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Why are the Word and Sacrament Important to Lutherans?

By Vicar Lisa Rygiel

One of the questions asked on my final paper for Systematic Theology was “Why are the Word and Sacrament important to Lutherans?” Good question Dr. Peters, why are they?

According to my text, the Word and Sacraments are how we identify the presence of the church. The church and God's presence exist wherever Jesus' story is told, and sacraments are present. The church is not created by human activities, but by the activity of the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacrament. The church is defined as any gathering of two or three who, in Jesus name, allow themselves to be called by the Spirit.”

In addition, the Word and Sacraments are viewed as key means through which God’s grace is communicated to believers. The Word, the scripture, are the inspired and authoritative Word of God. Through the reading and preaching of the Word, Lutherans believe that God speaks to His people, offering them guidance, comfort, and instruction in faith and life. The Word serves as the foundation for Lutheran teaching and practice. 

As Lutherans, we recognize the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Eucharist). We see baptism as a means of grace whereby we are cleansed of sin and made members of the body of Christ. In the Lord’s supper, we believe that Jesus Christ is truly present "in, with, and under" the bread and wine. Similarly, the bread and the wine of the eucharist along with the water of baptism provide us with additional physical symbols that constitute the identity of the church. They not only re-present the original bread and wine consumed at Jesus’ last supper or the waters of the Jordan with which Jesus was anointed messiah; they also continue today to bear the saving power of God’s presence. Through partaking in the Eucharist, we receive the body and blood of Christ, strengthening their faith and uniting them with Christ and the broader Christian community.

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany-- Feb. 9

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements

  • Souper Bowl of Caring: Throughout February Zion’s is accepting donations of canned goods or other non-perishable foods, which will be donated to the Trinidad Soup Kitchen. Monetary donations also can be made by placing them in the collection plate and earmarking them for the Soup Kitchen. Before or after worship, please place items in the large soup pot in the chancel.
  • Fellowship Time/Church Council: Join us after worship today in the Fellowship Hall coffee and conversation as we celebrate those who have served and currently serve on Church Council.
  • 5-Loaves Volunteers Needed: Saturday, Feb. 22, Zion’s will prepare and deliver lunches. We need volunteers to help with preparation on Friday and packaging and delivery on Saturday. If you can help either day, please let Terri Watson or Jo Moss know.
  • Newsletter Contributions: The deadline for contributing to the March newsletter is next Wednesday, Feb. 19. Let Jo Moss know if you have something to contribute or send your input to ZionsLuth@gmail.com.
  • Children’s Choir: On Sunday’s at 3 pm, the Trinidad Music Association (TMA) will begin its children’s choir practice in the Fellowship Hall. Children ages 8-12 are welcome. To participate or to get more information, contact choir director Vinnie Gumlich at 719-680-0851 or email music.association@gmail.com.
  • Weekly Studies:
    • Zion’s weekly Bible Study scheduled for today at 1 p.m. has been cancelled due to illness. Stay tuned to determine if the class will pick up the book of Acts on Saturday or restart the following week on the usual Wednesday/Saturday schedule.
    • A study of the life and legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) continues Sunday for our last session. Join us for a soup luncheon at 12:30 p.m. followed by the study from 1 to 2 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. The study repeats at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, via Zoom. Contact Becky McNeil for details.

February Council Meeting Notes

Zion's Lutheran church council met after worship on Sunday, Feb.9. After the Invocation, the meeting continued with the election of officers for 2025. Mike McNeil was elected President, Mark Moss was elected Vice-President, Mary McKenna was elected Secretary, Kathy Broman was elected Financial Secretary, Julie Wersal was elected Treasurer, and Terri Watson was elected Trust Fund Officer. Cherie Holder was appointed to the Board of Trustees.

Reports from the Secretary and acting Trust Fund Officer were approved. The Treasurer and Financial Secretary's reports were tabled to the next meeting so we could get clarification on a few entries.

Vicar Lisa reported that Cristy Street and Brittany Cook had been approved for membership and installed in January.

Vicar Lisa had her TEEM Approval Interview on Feb. 7 and was unconditionally approved For Call. Her name was put on the list to be formally assigned to the Rocky Mountain Synod for First Call. The Rev Diana Linden-Johnson, the Assistant to the Bishop for Rostered Ministry will let us know the next steps which will include a congregational interview and vote.

Ash Wednesday is March 5. During Wednesdays in Lent, we will have a worship service entitled Lenten Worship Through the Senses along with a soup supper. The Worship and Music committee is working on improvements to the worship flow. We will have additional training for ushers, worship assistants and communion prep volunteers.

President Mike McNeil will continue to lead our study on stewardship following our First Sunday potluck in March and conclude in April. The Bible from Scratch, facilitated by Becky McNeil has been a great success. Her Bonhoeffer study has also been well attended.

We are looking to form a committee to update our policies on Kitchen practices, Wedding and Funeral guidelines and policies and the Facility Use policy.

The former and new Financial Secretary, Treasurer and Trust Fund officers will meet with the Audit Committee within the next few weeks. Mike will make those arrangements.

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Wersal, Acting Secretary

E-formation – The 6th Sunday After Epiphany – Feb. 16

In the gospel this coming Sunday, Jesus says, “Woe to you who are laughing now.” What can this mean for us? Come to worship, to hear, to pray, to sing, to eat and drink.

The Readings in the Bible

Luke 6:17-26

Luke’s masterful rhetorical technique is evidenced in the parallelisms of Woes he has added to four of the Blesseds of Matthew 5: poor (v. 20) and rich (24), hungry (21) and full (25), weep (21) and laugh (25), hate (22) and speak well (26). The omitted Blesseds are elsewhere in Luke. Luke situates the Beatitudes, not on Matthew’s mountain for church leaders, but on a plain, accessible to the crowds: Matthew’s “the poor” becomes “you poor.” The poor and needy whom Jesus heals (vv. 18-19) are those he addresses with eschatological hope. The Greek makarioi (blessed) is a congratulatory exclamation. Luke understands that Jesus’ followers must expect to be rejected, as was Jesus.

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Much of the book of Jeremiah records the adventures and sermons of Jeremiah, who from about 626–586 bce urged the Israelites to return to faithful obedience to the covenant to avoid divine punishment and political defeat. The literary passage of curses and blessings has close parallels in the aphorisms of later Wisdom literature, while attention to the human heart (vv. 9-10) is characteristic of the prophets, who call for more than exterior adherence to the law.

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Having listed those believers to whom the risen Christ has appeared, Paul, writing to the church in Corinth in 54, continues his discussion of the resurrection: in the Parousia at the end of time, all who are in Christ will be raised from death, as was Christ. Christ’s resurrection was the beginning of the end, the first growth of a new creation. For Paul, the death of Christ is vindicated in his resurrection.

Zion's Lutheran Church

A Reconciling in Christ Community

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785