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Good morning!  This week I am sending out our weekly email in two parts.  This 'installment' is the announcements and updated prayer list section.  Have a great morning and BLESSINGS TO YOUR NEW YEAR!  

- Pastor Andrea

 

Part 1

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

  • Monday, Jan. 3 The Worship & Music committee is at 7 p.m. via Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82581241546  Meeting ID: 825 8124 1546 or call +1 312 626 6799 US Meeting ID: 825 8124 1546
  • Tuesday, Jan. 4  
      • The Budget Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall lower level
      • Dementia Support Group meets at 5:30 in the Fellowship Hall upper level
  • Thursday, Jan. 6  THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY!  You'll receive an email on this day for your at home 'worship'
  • The Welcoming Committee meets again at 11:30 a.m. downstairs in the Fellowship Hall or by Zoom Andrea Doeden is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting at:  

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87694230239?pwd=N3RMUEUzNE9jTDVHUTFtamZGbjUzZz0

  • Saturday, Jan. 8  Contemplative Outreach Atlanta invites you to a "We Gather Together Welcoming Big Sit on Zoom,” 8-10 a.m. Join us for an inspiring morning of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Taizé Chant, and Welcoming Prayer to welcome in the new year.  You will need to register if you want to attend so please email Pastor Andrea and she'll forward the registration link.
  • Sunday, Jan. 9, Baptism of Our Lord Sunday
      • 8:30 am Sunday morning Bible study resumes.  Pastor Andrea will lead a single study and we'll plan which study to begin the winter session with.
      • 10 am Worship with Holy Communion  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; Assisting: Julie Wersal;  Organist:  Connie Pallone;  Ushering: The Pierce Family; Reading:  Megan Pierce ;  Communion prep/cleanup: Amy Navarette/Connie Hass
          • Flowers are from the flower ladies in thanksgiving for the moisture!
    • Fellowship after worship (approx. 11:10 a.m.) in the fellowship hall.  Gather after worship for wonderful conversation! 
    • Church Council meets at approx. 11:30 a.m. either in person in lower level or by Zoom.  Andrea Doeden is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84203763801?pwd=U3BaZmUwOW5uMHpNajE0RmdDUTF3dz09 or call +1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 842 0376 3801  Passcode: 800225

    • Bread & Belonging resumes this week!  6-8 p.m. in the lower level of the fellowship hall.  We will have a meal together as well.  If anyone at Zion's wants to help prepare some food, please let Pastor Andrea know.  

 

 

PRAYER LIST:  "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

--Joshua 1:9

In prayer, we ask in His name: Comfort for those in mourning, including family and friends of Harold Karspeck (Steve's father); Jim Ingle (Margaret Gumke's brother); Mrs. Nyzer; Dennis Christianson (Mark Nelson's friend); and Irene Pearson. We pray for and surround with God's healing touch all those impacted by the recent Boulder County fires, including Hal & Rita's daughter and family who lost their home, and all emergency personnel; those impacted by recent tornadoes in our country; and those farmers and ranchers who lost so much in the recent fires and windstorms in Kansas.

We also pray for Jeff Smith; Mary McKenna; Cindy Rodriguez; Dale Krueger; Brent Kapling; 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; Floyd Gumke; Wilmae & Sherry Gartside; Lisa Rygiel's parents; Loren Eigenburg; and the Sandstead family.

We surround with prayers those battling cancer, including 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; Norine's stepdaughter Sherry; Jo Moss' cousin Virginia; Kimber Begano; Dr. Mark Jacobson; Linda Theige's brother-in-law Pastor Bob; and Francis Baldwin & Max Phillips (both friends of Mark & Jo Moss). We also pray for those affected by COVID-19, including Patty Thomas (Jeff Smith's cousin); Pastor Clay & his wife Mary; the Pearson family; the Ramirez family; Natalie Lugan; and Loren Eigenburg's daughter, Loren.

Our prayers continue for Wal-reat (missionary in Sudan 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/7gLiBRXNueATFwY5RTWehFB7YMjuOtiNBm8k9w-1tPrLDa1hsqCbqAZvhRq9R5mm.F7MWy8ih3nC8OLKE 

Passcode: a^7M$@15  

The sermon begins at 15min10 Seconds.

 

  1. Zion's Annual meeting is being planned for Feb. 6.  Our church president, Julie Wersal, sent out an email with bylaw changes.  
  2. January's Connection monthly newsletter was emailed out but we have print copies for you as well.  Pick one up at church!
  3. The flower ministry continues to bless our worship as well as those who receive the flowers after church.  Lynn Chase has put the new 2022 calendar in the back of the sanctuary.  Please sign up to sponsor the flowers in our new year.  
  4. Centering Prayer will be returning to Zion's!  All who are interested in resuming or starting this practice please mark Saturday, Feb. 12 for a half day workshop led by the Southern Colorado Contemplative Outreach leadership team.  Prior to March 2020, Zion's had a Centering Prayer group that met weekly and members have requested that it be restarted.  

Part 2

Dear friends,

Merry Epiphany!  Christmas officially ended yesterday and we celebrate the arrival of the Magi today.  Grab your bible and read Isaiah 60: 1-6 and Matthew 2: 1-12.  Isaiah said they would bring gold and frankincense as gifts to praise the Lord.  It would be a joyous occasion and so it was when the magi appeared at the home of Mary.  Their joy comes not only from finding Mary and her child but their joy expresses the fulfillment of a prophecy.  When Isaiah said that people would come from everywhere and listed all the known nations of his day, those nations clearly listened and continued to tell the story for successive generations.  Now they are here as promised; they have come to pay homage to Mary's child!  

Epiphany is a divine disclosure--an "aha!" moment when we see something we couldn't see before.  The Magi help us to look at the One who came among us and realize that yes, God is here!   The prophecy has come to fruition!  Because others continued to tell the story, we are privy to the story of the Magi recognizing the great inbreaking of our God in human flesh, the great in breaking that changes everything, for us and for all people.  Today is definitely a day to celebrate, to feast upon the goodness of God.  

For the last few years, we have passed out chalk and shared the 'ritual action' of marking your door frame on this day.  “Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and physically mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. I am attaching the blessing below and an article I read from Gather magazine about this practice.  I hope you take time to mark your door and this day! 

Blessings dear people of God.

-Pastor Andrea

 

Sunday is the Baptism of our Lord Sunday.  "Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people" (from Sunday and Seasons).  Our bible study resumes in this new year so we gather at 8:30 am for the first of two Bible study sessions on "The Kingdom of God."  Join us in the lower level or by Zoom.  

Worship will be at 10 a.m. in person or Zoom and we will be remembering our own baptisms as well.  If you don't know it, why don't you look up your baptismal day in preparation?

E-formation

The gospel this Sunday is about Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. A voice speaks from heaven, and the Spirit descends like a dove. This story is also about us: we too have been baptized, we have heard God’s loving call, and we have received the Holy Spirit. What is God’s voice like? During Year C of the lectionary, most of the gospel readings come from the Gospel according to Luke. The post-Christmas standard Sundays of the year begin with a narrative of Jesus’ baptism, just as, in the church, our life as Christians begins with baptism.

 

The Readings in the Bible:

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Many religious communities, including first-century Qumran, conducted water rituals to signify the old life is washed away and a new person born. In first-century Judaism, water rituals prepared participants for the last day, and second-century converts to Judaism were baptized. As well, devout Jewish males immersed themselves before each Sabbath and Jewish wives immersed themselves after each menstrual period. Christians continued the practice of water rituals, and in Jesus’ baptism narrative, tied baptism to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and divine adoption. The Old Testament often depicts the presence of God with fire. Luke minimizes the account of Jesus’ baptism and does not explicitly name John as the baptizer, perhaps since the early church was conflicted about why Jesus had to be baptized. By “the heaven was opened” Luke repeats eschatological imagery about the coming of the messiah.  At the beginning of the year we commemorate both Jesus’ baptism and our own. The images of the Holy Spirit as fire and as dove balance each other, and both illumine the meaning of baptism. This gospel is yet another Trinity Sunday, summing up the Christmas cycle, calling us into life with the triune God.

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