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A Message from Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop

The war in the middle east is so tragic. We can only pray for peace. Below is a statement by our Presiding Bishop, Rev. Elizabeth Eaton that was published on October 13.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?" —Psalm 22:1

Dear church,

As Lutherans, we are accustomed to holding tension between two truths. Thus, the ELCA denounces the egregious acts of Hamas, acts that have led to unspeakable loss of life and hope. At the same time the ELCA denounces the indiscriminate retaliation of Israel against the Palestinian people, both Christian and Muslim.

For the past week we have borne witness to the horrors of the escalating crisis between Israel and Hamas. We also watch a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as Israel blocks food, water, fuel, and medical supplies and as airstrikes continue to cause unbearable civilian casualties ahead of a just-announced ground assault. We see Israelis and families around the world in the agonizing wait for word about the fate of loved ones killed or taken hostage by Hamas. We are in anguish, grieving and praying for all people who are living in trauma, fear, and uncertainty.

Among us are Palestinian Lutherans who are fearful for their families, their communities, and their homeland. In our communities we have Jewish and Muslim neighbors, who are also facing the horrors of this crisis and its impact on their loved ones.

It is difficult to find words that suffice in the complexity of this moment, and in the web of relationships that bind us together, as church, with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and our interreligious partners. Yet God has called us to be a people who stand with others amid suffering.

We must also call a thing a thing. The power exerted against all Palestinian people — through the occupation, the expansion of settlements and the escalating violence — must be called out as a root cause of what we are witnessing. We are committed to our long-standing accompaniment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

The God who liberates us calls us to be a liberating witness. May it be so.

In Christ,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton

Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Serving This Sunday, Twenty first Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 22, 2023

10 a.m. Lay Leader Worship

Council Meeting Minutes

Zion's Lutheran Church Council met after worship on Oct. 15. Reports from the Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Trust Fund Officer were approved.

Vicar Lisa reported that the Blessing of the Animals, in honor of St Francis, held on Saturday morning Oct. 7 “went well with no serious animal or people incidents."

Since we have been willing to open our hall as an emergency warming shelter, the Keep Trinidad Safe and the Homelessness Task Force, led by Detective Jennifer Lay have decided to provide funds to repair the shower in the fellowship hall bathroom. The total for the repair is $1,303. They will also install a neoprene shower base and retile the shower surround, we will have to repair the ceiling in the lower-level blue room.

Zion's 135th Anniversary celebration was on Sept. 24. Thank you, Paula, for arranging the musicians Vinnie Gumlich and The Montoya's.

Upcoming:

  • Vicar Lisa will be at Seminary Oct. 22-28.
  • She has been asked to preside over a family’s funeral in November.
  • Advent begins Dec. 3.
  • We will have a Blue Christmas worship service on Dec. 21.
  • The Trinidad Ministerial Alliance (TMA) would like to know what they can do to help with the Thanksgiving Dinner. Jo and Norine will attend the TMA meeting with Vicar Lisa on Nov. 10 to discuss how they can all help.
  • We have been told that the Soup Kitchen will not be serving Christmas Dinner this year. The council discussed the possibility of Zion's making and delivering dinners. Norine and Peggy were notified that Zion's will be the recipient of the Turkey Bucks again this year from Safeway.
  • We are looking for someone to do the cleaning in the sanctuary, fellowship hall and lower level in 2024. Julie has a list of "duties". Please inform Julie if you know anyone who would like to help with this.
  • Plans for Pastor Andrea's Celebration of Life and Memorial Service are in the works. We will be using three venues to accommodate those who plan to attend. Julie will have sign-up sheets for set-up help and ushers about a week prior to the service on Nov. 3.
  • We will have a congregational meeting right after worship on Oct. 29 to approve changes to our constitution and bylaws. This is based on suggestions from the Synod, Transition Team, and discussions at our Council Retreat last spring. If anyone has questions, please contact Julie or a council member.

David Lamb was nominated to complete the term vacated by Paula Little last month. Norine Hazen will take over as acting Secretary.

The 2024 Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 4.

Members of this year’s Budget Committee will be Carol Schulzkump, Vicar Lisa Rygiel, Julie Wersal, Mike McNeil, and Cherie Holder. This committee will meet to review last year's budget, income, and expenses to develop a budget for next year. After it is reviewed and "tweaked" by church council, we will send it out to voting members to approve at the annual meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Julie Wersal, Council President

 

Announcements

  • Following Worship on Sunday: Join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and conversation with Pastor Clay Mason. He will conduct a signing of his new book, It All Started in the Trailerhood. Books will be available for purchase for $20.  All funds go to support The Way Ministry.
  • Coat Drive: As we have done in previous years, we will be collecting coats for the local needy population.  Please bring your coats, jackets, sweatshirts, etc., and drop them off in the fellowship hall. We would like to provide them to Pastor Clay on October 29.
  • Women’s Bible Study:The next Women's Bible Study is at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, in the Fellowship Hall with a study of the parables of Jesus lead by Carol Smith. All are welcome.
  • Adult Bible Study: Our next Adult Bible Study on How Lutherans Interpret the Bible will continue Nov. 5. The focus will be on Lutheran buzzwords.
  • Congregational Meeting: A congregational meeting will be held on October 29, 2023, at 11am (following worship) for the purpose of approving the changes to our constitution and by-laws. An email with the proposed modifications was sent out by President Julie Wersal on Sept. 29 at 1:24 pm. All voting members are requested to review the documents in advance. If you have any questions, please contact Julie or any council member.
  • 5 Loaves Delivery Teams Needed: Our monthly 5 Loaves lunch deliveries will take place Saturday morning, Oct. 28, if you can help, please let Norine Hazen, Peggy Gustafson, or Jo Moss know.
  • Newsletter Deadline: If you would like to add something to the November newsletter, please let Jo Moss know. The deadline is Oct. 24.
  • Memorial Service: A celebration of the life of Pastor Andrea, is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3, at Zion’s Lutheran. Comi Funeral Home in Trinidad is in charge of arrangements. Reception to follow at Space to Create Trinidad.
  • Now Available: Copies of the October-December Portals of Prayer are available in the back of the sanctuary and in the Fellowship Hall.

E-formation – Twenty first Sunday after Pentecost -- Oct. 22

Two of the readings this coming Sunday include the words, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What does this mean in our daily lives? Come to worship, to meditate upon the word of God and to join in the meal of fellowship and forgiveness.

The Readings in the Bible

Matthew 22:34-46

The excerpt offers two demonstrations of Christian reliance on the Hebrew Scriptures: Jesus quotes Leviticus on love, and Christians interpret the messianic psalms as referring to Jesus. The necessity for Christians to know the Old Testament is enacted in the lectionary’s weekly assignment of readings from the Hebrew Bible and singing of the psalms. The several branches of contemporary Judaism offer varied interpretations of their own scriptures; Christians offer one centered in Jesus.

Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

This passage is selected to proclaim what Jesus is quoting. In its interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Christianity both continues and alters Jewish proclamation of the covenant with God.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Paul’s concluding remark, that we share with one another not only the gospel, but also our very selves, is one way to word the dictum “to love our neighbors as ourselves.” We give ourselves.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785