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

On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies claimed their independence from Great Britain, an event that eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on the 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, U.S. citizens celebrate this historic event as we will today.

Who were these bold colonists?  They were a melting pot of not only English, Irish and Scottish but also people from elsewhere in Europe and beyond. In many colonial communities, people spoke their native languages, adhered to the customs of their countries of origin, and practiced their own faiths.  

In our upcoming service on July 10, we will cover one of the best-known parables, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Our e-formation for the week asks us “Who do you identify with in the parable? This is part of what makes parables so powerful. Some days we read the story through the eyes of the priest or the Levite. Some days we feel like the Samaritan. And then there are those days when we are the man in the ditch.”

Who is our neighbor?  Not just someone who lives nearby, that looks like us and talks like us and worships like us.  Our neighbors are also the immigrants to this land, the ones who look different, have different languages, have diverse political views, religious backgrounds, and sexual orientations.  We are all commanded to love God and love our neighbor.  Unconditionally. 

Think back on our nation’s history.  Somehow, a melting pot of individuals and differing nationalities were able to declare their independence against a regime they believed to be corrupt and tyrannical and stand firm together to fight for that independence.  Imagine what we could do together if we too were to stand for what we believe as Christians!  Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. What a different world we might live in! 

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”  He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:25-27

 

Announcements:

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

Sunday, July 10, The 5th 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 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/907628370?pwd=eFVCTEVhb0xqMXcxY2xaUG5JMUZEdz09 Or Dial 1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 907 628 370  Passcode: 332397.
  • 10 am 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 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: Paula Little & Ruthie Culpepper

Reading: Hailey Bearden

Communion prep/cleanup: Kathy Broman/Doris Blalock

Flowers: Donated by Diane Hagen in “thanks to my God that I now have one of my Nicaragua girls safely in Spain, and also one of my fathers from the Santa Patricia refugee camp in Nicaragua made it safely to Florida!”

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:

  • 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 council if you would be interested. 
  • Women's Bible Study: Bible Study Series on the Psalms — the next session will be held Friday, July 8 at 9:30 a.m.  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).
  • The flower ministry blesses our worship space, and they bring such joy to our sanctuary.  Please coordinate with Lynn Chase to sponsor the flowers.
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Are you interested in knitting one/some to share?  Join the knitters who bless so many. 
  • If you wish to receive a link to yesterday’s sermon, please contact Jo Moss.
  • Reminder!  Pr. Kate and her dog Koi have arrived safely and will be residing in the parsonage section downstairs from the fellowship hall. Note that her personal space is indicated by signage on the doors.  Please limit any church related meetings, etc., to the Blue Room downstairs or use the fellowship hall, thank you. 

 

E-formation

The gospel for this coming Sunday is the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. Come to worship to consider this story again and to pray that we ourselves will embody such mercy. The bread and wine of the table will strengthen you for such a life.

The Readings in the Bible

Luke 10:25-37

Mark (12:28-34) and Matthew (22:34-40) include similar exchanges between Jesus and a Jewish authority, but Luke’s narrative skill adds the parable to illumine and modify Jesus’ answer. Luke’s gospel previously cited Samaritans as refusing to receive Christ (9:52-53), but here the representative of the hated ethnic group epitomizes the compassion of God so important to Luke. Jesus’ answer to the lawyer cites Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18, yet by highlighting the Samaritan’s merciful conduct, rather than the Torah and Jewish religious status, the parable was especially welcoming to Luke’s Gentile audience. Jericho is sixteen miles northeast of Jerusalem and “down” below sea level.

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

In the closing of what is presented as Moses’ final discourse, the Deuteronomist, hoping to encourage those returning from exile to resume their religious devotion, promises that God will bless those who follow the law. The rhetorical majesty of the Deuteronomist’s prose is evident in this striking passage. The speech may have been part of a covenant renewal ceremony: see “today” (v. 11). The passage indicates a move of “law” from a written societal legal code to an inner disposition of the faithful, and thus appropriate to the post-exilic situation.

Colossians 1:1-14

Because the rhetoric and theology of Colossians differ substantially from that of the uncontested Pauline letters, most scholars judge that this letter was written in about 75 ce by a disciple of Paul. Crediting one’s teacher with one’s own work was not considered false advertising but rather was honoring authority. Colossae was a city 100 miles west of Ephesus, in what is now western Turkey. Timothy was Paul’s younger partner in ministry. Epaphras, a leader in the Colossian community, is mentioned also in 4:12-13. Since the letter indicates that the community is being urged to accept further and more rigorous religious knowledge, the author cites Father, Son, and Spirit and the imagery of bearing good fruit to encourage the community in its Christian life: it already has received redemption and forgiveness.

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Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785