Announcements and E-Formation for the Week of March 6, 2022
Good evening dear people of God! Blessings on this first Monday in Lent.
I was reading my magazine GATHER when an article entitled "Changing Your Focus: Hope is Essential" by Sonia Solomonson jumped out at me. She started talking about how we all have had such difficulty these past two years (think pandemic) and added to that was the fact that she just lost her brother a few months ago.
Suddenly she is thinking more about “living each day to the fullest as though it could be your last”, and a very important part of that is living with hope! But as the article progressed, I realized that it suggested a whole lot of things to do, ways to change your life, have a new start to "make choices that can lead to more abundant living."
I know the intention is good and reflection and introspection are worthwhile but it suddenly seemed so different from our Lenten theme: Good Enough! Our faith and we ourselves ARE good enough, quit striving so hard, quit climbing that ladder, bloom where you are, tend the growth! Or in the words of Kate Bowler, let’s live NOT feeling guilty that you're not living your best life now.
Some things we can fix and some things we cannot. And it's okay that life isn’t always better....there is great beauty despite the chaos/difficulties of life. For me, this message is precious and perfectly timed for my current journey (my cancer camino has restarted).
I hope you are finding the messages of this Lent life giving too! So for this week, I offer this phrase from yesterday's homily and our Good Enough devotional: SMALL ACTS, GREAT LOVE.
Love well dear people!
Pastor Andrea
This Week (other meetings/gatherings will be taking place as well but here are some things to note):
Sunday, March 13 The Second Sunday in Lent
- 8:30 a.m. — Sunday Bible Study Session #4 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 a.m. — 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 and possibly Pastor Becky McNeil; Assistant: Lisa Rygiel; Organist: Connie Pallone; Ushering: Kathy Broman and Doris Blalock ; Reading: Julie Wersal ; Communion prep/cleanup: Jo & Mark Moss
- Fellowship after worship (approx. 11:10 a.m.) in the fellowship hall. Gather after worship for wonderful conversation!
- 11:30 a.m. — Church Council, either in person or via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89806669858?pwd=cS9wWlVaNHdxejVkY3pOdVlZYURaZz09
- Bread & Belonging is our high school/college ministry gathers each Sunday night from 6-8pm in the lower level of the fellowship hall. This week the focus of the discussion time will be our red book and questions that many are afraid to ask.
Other announcements/dates to put on your calendar:
Yesterday's worship service can be viewed by following this link:
LENT 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;
- 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. We also have some funds to use to purchase an ebook for people who want one and do not have the disposable cash at this time. Let me know!
- Devotional based on the hymn “My Song is Love Unknown." Download it at https://info.luthersem.edu/hubfs/Luther%20Lenten%20Devotional.pdf, or let Pastor Andrea know if you need a copy printed
- 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 finally 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.
- Friday March 18, at 9:30 am we continue our Women's Bible Study on "The Sermon on the Mount" using Amy-Jill Levine's book. Join us in person downstairs of the Fellowship Hall or by zoom. Questions- contact Carol Smith. We shall be discussing chapter 4 of the book - (focusing on the Lord's Prayer). If you wish to watch the videos that accompany the studies, go to Amplify, use the church email zionsluth@gmail.com and the password is praynow4Covid19. Join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83136424723?pwd=TkxsQVllMmo2bVlSekN0dGZqbzF1Zz09 or phone in by dialing 1-312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 831 3642 4723 Passcode: 865505
- 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 17th!
- 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.
I (Pr Andrea) am writing this from Houston where I am being seen by the pancreatic cancer specialist at MD Anderson as I have been diagnosed with a recurrence. I appreciate all your prayers & the love extended to me. This was not 'in my plan' or expected, but God is good and we are just figuring out what to do next....
So as I stated above, my cancer camino is ongoing...the journey continues so instead of being done, I was just on a sabbatical! ;-). But I do not journey alone. None of us do!
So to God who accompanies me at all times, I give thanks. And to you dear friends, I am grateful as well.
Peace & Love
E-formation
In next Sunday’s gospel reading, we are like chicks that need protection, for a fox is nearby. Come to worship, and join us in praising the God who gathers us as if under loving wings.
The Readings in the Bible
This passage is an example of how the gospel narratives are but preludes to the passion accounts. Writing in a somewhat benign tone about those outside the faith, Luke in the late 80s here gives the Pharisees a welcome role, warning Jesus of coming death. Pharisees were a lay movement who advocated strict separation from others and a rigorous adherence to both the written and the oral Torah. A fox eats chickens: only Luke’s passion account includes an episode with Herod (23:6-12). Luke has Jesus citing Psalm 118:26, a pilgrimage psalm with messianic overtones, which is later repeated by the crowds in the palm procession (19:38). Also there (19:39), Pharisees warn Jesus about possible danger. Yet the “third day” is approaching.
This excerpt narrates two promises God made to Abraham: the multitude of his descendants and ownership of the land. Of the first (1-6): in ancient Israelite culture, life after death was ensured through the life of one’s descendants. Of the second (7-18): in such animal sacrifices, the two contracting parties passed between the two halves of the carcasses, symbolizing their willingness to suffer the fate of the animals if they broke the covenant. Here God, manifest in the fire of the flaming torch, is one of the two parties. The Old Testament focus on God’s covenant is found in stories involving Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David.
-
Location
Contact
Office Hours
Menu
