I intentionally did not send out the Chime last week because I was not in the office last week, BUT as I was working on this week's Chime I realized I hadn't sent out the previous week's either. It was still sitting there with 'draft' next to it instead of 'sent.' I apologize! Below you will find my devotion from Febuary 10th... this is not an error. I wanted to include it since it didn't go out when I meant it to a couple of weeks ago.

¹Happy are those
 who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
 or take the path that sinners tread,
 or sit in the seat of scoffers;
 ²but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
 and on his law they meditate day and night.
 ³They are like trees
 planted by streams of water,
 which yield their fruit in its season,
 and their leaves do not wither.
 In all that they do, they prosper.
 ⁴The wicked are not so,
 but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
 ⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
 ⁶for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
 but the way of the wicked will perish.

~ Psalm 1

Many of the psalms can be categorized in different collections based on superscriptions that are found at the beginning of the psalm. You may be familiar with the most famous of these saying, “a psalm of David.” Most of the psalms have these superscriptions, but there are two the distinctly do not – psalm 1 and 2.

Psalms 1 and 2 introduce us to the psalter and give us a lens for how one is to interpret the rest of the psalms through. Psalm 1 begins by setting up this duality of wickedness and goodness that comes from following the Torah (translated law) of God that separates them from those who do not. Now the law as it appears here is interesting. In a book from my seminary days, Introduction to the Psalms by Nancy L. deClaisse-Walford, she suggests that we might translate the word as instruction rather than law as that would’ve been the understanding of the Jewish people with the Psalm with it’s clear reference to the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the bible). This includes all of that which is life giving instruction from God and is celebrated rather that begrudgingly followed as we often think of laws today.

But that’s not God’s desire for us – it’s not for us to simply exist. The psalm goes on for the trees that sit by the stream and are fed by this water, not only do they keep living, but they prosper, they bear the good fruit. Beloved siblings in Christ, God’s desire for you is for you to have life and have it fully. Find those things that give you joy, where the love of God shines the brightest for you. Spend time in scripture. Find time to prayer. Be with God in the ways only you and God know that you need to keep feeding your whole self.

"Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. Joseph lives it in Egypt. Jesus preaches it in the gospel. The Spirit guides us into merciful lives with the power of forgiveness to reconcile what is fractured and divided. Such merciful living is the baptismal blessing of having put on Christ. It is the gift of the life-giving Spirit. It is a reflection of God’s glory revealed in Christ." - Sundays and Seasons

Luke 6:17-49

¹⁷He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
²⁰Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
 "Blessed are you who are poor,
 for yours is the kingdom of God.
 ²¹"Blessed are you who are hungry now,
 for you will be filled.
 "Blessed are you who weep now,
 for you will laugh.
²²Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. ²³Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
 ²⁴"But woe to you who are rich,
 for you have received your consolation.
 ²⁵"Woe to you who are full now,
 for you will be hungry.
 "Woe to you who are laughing now,
 for you will mourn and weep.
²⁶Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
²⁷But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.
³²If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
³⁷Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
³⁹He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. ⁴¹Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? ⁴²Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.
⁴³No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; ⁴⁴for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.
⁴⁶Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? ⁴⁷I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. ⁴⁸That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. ⁴⁹But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."

If you are not able to be there, please work to find a replacement. If you need a list with phone numbers - please email Pastor Joseph.

We are still collecting donations to help those impacted by the wildfires in California. 100% of those proceeds are going directly to Lutheran World Relief to help support families and communities hurt the worst by the fires. If you are able to give, please mark on your check, "Luther World Relief" "LWR," or something else that makes it clear where you want the money to go. 

Are you still looking for a Lenten practice this year?

Join us for a new bible study on Monday nights at 6:30PM in the digitial space via Zoom. We will spend time looking at the previous week's texts and pondering the ways the Spirit continues to call us today.

The 2025 Synod Assembly is May 16 and 17 at the Marriott Madison West (1313 John Q Hammons Drive, Middleton, WI).

On January 27 an email was sent to congregations and rostered leaders detailing how to submit resolutions and memorials for consideration by the assembly. Click here to view that email. You may also view the information on the Resources for Congregations and Leaders page on the synod website.

All resolutions and memorials must be submitted to Jill Sim, the SCSW Administrative Assistant, by March 3, 2025. 

Monday:

Office Hours: 9AM-12PM

Tuesday:

Office Hours: 9AM-12PM

Commemoration of Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921

Wednesday:

Office Hours: 9AM-12PM

Thursday:

Office Hours: 9AM-12PM (Patstor Joseph in Madison)

Friday:

Office Closed.

Saturday:

Office Closed

Commemoration of George Herbert, hymnwriter, died 1633

Sunday: Transfiguration of Our Lord

Worship - 9:00AM

Sunday School - 10:00AM

Commemoration of John Wesley, died 1791; Charles Wesley, deid 1788; renewers of the church