ELEA Lutheran Schools Week Devotion to Tell the Story

ELEA Lutheran Schools Week Devotion – “To Tell The Story”

Devotion to Use with Staff Each of the 5 Days of Lutheran Schools Week

(use in any order you choose)

Devotion: Acts 13:32-33 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “You are my Son: today I have become your Father.” NIV

In this Bible Reading Paul declares that, “We tell you the good news:…” This is what God promised centuries before. The Good News, the best news, the greatest news of all history: Jesus Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! This is still the message of the church today.

Lutheran Schools Week provides you an opportunity to tell YOUR story. This is a time to share the very best that your Center and/or School has to offer. As teachers and administrators you make a difference in the lives of your students. It may not always seem evident, as there are days when nothing seems to work as planned. During Lutheran Schools Week you can tell the story of what happens in your classroom. Be proud and tell your story.

My wife, Ellie, served for 16 years as the kindergarten teacher at Redeemer Lutheran School in Northeast Philadelphia. One day as it was time to get ready to leave at the end of the day, she suddenly remembered and told the class, “We forgot to have our devotion for today.” After a short pause, Chris said, “That’s okay Mrs. Federwitz, our whole life is our worship!” Remember – you DO make a difference – you DO have a story to tell!

Question for the Day:

What is your story? What is your personal story of how YOU make a difference in the lives of your students?

Prayer for the Day:

I love to tell the story,

'twill be my theme in glory,

to tell the old, old story

of Jesus and his love. AMEN Robert Federwitz, former ELCA Director for Schools, contributed this devotion. Bob has served in Lutheran Schools for more than 45 years. He is retired, living in Dover, DE near his children and grandchildren.

Mark 5:19 “Go home and tell your friends.” RSV

Our Lutheran schools demonstrate wonderful school/home relationships, so much so that children often feel that their school is also their home. The above message works both ways, then. As educators we tell the story at school and encourage our children to go home to friends and family and re-tell the story they have heard. We will also have reciprocal experiences when children return to school and share their family and friend responses with their school family. In this way we learn and grow together.

Responsibility falls upon us here. We should not just “know” the story but also prepare our own telling through prayer and lesson planning to be effective in communicating the wonder and the joy of the message Jesus shared. In that way our children will be equipped with a clear understanding of the great things that the Lord has done for them and how he has had mercy upon them thereby making them effective tellers of his story as well.

We give thanks for the Holy Spirit who works through the words and actions of our telling the story as well as in our children who hear and embrace that story.

Questions for the Day: How can I better prepare for my own telling of the story in class and worship settings?

Personal Prayer for the Day: Lord, help me to share the wonderful things you have done for me and the mercy you have shown me. Bless my words and my actions both in my classroom and school so that I serve as an effective teller of your story to my children who are also your children.

Alan Feddersen, Oro Valley, AZ, has formerly served as Lutheran school teacher and administrator, Resurrection CDC chair, Director of Lutheran Schools of Southern California and Hawaii, and on ELEA board

Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.” NIV The angel told the disciples to go to the temple and tell about “this new Life.” Today we have so many more ways to tell story. Because our students need to learn many ways to communicate, in Lutheran Schools they have the opportunity to practice those skills with the most important story, Jesus gave His life for us.

Not only do they practice story telling skills they hear the message of salvation and live in a community that centers around that message. For example, putting on a play or musical about Jesus’ love for us and His salvation. In addition they can have poetry and story activities.

“Words of this new life” has so many layers of meaning. Students can explore and live love, forgiveness and how Jesus lives in their hearts and lives. Educators know that the more ways students can experience the concepts they are learning the more they will retain.

Question for the Day: What is one way you will tell the story today?

Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, give us the wisdom to teach your story of salvation and be in the hearts and minds of all at our Lutheran schools. Amen.

Carole Feddersen, retired Lutheran educator

Acts 10:33 Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. NIV

Cornelius, a Roman commander, had sent for Peter to come to his house to speak with a group of relatives and close friends he had gathered. Peter shared many truths with the group about God. As staff or student, we have many opportunities in our day to share God’s messages with others. We know that God wants us to do this.

Equally important is that we “listen” to what God has to say to us. We can hear God through reading his word, Bible Study and worship. While all of this can be done alone in quiet times, we often learn important truths about God listening to what others have to share. Being part of a faith community is a wonderful and important part of our faith journey. We are blessed to be part of a Christian community at our Lutheran school or early childhood center. As “we are all here in the presence of God” let us “listen to what the Lord has to tell us!”

Question for the day: Has God used someone today to help grow your faith? Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, Please use me today in my school or center, to be ready to share those things you want me to say. Please help me be able to listen to what you send others to share with me too!

Beth Coburn, Director of Little Lamb Preschool, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Bible verses: 32And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors 33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’ – Acts 13:32-33

Reflection: What a beautiful story to tell: the good news that God has fulfilled this promise of eternal life! It’s a magnificent story the Apostles told, as accounted in today’s verse, but let’s not be too quick to think we don’t also have profound versions of that story to tell, even today:

As you teach children about God and God’s world, you tell a story of God’s faithfulness through the past, present and future. As you care for children living in broken families and homes, you tell a story of God’s welcome and shelter. As you offer compassionate though honest response to children who have misbehaved, you tell a story of God’s forgiveness.

This week we begin the season of Lent, when we enter the story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. This story says that death is real, but it is never the end. This story says that your story and your students’ stories, though they may be broken, are never defined by brokenness. This is the story that makes us Christian and makes us children of God.

May you be strengthened and propelled by this story, today and always.

Question for the Day: How can I recognize stories of God’s presence today? How can I share stories through my interactions with my family, friends, and students?

Prayer for the Day: Holy Spirit, come into my story today. As the Apostles delivered the good news of God’s faithfulness to our ancestors, deliver this good news to me once again, and guide me as I deliver this news to those I encounter today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Christie Hallenbeck, Intern at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Oro Valley, Arizona