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Make a Joyful Noise
By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Our Psalm on Sunday is one of my favorites. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”

 — Psalm 100:1–2

This Psalm is a beautiful invitation to worship God with joy, gratitude, and wholehearted devotion. It reminds us that worship is not a burden, but a celebration. God doesn’t demand that we sing in perfect harmony, God delights in a joyful heart that turns toward the creator.

The psalm calls us to serve the Lord with gladness. Even the smallest tasks can become acts of worship if done with a willing and cheerful heart. Joy in serving doesn’t come from perfect circumstances but from trusting who God is.

Psalm 100:3 grounds us in truth: “Know that the Lord, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves.” We belong to God. We are God’s people, lovingly created and cared for like sheep under a good shepherd.

In fact, all of our readings on Sunday will be a reminder of who we are in God. In our reading from Genesis, we will learn that we are “treasured possession out of all the peoples”. In Romans, we will read that “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” In Matthew, we will read that we are to “proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.”

In a world that often tells us to define ourselves by our looks, by our vocations, by our bank accounts, and many other worldly standards, these verses bring us peace — we are already known and held by God, not because of how we present to the world, but because of who we are in God.

Take a moment this week to pause and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Serving on the 3rd Sunday in Pentecost, June 14

Announcements

  • Pride Worship Thanks: We are grateful to the many people who helped make the Zion’s pride Sunday a memorable event through their support of worship, of the potluck luncheon and ice cream social, and who decorated the Fellowship Hall and took care of set up and clean up.
  • Summer Supper Gatherings: At 5:30 p.m. today (June 10) we will gather for our first Summer Supper and fellowship time. All are welcome. Then, plan to join us at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each summer month, for more food and fun. Those dates are June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, and Sept. 9. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall for food and activities. If you want to help provide food or to head up an activity, please let Julie Wersal or Jo Moss know. 
  • Wednesday Book Club: Book Club sessions focusing upon What if Jesus was Serious – A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore, are at 10:30 a.m. each Wednesday in the Fellowship Hall. The next session is Wednesday, June 10. You can join at any time, so if you haven’t been able to attend before now, why not consider doing so.
  • Cake and Conversation: Bob & Cherie Holder are hosting a party for the Los Animas community on Saturday June 13, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Space to Create Trinidad. They wish to say thank you to the community for the support they have given Bob during his 51-tenure serving as District Wildlife Manager for the Trinidad District. Please come for cake, drinks, and conversation!
  • Time of Prayer and Coffee: We are invited to join our siblings in Christ from the Methodist church for a time of prayer and coffee at 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at Kangaroo Coffee -in the Marketplace on Commercial Street.
  • Newsletter: The June newsletter was sent via email on May 31, print copies also are available in the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall.
  • 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. Please be aware that while Zion’s can accept most items for the sale, we cannot accept electronic or computer items and we do not accept clothing and shoes either.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-Formation
In the gospel reading for Sunday, Jesus calls the twelve apostles and then sends them out to carry on his work of proclaiming the good news and healing the sick. Come to worship so that you can hear this good news and, at the table of the Lord, be strengthened for the tasks of healing the sick and casting out evil in the name of Jesus.

Matthew 9:35—10:8 [9-23]
Part of Matthew’s description of the Jesus movement is Jesus’ call of the twelve disciples, who are Christian parallels to the twelve tribes of Israel, twelve also being a number signifying completion. At this point, the mission is solely to the Jews. Only in this gospel is Matthew called “the tax collector.” Matthew 9:35 begins the second of the gospel’s five discourses, with a focus on instructions to the twelve for mission. Verse 36, “like sheep without a shepherd,” recalls many passages in the Old Testament in which God or the leader is likened to a shepherd. Matthew understood that the disciples shared in Jesus’ healing powers. In the optional section, those who refuse to receive the Christians teachers are condemned.

Exodus 19:2-8a
The book of Exodus narrated a second call of Moses. Having received a mandate from the Lord God, Moses then conveyed that mandate to the elders, who gave their consent to follow God’s call. The editors of Exodus made clear that leadership in the community was designated by God and came down through Moses and the revered elders. Such a claim sanctified their own position.

Romans 5:1-8
This selection from Paul’s 57ce letter begins his explication of the meaning of Christ’s death. The section leads from suffering—which Paul and others in Rome had experienced—to God’s love given us through the Holy Spirit. Thus, a stereotypical advice about endurance has been emended into Trinitarian theology. Paul’s use of the legal terminology of justification indicates God’s legitimate demand for righteous living.

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