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The Lord is My Shepherd

By Vicar Lisa

For our upcoming Sunday, our responsive reading is the well-loved and well-known Psalm 23. The information below comes from the analysis of this passage as presented in Enter the Bible.

Analysis:

Psalm 23 has been called one of the psalms of trust in which those praying proclaim their confidence in the goodness of God despite the very real difficulties of present. Because of this reliance on God even during distress, these psalms mirror Paul’s under-standing that the believer walks by faith rather than by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

The image of God in the first part of the psalm is the shepherd–the one who faithfully leads and tends the flock. Similarly, God’s people are God’s sheep, kept and protected by the Lord. Sometimes in the Psalms it is not particularly a good thing to be a sheep–sheep are vulnerable and go astray but here the image is positive, depicting one of God’s beloved creatures. The good or loving shepherd–a royal image as well as a pastoral one–will become one of the most enduring and comforting pictures of God and Jesus in the Bible.

The mood of Psalm 23 is hardly idyllic. This is no fantasy world where all is sweetness and light. The psalmist fears no evil -- though evil is real -- even in the midst of the darkest valley (or the valley of the shadow of death), only because of God’s care.

The psalm moves in part two to a different picture. Now God is host at a meal, providing overflowing blessing, goodness, and mercy, even though here, too, real enemies remain. The scene may be of the meal associated with the thank-offering in the temple. It is one of many biblical texts that portray life with God as a banquet of abundance, where cups overflow, and twelve baskets of leftovers remain!

Prayer

Shepherding God, when the path is uncertain and the shadows deepen, remind us that you walk beside us, leading us with love. Amen.

May 11, 2025, 4th Sunday of Easter

10 a.m. Sunday Worship with Communion

Announcements

  • Fellowship Time: Join us after worship in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and conversation.
  • Your Help Needed! Levi, our groundskeeper, is out of the country until May 30. If you can help with mowing or weeding, please contact Julie Wersal to schedule.
  • Sante Fe Trails Day Team: We are looking for people willing to help plan and staff our booth at the Santa Fe Trails Day scheduled for June 13-14 on June. We will fly our We Welcome All Because God Welcomes Everyone banner proudly!
  • Weekday Bible Study: On summer hiatus.
  • Flower Chart: To make sponsorship easier to track, a traditional flower chart will replace the book to sign up for flowers. People who previously signed up for dates in 2025, are asked to re-enter that information on the new list. If you have yet to sign up, please consider doing so. A gift of $35 is suggested for flower donations. The sign-up chart and donation envelopes are in the back of the sanctuary. Donations can be placed in the offering plate or given online using the Tithe-ly app.
  • Photographs Wanted: Do you have a favorite photo of Zion’s, or perhaps want to try your hand at capturing pictures that reflect the heart and history of Zion’s? We want to freshen the website and other outreach materials. If you can help by sharing photos or taking pictures of the sanctuary, fellowship hall, church events and activities, etc. please let Jo Moss know.
  • Portals of Prayer: As a reminder: Zion’s is discontinuing the Portal of Prayers subscription; however, many past editions are still available in the Fellowship Hall. Please feel free to take one or more of them to read and share.
  • May Newsletter: The May issue of the Zion’s newsletter Connections was sent out April 30. Printed copies are available in the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary. The deadline for contributions to the June Newsletter is May 20.

Zion's Lutheran Teams

Are you new to Zion’s and wanting to develop a deeper connection to this church community? Are you looking to learn how to do something new or different? Zion’s has many ways in which you can serve. Luke 6: 38 says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap.” Our teams fulfill integral roles that strengthen the church's mission and sense of community. Look below to see what each team is involved in and see if there is a fit for you and your interests!

Worship and Music Team -- These members collaborate with the Pastor/Vicar and other leaders to plan regular and special worship services. They may select hymns, music, special readings, and other worship elements. They may serve as assisting ministers, greeters, ushers, lectors, etc. This team also includes those who prepare our beautiful sanctuary for worship including preparing flowers, hanging banners and other altar preparations such as the preparation of communion.

Outreach Team -- The role of this team is to extend the church's mission beyond our walls. This is a highly variable team and provides ample opportunities to get involved. They may organize events such as weddings, funerals, anniversary celebrations, and so on. We also look for ways to engage with the community, support charitable causes, and welcome newcomers into fellowship. This outreach includes our food ministry such as 5 Loaves, our annual Community Thanksgiving, and working with the Way Ministry and Pastor Clay. We need people to send out birthday/anniversary and cards and notes to members, make prayer shawls, and make visits to people who are ill or homebound. It could also include planning for events designed to bring the congregation and community together such as book clubs, game night, movie night, and such. There are multiple opportunities to get involved with outreach, a little or a lot.

Communications Team -- These team members use social media, emails, websites and print materials to share announcements, ministry updates, and event details. Their responsibilities include crafting, editing, and disseminating church information to members and the wider community. The directory, bulletin boards, newsletter, and website keep our team busy.

Building and Grounds Team -- In addition to our paid groundskeeper, this team is responsible for the care and stewardship of the church, grounds, and related equipment. Safety and security are a part of this work. Project management, inspections, maintenance, and budget management working in coordination with council is necessary. The team, along with the Pastor/Vicar, ensures the physical space aligns with our ministry and vision.

Christian Education Team -- This is a new team being formed to assess our educational needs for spiritual growth and discipleship. This will include developing a plan and recommending resources for our congregation for all forms of education including adult education, childhood, and youth education, First Sunday potluck Temple Talks and special series, and so on to. If you love to assess educational needs, teach, coach, and work specifically with young people or adults, we need you!

If any of the above teams sounds like something you are interested in, please speak to Vicar Lisa, Jo Moss, or a council member.

Church Council members are:

Mike McNeil, President

Mark Moss, Vice President

Mary McKenna, Secretary

Kathy Broman, Financial Secretary

Julie Wersal, Treasurer

Terri Watson, Trust Fund Officer

Cherie Holder

Norine Hazen

Julie Morris

E-formation – 4th Sunday of Easter, May 11

This coming fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday, since on this Sunday all three years of the lectionary celebrate Christ imagined as a shepherd. We will read the beloved Psalm 23. Unfortunately, most art depicting the Good Shepherd is unrealistic and sentimental: shepherding was a difficult and dirty job for the men and women who herded the flocks, but sheep were gifts from God and essential sources of life for the people. Join us to thank Christ for being our shepherd.

 

John 10:22-30

Concluding the Johannine discourse about Jesus as the good shepherd is another indication of the intense controversy in the late first century, when the gospel was written, between the growing Christian community and Jewish religious authorities. Jesus is speaking from the temple precincts and claims for his own followers the historically Jewish religious language that likens the people to God’s sheepfold. Especially in claiming unity between Jesus and God the Father, the passage contrasts Christian belief with Jewish doctrine. The festival of Dedication is what we know as Hanukkah, which celebrated the rededication of the temple and fell three months later than the gospel’s last calendric reference, to the feast of Tabernacles (7:37).

 

Acts 9:36-43

This episode exemplifies Luke’s emphasis in Acts that with the help of the Holy Spirit the disciples are continuing the ministry of Christ. Peter’s raising of Dorcas parallels Jesus’ raising of the daughter of Jarius (Luke 8:49-56). Joppa was a coastal city in northern Judea. Dorcas is praised for her care for the poor, another theme important for Luke. That Dorcas is called a disciple reminds us that “disciple” is not a male term. Luke gives women important but secondary roles in the church of the first century.

 

Revelation 7:9-17

This passage continues the description of the throngs around the throne of the Lamb. About angels, elders, and the four creatures, see Easter 3. Under the Roman emperor Domitian was a reign of terror during which many Christians were martyred, and they are now added to the heavenly court. Here is also a temple, although at the end there will be no temple in heaven (Rev. 21:22). White robes signify victory. Robes are made white by being washed in blood, and the Lamb is the shepherd. Jewish apocalyptic describes the blessed dead as having transformed bodies, for example with eyes, yet not experiencing hunger. The visionary’s use of the future tense (vv. 16-18) means to comfort those now facing persecution.

Zion's Lutheran Church

A Reconciling in Christ Community

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785