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Keep Us Steadfast in your Word
By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Our first reading for next Sunday is from Isaiah 44 which begins “6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”

Martin Luther hit upon this theme in one of the songs he wrote, which is found on page 517 of our ELW (cranberry) Hymnal. The lyrics are as follows:

  1. Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word;
    Curb those who by deceit or sword
    Would wrest the kingdom from your Son
    And bring to naught all he has done.
  2. Lord Jesus Christ, your pow’r make known,
    For you are Lord of lords alone;
    Defend your holy Church, that we
    May sing your praise triumphantly.
  3. Comforter of priceless worth,
    Send peace and unity on earth;
    Support us in our final strife
    And lead us out of death to life.

Text: Martin Luther; Music: J, Klug, Geistliche Lieder; Public Domain

Luther wrote this hymn in 1541. He was in poor health, and the political situation in Europe was scary. The Turks were again threatening Europe, and Emperor Charles and the Protestant leaders of Germany formed opposing political alliances.

War seemed imminent, so Luther wrote this hymn. It was meant to tell people where to turn in their dire situation. He told them to turn to the Father in the face of hostility, to Christ the Lord and protector of the church, to the Holy Spirit who brought peace and comfort with God.

Translators later removed the names of the enemies of which Luther spoke and instead listed their actions in every age with the words, “curb those who by deceit or sword” would try to destroy God’s kingdom. This hymn is Luther’s trinitarian way to say, “Turn to God’s amazing and productive Word amid illness, suffering, war, and disaster; there is where true power is.”

The 8th Sunday in Pentecost, July 19

Announcements

  • Special Offering: This Sunday, we will be collecting a special offering to replace the commercial grade freezer used by the Trinidad Soup Kitchen. Their older freezer failed and cannot be repaired.
  • Fellowship: Join us after worship Sunday in the Fellowship Hall for coffee & conversation. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday Book Club: Book Club meets at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15. You can join at any time, why not consider doing so now.
  • Celebration of Life: We will share a celebration of life for Pr. Lisa’s mother Carolyn Schatzman at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Zion’s. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Youth Guests: Saturday night, July 18, Boy Scouts from Troop 540 in Houston will spend the night in our Fellowship Hall on their way to camp. Through the years, Zion’s has served as host to various church and scouting groups on their way to summer camps. We are happy to have Troop 540 return for an overnight stay.
  • Summer Supper Gatherings: At 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each summer month, we gather in the Fellowship Hall for food and fun. The next supper is at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall for food and activities. If you have questions, please let Julie Wersal or Jo Moss know.
  • Annual Garage Sale: The annual Zion’s Garage Sale will be Saturday, Aug. 1. If you have items to donate, please let Julie Wersal know. We will begin accepting drop offs beginning July 24. Remember that, while Zion’s can accept most items for the sale, we cannot take electronic or computer items and we do not accept clothing and shoes.
  • Save the Date:
    • Special Congregational Meeting after worship on Sunday, Aug. 2, to authorize funds to pay for materials and labor to replace Fellowship Hall carpet with skid-resistant commercial-grad luxury vinyl plank flooring.
    • God’s Work Our Hands Sunday for Zion’s will be Aug. 30 details will follow in E-Formation, the Bulletins, and the Newsletter.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-formation

The parable we hear this coming Sunday is about a field in which both wheat and weeds are growing—which is a way to describe the church, the world, and even ourselves. Come to worship, so that hearing the word and eating the supper of the Lord can nourish your “wheat” and stifle your “weeds.”

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Within Matthew’s third discourse is again a parable that is later explained to the disciples in allegorical terms. The parable of the wheat and the weeds suggests that some early Christians wished to expel sinful members from the community. Granting the hope for the apocalyptic arrival of the Son of Man at the end of time, who will come to judge evil-doers, the evangelist urged patience and restraint within the community.

Isaiah 44:6-8
In about 550 bce, the prophet spoke of the hope for the return from exile and the re-establishment of Israel and Judah. The appointed poem imagines God’s self-defense in court: God is the Lord of hosts, King of Israel, Redeemer, the first and last, the rock. The exile community is to trust that it is God who is the judge.

Romans 8:12-25
As part of the culmination of his argument, Paul wrote about the community’s invocation of Christ’s Spirit during times of suffering. Here Paul introduced the imagery of children: even though the baptized are God’s slaves, they can pray as if they are God’s children. “Abba,” an Aramaic term found here and in Mark 14:36, was apparently used in prayer also by Greek-speaking Christians, and is generally thought to be an endearment of “Father.” Paul assumed that the end of the world was imminent when God would re-create the world, of which Christ’s resurrection was the beginning.

Zion's Lutheran Church
zionsluth@gmail.com
719-846-7785