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Hello, Lisa Rygiel here with this week’s E-formation. 

In Pastor Kate’s children’s message yesterday, when she asked “Who is our neighbor?”, it reminded me of the television show I grew up watching entitled Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Now I know that Mr. Rogers took some flack later in life for creating a generation of children who all felt loved and special, therefore creating a generation of self-entitled adults.  I disagree.  

I was one of those children who grew up hearing that I was liked and special like I was.  Fred Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, took the true message that Jesus proclaimed and made it his mission to share that message with a generation of children growing up in troubling times. 

Last night, the Holy Spirit prompted me to find the movie regarding Mr. Rogers' legacy called “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” last night on Netflix.  If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it.  Watching it took me back to childhood.  It was so wonderful to have this amazing man tell the child in me that I was liked and special without having preached a word or invoked the name of God. 

In a 2002, commencement speech at Dartmouth, Mr. Rogers' alma mater, he stated what he meant by saying all are special and liked.  

“And what that ultimately means, of course, is that you don’t ever have to do anything sensational for people to love you. When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear, or touch. That deep part of you, allows you to stand for those things, without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate. A peace that rises triumphantly over war. And justice that proves more powerful than greed.”

So many children and adults struggle with the thoughts that they are “not good enough” or “no one really likes them” or that they are “not really special”. They fear that if people knew who they were, they would be shunned.  But this isn’t how God sees us and not how most others see us, especially those of Christ’s family.  

Yes, there can be unkind remarks and misunderstandings amongst Christians, but in most settings, we are kind to and love one another.  We hang onto our identity given by God.  We have been created a little lower than the angels and we are crowned with glory and honor (Psalm 8:4-8)!  We don’t have to do anything sensational to be special to God, who had a hand in our creation and had a plan for us before we were ever born!  We are special, Amen!

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” 

—Psalm 139:13-16

 

Announcements for this week 

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

Sunday, July 17, the 6th Sunday after Pentecost

  • 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning Bible study: We are studying "The Wesley Challenge".  This is a study intended to develop our spiritual lives and help us become more deeply committed Christians. Join via Zoom at:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/907628370?pwd=eFVCTEVhb0xqMXcxY2xaUG5JMUZEdz09 Or Dial 1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 907 628 370  Passcode: 332397.
  • ·10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion
  • Please 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 now be at the discretion of each individual. We continue to be mindful of all the different ways people are compromised that may not be known and so please continue to practice healthy community habits such as staying home when you are sick etc.

Worship leader: Pastor Kate Schlechter

Assistant: Lisa Rygiel

Organist: Connie Pallone

Ushering: Steve & JoAnn Karspeck

Reading: Carol Smith

Communion prep/cleanup: Ann Rasmussen

Flowers: Donated by Carol Schulzkump in celebration of her son’s anniversary

 

  • Fellowship time at approximately 11:15 a.m. to share a cup of coffee/soda and conversation!
  • Bread and Belonging on summer hiatus.

Other important stuff of note:

  1. We are looking to add members to the security committee!  These volunteers would monitor the sanctuary door and check that doors in the fellowship hall are locked during services and after everyone has left.  Please see Jeff Smith or any member of the council if you would be interested. 
  2. Women's Bible Study:  The Women's Bible Study continues a series on the Psalms. The next session will be held Friday, July 22 at 9:30. am.  We will meet in person in the fellowship hall downstairs and will also be on Zoom. Any questions can be directed to Becky McNeil or Carol Smith.  All are welcome! To Join Zoom Meeting:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83136424723?pwd=TkxsQVllMmo2bVlSekN0dGZqbzF1Zz09  Meeting ID: 831 3642 4723  Passcode: 865505 (or call in 1-312-626-6799).
  3. The flower ministry blesses our worship space, and they bring such joy to our sanctuary.  Please coordinate with Lynn Chase to sponsor the flowers.
  4. Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Are you interested in knitting one/some to share?  Join the knitters who bless so many. 
  5. If you wish to receive a link to yesterday’s sermon, please contact Jo Moss.

 

E-formation

In the gospel for this coming Sunday, Jesus is eating a meal at Martha’s home. You can think of our church as Martha’s home: come to worship, join Mary in hearing the word, and share a meal with sisters.

The Readings in the Bible

Luke 10:38-42

To sit at the feet of Jesus and receive the word of God is given now to us. Each Sunday we sit at a table with Jesus along with Martha and Mary. Preachers are advised to avoid fantasizing about the relationship between the sisters, which disregards the point of the story.

Genesis 18:1-10a

The narrative of Abraham serving a meal to the three visitors, who are addressed as “my lord” and who then speak as one, is set next to Luke 10 because, in both stories, God eats with the people and delivers a word of grace. Especially Orthodox Christians have used this story as their primary depiction of the Trinity, and in many Orthodox churches, there is an icon of this story over the great doors to the altar.

Colossians 1:15-28

This passage praises the Christ with whom the assembly now gathers at the table. The guest and host of our meal is the embodied God, the creator, the reconciler, and the hope of future glory. Yet this one is the crucified Christ, for the firstborn of all creation is also the firstborn from the dead. This reading holds the divine Christ creating the universe next to Jesus eating at Martha’s table.

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Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785