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Dayenu!

By Vicar Lisa

Dayenu is a song that is part of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The word "dayenu" means approximately "it would have been enough," "it would have been sufficient," or "it would have sufficed". This traditional upbeat Passover song is over one thousand years old.

I had never heard of the song until one day, something triggered a passion in John to share it with me. When he was a boy, his family, although not Jewish, practiced a Jewish Seder in their home and he had been fascinated with the meaning behind the song and clung to the idea that no matter what God has given us, it would have been enough.

Dayenu has 15 stanzas representing the 15 gifts God bestowed. The first five involve freeing the Jews from slavery, the next describes the miracles He did for them, and the last five for the closeness to God that they were given. Each stanza is followed by the word "Dayenu" (it would have been enough) sung repeatedly.

Our Sundays and Seasons resource that we use to help plan our Sunday Worship referred to a revised version of Dayenu that our disciples could have been singing to themselves as they hid in their upper room. It said that now, more than ever, these huddled disciples would have just cause to sing the “Dayenu”.

The Sundays and Seasons revised version states that it would have been enough for the Word and wisdom of God to have been born in the flesh...Dayenu! It would have been enough for the Word to grow to adulthood and share his stunning parables about God’s gracious activity in the world...Dayenu! It would have been enough for this Word to say to his enemies, “Father, forgive them”...Dayenu! It would have been enough for this Word to have died on a cross for us...Dayenu! It would have been enough that he rose again in blessing, not vengeance...Dayenu! But now, beyond what we would even expect—the Word becomes our word and it is written on our hearts at Pentecost...Dayenu! It is enough, and more than enough to enflame our ministry of reconciliation in a world in need of a healing word.

What an interesting way of looking at things! If we could reframe our thinking, not to want what we do not have, but remember that what God has done for us is enough, I wonder if we would leave our upper rooms and engage more with the rest of the world. Let us all work on our Dayenu mindset!

And, if you are unfamiliar with this upbeat song (the original version), there are multiple versions I found on YouTube. I will share this link to a version that has the verses in English. You will probably be singing it the rest of the day: Dayenu! It would have been enough!

Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023, Wear RED! 

10 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion

Announcements:

  • Schedule for Serving: Reminder, the schedule for ushers, lectors, and communion preparation/clean-up was sent at the end of April. Please note when you are scheduled. If you cannot serve as scheduled, be sure to arrange for someone to do it in your place either by trading with someone or simply arranging someone to do it for you. Everyone's contact information is included in the schedule. Please let Jo Moss and Vicar Lisa know if you trade so they have the correct information for the bulletin and E-Formation. If you did not receive the May-September schedule, contact JoAnn Karspeck at 719-680-1222 or at j.karspeck@hotmail.com
  • Sunday Bible Study: Our last Sunday morning Bible Study for the season will be at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, upstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Our topic will be The Sacrament of Holy Baptism and Confession. Note that beginning in July we will have a Temple Talks in association with our First Sunday Potluck.
  • Lay Leader Service: On June 4, Vicar Lisa will be at school and some of our lay leaders are going to lead the service. Jeff Smith will be giving the message and David Lamb will be leading the hymns. No communion in this Service.
  • Women's Bible Study: May 26, at 9:30-11:00 am downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. We will be discussing Jehovah Shalom "the Lord is our Peace". To join by Zoom, the link is:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87573014829?pwd=R3kzMUFxMTZMdEl5ZzVMeUdsVElGQT09 -- Meeting ID 875 7301 4829 -- Passcode 304100 or call in 301-715-8592. All are welcome. Please direct questions to Carol Smith.
  • Centering Prayer: Rita Burton leads our Centering Prayer event beginning at 11:30 a.m., every Friday, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Rita for information.
  • Zion's 2nd Annual Campout at Trinidad Lake: The camping trip is rescheduled for June 8-10 at Lake Trinidad group campground. Please contact Jeff Smith for more information. 
  • 5-Loaves: Thank you, everyone, for agreeing to deliver 5-Loaves meals this coming Saturday, we should have meals ready to deliver beginning at 9:30 a.m., please plan to pick up meals to deliver by 11 a.m. See you Saturday.
  • Outdoor Services: We will begin Summer Outdoor Worship on June 11, 2023. Many people in our congregation have requested this and value these outdoor services. However, it takes some effort to set up and break down. We need people to volunteer who are willing to get there a little early on Sundays and set up. We have lists of what is needed to guide you. Please let Vicar Lisa or Sharon Sorensen if you are willing to help, thanks!
  • Santa Fe Trail Days: Zion's will have a booth at the festival, June 9-10. Paula Little and Mike McNeil are organizing. Please let one of them know if you would like to help.
  • Garage Sale: Zion's annual garage sale will be Saturday, Aug. 5. See Julie if you would like to help.
  • Vacation Bible School: The community Vacation Bible School will be held at Fisher Peak Community Church. VBS is for grades K-6 and will take place on the mornings of June 12-16. For more information: Contact Carol Smith or the FPCC church office.
  • Save the Date: Zion's 135th Anniversary celebration is Sept. 23-24. If you want to join this committee, please see Vicar Lisa.
  • Flower Update: We share heartfelt thanks for our flower guild and the beautiful additions they make to our worship. You can support their work by dedicating the flowers on a Sunday. The recommended minimum donation is $35, so sign the flower book today.

E-formation

Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023

This coming Sunday is Pentecost, the fiftieth day of Easter, and we keep the resurrection of Christ by celebrating the Spirit of the Risen Christ in our midst. Jesus Christ has not gone away but is here with us: we stand to greet him as we hear him speak in the gospel reading, and we share in his body in the meal.

John 20:19-23

The Gospel of John is appointed for most of the primary festivals of the liturgical year because of John’s high Christology and its centrality in the development of Christian doctrine. John says theologically the narrative of Pentecost: the breath of the risen Christ has enlivened the Christian community with the Spirit of God. This passage from John 20 was appointed also for the second Sunday of Easter.

Acts 2:1-21

The narrative of Pentecost exemplifies Luke’s expert storytelling ability. The reading includes hidden references to the Hebrew Bible, a citation from the prophets, a contemporary geography lesson, an account of miracles, and the folksy detail of the accusation of drunkenness. As we await the eschatological end of all things, we are now those who prophesy, see visions and dream dreams.

1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

The reading in Numbers is concerned with the authority of religious leaders, and this selection from 1 Corinthians with the many and varied roles of church members. We pray that the unity in the Spirit that Paul described will characterize also our assembly of faith.

Zion's Lutheran Church
zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785