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Bishop Eaton Addresses Situation in Gaza

By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a letter to Donald Trump and members of Congress expressing support of “our Jewish-American and Israeli siblings who have suffered because of the Oct. 7 attacks,” yet voicing “profound horror regarding the catastrophe in Gaza and the wider crisis in the Holy Land.”

“The lives of 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza depend in part on the decisions you will make in the coming weeks and months,” Eaton wrote.

“For the love of God, the sake of our shared humanity and the future of our Palestinian siblings of all faiths, your swift action may be the best and perhaps only way to stop the Israeli government from continuing its war and genocide in Gaza, and to plant seeds of peace and well-being for all in the Holy Land.”

Follow the link to Read the letter here or click the PDF at the end of this message to do so.

Aug. 24, 11th Sunday After Pentecost

Announcements

  • Fellowship: Join us after worship for coffee and conversation. 
  • Newsletter Deadline: The deadline for contributions to our September newsletter is Thursday, Aug. 21. If you have an article, idea, or photo to share, please let Jo Moss know.
  • God’s Work Our Hands (GWOH) Service Project: Zion’s Lutheran’s GWOH service project will include building a wheelchair ramp for a local family. If you can help with this project, let John Rygiel know. An exact time and date for the project still is being set with the family. For anyone who lacks carpentry and construction skills, Zion’s has an additional GWOH project. Coordinated by Becky McNeil, “we will be assembling Period Packs for our unhoused neighbors. Each pack will contain tampons, sanitary pads, pantiliners, and individually wrapped feminine hygiene wipes.” Join us after worship on Sunday, Aug. 31, to help assemble the packs. ails will follow. Donations are welcome to offset the $210 cost of this project.
  • God’s Work Our Hands Worship: We will have our traditional outdoors GWOH worship at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Round Up Park (near the fairgrounds). A potluck picnic also at the park will immediately follow worship, so bring your favorite picnic food and join the fellowship and fun.
  • 5-Loaves Reminder: There are five Saturdays in August, so remember that 5-Loaves deliveries are always the last Saturday of the month, which means we will deliver meals on Aug. 30. If you can help with deliveries or preparation, please let Terri Watson or Jo Moss know.

E-formation – 11th Sunday After Pentecost, Aug. 24

We meet on Sunday around the risen Christ. Sunday is not sabbath: Christ is our sabbath. On this day Christ leads all of us donkeys to water.

Luke 13:10-17

Perhaps, like countless old women throughout time, this woman had osteoporosis. But we all know about the condition of being bowed down by age, infirmity, or distress. In Christ we can stand upright. The sabbath controversy presents us with not only the question of how God is truly honored, but also the picture of Christ who replaces the sabbath, the one who sets us free.

Isaiah 58:9b-14

The passage from second Isaiah relates to both of Luke’s points: we are not to point the finger at those whom we imagine are suffering a punishment from God; and our religious practices are meant to honor God, not to serve our own interests. When Christians hear about water in the city, they think of baptism in the church, and when we hear about being fed, we think of holy communion.

Hebrews 12:18-29

This selection from Hebrews presents a complex picture of Christian worship. Here on earth the church is caught up to the heavenly city of God. Thanks to Christ the mediator, worshipers are not to fear the “blazing fire” of the Exodus; yet God is still “a consuming fire.”

Zion's Lutheran Church

A Reconciling in Christ Community
zionsluth@gmail.com
719-846-7785

 

 

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