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Seed That in Earth Is Dying

By Vicar Lisa

Our upcoming gospel reading includes words spoken by Jesus in John 12: “24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” It is hard to look at a little seed and understand the mysterious promise it brings.

In 1978, Svein Ellingsen, a leading hymn writer in contemporary Norway, composed a hymn based on the mystery of this Sunday’s gospel in transparent yet profound poetry that speaks forcefully about death (ELW 330). The dying seed bears much fruit; Christ becomes the bread of life. I share the words below.

Seed That in Earth Is Dying

  1. Seed that in earth is dying

grows into ears of grain.

Grapes that are crushed in the vessel

turn into golden wine.

God, through this mystery grant us

faith in our deepest darkness,

life in our night and death.

 

  1. We were baptized in Jesus,

into his death and grave,

to resurrection's promise:

praise and eternal life.

Heaven's own praises begin here

where you yourself are near us,

deep in our night and death.

 

  1. Seed that in earth is dying

rises to bear much fruit.

Christ, as we meet at your table,

give us the bread of life.

Lord, we do thank and adore you!

Unceasing praise of the ages

rises from night and death.

 

Serving This Sunday, Fifth Sunday In Lent,March 17

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

 

Announcements

  • Lent Soup Suppers: Each Wednesday during Lent we gather at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a Soup Supper and devotion. Please plan to join us this Wednesday, March 13. We also need volunteers to bring soup, salad, bread, or a light dessert. If you can help, please sign up on the sheets in the Fellowship Hall.
  • New Members: If you have not officially joined Zion’s as a member, we will welcome new members on Easter Sunday, March 31.  In preparation for that, we will have a New Members Class on Sunday, March 24, following Fellowship. It will take about 90 minutes
  • Weekday Bible Study: The next weekday Bible Study will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Save the Date: Next Sunday, Zion’s will have a special congregational meeting after worship, to select Zion’s synod assembly representatives. During the Rocky Mountain Synod assembly representatives will be selecting a new bishop.
  • Easter Flowers: On Easter Sunday, our Sanctuary will be filled with beautiful flowers symbolizing the glory of the resurrection. Sign up to help sponsor Easter flowers using the special sheet in the flower book at the back of the sanctuary. Include your name and any commemoration you would like to see included in the bulletin. A minimum donation of $35 is encouraged and donation envelopes are in the flower book.
  • Portals of Prayer: Copies of the Spring Portals of Prayer are available in the back of the Sanctuary and in the Fellowship Hall, where a few large print editions also are available.
  • Early 5-Loaves Help: The 5-Loaves team needs some help with early preparations for the March lunch delivery, as Zion’s will be providing a special Easter meal on Saturday, March 30. If you can help with preparations, please see Norine Hazen.
  • First Sunday Potluck: The next potluck will be Sunday, April 7, when we also will continue the Sunday Morning Bible Study, “How Lutherans Read the Bible”. All are welcome!
  • Holy Week:

Palm Sunday Worship — 10 a.m. on March 24

Wednesday Soup Supper — 6 p.m. on March 27

Good Friday Worship — 7 p.m. on March 29

Easter Sunday Celebration — 10 a.m. on March 31

(Fellowship Brunch, New Member Reception Follows)

 

E-formation – Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17

The end of Lent is near. With the Greeks, we come forward to see Jesus lifted up on the cross, who is drawing the whole world to himself. Our baptism has written the new covenant in our hearts and has promised us Christ’s eternal salvation. At the table, we recall Melchizedek and his offering of bread and wine.

John 12:20-33

As we ready for Holy Week, the archaic simile of the grain of wheat depicts God’s way of bringing life from what seems death. With the Greeks, we too wish to see Jesus. To do so, we must look up, for Jesus has been lifted up on the cross in order to draw everyone to God. The “hour” of salvation is Christ’s death.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Lent has provided time for us to prepare for and remember baptism. In baptism we are wed to God and we receive God’s covenant of love written in our hearts. Although we have repeatedly broken the covenant, God promises to remember our sin no more. This passage was formative for the Christian language of the “new covenant” in Christ’s blood.

Hebrews 5:5-10

The suffering and death of Jesus are likened to the ministry of the high priest, whose prayers provided the people’s access to forgiveness from God. We are comforted by the word that Christ suffered both for us and with us.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785