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Together, We are Poetry

by Vicar Lisa

At the nursing home in Walsenburg where mom is, they place devotionals, quizzes, and games on the tables in the cafeteria for the residents. I picked up one of the devotionals a few weeks back that I wanted to share. It started with a verse from Ephesians 2:10, which said “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The devotion continued…

We are his “workmanship”. The word workmanship comes from the Greek word poiema, which could be translated poetry. We are the poetry of God. What Longfellow did with pen and paper, our maker has done with us. We are an expression of God’s creative best. Together we are God’s poetry. Independently, we are nothing but small pieces on God’s page.  You may be a verb, she may a noun, and I’m probably a question mark. We’re just letters, marks from God’s hand.

What letter, then, has a right to criticize another.  Dare the paccuse the q of being backward? Dare the m mock the w for being too open-minded? Who are we to tell the writer how to form us or when to use us?  We need each other. By ourselves, we are just letters on a page, but collectively, we are poetry!

15th Sunday After Pentecost Sept. 1

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements

Flowers – Donated by TM in celebration of her birthday.

  • 5 Loaves Volunteer Sought: If you can help with 5-Loaves preparation Friday, Aug. 30, or with meal delivery on Saturday, Aug. 31, please let Norine Hazen, Peggy Gustafson, or Jo Moss know.
  • First Sunday Potluck: Plan to join us after worship next Sunday, Sept. 1, for our first-Sunday potluck. Bring your favorite dish and enjoy the food and fellowship.
  • God's Work Our Hands: Save the date for GWOH Sunday (Sept. 8), following worship, we will be preparing meals and feeding the needy at Cimino Park in support of Pastor Clay and the Way ministry. We need people to sign up to cook. Signup sheet is in the fellowship hall along with some groceries provided by Norine.
  • Round Up Park Annual Potluck:  Sunday, Sept. 15, we will have our celebration worship and picnic at Round-up Park (near the fairgrounds).
  • God’s Love Made Real: Join ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for a conversation about God’s Love Made Real. This ELCA movement encourages us to create a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation…Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. MST, Registration is encouraged, but not required. This event will take place on Zoom. (Save this link.) If you are interested in participating as a group from Zion’s fellowship hall, let Vicar Lisa know.

E-formation – 15th Sunday after Pentecost, September 1

We are back to Mark, and today hear a debate between him and James about evil: what bears most blame for sin? We take comfort in sharing together the good and clean food of holy communion.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

This gospel reading exemplifies the dictum to avoid literalist interpretations: the point is not that Christians can eat with dirty hands and dishes. The passage leaves unanswered the question as to which parts of the Jewish ethical tradition remain valid for Christians. But the force of the reading is clear: it is the individual human heart that is to blame for sin, not outside sources or influences. The reading includes both what Lutherans call “law”—each of us is to blame—and what Lutheran call “gospel”—Jesus is eating with all of us disciples.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

The reading from Deuteronomy presents the traditional Jewish belief that God has given the law, which is to be obeyed faithfully. The authority behind the law is God’s gracious care in hearing the cries of the people.

James 1:17-27

This Sunday begins five weeks of semicontinuous reading of James, which seems in direct debate with Paul as to the role of Jewish, or any, law within the Christian community. Mark has claimed that sin comes from within: James says it comes from the outside world, which Christians need to avoid. Churches have taught that both are true.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785