Christ the King Lutheran Church - Gladwin, Mi.
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  • Home
    • Pictorial Directory
    • Contact Us
    • Links
  • Who are We
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff and Office Hours
    • Church Council
    • History
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • COVID 19 WORSHIP VIDEOS
    • Lenten Madness Monologues
    • Matins with Noodle
    • For the Kids
    • Bulletins
    • Sermon 9-16-19 The Sheep
    • Maria Skobtsova
    • Isidor
    • Elisha
  • Faith Formation
    • Sunday School
    • Christ the King Youth
    • Camping Ministry
    • Kids Club
    • Confirmation
    • Thursday Adult Bible Study
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Ministries
    • Stephen Ministry
    • God's Work Our Hands
    • Quilting
    • Food Distribution
    • Backpacks for kids
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • Parish Nurse
    • Columbarium
  • Worship
    • Schedule of Worship
    • How we worship
    • Children
    • Choir
  • Special Events
    • Pumpkin Farm
    • Christmas Tea
  • Budget
  • Blog
  • Letter from Pastor
  • Masks
  • sermon
  • Audry
  • Rick McCoy
  • Ballot for Church council
  • Holden Prayer 12-23
  • Dec 20 Children's Program
  • Christmas Eve
  • Lenten Service
  • Ash Wednesday
  • Week One February 25, 2021

Clever Words for the Apocalypse

Clever Words: a Lenten Devotional

3/26/2019

2 Comments

 
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A Clever Word for the Season of Lent
πιστός  
faithful, trusty
A Clever Verse for Context
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful (pistos), and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Clever Reflections
Spiritual
    Paul tells us that God is faithful (pistos).  We humans are faithful too, but our quirks and flaws can sometimes distract from how holy that faithfulness can be.  Our own lives are sustained and nourished by the imperfect people who are nevertheless faithful.  I’m talking about the people who show up help lead worship even if they know they’re going to once again say Philippines instead of Philippians, the people who sing off key because someone needs to sing that hymn, gosh darn it, and the people who always managed to say the wrong thing and so just show up with a casserole and a smile, because it's the right thing to do.  God is faithful and so we are empowered to be faithful too, never knowing just how much of God’s Kingdom is built by the faithful showing up of imperfect people.   

Literary

The historian Herodotus uses the word faithful (pistos ) in a way that gives us a better appreciation for the full range of the word’s meaning.  Harpagus, the servant of King Astyages, is described as being most faithful (pistotaton).  He is described in this way as the King gives him the unpleasant and morally questionable task of disposing of the King’s infant grandson, whom the King believes to be a threat.  Harpagus’ faithfulness is presented in terms of his ability to see the grim task through and do so discreetly.  Though to find out just how pistos Harpagus turns out to be, I’d recommend you investigate Herodotus’ The Histories.     

Clever Questions for Further Reflection
Who are the imperfect yet faithful people in your life?  How have they helped and sustained you?

When have you been faithful and a friend, spouse, or confidant?
 



A Clever Prayer to Close
21 But this I call to mind,
   and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,[b]
   his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
   “therefore I will hope in him.”
Lamentations: 3:21-23


2 Comments
Roslyn Macgregor
3/26/2019 05:20:30 am

OK - so I don't have Herodotus History in my library at home. What happened?? Please ??

Reply
Pastor Emily Olsen
3/27/2019 08:12:56 am

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D107

Thankfully the internet has Herodotus' Histories readily available. The story of Astyages, Harpagus, and the fate of the infant Cyrus runs roughly from chapters 107-112 in the first volume.

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    About the Blog

    In this season of plague, flood, fire, hungry cats, and Advent, we invite you to reflect on the words (such clever words!) of the Prophet John in the book of Revelation.
    Join the Liturgisaur on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Advent for devotions based on the first three chapters of Revelation
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      Perhaps you have encountered the #Liturgisaur on Instagram or Facebook.  He is a small, green, pants wearing, one armed dinosaur who makes the rounds in Gladwin County and beyond, highlighting the various ministries of Christ the King Lutheran Church.   
         The word dinosaur is Greek in origin, a combination of the words  δεινός (terrible or clever) and σαύρα (lizard).  You may have heard about how dinosaur means "terrible lizard," but you probably didn't realize that it can also mean "terribly clever lizard."   And the Litrugisaur is quite clever.  
         This Advent you invited to check into this blog for theological reflections (some clever) and insights from the Liturgisaur and his minder, Pastor Emily Olsen.  We will be focusing on the first few chapters of Revelation, or as they call it in Greek, The Apocalypse. 

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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


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