took a four year old to declare the intimate presence of Jesus in his life!  Epiphany!

Twenty years ago this month, our six year old neighbor was diagnosed with leukemia, placed in intensive care, battling for his life. His brother was with another family. His parents spent virtually all of their time at the hospital. A friend and I cleaned their home and I volunteered to do their laundry. There was only a tiny pile of dirty clothes. No one was home to generate laundry. I returned home to face a virtual haystack of dirty clothes in my laundry room. I remember picking up my nine year old son’s muddy jeans, hugging them to me, and thanking God for the gift of children healthy enough to dirty clothes. To this day, I have never viewed laundry in the same way. It is no longer a chore I dread, but an opportunity to give thanks for God’s gift of health and daily joys that mark a life together in Christ. Epiphany!

Can we help the children we love to see the holy in the ordinary? Can we uncover the epiphanies all around us? Can we create a culture of gratitude, and with the psalmist declare, “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Ps. 107:1

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. At bedtime, recount all the things for which you are grateful in a prayer of thanks.

2. At dinner, give each family member two tealight candles. Light the first, naming a person who has been the light of Christ to them this week. Light the second, naming one person for whom we have been the light of Christ.

3. Send all the kids on a hunt to find evidence in unlikely places of the things for which we can thank God, like dirty dishes, too much food in the fridge, mud on the floor, toys strewn around, or laundry piling up. Gather, share, and thank God.

4. Say thank you to one another for those countless daily gifts, like a ride to school, hot coffee, wet towel hung up to dry, help carrying in groceries, cleaning up toys.

5. Cradle your child’s face in your hands, and say, “I see the face of Jesus in you.” What a blessing.

Thank You!
I would like to thank everyone who attended the annual meeting on January 17th, and those who responded with a "Yes" when asked to be on a committee or run for a position. Congratulations to all those who were elected to a committee, and to Bruce Benson and Lucy Braunschweig, who were elected as the Congregation's President and Secretary.

Thank you also to the nominating committee for their work in making contact with all those who were nominated for positions, and preparing the slate of officers and committees. The nominating committee members are Marilyn Carlson, Jon and Carol Evert, Pat Haarmann, Bernie Krahn, and George Monis.

Cindy Schlieve, Chair
Nominating Committee

I Hate Thistles!!!
by Roger Johnson

            Practicing good stewardship means contributing time and talents as well as treasure.  As members of St. Olaf’s Congregation, we support the ministry of our church by contributing what treasure we can to the general fund.  We should also recognize that stepping up contributions to the building fund, which is used solely to pay off the mortgage, will be especially important as we enjoy a remarkably low interest rate for the next five years. 

            If you have gazed over our church land to the south of the church the last number of years, you would have seen unproductive land growing nothing but a most unwelcome crop of Canada thistles and other noxious weeds. 

I hate thistles and love to grow things.  As a result, we just added $1,833 to the building fund by growing our own crop of soybeans on that land.  All it took was a little application of time and talent and not being afraid to ask.

            Frontier Coop. in Mapleton donated all the seed and most of the chemicals.  Gary Sielaff donated the use of his no-till drill.  I forward contracted the crop and did the planting and spraying.  George Monis combined them, and I hauled them to the elevator.  Now that winter has set in, I look back and don't even miss the little time and gasoline it took to practice good stewardship of the land --- And I don't have to look at the thistles.  Next summer you can watch a crop of winter wheat growing thanks to another Frontier Coop. donation of wheat seed.

            If we all put our thinking caps on, I know that we could come up with no end of ways to practice good stewardship by turning our time and talents into additional treasure to support our ministry and achieve a debt free church facility.

What other ways can you think of to put your time and talents to good use and, at the same time, enjoy doing so?

Upcoming Seminar on Mistakes NOT to Make When Writing Your Will
Estate planning attorney, Charles Stansberry, with Schober, Schober & Mitchell Law Firm and ELCA Gift Planner, Rev. Larry Westfield, will give a free informational seminar at 6:15 on Feb. 6, 2010 after the Saturday night service at the church.  The emphasis will be on the bad things that can happen by not having one's affairs in order and also mistakes to avoid in writing a will and planning your estate.  Attending this seminar is the perfect way to kick off (no pun intended) what many of us should be doing but never seem to get started.  There will be ample opportunity for continued questions to the presenters after the program. This seminar is being organized by the St. Olaf's Life Giving Committee but is not intended just for congregation members.  So invite your friends and neighbors.  Coupons worth $100 will be available to those attending the seminar to do a will or estate plan with this firm within a certain period of time.  Just let Roger Johnson, 920-474-3168, know if you are coming so enough information packets are available at the seminar.

Oil Lamp Service: Windows of the Past
What a wonder experience!  St. Olaf Lutheran Church was filled with people and music.  During four Sunday evenings in September, October, November and December our church was lit by oil lamps, men sat on one side of the church m women on the other side.  It was a vision of the past, after a light supper, everyone enjoyed a brief history of earlier times at St. Olaf.  The ushers seated everyone, some of the guests were dressed in period costumes and the Klokker rang the bell, beginning the worship service. 

During the brief service the congregation enjoyed Bible passages and a homily by our Klokker, George Monis.  Our church was filled with spirited hymn singing and instrumental musicians.  A total of 316 people came to worship and share their faith.  The offering baskets on long poles were made by Gerry and Jessie Bohen, just under $1,000 was collected.  It provided worship services to many within our area and they came to know more about St. Olaf Lutheran Church.

Our thanks to the Oil Lamp Committee: Chairman Pat Haarmann, Jane Christenson, Roger and Lyn Johnson, George and Elaine Monis and John and Carol Evert.  We would like to do this again and would welcome anyone that would like to join us.

Keeping Our Kids Safe
In today's world, it's important to think about the best ways to keep our children safe. Though here in the Hartford--Ashippun--Erin area, we are probably more safe than in a large city, we have to remember to keep safety in our minds wherever we live, or travel. We know that there are people in the world, and even in our local area, who don't have the best interests of our children in their hearts and minds. The adult education committee is preparing a program that includes both adults and children (from kindergarten through 12th grade), to look at ways in which our children can stay safe, and ways the adults can help them stay safe.

Please join us on Saturday, February 20th, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Olaf's. There will be time for the adults to discuss some ideas together, the youth to discuss and hear about ways to look out for themselves, and then we'll have time to get together as a whole group and share ideas, questions, stories. This program is open to anyone who is interested, whether or not they are a member of St. Olaf's. Please feel free to invite friends or family. It would be very helpful for the planning committee to have an idea of how many people will be attending, so would you please contact Cindy Schlieve at 920-474-7134, or Michelle in the office at church, 920-474-7042, and let them know you plan to attend by February 7^th.

Our children are the future. Let's work to keep them safe.

Life Giving Committee Dedicated to Making End of Life Stewardship a Way of Life at St. Olaf’s
What's the Life Giving Committee?

It's a committee of the church that was organized last year, and will remain in existence forever.  It is dedicated to making end of life stewardship a way of life at St. Olaf's.  Current members are Pastor Matt, Bruce Benson, Denise Cairns, Bernie Krahn, Karl Monis, Patty Steward, and Roger Johnson..

 What's this committee do?

Its purpose is to motivate church members to think about their estate planning and to have an up to date will.  It is also dedicated to providing education on how they can be good stewards at the end of life by leaving gifts to the ministries of the church that will enable the work of the Lord to be continued long after we are gone. There are various ways this can be accomplished - often with significant tax advantages that can benefit survivors.

Isn't this just another way for the church to get more money?

Of course we would like very much to see everyone remember their church when doing their estate planning, but a legacy might be left to any number of charitable organizations.  But besides that, the church cares about its members and their families.  Not having a will, or having an obsolete will, or making mistakes in writing a will often tears a family apart. Also, when families are torn apart as a result of matters regarding the will or lack of a will, the pastor is often drawn into the fray resulting in him having to spend unnecessary time and effort away from the ministry of the church helping to resolve problems that didn't have to occur - all because there was no will, or it was an obsolete will, or mistakes were made in writing the will, and now the family is in a turmoil over it.

How can I learn more?

Don't put off any longer getting your estate planning and will in order.  Put into play what you have often thought about but had no idea where to begin except by paying for an expensive estate planning attorney.  Get the wheels turning by attending our free seminar at 6:15 PM on Saturday, February 6th at the church.  It will be presented by a local estate planning attorney and Pastor Larry Westfield.  Coupons worth $100 will be available to those attending the seminar if they decide to do their will or estate plan with the attorney's firm within a specified period of time.

Do I have to register?

You should call Roger Johnson at 920-474-3168 so there will be an information packet for you when you arrive.

First Communion Classes

The 2010 First Communion class for 4^th and 5^th graders will begin Tuesday February 23^rd at 6:30 p.m. and will run for 5 weeks.  Those students will celebrate First Communion on Maundy Thursday at the 7:00 p.m. worship service.

Lent & Holy Week Schedule

Ash Wednesday Services
      Please join us for a short, meditative service to begin our Lenten Journey.  It will be at 6:30 a.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010. The service will include the imposition of ashes.  For those of you who are concerned about being late for work, the service will be concluded by 7:00 a.m.  Continue our Journey with our service at 7:00 p.m. with the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion. 

Ecumenical Services:
Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the following churches.

Wednesday, February 24                   
            St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Mapleton

Wednesday, March 3                          
            St. Olaf’s Lutheran *

Wednesday, March 10            
            St. Paul’s Episcopal, Ashippun

Wednesday, March 17            
            Zion Lutheran, Ashippun

Wednesday, March 24            
            St. Paul’s Lutheran, Sugar Island

 *We will be responsible for finger foods for our fellowship after the service.  Please bring them to the Fellowship Hall by 6:00 p.m.

Holy Week Services:
Thursday, April 1             11:00 a.m.    
            Special Communion Service

Thursday, April 1               7:00 p.m.    
            Maundy Thursday Service with First Communion for 4^th/5^th graders

Friday, April 2                   7:00 p.m.    
            Good Friday Tenebrae Service

Saturday, April 3             5:00 p.m.      
            Easter Vigil

Sunday, April 4                 7:00, 9:00, 10:30 a.m. 
            Worship Service with Holy Communion

St. Olaf Sunday School presents

Elijah: Stand Up for God!
February 7 – February 28

This story of Elijah is made for Hollywood!  Elijah has been branded a “troublemaker” by the kind.  God has already sent a drought to get the King’s attention, but it hasn’t been working.  So Elijah sets up a challenge between himself and the prophets of Baal. He has two bulls killed for a burnt offering. He invites the prophets of Baal to go first, preparing their altar and doing everything but striking a fire. Then he dares the prophets of Baal to pray to their god to start their burnt offering on fire. 

 Well, the prophets of Baal pray until noon, dancing and trying everything possible to get their god to act, as Elijah mocks them from the sidelines. They finally give up. Elijah then sets up an altar for the Lord, and puts wood and the bull upon it. He then orders the wood to be soaked with water three times, making it more difficult to burn.  (And don’t forget, there’s been a drought for three years, so water isn’t too easy to find).  He prays to the Lord, “Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you are bringing them back to yourself.” (1 Kings 18:37). God sends fire from heaven that not only consumes the sacrifice, but the water in the trench around it, and the stones of the altar itself! The people exclaim, “The Lord is God: the Lord alone is God!” (18:39b)

 This story may seem irrelevant to us today since we don’t usually burn bulls in offering to gods of stone!  But we are tempted to turn to gods of the world around us such as money, power, fame, etc. In the long run, though, these things are as helpless and hopeless as the idols of Baal. Like the people of Israel in Elijah’s day, we need to be reminded to confess, “The Lord is God; the Lord alone is God!”

 Sunday School Classes

• In the Oasis Café we will make fiery altars to show the challenge that Elijah faced.
• In Colors of Faith we will make a prayer book that will help us to pray like Elijah.
• In Creation Exploration we will make our own lightning like the fire God sent down from heaven.
• In Jammin’ with Jesus we will play some exciting games that show us some challenges similar to what we face in our lives.

Our focus verse:

“The Lord is God; the Lord alone is God!”

1 Kings 18:39b