Epicurious Lutheran

This is where it all begins. Week 1 of “The Story” … Creation. Even now, so many people study and debate what happened at the beginning – where we all came from – what started it all.

As a pastor, people often ask me about Creation: Was the universe created in a literal 7 days? Did God create all that is? How do we know? What about the Bing Bang? What about intelligent design? Do I believe the world is about 4,000 years old or many billions of years old? What about dinosaurs?

Maybe this is a simplistic answer, but I’m not terribly concerned about the details. I just know that God did it.

For those who are struggling in their faith or who are unsure that there is a god, this is actually a great place to start.

This week, we are reading chapter 1 of The Story – “Creation: The Beginning of Life as We Know It.” As you know, we have books designed for each age group (preschool, early elementary, upper elementary, teen, and adult). If you don’t have a book and would like one, please contact the church office (703-368-3943 or bethellutheran@comcast.net). All books are available for $5.00.

After Sunday, small groups will begin meeting. If you are interested in participating in a small group, contact the church office (see number and email above).

As you pray this week, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Ask God to help you appreciate the beauty of His creation and to be a good steward and caretaker of the world He has made.
• Give praise to God for the people in your life who have revealed His grace, love, and presence to you.
• Pray for wisdom and discernment to recognize where the devil may be trying to deceive or confuse you or those around you.

Especially as the warm days of summer begin to settle into the cooler days of autumn, take a walk and notice the beauty of creation. Notice the smells, the light, the colors, the leaves, the animals, the sounds. And simply give thanks to God.