Lenten Book Study -
“God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us”
For the last several years area congregations have come together during Lent to read a book and reflect on it together over soup and in small groups. For our devotions we are going to be using “God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us” by the Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail.
"Countless Christians are deconstructing the fear-based faith they were handed, but many don’t want to give up on God—they want to love and be loved by Jesus without hateful or abusive theology. If you’re one of these believers, this feminist, anti-racist, LGBTQ-affirming devotional will take you on a journey of spiritual reenchantment. Featuring 40 devotions on God’s radical and liberating salvation, it’s here to help you heal your church hurt, restore your sense of community, and embrace Jesus’s heart-healing forgiveness. Move beyond rigid religion and reconnect with the undeniable truth that predates and will outlive all the toxic theology in the world: God made you to love you.”
The book is composed of 40 devotions, one for each day of Lent. Pick up a free copy at any of the three participating churches.
Community Lenten Services Schedule
Wed, Feb 18, 6 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Worship - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Wed, Feb 25, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Wed, Mar 4, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Wed, Mar 11, noon - Brown Bag and Devotions - Christ Episcopal Church
Wed, Mar 18, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Wed, Mar 25, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Thu, Apr 2, 6 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Worship - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Fri, Apr 3, noon - Good Friday Worship - Christ Episcopal Church
"Countless Christians are deconstructing the fear-based faith they were handed, but many don’t want to give up on God—they want to love and be loved by Jesus without hateful or abusive theology. If you’re one of these believers, this feminist, anti-racist, LGBTQ-affirming devotional will take you on a journey of spiritual reenchantment. Featuring 40 devotions on God’s radical and liberating salvation, it’s here to help you heal your church hurt, restore your sense of community, and embrace Jesus’s heart-healing forgiveness. Move beyond rigid religion and reconnect with the undeniable truth that predates and will outlive all the toxic theology in the world: God made you to love you.”
The book is composed of 40 devotions, one for each day of Lent. Pick up a free copy at any of the three participating churches.
Community Lenten Services Schedule
Wed, Feb 18, 6 p.m. - Ash Wednesday Worship - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Wed, Feb 25, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Wed, Mar 4, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Wed, Mar 11, noon - Brown Bag and Devotions - Christ Episcopal Church
Wed, Mar 18, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Wed, Mar 25, noon - Soup and Devotions - Bethesda Lutheran Church
Thu, Apr 2, 6 p.m. - Maundy Thursday Worship - Bayfield Presbyterian Church
Fri, Apr 3, noon - Good Friday Worship - Christ Episcopal Church
Sunday School: Pray
This month we start a new segment of the Follow Me series entitled “Pray.’’ The curriculum is designed for ages 6 through 10, but we welcome 5 year olds and older children may participate as well. Here’s the description of the curriculum:
"Prayer is both a central spiritual practice for followers of Jesus, and, for many, one of the most difficult to grasp. It seems like prayer should be simple, just talking to God. But we worry about how we are praying, if we are saying the right words or doing the right things, and we wonder if anyone is really listening.
"The practice, Pray, shows us how when we believe that prayer is important enough to worry about messing up, that someone is listening, and that the listener is concerned, we are engaging in supreme acts of trust. Prayer relies on our belief that God cares for us and hears us. This belief shapes us. In this unit, we share our pain, we hear other people’s pain, and are invited to pray for and with them. As we give thanks, we realize how much we truly have to be thankful for and grace is revealed."
“Pray”
March 1 - Off
March 8 - Pray from the Heart (Matthew 6:9–13) - Teacher: Kelly Dunn
March 15 - Pray Persistently And Humbly (Luke 18:1–14) - Teacher: Stacy LaPointe
March 22 - Pray from the Heart (Matthew 6:9–13) - Teacher: Stephanie Bakker
March 29 - Off
Kids who want to be involved in Sunday School will gather at 10 a.m. for worship, as usual, and then when Pastor Lawrence does the regular blessing at the font, the kids will be released for Sunday School downstairs. The class will stay downstairs and join the rest of the congregation for Fellowship after the service. On the Sundays where there is no Sunday School the kids will stay in worship as usual.
If you are interested in helping out, contact Pastor Lawrence, Stephanie or Kelly for more information.
