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What a wonderful experience of outdoor worship we had on Sunday at the fairgrounds!  It was almost like we were living in the world that existed before COVID — worshiping together, eating together, no Zoom service to worry about, and not a mask in sight! 

The scripture says that, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalms 19:1) 

It was no problem believing this when the sun peaked out and warmed us up on a cool breezy morning.  The Son of God was living and smiling in so many faces as we sang joyful music along with the Orphan Valley Singers and the birds of the air.  Plus, seeing our beloved wandering angel Andrea in our midst was such a joy!

Being outdoors is how so many of us find evidence of the Lord.  It is what recharges our batteries and helps us feel more alive.  This creation of God is so amazingly awesome.  And each of us are also amazingly awesome, knitted together in our mother’s womb, created in God’s image.  Remember that God declared both the creation and us GOOD!

We can learn a lot about God from what we see of his creation. 

  • God’s power. We see the power of God revealed all over creation.
  • God’s glory. The vast size of the universe shows us how big and glorious God is.
  • God’s creativity. We see God’s creativity in the variety of unique (and sometimes even weird-looking J) animals God makes.
  • God’s goodness. The goodness of God can be demonstrated through the rain that falls on crops providing food for humans and animals.
  • God’s love. We even see the love of God revealed in creation. We see this love in the way that parents (both human and animal) instinctively look after their young. We see it in the way that creation provides for the needs of all living creatures.

Take some time this week and enjoy God’s creation.  Take a walk or a hike or a country drive.  Go birdwatching or fishing or wildflower hunting.  Enjoy the view and praise God for creating it and making it good. And remember that you too are part of this creation.  Reflect on your inward self and think about all the ways you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Consider all the gifts he has given you and that you share with others.  And then again, praise God for creating you and making you good, Amen!

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?  (Job 12:7 – 9)

Announcements:

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

Sunday Sept. 17, The 15th Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 a.m. Sunday morning Bible study

Bible study will resume this Sunday with a study on Philemon led by Carol Smith.  Join us in the fellowship hall downstairs in the Blue Room or via Zoom. 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.

Flowers: Flowers are donated by Paula Little in memory of her parents Dorothy & Jack Leaper

Fellowship time at approximately 11:15 a.m. to share a cup of coffee/soda and conversation!

Other important stuff:

    • REMINDER!!  This Saturday, Sept. 17 we will participate in our God’s Work Our Hands project.  We will be cleaning up the sanctuary and the church grounds, inside and out.  Julie will be coordinating the outdoor activities, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Lisa will be coordinating the indoor activities beginning at 9 a.m. Please bring your own cleaning rags, we will have other cleaning supplies available, but feel free to bring your preferred cleaning supplies. Please reach out to Julie or Lisa with any questions. 
    • The Worship & Music Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in the Blue Room.
    • The deadline for the October newsletter is Sept. 21, please share your contributions or suggestions with Jo Moss.
    • Transition Team meets at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 in the Blue room.
    • Next Saturday, Sept. 24, we will be delivering meals for our 5 Loaves Ministry. If you can help with deliveries, please contact Jo Moss, Norine Hazen, or Peggy Gustafson.
    • Women’s Bible Study will continue a study on Galatians on Sept. 16, 9:30 - 11 a.m. in the Blue Room, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.  You can also join by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89559130517?pwd=NTh4YndtSklRbEErL2ZXRy9xQmFUZz09 Meeting ID: 895 5913 0517 Passcode: 486889 (or call 1-312-626- 6799). A couple books are still available. Questions can be directed to Carol Smith.
    • As a reminder, we are no longer sending out a Worship/Bulletin email each Saturday.  That information (link and bulletin) will be available every Saturday on our webpage under the Sermon & Bulletin tab — https://zionslutheran.tithelysetup2.com/podcasts/media.

E-formation

We continue through the autumn’s standard Sundays, now proclaiming some of Luke’s parables, which although able to be simplified into universal truths, were probably in the mouth of Jesus somewhat disconcerting depictions of the nearness and reversals of God’s kingdom and of what the cross of discipleship meant.

Luke 16:1-13

The children of light are called to be faithful to what has genuine value—the riches of the kingdom. God is our master, from whom come sometimes unlikely judgments about human life. Even the old one-year lectionary included this gospel, which is a considerable challenge for the preacher.

Amos 8:4-7

By setting Amos’s condemnation of those who with dishonesty oppress the poor next to Luke 16, the lectionary underlines both vv. 10-13 of the gospel reading, that believers are to serve God rather than material wealth, and vv. 8-9, that in view of the coming eschaton, believers need to anticipate the possibility of God’s punishment.

1 Timothy 2:1-7

Not only are Christians to pray for their rulers, but to thank God for them. The true ruler over believers is God. This counsel towards societal concord was directed to people who were not in a democracy, and passages such as this have encouraged some Christians into a social passivity.

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Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785