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A Prayer for Our Country

By Vicar Lisa

In every presidential election season, emotions run high. And whether you are feeling excitement and optimism or despair and pessimism, remember that our hope lies, not in who occupies the White House, but in the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, our Lord and Savior. As we move past the election and now enter the post-election season, the need to pray for our country remains.

 

I pray for this nation. I lift up all the issues and frustrations that affect the citizens of our country. I pray you will give us the ability to listen to each other and hear our concerns. Let sensibility, genuine compassion, and empathy rise in the hearts of people in our country. Remind us we are one nation, made up of people from all different nationalities and backgrounds, which is the beauty of our country. Help us realize that loving you and loving our neighbor is our calling as Christians. And as you taught us, everyone is our neighbor.

Lord, I pray for those who have been voted in to lead our nation. Regardless of which side of the political aisle they fall on, they need your wisdom to lead. I pray that our political leaders will work together to solve the challenges of our nation. Let those who are leading recognize their job is not just to lead but to serve. Let them care about the interests of the people they represent and give them the courage to stand for what is right.

Finally, I pray for the Christian people of this nation. We carry in our hearts the gospel of Jesus Christ, this Good News that you give us to share. Let this message go beyond our hearts and flow into our actions and our speech. Help us not to get sucked into anxiety but instead help us focus on the eternal things of your kingdom. Help us represent you well so that they will know we are Christians by our love for one another.

AMEN

25th Sunday After Pentecost – Nov. 10 -- 10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements (Updated 11/09/2024)

  • Weather Changes:
    • Regular Church Council Meeting moved to after worship on Sunday, Nov. 17, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
    • Congregational Meeting moved to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Fellowship Hall and via Zoom. Updated meeting information will be posted soon.
  • Weekly Bible Studies: The Rev. Dr. Becky McNeil continues the weekly Bible Study entitled, The Bible from Scratch, The Old Testament for Beginners at 1 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 13 and at 10 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 16.
  • Turkey Fry Day: We begin our Thanksgiving Day Dinner preparations on Saturday, Nov. 16, with Bill Winter who, again this year, will fry 40+ turkeys. We will begin preparations about 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day, helping to set up, cook, carve and clean up. If you can help, let Julie Wersal or Norine Hazen know.
  • Community Thanksgiving Dinner: Will be served from noon to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Meals are available, free of charge for dine in, pick up, or delivery. All are welcome. If you know someone who wants to join us, feel free to invite them, and if they need meals delivered, please let Norine Hazen or Jo Moss know
  • Help Wanted for Thanksgiving: Sign-up sheets for food and to volunteer time on Thanksgiving Day are in the Fellowship Hall. We need donations of food, as well as volunteers who can help with set up, clean up, kitchen duties and dish washing, food service and meal packaging, and delivery drivers.

E-formation – 25th Sunday after Pentecost – Nov. 3

This coming Sunday we hear about two widows, both of whom in their time and place exemplified the poor and helpless in society. Come to worship to identify with them and to share in God’s meal of mercy.

Mark 12:38-44

Probably marked by a growing anti-Jewish polemic within the early Christian community, the story condemns the Jewish men wearing their fringed tallith outside of prayer as being religiously ostentatious and hypocritical. Repeatedly throughout the scriptures the widow is a symbol for social helplessness. The narrative of the widow takes place in the women’s court of the temple, which had receptacles for offerings. She contributes one-sixty-fourth of a laborer’s day wage. Mark uses the story to anticipate the death of Christ, when he gave everything he had.

1 Kings 17:8-16

The book of 1 Kings, compiled in the sixth century bce, narrates history to illustrate Deuteronomic theology: God will bless the righteous and punish those unfaithful to the covenant. With the monarchs of the divided kingdom being untrustworthy heirs of King David, the prophets take center stage. Elijah functions during the reign of King Ahab (869–850 bce). The drought is interpreted as punishment from God. Zarephath is north of the northern kingdom. The narrative indicates that God will bless even a widow who is an outsider if she honors the prophet.

Hebrews 9:24-28

The author of Hebrews continues the book’s interpretation of the metaphor of Christ as the high priest, who annually on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, entered the most holy inner chamber of the temple to appear before God for the sins of the people. The excerpt stresses the benefits of Christ’s ministry: he removes sin; he saves. The author seems to reject the suggestion that Christ will come again in judgment. In light of the recent destruction of the Jewish temple, the author presents Jesus as the replacement for animal sacrifices. The author assumes a three-tier universe in which the realm of God is above the earth and anticipates the end of the world.

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