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Theology of Hope

by Vicar Lisa

One of the things I noted when I became an ELCA Christian was the involvement of the church in politics. I was surprised by the number of social statements that were available on everything from abortion to sexism and many things in between.

As I continue my reading for my Christian Ethics class from Professor Cynthia Moe-Lobela’s book, Public Church, this week’s readings helped me understand how “faith active in love” is the norm for the ELCA. ELCA and its predecessors have always affirmed that (1) “Christian life unfolds under the norm of neighbor-love, (2) neighbor-love includes attending to material well-being as well as spiritual; (3) neighbors extend beyond the Christian community to all of humankind; and (4) love has a special task of seeking to ameliorate suffering.” The author goes on to say, “On what grounds could Lutheran communities in this heritage not expect their bishops, ordained pastors, and other members to be a public voice in public policy?” It makes perfect sense!

The book did issue some warnings. The author stated that there is a danger that happens to compassionate and aware people who are called to love their neighbor through serving, seeking justice and peace. We can experience powerlessness in the face of systemic sin and give up in subtle resignation or hopelessness. We can forget who we are and why we were assembled and sent by God.  But we should not grow weary of doing good (Gal. 6:9).

The author reminded us that we have God-given responsibility to preach that the theology of the cross and resurrection is a theology of hope.  We are to share this good news:

  • God’s love for each person and for this world is boundless and won’t be stopped by any force in earth or heaven.
  • God is present where God seems absent, even in the midst of agony and the apparent triumph of evil.
  • God is restoring creation from all that would destroy the abundant life God has given us; and
  • God will redeem human beings from living in enmity with earth’s web of life.

Amen!

Serving 20th Sunday After Pentecost – Oct. 6

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Favorite Scripture of the Week: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Announcements

  • Fellowship Time: Plan to join us after worship for our First Sunday Potluck. Bring your favorite dish to share and plan to stay for our Sunday Morning Stewardship Study presented by Mike McNeil.
  • Blessing of the Animals: At 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, Zion’s will offer its traditional blessing of the animals. The blessing will take place on the fenced, lower lawn of the Fellowship Hall. We are reaching out to the community to participate in this blessing. We will be collecting pet food and other pet supplies to donate to PALS. In addition, we have had several items donated for “door prizes”. For more information, talk to T.M. Garner, Julie Wersal, or Jo Moss.
  • Weekly Bible Studies: Studies begin Oct. 2 & 5: The Rev. Dr. Becky McNeil will lead a Bible Study entitled, The Bible from Scratch, The Old Testament for Beginners by Donald L. Griggs. The books to accompany the course are available on Amazon. We are going to meet two different days of the week, Wednesday and Saturday, which gives us more flexibility. The Wednesday study will be held from 1-2 p.m. beginning on Oct. 2. The Saturday study will be from 10-11 a.m. beginning on Oct. 5. Follow this link for details https://zionslutheran.tithelysetup2.com/events/weekday-bible-study/2024-10-02.
  • Prayer List Updates: We will be updating the prayer list please let Vicar Lisa or Jo Moss know of any updates or names to be added or removed. 
  • Lutheran Disaster Relief: Hurricane Helene hit the coast of Florida as a Cat 4 hurricane on Sept. 26. If you have seen the news, you know that there was massive devastation loss of life, and so on. You can donate to Lutheran Disaster Response to help.

E-formation – 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Oct. 6

Standard Sundays proceed through the Gospel of Mark, this Sunday appointing a passage difficult to hear in our time, which condemns divorce and honors children over adults. We are glad for the welcome that even we receive at the table.

Mark 10:2-16

Over the centuries, some Christians have maintained an absolute refusal of divorce or have substituted annulments, which purport that a true marriage never existed, but over the last century many churches, more in keeping with Paul in 1 Corinthians, have come to condone divorce. In either case, the passage proclaims a countercultural belief that marriage partners have been bonded together by God and that Christians have a higher ethical standard than the law stipulates. The reciprocity in verses 11-12 indicates parallel situations of husband and wife. We are so accustomed to the passage about little children that we sometimes miss the shock of its countercultural assertion that God’s kingdom belongs to its weakest members.

Genesis 2:18-24

To Christians who are not literalist interpreters of scripture, the Genesis story of the first man and the first woman is a metaphoric tale of God’s careful attention to the human species, an indication of the cultural preference for monogamy, and the ethical injunction that sexual intercourse establishes lifelong bonds between the partners. We can honor the ancient story and its religious teachings without suggesting that it is a factual account of the origins of humans.

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

The opening of this reading is also the second reading for Christmas Day. You will need a fine reader to proclaim this syntactically difficult reading, the first of seven semicontinuous selections from the letter to the Hebrews. More than humans, Jesus Christ is the truest heir of God and the reflection of divine glory. Yet we are brothers and sisters of the Son of God.

Zion's Lutheran Church

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785