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Remember that all of the Zoom links have changed. Please make sure that you use the most recent ones included in the bulletin, E-Formation, and the newsletter

Building our Mission Table – Vicar Lisa

One of my assigned readings was a book called The Mission Table – Renewing Congregation & Community.  It uses the image of the table to move its concepts forward.  It evaluates the different types of tables that draw us together and form our identities.  It starts with the perfect table of creation, where creation was in harmony with the Creator. It then discussed the broken table that resulted when the world lost its mutual relationship with the Creator.  

It then went on to discuss the kitchen table where we learned stories of our ancestors and grew and formed our faith, culture, and values.  The discussion continued to the altar table of our congregations, which unites our kitchen families and our church families.  Finally, the discussion evolved to the mission table, those new tables that must be set before our community to build new relationships of mutuality and reconciliation.

The decline of institutional religion is calling us into ministry in a new context.  In the U.S., reportedly eighty percent of the population state that they believe that God is real, however, institutional forms of religion are collapsing.  According to the author, this creates a spiritual hunger in the world that should force us to imagine new mission tables.

The book also had some very important lessons on listening that seemed so appropriate for us in our time of transition.  To set new tables in new spaces, we must participate in the “three great listenings”:  

  1. We listen to God in prayer, the study of scripture, and liturgy.  
  2. We listen to the church.  
  3. We listen to the world around us. 

When we listen, we communicate three important things:  

1) The other is worth hearing.  

2) The listener values the act of listening.  

3) Our identity as a faith community is always evolving.  

To quote, “Listening meets people at the point of their story, strength, giftedness, passions, insights, dignity, anger, wisdom, and hope.” 

I believe that if we listen to God in prayer, respectfully listen to one another, and listen to the needs of the world, we can survive this time of transition and thrive around our mission table.  God’s peace!

Announcements:

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

Sunday, October 2, 2022, The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 a.m. Sunday morning Bible study

We will be having a study on Galatians led by Carol Smith.  Note:  This will be the same study she has been leading for Women’s Bible study, so if you missed any or just want a repeat, please join us in the fellowship hall downstairs in the Blue Room or via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88425864750?pwd=K1JMVThhaEp3OEg2bGw2RFNtWVV1UT09, Meeting ID: 884 2586 4750, Passcode: 651890, or dial +1 719 359 4580 US.

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://us06web.zoom.us/j/81535174862?pwd=MnVLL3FSZGJWdGsxRmhBUWhBWFRHZz09, Meeting ID: 815 3517 4862, Passcode: 155280 — Or dial +1 719 359 4580 US.

 

Worship leader: Pastor Kate Schlechter

Assistant: Vicar Lisa Rygiel

Organist: Connie Pallone

Ushering: Steve & JoAnn Karspeck

Reading: JoAnn Karspeck

Communion prep/cleanup: Carol Schulzkump and JoAnn Karspeck

 

Flowers: Flowers are donated by Joni Jones for Skylar’s birthday!

 

Fellowship time at approximately 11:15 a.m., join us for coffee, tea, soft drinks, and holy chatter!

Other Information:

  • October Newsletters are available on our website, via email, and in the Fellowship Hall and the Sanctuary. 
  • Our Transition Team's next meeting is at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 in the Blue Room.
  • Women's Bible Study is at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in person in the Blue Room and via Zoom. We are studying Galatians. All are welcome! To join via Zoom, use our new link at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89665400942?pwd=ejZTUmVnRi9zVS9HTzVrSGtXVVhTQT09, Meeting ID: 896 6540 0942, Passcode: 905229. Or Dial in at +1 719 359 4580 US. Questions can be directed to Carol Smith.
  • Paula Little will lead an Art & Wine Fall Fest Workshop from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Fellowship Hall. Plan to join this creative event.  There is a sign-up sheet in the sanctuary or e-mail, Paula, at paulajeanlittle@gmail.com to reserve a space. Sign-up helps with preparations and supplies. Also, if you are able, please bring a treat to share. 

E-formation

The gospel this coming Sunday speaks of how surprising it would be if a master served his slaves their evening meal. Yet this is exactly what happens each Sunday when Christ serves us at his table of mercy. Come to worship and strengthen your faith in the power of this surprising food.

 

Luke 17:5-10

Today’s extreme description of the Christian life—lived by “worthless slaves” whose faith cannot possibly be adequate—is surprising in Luke. Yet here is also Luke’s promise of mercy: Christ, our lord, amazes us by serving us at the table.

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

Paul cited Habakkuk’s call for faith in God’s salvation in both Romans and Galatians, and there it became instrumental in Martin Luther’s theological breakthrough. The passage fits with today’s Lucan passage by calling us to faith. Today is the only citation from Habakkuk in the complementary readings of the three-year lectionary.

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Although the second readings do not always cohere with the gospel and first reading, today’s selection from 2 Timothy certainly does. Timothy’s faith is praised, and vv. 9-14 is a summary of the faith in Christ’s resurrection which constitutes the Christian hope.

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Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785