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Connections With Creation

By Vicar Lisa

This upcoming Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday. Despite the popularity of the image of the lone, lost lamb held in the shepherd’s arms as it is returned to the flock, most biblical use of the imagery of sheep intends a communal interpretation. Here, the flock is the focus. On Sunday the flock gathers to eat and drink together.

While it’s easy to sentimentalize the beloved shepherding images of today’s readings, they emerge from an economic reality. For ancient Israelites, sheep were their life force: they provided wool, milk, meat, and currency. Sheep symbolized every divine blessing and demonstrated the interconnectedness of all creation.

Still today, we humans, as part of creation, depend on other animals and the land for our livelihood just as we depend on the other members of our “flock”—our human siblings—to guide us and care for us. This image of the sheep and shepherd challenges our modern individualism and inspires recognition of ecological interconnectedness—of humanity together with the animals, the land, each other, and God.

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Council Meeting Notes:

Zions Lutheran Church Council gathered for their regular meeting on Sunday, April 14.

Vicar Lisa began with an invocation and the Behavioral Covenant was read. Steve Karspeck addressed council on his opinion of the Reconciling In Christ designation we voted last month to consider.

Secretary, Treasurer, Financial, and Trust Fund reports were reviewed and approved. The Board of Trustees met with Mike Molloy, the representative from Charles Schwab, for the Annual Performance Review. From March 2, 2023 to March 2, 2024, the investment account gained 7.37 percent annualized yield. The Board of Trustees, with advice from Mike Malloy, recommended some fund and investment changes, which the Council voted to approve these transfers.  

Vicar Lisa reported that on Easter Sunday Zion’s added seven new members, and that two others, who were unavailable to attend. Easter Sunday will be welcomed at a later date. We also received one infant by holy baptism.

Vicar Lisa will finish up our First Sunday adult learning sessions on How Lutherans Interpret the Bible on May 5. Anyone interested in seeing some of the sessions they may have missed, please see Vicar Lisa. The next study will be on Biblical Stewardship narrated by Dr. Mark Allan Powell.

Pastor Jan Everhart is leading a study on the Book of Mark each Wednesday in April. Pastor Becky McNeil will begin a Kerygma Bible Study on the Lord's Prayer beginning in May.

On March 11 a group met with two members of Grace Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs to discuss their process and experience in seeking the Reconciliation in Christ (RIC) designation. A core team was assembled, made up of Julie Wersal, Vicar Lisa, Mark and Jo Moss, Kathy Broman, Lynn Chase, Cherie Holder and Mike McNeil. The first meeting was April 2 where the team reviewed the RIC frequently asked questions, reviewed the Saint Moderatus handout and viewed an introductory video. Team members each completed the Faith Community Assessment document and reviewed this at the meeting held April 12. The journey to learn about what the RIC designation could mean to the congregation has only begun.

The women of Zion's have been invited to a Spring Retreat on June 22 from 9 to 4 at Grace Lutheran in Colorado Springs for a session entitled Bee Blessed, a fresh look at the Beatitudes. Please let Vicar Lisa know if you are interested in attending. We will carpool.

Work on the Mission and Vision Statement has been tabled. The council contacted a couple of insurance agents and are waiting for quotes to see if there may be a cost savings with a different carrier. The Council thanked Jeff Smith for removing the swing set from the front lawn and also thanked Mike McNeil for all of the work he did to arrange for our copy machine.

David Lamb has resigned from his position on church council. Nominations are sought for someone to serve the balance of this year (until January, 2025). The Council also seeks people to do the summer lawn care and to become members of the Building & Grounds Committee. If you are interested in serving in these ways, please see Julie or Vicar Lisa.

Zion’s is planning for a clean-up day on May 4 and the annual garage sale will be Aug. 3. The next council meeting is May 12.

Announcements

  • Weekday Bible Study: Bible Study will be held every Wednesday at 9:30. Pastor Jan Everhart will continue leading a study on the book of Mark, which will conclude on April 24. Following that, Pastor Becky McNeil will begin a Kerygma study on Spirituality and the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Feeding at the Park: We have been asked by Pastor Clay to help feed at Cimino Park on Sunday, April 28 so that Clay and Mary can go to Texas for the birth of their grandson. Sign-up sheets will be available in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Flowers: There are plenty of days available for sponsoring flowers. Select the available date in the flower book at the back of the sanctuary, write your name and any commemoration you would like to see included in the bulletin. A minimum donation of $35 is encouraged and donation envelopes are in the flower book, too.
  • 5-Loaves Help Wanted: We need people to help with meal deliveries as well as to help prepare meals next Saturday for 5 Loaves. Meals should be ready for delivery beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. If you can help, please let Jo Moss, Noreen Hazen, or Peggy Gustafson know.
  • Green Flower Trays and Vases: If you have taken green flower trays or vases home, please return to the church.
  • Fellowship: Join us after worship on Sunday for coffee and chatter.
  • Mark your Calendars: Our Spring cleanup day is scheduled for May 4. Julie will be coordinating outdoor activities; Vicar Lisa will be coordinating indoor activities.
  • Bee Blessed: The Women of the ELCA will be hosting a retreat entitled Bee Blessed (a fresh look at the Beatitudes) at Grace Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs on June 22.

E-formation – The Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21

This coming fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday, because all three years of the lectionary celebrate the image of the shepherd. We will sing the beloved Psalm 23. Unfortunately, most art depicting the good shepherd is unrealistic and sentimental: shepherding was a difficult and dirty job for the men and women who herded the flocks, but sheep were gifts from God and essential sources of life for the people. Join us in thanking God for being our shepherd.

John 10:11-18

John uses sheep as a communal metaphor for shared abundant life. In John’s gospel are eleven passages in which the name of God, I am, is tied to an image, and today’s selection includes one of them: I am the model shepherd. In John’s Christological explication of the metaphor, Christ is not a victim of the wolf, but instead wills of his own power to die for the flock. In Easter we praise Christ, who chose death to save the flock, who now is risen and with us.

Acts 4:5-12

Peter’s speech describes Jesus as the savior and healer of the crippled man—which can function today as a gloss on the shepherd imagery. An alternate image in this excerpt is the metaphor of the cornerstone, Christ on whom the church is built.

1 John 3:16-24

We are reading in semicontinuous fashion through 1 John. Today’s passage echoes the gospel selection that speaks of Christ laying down his life for us. Our baptism calls us now to follow our shepherd by offering ourselves to others.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785