Slideshow image

Discipleship in a Democracy

by Vicar Lisa

I am sure that everyone has noticed how the growing incivility of political activists and elected officials on the national level has begun filtering down to local government, infecting school boards and city councils.

According to an article in Living Lutheran, commentators offer different explanations for this ongoing breakdown in civility, blaming the hyperpartisanship of U.S. politics, the erosion of the social contract during the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emotional disconnection of people who live and work online. Regardless of the reason, civil discourse in the United States is gradually unraveling into civil disorder, as evidenced by the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

The ELCA has been much concerned with its role in promoting a healthy civil society, first producing the 2020 social message “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy” and now soliciting public comment on a forthcoming social statement on civic life and faith, which will be considered for adoption by the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. (You can read the draft statement here and leave your feedback here through Sept. 30). The document explicitly criticizes the current political climate, and it calls on the church to foster more humane discussion in the public square.

The proposed statement anchors its arguments in the virtue of humility, citing Micah 6:8 (“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”) but cautioning readers that “while we are called to do justice and love kindness … it is not always clear what that means in any particular situation” (page 17). With that in mind, it observes, walking humbly with God “must include welcoming and acknowledging the ideas, values, and contributions of all people, regardless of their religious tradition or worldview” (page 18).

More pointedly, the draft statement summons the church and its people to take responsibility for encouraging positive and productive debate:

This church has a responsibility, working with all people of goodwill, to mediate conflict and to advocate just and peaceful resolutions while supporting institutions and policies that seek the well-being and power of all…Because we recognize that every person is one for whom Christ died, we must seek to be a safe space for challenging conversations. A safe space does not mean a space where all agree; it means a space where all are honored and valued regardless of what they believe (page 22).

What a beautiful world this would be if everyone could be honored and valued regardless of what they believe!

Serving 12th Sunday After Pentecost -- August 11

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements:

  • Fellowship Time: Join us after worship on Sunday for coffee and conversation.
  • Church Council: Zion’s church council convenes after worship. They meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall, all are welcome to attend.
  • Loren Eigenberg Funeral: The Loren Eigenberg funeral will be held at Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home on Sept. 13, 2024 at 11 am. The funeral home is located at 244 North 1st St., Raton, New Mexico.
  • Special Congregational Meeting Update: Zion’s has a special congregational item meeting schedule after worship next Sunday, Aug. 18. The official meeting notification was sent via email at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31. Additional details, including Zoom links, is available in the official email announcing the meeting, as well as on Zion’s Webpage at org, and in the August newsletter. Voting members who did not receive the email announcement may want to check their spam/junk folder before following up with Julie Wersal.
  • August Newsletter: The August Connections newsletter was sent via email on July 31 and posted on Zion’s website as well. Paper copies can be found in the sanctuary and in the fellowship hall.
  • Prayer List Updates: We are updating the prayer lists for the summer. If you have changes for the current list or requests for additions, please let Vicar Lisa, Julie Wersal, or Jo Moss know.
  • God's Work Our Hands: Save the date for GWOH Sunday (Sept. 8). We will be preparing meals and feeding the needy at Cimino Park on behalf of Pastor Clay following worship. The following Sunday, Sept. 15, we will have a celebratory worship and potluck at Round-up Park (near the fairgrounds).

E-formation – 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 11

In this third Sunday with the bread of life theme from John 6, we start to encounter some push-back from Jesus’ hearers—both the original ones and quite possibly some present-day ones as well. Yet with the challenges are some vital promises of life.

John 6:35, 41-51

The traditional Christian iconography that depicts the evangelist John as the eagle flying highest aptly represents the author of today’s passage. Life in Christ is so far beyond what we can see and know that language fails. Christ came down from heaven; believers will never hunger again; they will not die. We hear the good news of the new life of Christ hinted at in these extraordinary sentences.

1 Kings 19:4-8

This passage is chosen to parallel today’s excerpt because Elijah, too, is called back from death to the life that comes from hearing the word of God. As is typical in biblical narratives, the person alone meets with God but is then sent back to the community.

Ephesians 4:2—5:2

In talking about Christian living, the author of Ephesians does not mention, for example, the Ten Commandments, but rather urges an ethical life based on communal care. The passage is not about punishment for those who disobey, but about how to imitate Christ. This is the life that Christ gives in his flesh. The passage includes an early reference to God as triune.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785