Christ the King Lutheran Church - Gladwin, Mi.
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The Gospel in Scales

Clever Words: A Lenten Devotional

3/27/2019

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A Clever Word for the Season of Lent
συκῆ (suke)
Fig tree
A Clever Verse for Context
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none (Luke 13:6).  

Clever Reflections
Spiritual
If we are to go by the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus has it in for fig trees.  In both Matthew and Mark Jesus responds to the unripe fruit of an out of season fig tree by cursing the tree and causing its leaves to wither (Matthew 21:19-21, Mark 11:12-14, 20-21).  In Luke we get something different, a parable on an unfruitful fig tree and its uncertain fate (Luke 13:6-9).  Perhaps Luke’s addition to this story is the suggestion that both trees and people have seasons, times when we are fruitful and times when we are not.  Anything different is nothing short of miraculous.  To the fast paced and downright hangry Jesus of Matthew and Mark, the Evangelist Luke brings a gospel of patience.   

Literary
The fig tree is one of fruit trees included in the orchard of the Phaeacians in Homer’s Odyssey.  Nurtured by the gentle West Wind the trees continuously pass from growth to ripening without ever lying dormant during the winter (Odyssey 7.115-120)  

Clever Questions for Further Reflection

When have you experienced a season of unfruitfulness?  

How did that time challenge you and how did it benefit you?


A Clever Prayer to Close
Holy One, for all of our planting, watering, and general fretting, you are the one who gives our growth.  Bless us in our fruitful times and sustain us when we lie dormant.  Teach us patience.  In Your Strong Name we pray, Amen.

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    Journey through the season of Advent with daily updates on the adventures of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Belliacre, MI as they attempt to cobble together a Christmas Pageant with an unlikely cast of characters.   

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    Amelia Corbett
    Amelia is a cool chick, who enjoys board game construction, elephants, and overall tom foolery. She lives in Gladwin with her parents and younger sister Beatrice.  

    Pastor Emily Olsen
    The charmingly weird Pastor Emily is blessed to live in Beaverton, serve the people of Christ the King Lutheran in Gladwin, and stand up paddleboard in just about any body of water she can find.  She has cats not snakes, but wouldn't hesitate to take in a stray python. tarantula, or dinosaur should it show up on her doorstep.  

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    Stephanie Dubbs
    Stephanie is an art educator and a landscape/portrait artist.  Her inspirations come from the amazing people she meets and the gorgeous state of Michigan as well as her home state of Florida.  She and he husband love nature.  They are out in the water during the summer months and on the snow in the winter enjoying the simple pleasures of life.  
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Christ the King Lutheran Church
600 S. M 18 
Gladwin, Mi. 48624
989-426-1659
Pastor Emily Olsen
pastor.ctkinggladwin@gmail.com


Email ctkinggladwin@gmail.com for correction or to have information included on this web page
  • Home
    • Pictorial Directory
    • Contact Us
    • Links
  • Worship Procedures
  • Who are We
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff and Office Hours
    • Church Council
    • History
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Faith Formation
    • Sunday School
    • Christ the King Youth
    • Camping Ministry
    • Kids Club
    • Confirmation
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Ministries
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Quilting
    • Food Distribution
    • Backpacks for kids
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Parish Nurse
    • Columbarium
  • Worship
    • Schedule of Worship
    • How we worship
    • Children
  • Special Events
  • Budget / Annual Meeting
  • Blog