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Greetings on this last day of February 2022!  

I was thinking this morning about how it is time to shift into March and Lent but an email from Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber came into my inbox and kept me reflecting on the Transfiguration of Jesus instead.  She shared her sermon that was preached in Denver yesterday in which her focus was very much on the father and son at the end of the passage.  You remember?  

After the mountain top experience, Jesus and three disciples return down to their lives and immediately they are surrounded by a crowd and beseeched by a dad who begs for healing for his son.  She is drawn to that part of the story because, let's be honest, a lot of people (especially our kids) are really struggling right now.  

So instead of being moved by the transformed Jesus on the mountain, she connected with the transformed child and father.  Her words were encouraging to me and actually speak right into our focus for Lent.   I commend her message to you here (https://vimeo.com/682622977 — minute 14:45) but below are a few of her words to reflect on. 

"Jesus has made low even the mount of his own transfiguration to be with us. You need not reach for glory, because Holiness has come to dwell with us, in the valley of our shadows. You need no longer climb up to, strive for or achieve holiness  — for it is too busy already reaching into the troubled dirt of your humanity.  It has come to dwell with us. In the valley of our shadows.  The curtain of the temple is being torn in two so that grit and glory are indistinguishable.  Holiness has come to dwell with us in the valley of our shadows.  Holiness has come to dwell with us in the valley of our shadows.  And so the brokenhearted, and the fearful, and the confused, and the lost and the least and the lonely can say:  Amen.”

 (Nadia Bolz-Weber)

We need not work so hard to reach for God, for God comes to us -- right where we are, as we are, and from there our transformation happens.  Thanks be to God!  

Have a wonderful day and week.  Come to Ash Wednesday services at 7 p.m. March 2 — in person or by ZOOM  (details below).  And, know you remain in my prayers and the prayers of our community.

Peace and love, 

Pastor Andrea

This week (other meetings/gatherings will be taking place as well but here are some things to note):  

  • Tuesday, March 1  LFSRM Refugee Volunteer Orientation meeting for Colorado Springs via ZOOM.  6-8 pm.  You must register ahead of time and this is mandatory if you would like to be a team member for sponsoring a family.  https://www.lfsrm.org/event/refugee-volunteer-orientation-colorado-springs-online-3/?instance_id=4124
  • Wednesday, March 2 ASH WEDNESDAY service at 7 pm in person or via ZOOM.  Begin Lent together as we remind ourselves of our humanity and speak some truths about these lives of ours.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81359134379?pwd=TnNMWnlJNzkrajhLZXZDTDR5aGpndz09. Or dial 1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 813 5913 4379 Passcode: 326247
  • Friday, March 4 
  • Sunday, March 6 The First Sunday in Lent
    • 8:30 am Sunday morning Bible study Session #3 on the Kingdom of God.  Come in person or join via ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/907628370?pwd=eFVCTEVhb0xqMXcxY2xaUG5JMUZEdz09
      Or Dial 1 312 626 6799  Meeting ID: 907 628 370  Passcode: 332397. Pastor Andrea leading.
    • 10 am Worship with Holy Communion  We begin our Lenten series so join us, either in person OR via ZOOM ('hybrid' worship).  If you will be worshiping via zoom, log on or call in using these links: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/91739214242?pwd=b1QrZzk0QzBtM1RXZnZuaVFVMDNmZz09  OR Dial   +1 301 715 8592     Meeting ID: 917 3921 4242.   Password: 731771.   For those of you who will be worshiping in person, masks will be required indoors.  Please bring your own, thanks!
    • Worship leaders:  Pastor Andrea Doeden;  Assistant:  Julie Wersal;  Pianist:  Mark Nelson;  Ushering: Lisa and John Rygiel;  Reading: John Rygiel ;  Communion prep/cleanup: Ann Rasmussen
    • Fellowship after worship, (approximately 11:10 a.m.) in the fellowship hall.  Gather after worship for wonderful conversation! 
    • Bread & Belonging is our high school/college ministry that gathers each Sunday night from 6-8 p.m. in the lower level of the fellowship hall.  This week a writing practice will be the focus of the discussion time. 

 

Prayer List:  

Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

In prayer, we ask in His name: Comfort for those in mourning, including family and friends of:  Arnold Gallegos; Dr. Mark Jacobson; Brent Kapling (Carol Schulkump's nephew); Mary Lee Lewis whose son died in auto accident; Brenda (niece of Liz McKethen) whose two children died in an auto accident.

We pray for and surround with God's protection the military and civilians around the world in harm's way — especially those in the Ukraine; and the police and other first responders in our country. We lift up leaders in our community, our country and in the world that peace may prevail and wise decisions made.

We also pray for Sarah Atwater; Ron, Jill & Aaron Wilson; Dorsey; David Trujillo; Doris Blalock (flu); Lynn Chase (foot surgery Feb. 25); Dave Shier and family (Dave is missing); Tricia (John Rygiel’s sister-back injury); Julie Wersal (back surgery); Erin's son, Woody; Carter Sanchez McDonald (1-month old — open heart surgery); Pete Gimmer; Allison Dearman; Ann Rasmussen; Floyd & Margaret Gumke; Vicki Rienks; AC (Doris' uncle); Michelle Ramirez; Gregory Weida; Cindy Rodriguez; Dale Krueger; Mike Blackmore; Cora Warrick & son Tyler; Carol Schulzkump, her son Kris & daughter-in-law Ana; JoAnn's sister Beth; Steve Karspeck's sister-in-law Deena; Wilmae & Sherry Gartside; Lisa Rygiel's parents; Loren Eigenburg; and the Sandstead family.

We surround with prayers those battling cancer, including Kevin Olsen; Joe; Ray; Anna Marie; Polly (Ruthie's friend); Jeanine Tapia; Rick Barian (Lynn's friend); Rick Spaulding (Paula's brother-in-law); Gary Miller; Marci Guard; Lynn's brother Kenny; Nancy Wilhelm (Ernie & Sharon's family member); Linda Bounds; Jo Moss' cousin Virginia; and Francis Baldwin (friend of Mark & Jo Moss). We also pray for those affected by COVID.

Our prayers continue for Wal-reat (missionary in Sudan, whom we support financially through Global Missions); The Way ministry; ACTS ministry; and the prison congregation New Beginnings and Pastor Schjang.

 

Other announcements/dates to put on your calendar:

Yesterday's worship service can be viewed by following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/uUICpjzu0kmJ702AKdJrRshwwBII8IRP7r_zRK1xsf50YrzPlkI__hgx2TrhIvWm.3ZhGSVQj-PqF_jDj Passcode: tHY7!Jt9.  Sermon at minute 19:26

  • LENTEN resources are available during the season of Lent, the 40 days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday/Good Friday/Easter. Portals of Prayer are available at church.  How about trying out a special devotional such as Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Riche?  I (Pastor Andrea) am using this book during Lent and will be referencing it during our worship services.  If you do buy this let me know and I'll forward a bookmark or document that has which entries to read for the week.  Once again, Luther seminary has produced a special devotional based on the hymn “My Song is Love Unknown."  Download it at https://info.luthersem.edu/hubfs/Luther%20Lenten%20Devotional.pdf, or let me know if you need a copy printed and we can get that to you.  Another option is the 2022 Lent Resource from Creation Justice Ministries at https://www.creationjustice.org/uploads/2/5/4/6/25465131/lent_2022.pdf 
  • Join Zion's Afghan sponsorship team through Lutheran Family Services-Rocky Mountain!  We are just now being matched with a family who has been relocated from Afghanistan to Colorado Springs.  There are steps to take, applications to submit, etc., — so PLEASE CONFIRM WITH PASTOR ANDREA IF YOU WILL BE PARTICIPATING.  Options are to be a 'background' supporter or one who actually interacts with the family in Springs for 4-6 hours per month.  The monthly volunteer training is TOMORROW NIGHT, March 1 from 6-8 p.m.  Please register for this meeting and attend it if you did not do so in November or December.  
  • The flower ministry blesses our worship space and people!  During Lent, we are using greens and green plants.  If you would like to sponsor during this season, please coordinate with Lynn and your gifts will be part of the Easter celebration on April 17!
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Are you interested in knitting one/some to share?  Let's pick a date and gather for a 'knitting' party.  We have both knitting and crocheting patterns.  Please email back or let Pastor know if you want to join for a few hours of knitting/crocheting.  

 

Ash Wednesday E-formation

The Old Testament tells of a ritual in which persons in great sorrow sat in ashes or poured them on their head. Since early medieval times, ashes were distributed on the fortieth day before Easter as a sign of individual and communal penitence, and at the Synod of Benevento in 1091, the ritual was recommended for all Western Christians. The twin emphases of the day are sin and death: in sorrow for sin, we join with ancient peoples to put ashes on our head; and in honesty about death, we remember that, like Adam, we are made of dust and will return to dust. Acknowledging our sin and death readies the assembly for its annual baptismal journey to the resurrection.

The Readings in the Bible

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Since the Middle Ages, this text was proclaimed on Ash Wednesday, and its call for almsgiving, prayer, and fasting lays out what have been called the three disciplines of Lent. The discipline of fasting means not to denigrate the human body, but to symbolize the turn from self-indulgence to care for the neighbor and reliance on God. In the surprise of faith, we discover that these disciplines can accompany us to the alternative treasures that come from God alone.

Isaiah 58:1-12

In this third part of Isaiah, written about 490 bce, the prophet condemned the people who, although participating in rituals of repentance, were still ignoring God’s demands of justice by oppressing the poor. Yet the merciful God will guide the penitents into a place of light and peace.  Isaiah’s call to social justice accompanies the church through Lent, and the promise in the reading of God’s watered garden beckons us toward Easter.

 

First Sunday in Lent E-formation

Each year on the first Sunday in Lent we hear about Jesus being tested in the wilderness. In this way Jesus joined with us, who are also, one way or another, tested in some wilderness. We say Sundays “in” Lent, since when counting the forty days of Lent, we omit the six Sundays, because Sunday is always a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. So this Sunday we are both in Lent and beyond Lent.

The Readings in the Bible

Luke 4:1-13

As we expect from Luke, the Spirit fills Jesus during his testing. Like Israel, Jesus is in the wilderness. Like Moses, Jesus is on a high mountain and fasts for forty days and nights (Deut. 9:9). The temptation is presented as an eschatological moment, Jesus as Son of God confronting the devil. Jesus’ responses come from Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:3, and 6:16. The narrative depicts Jesus’ rejecting messiahship as a position of power. Instead, for Luke, the third temptation is in Jerusalem, where Jesus’ pinnacle will be on the cross, at the “opportune time.”

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The book of Deuteronomy, presented as Moses’ final speech to the Israelites while still in the wilderness, was written sometime in the seventh century bce, it authors encouraging the Jews to remain faithful to the covenant, despite the power of Assyria. The passage describes an offering of first fruits made to the priests at the temple and includes a creed that summarizes Israelite myth-history. The offering occurred at a festival, probably that of Unleavened Bread, that historicized the Canaanite celebration of the barley harvest. In keeping the covenant, the people are to worship God in gratitude.

Romans 10:8b-13

Paul’s letter to the Romans, written in about 57, includes an early Christian creed: the community acknowledges faith in God’s unlimited salvation for both Jew and Greek, offered to all through the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul applies the divine title kyrios—which for Jews could refer only to God—to Jesus when he writes of calling “on the name of the Lord.”

Zion's Lutheran Church — zionsluth@gmail.com — 719-846-7785