As
mem
bers
of t
he E
vang
elic
al L
uthe
ran
Chur
ch in
Am
eric
a, th
roug
h EL
CA W
orld
Hun
ger,
we
com
mit
to p
ursu
ing
a w
orld
of j
ustic
e
whe
re a
ll ar
e fe
d. Y
our g
ifts
to E
LCA
Wor
ld
Hun
ger s
uppo
rt e
ff ec
tive
prog
ram
s in
nea
rly
60 c
ount
ries,
incl
udin
g th
e U
nite
d St
ates
.
Thro
ugh
your
gift
s, th
is ch
urch
is e
mpo
wer
ed
to a
ccom
pany
our
com
pani
ons a
nd n
eigh
bors
resp
ondi
ng to
hun
ger a
nd p
over
ty a
roun
d th
e w
orld
.
8765
We
st H
igg
ins
Ro
ad
• C
hic
ag
o, I
L 60
631-
4101
8
00
-638
-352
2, e
xt. 2
616
• E
LCA
.org
/hu
ng
er •
hu
ng
er@
elc
a.o
rg
Adv
ent
ST
UD
Y
The
sto
ry o
f Adv
ent i
s a
stor
y of
hun
ger.
A pe
ople
’s h
unge
r for
sal
vatio
n, th
e fl e
eing
hol
y fa
mily
’s h
unge
r for
saf
ety
and
the
wor
ld’s
hun
ger f
or a
new
daw
n. It
is a
sea
son
whe
n w
e aw
ait t
he
one
who
will
“gi
ve li
ght t
o th
ose
who
sit
in d
arkn
ess
and
in th
e sh
adow
of
dea
th”
(Luk
e 1:7
9a).
Adve
nt h
ope
draw
s us
into
the
wor
ld a
s pe
ople
of
pro
mis
e, p
eopl
e fo
r who
m th
e “s
hado
w o
f dea
th”
cast
by
deep
hun
ger
and
pove
rty
arou
nd th
e w
orld
is n
ot G
od’s
fi na
l wor
d to
God
’s p
eopl
e. In
Ad
vent
, we
refl e
ct o
n ho
w fa
r the
Lor
d ha
s le
d us
and
how
far w
e ha
ve y
et
to g
o to
war
d a
wor
ld in
whi
ch a
ll ar
e fe
d. A
s w
e pr
epar
e fo
r the
arr
ival
of
God
’s S
on, t
his
seas
on o
ff ers
an
impo
rtan
t opp
ortu
nity
to re
fl ect
on
the
mys
tery
and
exc
item
ent o
f the
pro
mis
e fr
om G
od.
This
Adv
ent,
we
invi
te y
ou to
jour
ney
with
ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger t
hrou
gh
the
Scri
ptur
e re
adin
gs fo
r thi
s se
ason
. Thi
s st
udy
take
s us
thro
ugh
each
w
eek
of A
dven
t with
dev
otio
ns b
ased
on
the
lect
iona
ry, q
uest
ions
for
refl e
ctio
n, p
raye
rs a
nd h
ymn
sugg
estio
ns. T
he s
tudy
can
be
used
as
a gu
ide
for w
orsh
ip, a
dult
stud
y fo
rum
s or
per
sona
l dev
otio
ns a
t hom
e.
Bles
sing
s re
late
d to
our
chu
rch’
s re
spon
se to
hun
ger a
nd p
over
ty a
re a
lso
incl
uded
.
Each
wee
k’s
them
e:•
Shar
ed v
ulne
rabi
lity
(Mat
thew
24)
• Th
e “g
ood
frui
t” o
f rep
enta
nce
(Mat
thew
3)
• Ca
re fo
r cre
atio
n (M
atth
ew 11
; Isa
iah
35)
• Fi
ndin
g G
od in
une
xpec
ted
plac
es (M
atth
ew 1)
Que
stio
ns, c
omm
ents
or f
eedb
ack
on th
e re
sour
ce c
an b
e di
rect
ed
to h
unge
r@el
ca.o
rg. F
or m
ore
ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger r
esou
rces
, vi
sit E
LCA
.org
/Hun
ger/R
esou
rces
.
May
you
and
you
r com
mun
ity b
e bl
esse
d, e
nric
hed
and
chal
leng
ed b
y th
is
Adve
nt re
sour
ce, a
nd m
ay th
e st
irri
ngs
of th
e se
ason
take
root
with
in y
ou.
— E
LCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r te
am
Ble
ssings
Bles
sing
of f
ood
bask
ets
Toda
y, w
e as
k Go
d’s b
less
ing
on th
ese
bask
ets o
f foo
d,
That
they
may
nou
rish
thos
e w
ho re
ceiv
e th
em,
That
they
may
disp
lay
the
boun
ty o
f God
in th
eir c
onte
nts,
That
they
may
show
the
frui
ts o
f lov
e of
nei
ghbo
r,Th
at th
ey m
ay o
pen
our e
yes t
o ou
r dep
ende
nce
on o
ne a
noth
er,
That
they
may
be
rem
inde
rs o
f the
goo
dnes
s God
has
pro
mise
d us
all.
Amen
.
Bles
sing
of c
loth
ing
Mig
hty
God,
our
shie
ld a
nd p
rote
ctor
, by
your
han
d w
e ar
e su
stai
ned
and
shel
tere
d. W
e co
nfro
nt o
ur v
ulne
rabi
lity
with
trus
t in
you
r pro
mise
s to
us a
nd w
ith fa
ith in
you
r abu
ndan
t pro
visio
n fo
r our
eve
ry n
eed.
Whe
n th
e fi r
st h
uman
s disc
over
ed th
eir
nake
dnes
s and
vul
nera
bilit
y to
one
ano
ther
and
to c
reat
ion,
you
cr
afte
d th
em c
loth
ing
to p
rote
ct th
em fr
om th
e el
emen
ts. A
s we
face
a c
old
and
unpr
edic
tabl
e w
inte
r, ke
ep o
ur e
yes a
nd h
eart
s op
en to
our
nei
ghbo
rs w
ho to
day
are
vuln
erab
le. B
less
thes
e gi
fts
of c
loth
es th
at th
ey m
ay b
ring
com
fort
and
war
mth
to th
ose
in
need
. Let
thes
e gi
fts b
e sy
mbo
ls of
the
perf
ect c
loth
ing
of C
hrist
, w
hich
uni
tes u
s as o
ne c
omm
unity
in J
esus
Chr
ist a
nd h
eirs
of h
is pr
omise
. Am
en.
Bles
sing
of o
ff er
ing
Abun
dant
God
, all
crea
tion
disp
lays
you
r goo
dnes
s. Fo
r the
hu
ngry
, you
pro
vide
food
. For
the
thirs
ty, y
ou g
ive
wat
er. T
o th
e w
ande
ring,
you
pro
mise
a h
ome.
You
hav
e bl
esse
d us
with
you
r gi
fts t
hat w
e m
ay b
e yo
ur h
ands
and
feet
to sh
are
thes
e gi
fts w
ith
our n
eigh
bors
. Ble
ss th
ese
off e
rings
, tha
t the
y m
ay b
e sig
ns o
f you
r gr
ace
in o
ur w
orld
. As w
e sh
are
with
oth
ers,
keep
us m
indf
ul o
f our
ow
n ne
ed –
for f
ood,
wat
er, s
helte
r and
com
mun
ity. M
ay o
ur g
ifts
be a
n in
vita
tion
to a
dee
per r
elat
ions
hip
with
eac
h ot
her a
nd w
ith
you.
In th
e na
me
of J
esus
Chr
ist, y
our g
ift to
the
wor
ld. A
men
.
Wee
k 4
: God
in U
nexp
ecte
d Pl
aces
Refl
ecti
on q
uest
ions
1) W
hen
have
you
enc
ount
ered
God
in
unex
pect
ed p
lace
s?
2) I
n Sc
riptu
re, G
od o
ften
cho
oses
une
xpec
ted
peop
le
to b
e in
stru
men
ts o
f God
’s re
vela
tion:
a sh
ephe
rd
boy,
a st
utte
ring
prop
het,
a pr
egna
nt te
enag
er. W
hat
does
this
say
abou
t God
? Wha
t doe
s thi
s say
to u
s ab
out w
hat i
t mea
ns to
be
peop
le o
f God
?
3) H
ow c
an o
ur c
hurc
h re
mai
n op
en to
God
’s pr
esen
ce
amon
g pe
ople
in p
over
ty w
ithou
t mak
ing
pove
rty
itsel
f see
m b
less
ed b
y Go
d?
Pray
er
God
of a
ll ou
r hop
es, w
e w
ait w
ith e
xpec
tatio
n fo
r th
e co
min
g of
you
r son
into
our
wor
ld. F
orgi
ve u
s fo
r the
way
s in
whi
ch w
e ha
ve c
lose
d ou
r eye
s and
he
arts
to y
our w
ord
and
pres
ence
. As w
e lo
ng fo
r Ch
ristm
as D
ay, k
eep
our e
yes o
pen
to y
our p
rese
nce
in o
ur m
idst
– in
one
ano
ther
, in o
ur n
eigh
bors
, in
the
peop
le a
t our
doo
rs. O
pen
our h
eart
s to
rece
ive
the
trut
h an
d pr
omise
you
reve
al to
us t
hrou
gh e
ach
othe
r and
all
crea
tion.
In y
our n
ame
we
pray
. Am
en.
Hym
n su
gges
tion
s
Awak
e! A
wak
e, a
nd G
reet
the
New
Mor
n EL
W 2
42M
y So
ul P
rocl
aim
s Yo
ur G
reat
ness
ELW
251
Une
xpec
ted
and
Mys
teri
ous
ELW
258
All E
arth
Is H
opef
ul E
LW 2
66
Wee
k 1:
A P
eopl
e of
Pro
mise
Isai
ah 2
:1-5
Mat
thew
24:
36-4
4
With
the
mem
ory
still
fres
h as
he
prea
ched
, the
Rev
. Jam
es A
. Fo
rbes
Jr. r
efl e
cted
on
the
deva
stat
ion
wro
ught
by
the
9/11
att
acks
on
New
Yor
k C
ity. H
e re
calle
d th
e st
ream
ing
mas
ses
leav
ing
Man
hatt
an, p
eopl
e of
eve
ry ra
ce, e
thni
city
and
cla
ss a
nd s
aw in
th
em th
e pa
in a
nd fe
ar s
o m
any
othe
r peo
ple
had
face
d th
roug
hout
hi
stor
y. H
e sa
w, t
oo, a
rem
arka
ble
unity
am
idst
the
chao
s –
“The
y ar
e al
l poo
r now
,” h
e ob
serv
ed.
Pove
rty
take
s m
any
form
s. T
o be
poo
r may
mea
n to
lack
mat
eria
l re
sour
ces,
to s
trug
gle
to p
ut fo
od o
n th
e ta
ble.
To
be p
oor m
ay m
ean
to la
ck m
eani
ngfu
l rel
atio
nshi
ps, t
o no
t fee
l wel
com
e at
any
tabl
e. T
o be
poo
r may
mea
n to
feel
spi
ritu
ally
em
pty,
to n
ot fe
el w
elco
me
even
at
the
Lord
’s ta
ble.
Phi
loso
pher
Abi
gail
Gos
selin
foun
d in
her
rese
arch
th
at h
ow w
e de
fi ne
the
prob
lem
of p
over
ty a
nd it
s ca
uses
det
erm
ines
ho
w w
e be
lieve
it s
houl
d be
sol
ved.
If p
over
ty is
eco
nom
ic, t
he
solu
tion
is e
cono
mic
. If p
over
ty is
spi
ritu
al, t
he s
olut
ion
is s
piri
tual
.
For P
asto
r For
bes,
pov
erty
goe
s de
eper
than
just
mat
eria
l, so
cial
or
spir
itual
lack
. To
be p
oor,
at it
s ro
ot, i
s to
be
vuln
erab
le –
vul
nera
ble
to s
udde
n ec
onom
ic s
win
gs, t
o in
secu
re e
mpl
oym
ent,
to d
isea
se o
r to
dis
aste
r.
In a
str
ange
twis
t in
the
Gos
pel,
Jesu
s co
mpa
res
wai
ting
for t
he c
omin
g re
ign
of G
od to
the
time
befo
re th
e fl o
od in
Gen
esis
, whe
n pe
ople
wer
e “e
atin
g an
d dr
inki
ng”
with
no
thou
ght t
o th
e co
min
g di
sast
er. T
his
is a
vu
lner
abili
ty m
any
com
mun
ities
toda
y kn
ow w
ell.
The
rem
inde
r of t
his
risk
is n
ot a
ple
asan
t tho
ught
. How
str
ange
that
Jesu
s w
ould
com
pare
so
met
hing
we
long
for –
the
com
ing
of th
e So
n of
Man
– to
som
ethi
ng
we
all t
ry to
avo
id –
the
deva
stat
ion
of a
nat
ural
dis
aste
r.
In th
e an
alog
y, Je
sus
rem
inds
us
of o
ur v
ulne
rabi
lity.
Just
as
we’
re re
ady
to s
epar
ate
the
wor
ld in
to u
s an
d th
em, t
he s
aved
and
the
dam
ned,
th
e ha
ves
and
the
have
-not
s –
Jesu
s re
min
ds u
s: W
e’re
all
poor
now
. Ye
t, tr
ue to
the
Gos
pel m
essa
ge, J
esus
turn
s th
at v
ulne
rabi
lity
on it
s he
ad w
ith a
pro
mis
e. T
he d
read
of a
peo
ple
wai
ting
for t
he n
ext fl
ood
to
com
e is
tran
sfor
med
into
the
hope
of a
peo
ple
save
d by
God
. The
vu
lner
abili
ty o
f our
sha
red
pove
rty
beco
mes
the
secu
rity
of o
ur s
hare
d fa
ith in
the
prom
ise
of G
od, d
escr
ibed
so
wel
l by
the
prop
het I
saia
h as
a
time
whe
n w
e w
ill “
wal
k in
the
light
of t
he L
ord”
(Isa
iah
2:5)
. Thi
s pr
omis
e co
mes
to li
ght a
s w
e ac
com
pany
nei
ghbo
rs in
the
mid
st o
f vu
lner
abili
ty, t
hrou
gh E
LCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r. Th
roug
h th
is s
igna
ture
m
inis
try
of th
e EL
CA
, Lut
hera
ns a
ckno
wle
dge
our s
hare
d po
vert
y w
hile
co
nfi d
ent t
hat t
he p
rom
ise
of G
od is
gre
ater
than
the
risk
we
face
and
th
at a
n en
d to
vul
nera
bilit
y is
not
onl
y po
ssib
le b
ut p
rom
ised
.
Wee
k 1:
A P
eopl
e of
Pro
mise
Wee
k 4
: God
in U
nexp
ecte
d Pl
aces
Thin
king
of f
amily
road
trip
s, T
hom
as la
men
ted
to h
is n
ew fr
iend
how
he
cou
ld n
ever
sle
ep in
a c
ar. T
he o
ther
boy
qui
etly
resp
onde
d, “
You
can
whe
n yo
u do
n’t h
ave
a ch
oice
.”
Man
y of
us
eage
rly
serv
e in
she
lters
, sou
p ki
tche
ns a
nd fo
od p
antr
ies,
lo
okin
g fo
rwar
d to
bri
ngin
g G
od to
the
lives
of t
he p
eopl
e w
e m
ight
m
eet.
Wha
t man
y of
us
are
not p
repa
red
for i
s th
e G
od th
at o
ther
s of
ten
brin
g to
us.
In th
e G
ospe
l les
son,
Jose
ph, r
aise
d on
sto
ries
of t
he H
ebre
w
Scri
ptur
es, d
id n
ot e
xpec
t to
fi nd
God
in th
e sc
anda
lous
pre
gnan
cy o
f hi
s so
on-t
o-be
-wife
, Mar
y. E
ven
Mar
y di
d no
t exp
ect t
his
(Luk
e 1:4
6-55
). Ye
t, G
od w
ho s
poke
on
mou
ntai
ntop
s an
d th
roug
h bu
rnin
g bu
shes
als
o ca
me
to a
n un
mar
ried
pre
gnan
t tee
nage
r. In
a d
ream
, Jos
eph
enco
unte
rs
a co
nfou
ndin
g tr
uth,
that
som
etim
es G
od is
reve
aled
in u
nexp
ecte
d w
ays
and
thro
ugh
unex
pect
ed p
eopl
e.
Dur
ing
that
wee
k w
ith M
ark,
Tho
mas
had
exp
ecte
d G
od to
sho
w u
p th
roug
h hi
mse
lf an
d to
reve
al h
ow g
ood
it fe
lt to
ser
ve o
ther
s. In
stea
d,
God
sho
wed
up
thro
ugh
Mar
k an
d hi
s fa
mily
and
reve
aled
to T
hom
as
and
the
rest
of t
he c
ongr
egat
ion
the
mor
e so
beri
ng tr
uth
of th
eir o
wn
priv
ilege
and
the
hars
h re
ality
of a
wor
ld in
whi
ch s
ome
have
so
muc
h an
d m
any
have
so
little
.
God
is re
veal
ed to
us
in o
ther
way
s, to
o –
in th
e ho
pe w
e ga
in
thro
ugh
stor
ies
of fa
mili
es fi
ndin
g st
able
hom
es a
nd in
the
impe
lling
di
ssat
isfa
ctio
n w
ith in
just
ice
and
ineq
uity
that
dri
ves
peop
le o
f fai
th
to w
ork
tirel
essl
y to
end
hun
ger,
pove
rty
and
hom
eles
snes
s. T
his
wor
k co
mes
to li
fe e
ach
day
thro
ugh
ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger,
the
ELC
A’s
sign
atur
e re
spon
se to
hun
ger a
nd p
over
ty a
roun
d th
e w
orld
.
Som
etim
es G
od is
reve
aled
on
a m
ount
aint
op, w
ith fl
ashi
ng li
ghtn
ing
and
desc
endi
ng d
oves
. But
som
etim
es, G
od is
reve
aled
in a
n un
wed
, pr
egna
nt, t
eena
ge g
irl,
and
som
etim
es th
roug
h a
sand
y-ha
ired
10-y
ear-
old
boy
livin
g in
a b
eat-
up C
hevy
. As
we
wai
t for
the
birt
h of
Chr
ist o
n th
e ex
pect
ed C
hris
tmas
mor
ning
, we
keep
our
eye
s op
en fo
r the
pre
senc
e of
God
in o
ur m
idst
in th
e un
expe
cted
, too
.
Wee
k 4:
God
in U
nexp
ecte
d Pl
aces
Isai
ah 7
:10-
16M
atth
ew 1:
18-2
5
To s
ay th
at Jo
seph
mus
t hav
e be
en s
urpr
ised
whe
n hi
s fi a
ncée
“w
as
foun
d to
be
with
chi
ld”
is a
n un
ders
tate
men
t. An
ant
icip
ated
bab
y ca
n be
a
spec
ial t
hing
, but
for J
osep
h, M
ary’
s pr
egna
ncy
was
mor
e co
nfou
ndin
g th
an c
heer
ful.
In th
e m
idst
of h
is c
onfu
sion
, he
is v
isite
d by
an
ange
l in
a dr
eam
. The
mys
tery
of t
he s
oon-
to-a
rriv
e ba
by w
ould
n’t e
nd th
ere
for
Jose
ph, b
ut th
e m
essa
ge fr
om G
od w
as c
lear
: The
re is
som
ethi
ng s
peci
al
abou
t thi
s on
e. H
e w
ill n
ot b
e lik
e ot
her c
hild
ren.
Con
greg
atio
ns in
sou
thea
st M
ichi
gan
used
to h
ost a
rota
ting
hom
eles
s sh
elte
r for
wee
ks a
t a ti
me
in N
ovem
ber,
just
as
the
wea
ther
was
turn
ing
cold
. Dur
ing
thei
r wee
k of
hos
ting,
cot
s fi l
led
the
Sund
ay s
choo
l roo
ms.
Th
e na
rthe
x w
as tr
ansf
orm
ed in
to a
din
ing
room
and
gat
heri
ng s
pace
, an
d th
e offi
ce
beca
me
a sm
all m
edic
al c
linic
. As
gues
ts a
rriv
ed a
t one
co
ngre
gatio
n, T
hom
as d
rove
with
his
par
ents
to a
par
king
lot t
o pi
ck u
p a
fam
ily th
at w
as li
ving
in th
eir c
ar. T
hey
had
a so
n w
ho, l
ike
Thom
as,
was
onl
y 10
yea
rs o
ld, a
nd th
ey q
uick
ly d
isco
vere
d a
mut
ual i
nter
est
in c
omic
boo
ks a
nd fo
otba
ll. T
hrou
ghou
t the
wee
k, M
ark
and
Thom
as
play
ed g
ames
toge
ther
, wan
dere
d th
e ch
urch
, and
dev
elop
ed a
s m
uch
of a
fr
iend
ship
as
one
can
with
in s
uch
a sh
ort t
ime.
But f
or a
ll th
eir s
imila
ritie
s, M
ark
and
Thom
as w
ere
very
diff
eren
t boy
s.
They
bot
h lo
ved
com
ics,
but
Mar
k ha
d ne
ver o
wne
d on
e. T
hey
both
love
d fo
otba
ll, b
ut o
nly
Thom
as h
ad e
ver s
een
it on
a b
ig s
cree
n te
levi
sion
. A
mot
el to
one
boy
was
a s
tran
ge, n
ew p
lace
to re
turn
eac
h ni
ght a
fter
a
fun-
fi lle
d va
catio
n da
y. A
mot
el to
the
othe
r was
a s
tran
ge, n
ew p
lace
to
go
on th
ose
rare
occ
asio
ns w
hen
his
pare
nts
coul
d aff
ord
a ro
om.
Refl
ecti
on q
uest
ions
:
1)W
hat d
oes i
t mea
n to
be
vuln
erab
le?
2)W
hen
have
you
exp
erie
nced
vul
nera
bilit
y? H
ow h
asyo
ur fa
ith st
reng
then
ed y
ou in
tim
es o
f vul
nera
bilit
y?
3)In
wha
t way
s doe
s our
con
greg
atio
n ac
com
pany
peop
le in
the
mid
st o
f the
ir m
ater
ial v
ulne
rabi
lity?
Thei
r soc
ial v
ulne
rabi
lity?
The
ir sp
iritu
al v
ulne
rabi
lity?
4)W
hat d
oes i
t mea
n fo
r our
con
greg
atio
n to
be
peop
leof
pro
mise
at a
tim
e w
hen
“we’r
e al
l poo
r now
”?
Pray
er
Savi
ng G
od, w
ho b
ecam
e hu
man
and
took
on
our
vuln
erab
ility,
be w
ith u
s in
our p
over
ty a
nd o
pen
our
eyes
to se
e th
e hu
nger
and
pov
erty
of o
ne a
noth
er.
Stre
ngth
en o
ur fa
ith to
be
peop
le o
f pro
mise
in a
ll of
ou
r min
istrie
s. Us
e ou
r han
ds, f
eet a
nd w
ords
to m
ake
hope
visi
ble
in a
wor
ld w
here
all
are
vuln
erab
le. I
n th
e na
me
of y
our s
on, J
esus
Chr
ist, A
men
.
Hym
n su
gges
tion
s
Har
k, th
e G
lad
Soun
d! E
LW 2
39Lo
st in
the
Nig
ht E
LW 2
43Co
me,
Tho
u Lo
ng-E
xpec
ted
Jesu
s EL
W 2
54Co
mfo
rt, C
omfo
rt N
ow M
y Pe
ople
ELW
256
Wee
k 1:
A P
eopl
e of
Pro
mise
Wee
k 2:
Bea
ring
Frui
t
Isai
ah 11
:1-1
0M
atth
ew 3
:1-1
2
“Bea
r fru
it w
orth
y of
repe
ntan
ce”
(Mat
thew
3:8
). Th
is e
mph
asis
on
mer
it or
wor
thin
ess
rais
es a
bit
of a
que
stio
n fo
r Lut
hera
ns, w
ho
belie
ve th
at g
race
and
sal
vatio
n co
me
from
God
unm
erite
d, th
at w
e ca
n ne
ver b
e “w
orth
y” o
n ou
r ow
n of
all
God
has
to o
ff er i
n C
hris
t. Bu
t the
G
reek
wor
d tr
ansl
ated
as
“wor
thy”
her
e ca
n ha
ve o
ther
mea
ning
s. F
or
exam
ple,
it c
an m
ean
“befi
t,” s
o th
at g
ood
frui
t is
seen
as
born
e by
one
w
ho h
as re
pent
ed a
nd b
een
mov
ed b
y gr
ace.
Whe
n w
e ha
ve e
xper
ienc
ed
God
’s g
race
, we
see
life
as g
ift a
nd in
turn
, wan
t to
shar
e ou
r gift
s w
ith
othe
rs. F
ruit
is n
ot th
e ca
use
of re
conc
iliat
ion;
it is
the
resu
lt.
John
the
Bapt
ist c
lear
ly c
omm
unic
ates
that
wha
teve
r fru
it th
e Ph
aris
ees
and
Sadd
ucee
s ar
e be
arin
g, it
isn’
t wor
th h
arve
stin
g. L
ater
in th
e G
ospe
l of
Mat
thew
, Jes
us d
escr
ibes
this
“ba
d fr
uit”
of t
he P
hari
sees
: “Th
ey ti
e up
hea
vy b
urde
ns, h
ard
to b
ear,
and
lay
them
on
the
shou
lder
s of
oth
ers
… th
ey lo
ve to
hav
e th
e pl
ace
of h
onor
at b
anqu
ets
… [t
hey]
lock
peo
ple
out o
f the
kin
gdom
of h
eave
n …
[the
y m
ake]
gol
d sa
cred
… [t
hey]
hav
e ne
glec
ted
the
wei
ghtie
r mat
ters
of t
he la
w: j
ustic
e an
d m
ercy
and
faith
” an
d so
on
(23:
4-23
). In
nea
rly
all t
he “
woe
s” Je
sus
ascr
ibes
to t
hem
, the
ce
ntra
l pro
blem
is th
at th
ey h
ave
tend
ed th
eir f
ruit
for s
how
and
not
fo
r the
goo
d of
thei
r nei
ghbo
rs.
Wee
k 3
: Be
arin
g Fr
uit
Refl
ecti
on q
uest
ions
1)H
ow d
o w
e ex
perie
nce
God’
s gra
ciou
snes
s thr
ough
the
natu
ral w
orld
? How
mig
ht a
vie
w o
f cre
atio
n as
“gift
” sha
pe o
ur a
ctio
ns to
day?
2)W
hat c
an fa
rmin
g an
d ag
ricul
ture
reve
al a
bout
God’
s gra
ce, G
od’s
wor
k in
the
wor
ld, a
ndhu
man
ity’s
rela
tions
hip
to th
e en
viro
nmen
t?
3)H
ow m
ight
our
con
greg
atio
n re
mai
n at
tent
ive
toth
e en
viro
nmen
t and
nat
ure,
eve
n du
ring
cold
,w
inte
r mon
ths?
Pray
er
Grac
ious
God
, eve
n in
win
ter,
your
love
is a
t wor
k pr
eser
ving
, pro
tect
ing
and
tend
ing
your
cre
atio
n.
Forg
ive
us fo
r the
way
s in
whi
ch w
e ha
ve n
egle
cted
ou
r res
pons
ibilit
ies a
s ste
war
ds o
f cre
atio
n. L
ead
us to
aw
aren
ess a
nd c
once
rn fo
r the
env
ironm
ent
in w
hich
you
hav
e m
ade
us, a
nd fo
r our
nei
ghbo
rs
calle
d to
wor
k w
ith th
e la
nd –
for f
arm
ers a
nd fi
eld
hand
s, ga
rden
ers a
nd g
row
ers.
We
give
you
than
ks
for t
he b
ount
y w
e en
joy
toda
y, an
d w
e lo
ok w
ith
long
ing
tow
ard
the
frui
tful
sprin
g to
com
e. A
men
.
Hym
n su
gges
tion
s
Peop
le, L
ook
East
ELW
248
Com
fort
, Com
fort
Now
My
Peop
le E
LW 2
56O
n Jo
rdan
’s B
ank
the
Bapt
ist’s
Cry
ELW
249
All E
arth
Is H
opef
ul E
LW 2
66
as a
trea
cher
ous
terr
ain
of c
halle
nges
to b
e na
viga
ted
but r
athe
r as
a bo
untif
ul g
arde
n, w
hich
we
are
calle
d to
tend
. The
thin
gs w
e he
ar a
nd
see
don’
t hig
hlig
ht a
pro
blem
we
mus
t sol
ve; r
athe
r, th
ey re
min
d us
of a
vo
catio
n to
whi
ch w
e ar
e ca
lled
and
the
plac
e w
e ha
ve b
een
set t
o do
so.
At it
s ro
ot, t
his
voca
tion
is a
col
labo
rativ
e pa
rtne
rshi
p in
whi
ch w
e co
me
to s
ee th
e pr
esen
ce o
f God
in, t
hrou
gh, a
roun
d an
d w
ith u
s –
enri
chin
g ou
r lab
ors
and
shap
ing
our w
orld
. Mar
tin L
uthe
r wri
tes,
“G
od
is e
ntir
ely
pres
ent,
pers
onal
ly a
nd e
ssen
tially
, in
Chr
ist o
n ea
rth
in h
is
mot
her’s
wom
b, in
the
crib
, in
the
tem
ple,
in th
e w
ilder
ness
, in
citie
s,
in h
ouse
s, in
the
gard
en, a
nd in
the
fi eld
.” T
he c
all t
o ca
re fo
r cre
atio
n is
the
call
to d
raw
nea
r to
the
pres
ence
of G
od in
the
wor
ld a
roun
d us
, in
the
rest
ored
rela
tions
hips
bet
wee
n us
and
our
nei
ghbo
rs, a
nd in
the
life-
givi
ng re
latio
nshi
p be
twee
n hu
man
s an
d th
e la
nd.
Thro
ugh
ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger,
our c
hurc
h is
acc
ompa
nyin
g ou
r ne
ighb
ors
as w
e le
arn
toge
ther
wha
t it m
eans
to b
e st
ewar
ds o
f God
’s
good
cre
atio
n. In
Ban
glad
esh
and
Mal
awi,
whe
re w
ater
leve
ls a
re
drop
ping
at a
larm
ing
rate
s, E
LCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r and
loca
l par
tner
s ar
e he
lpin
g sm
all f
arm
ers
culti
vate
dro
ught
-tol
eran
t ric
e th
at re
quir
es 3
0 pe
rcen
t les
s w
ater
to g
row
. In
Nic
arag
ua, o
ne o
f the
cou
ntri
es h
arde
st
hit b
y cl
imat
e ch
ange
, ELC
A W
orld
Hun
ger a
nd th
e Lu
ther
an C
hurc
h of
Fai
th a
nd H
ope
in N
icar
agua
are
hel
ping
fam
ilies
lear
n ne
w w
ays
to
grow
and
irri
gate
cro
ps, a
s w
ell a
s pr
actic
es to
pro
tect
them
selv
es fr
om
natu
ral d
isas
ters
.
Goo
d ne
ws
for c
reat
ion
is g
ood
new
s fo
r peo
ple
in p
over
ty, w
ho a
re
part
icul
arly
vul
nera
ble
to th
e w
orst
eff e
cts
of c
limat
e ch
ange
. God
’s
prom
ise,
as
Isai
ah m
akes
cle
ar, i
s fo
r rec
onci
liatio
n of
all
of c
reat
ion,
of
a ti
me
whe
n “t
he d
eser
t sha
ll re
joic
e an
d bl
osso
m”
(Isa
iah
35:1-
2)
and
whe
n “w
ater
s sh
all b
reak
fort
h in
the
wild
erne
ss a
nd s
trea
ms
in
the
dese
rt”
(Isa
iah.
35:
6). T
hrou
gh E
LCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r, th
is c
hurc
h is
he
lpin
g m
ake
this
tran
sfor
mat
ion
visi
ble
in c
omm
uniti
es li
ke E
unic
e’s,
w
here
“th
e bu
rnin
g sa
nd”
can
ofte
n m
ean
hung
er a
nd h
ards
hip.
Wee
k 3
: Be
arin
g Fr
uit
If th
at is
wha
t bad
frui
t is,
wha
t is
good
frui
t tha
t “be
fi ts”
repe
ntan
ce?
We
get a
hin
t fro
m Is
aiah
, who
m Jo
hn th
e Ba
ptis
t quo
tes.
The
Old
Te
stam
ent p
roph
et d
escr
ibes
“a
shoo
t fro
m th
e st
ump
of Je
sse”
on
who
m “
the
Spir
it of
the
Lord
sha
ll re
st”
(Isa
iah
11:1-
2): “
with
ri
ghte
ousn
ess
he s
hall
judg
e th
e po
or, a
nd d
ecid
e w
ith e
quity
for t
he
mee
k of
the
eart
h” (1
1:4).
Thro
ugh
him
, will
com
e a
peac
e so
com
plet
e th
at “
the
wol
f sha
ll liv
e w
ith th
e la
mb”
(11:6
). W
hat k
ind
of fr
uit i
s pr
oduc
ed b
y th
ose
reco
ncile
d to
suc
h a
One
?
By g
race
we
are
set f
ree
from
the
“hea
vy b
urde
ns”
of th
e la
w. M
artin
Lu
ther
, tho
ugh,
mak
es c
lear
that
this
free
dom
has
a p
urpo
se a
nd
that
pur
pose
is fo
und
in th
e w
ell-b
eing
of t
he n
eigh
bor.
Our
“fr
uit”
is
suc
cule
nt a
nd s
wee
t, no
uris
hing
thos
e G
od b
ring
s to
our
orc
hard
. “T
his
dem
onst
rate
s th
at w
e ar
e ch
ildre
n of
God
,” h
e w
rite
s, “
cari
ng
and
wor
king
for t
he w
ell-b
eing
of o
ther
s an
d fu
lfi lli
ng th
e la
w o
f Chr
ist
by b
eari
ng o
ne a
noth
er’s
bur
dens
.” T
he fr
uit t
hat “
befi t
s re
pent
ance
” is
fr
uit t
hat g
row
s as
gift
– te
nded
by
God
’s g
race
– a
nd th
at is
har
vest
ed
as g
ift –
off e
red
for t
he g
ood
of th
e ne
ighb
or. W
hen
we
supp
ort E
LCA
Wor
ld H
unge
r thr
ough
gift
s of
tim
e, ta
lent
and
fi na
nces
, we
join
ne
ighb
ors
arou
nd th
e w
orld
and
acr
oss
the
U.S
. bea
ring
goo
d fr
uit.
Wee
k 2:
Bea
ring
Frui
t
Refl
ecti
on q
uest
ions
:
1) W
hat d
oes i
t mea
n to
be
reco
ncile
d to
God
? To
our
nei
ghbo
r?
2) W
here
do
we
see
good
frui
t bei
ng b
orne
in
our c
ongr
egat
ion?
3) A
dven
t is a
seas
on o
f hop
eful
long
ing
for t
he c
omin
g of
Chr
ist. H
ow d
oes t
his c
hurc
h re
spon
d to
the
othe
r “ho
pefu
l lon
ging
s” w
ithin
our
com
mun
ity –
for
peac
e, ju
stic
e an
d w
elln
ess?
Pray
er
Grac
ious
God
, thr
ough
who
m a
ll cr
eatio
n bl
oom
s, re
min
d us
, as w
e aw
ait t
he b
irth
of C
hrist
, of t
he
expe
ctan
t lon
ging
of o
ur w
orld
for y
our g
ood
frui
t. Te
nd u
s and
form
us t
o be
a c
hurc
h w
hose
frui
t be
fi ts y
our g
ift o
f rec
onci
liatio
n, p
eace
and
just
ice.
In
your
gra
ciou
s nam
e w
e pr
ay, A
men
.
Hym
n su
gges
tion
s
Har
k! A
Thr
illin
g Vo
ice
Is S
ound
ing
ELW
246
On
Jord
an’s
Ban
k th
e Ba
ptis
t’s C
ry E
LW 2
49Bl
esse
d Be
the
God
of I
srae
l ELW
250
Wee
k 2:
Bea
ring
Frui
t
Wee
k 3:
Hea
ling
of th
e W
hole
Wor
ld
Isai
ah 3
5:1-
10M
atth
ew 11
:2-1
1
Euni
ce is
a s
ubsi
sten
ce fa
rmer
in a
sm
all t
own
in S
outh
Afr
ica.
With
out
othe
r mea
ns o
f em
ploy
men
t, Eu
nice
is d
epen
dent
on
the
natu
ral
envi
ronm
ent a
roun
d he
r. Sh
e m
ay n
ot k
now
soi
l sci
ence
, but
she
doe
s kn
ow th
at th
e on
ce fe
rtile
soi
l tha
t pro
duce
d bo
untif
ul c
rops
is n
ow
bone
dry
. “Th
e gr
ound
,” s
he s
ays,
“us
ed to
be
soft
and
eas
y to
dig
by
hand
; wat
er w
as fr
eely
ava
ilabl
e ju
st u
nder
the
surf
ace
and
food
was
pl
entif
ul. B
ut n
ow th
e la
nd is
dry
and
har
d an
d th
ere
is n
o w
ater
und
er
the
surf
ace;
eve
n ou
r sm
all l
ake
has
drie
d up
.” S
he h
as a
lso
notic
ed
that
the
rain
s ha
ve b
ecom
e m
ore
erra
tic. T
hey
are
less
freq
uent
, but
w
hen
they
do
com
e, th
e ra
in is
so
hard
that
thei
r fi e
lds
fl ood
, was
hing
aw
ay v
alua
ble
crop
s an
d se
eds.
And
Eun
ice
is n
ot a
lone
. In
wes
tern
U
gand
a, fo
r exa
mpl
e, fa
rmer
s fi n
d th
emse
lves
in th
e sa
me
clim
ate
situ
atio
n, u
nabl
e to
gro
w c
assa
va, b
anan
as o
r soy
bea
ns. I
n re
cent
yea
rs,
Nic
arag
ua h
as fa
ced
the
wor
st d
roug
ht it
has
see
n in
mor
e th
an fo
ur
deca
des,
cau
sing
ext
rem
ely
high
rate
s of
hun
ger.
In S
crip
ture
, we
hear
God
’s in
vita
tion
to e
njoy
the
frui
ts o
f cre
atio
n.
We
hear
God
’s c
all t
o be
tend
ers
of th
e ga
rden
. And
, with
Pau
l, w
e he
ar
crea
tion
“gro
anin
g,”
“lon
ging
for t
he re
veal
ing
of th
e ch
ildre
n of
God
” (R
oman
s 8:
19-2
3). B
ut w
e al
so h
ear t
he p
rom
ise
of o
ur C
reat
or w
hose
cr
eatio
n is
a g
ift, a
nd th
is is
our
sta
rtin
g po
int.
We
do n
ot s
ee th
e w
orld
