Slideshow image

Why Advocacy?

By Vicar Lisa

One of the questions often asked by people new to or unfamiliar with the ELCA is why do we, as a denomination, get so involved in social justice issues? Why should we be advocates for others? Isn’t our direct service work enough? The language below comes from the ELCA “Why Advocacy” webpage.

“As the ELCA, we believe God is calling us into the world to serve together. Through our direct service, we aid immediate needs before us. Through our advocacy work, we impact systemic, long-lasting change.

“The public policies our officials write, amend and ultimately adopt can have ongoing effects on our neighbors who are struggling with hunger and living with poverty, as well as God’s creation. By telling our lawmakers how Lutheran ministries help our world and urging them to advance legislation that reflects these commitments, we are helping create opportunities to overcome poverty, promote peace and dignity, and defend God’s creation.

“We are a church that is energized by lively engagement in our faith and public life. We serve in response to God’s love to meet human needs and protect creation. When we, as ELCA members, lift our voices together to influence policies that advance the common good, we further God’s work in our world.

“We are also a church that thinks of governments as helpful ways God is active in our world. This is clear from the very first generation of Lutheran reformers and their actions. When you write your public official, you are uniting with an apostolic community of Lutherans concerned with how public policies work for our neighbors as a matter of faith.

“In its very first social statement, ‘The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective,’ from 1991, our church committed to ‘work with and on behalf of the poor, the powerless and those who suffer, using its power and influence with political and economic decision-making bodies to develop and advocate policies that seek to advance justice, peace and the care of creation.’”

8th Sunday After Pentecost -- July 14

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements

  • Fellowship Times: Join us after worship for fellowship. As part of our ongoing RIC discernment, Jan E. and Jan R. will be telling their stories before the council meeting. On July 21, we will have guests from Grace Lutheran in Colorado Springs to tell us about their RIC journey.
  • Council: Church council meets after fellowship on July 14.
  • Bible Study: Our Wednesday weekday study is on summer hiatus. Check the bulletins, e-formations, and newsletters for updates.
  • Connections Newsletter: The July edition of Zion’s Connections newsletter was sent via email on July 1. An electronic version also is available on our website at: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2024/07/01/19/21/06/1a81f4cb-e9c2-4ae3-9cd9-fee44c826ae3/July%202024%20Newsletter.pdf. Copies also are available in the back of the Sanctuary and in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Flowers: There are days available to sponsor flowers. Select the date in the flower book in the sanctuary, write your name and the commemoration. A minimum donation of $35 is encouraged.
  • Prayer List Updates: We are updating the prayer lists for the summer. If you have changes for the current list or requests for additions, please let Vicar Lisa, Julie Wersal, or Jo Moss know.

E-formation – 8th Sunday after Pentecost, July 14

Using the words from Ephesians, we can say that all summer long we gather to hear the word of truth of God’s good pleasure and will and to bless God at the table of his glorious grace.

Mark 6:14-29

The sex and violence hinted at in this narrative have led to its popularity with artists. For believing Christians it can be a picture of the lengths to which political injustice might go toward its self-protection and of the possibility that Christian faithfulness can lead to persecution. Christ, to whom John points and whom he prefigures, is both the one who preaches against injustice and the one whose head was on the platter for us. Our weekly meal contrasts with Herod’s banquet.

Amos 7:7-15

Sometimes the first reading presents a parallel to the gospel reading. Amos 7 is one such selection. Amos, like John the Baptist, also was rejected by the king for preaching against political injustice. Worshipers might be helped to understand this reading were the service folder to include a simple map that also identifies the characters named.

Ephesians 1:3-14

Today begins seven Sundays of a semicontinuous reading of Ephesians. Which of the twenty-two phrases in this reading can be highlighted today? Being blessed by Christ, holy and blameless, adopted as God’s children, and marked with the seal of the Spirit, we who are baptized can praise God’s glory and face down the Herod’s of this world.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785