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A Word of Hope on Reformation Day: Written By Nelson H. Rabell-Gonzalez in Living Lutheran

By Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Oct. 31 is Reformation Day. As the church remembers 501* Years of the Protestant Reformation, we are also reminded of our need for Jesus. Given recent incidents of hate, intolerance and violence, Jesus’ message and way of life continue to be relevant today.

In his words and actions, Jesus conveyed a word of God and a word from God. In other words, we know about God’s project for humanity, God’s kingdom, because of Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus was wrongly accused, tortured and executed, his word about God lasts forever. His resurrection was the divine vindication of his whole life.

In his life, death and resurrection, Jesus promoted solidarity, community, communion with God and each other, mercy, compassion, grace and justice. We all need to hear this message. We all need grace and compassion. God calls us—Christ’s church for the sake of the world—to proclaim Jesus’ teachings.

On this Reformation Day, my prayer is this: May God’s Spirit continue to reform our message so that Christ may be formed in us and in our world.

Martin Luther, the 16th-century German reformer, pastor and church teacher, is another historical example of a Christian proclaiming the word of God to a world in crisis. And Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed the word of God during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Both men proclaimed the gospel message to our hurting world in order to spread love and justice. Neither was perfect. Luther’s anti-Semitic writings still haunt us as Lutherans, while King’s personal shortcomings are also well-documented. Nevertheless, we hold dear their proclamation of the justifying grace of God. We are encouraged by their words calling for a renewal of society, so that our dreams of equality may one day be our reality.

According to Luke 4:16-20, Jesus, while in his hometown of Nazareth, read the following verses from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

If our proclamation is not informed, shaped and grounded in Jesus’ life, actions and teachings, we run the risk of proclaiming our way and not God’s. When our way is preached, we get bigotry, racism, sexism, war, intolerance, violence and apathy toward those who are powerless and voiceless. Like Luther and King, we must strive to bring freedom to those who are oppressed.

For this Reformation Day, my prayer is this: May God’s Spirit continue to reform our message so that Christ may be formed in us and in our world. Freed by God’s grace, may we boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ—word from God and word of God. Let our mouths give voice to hope.

* This article was written in 2018. This year we celebrate the 508thanniversary.

October 26, Reformation Sunday -- 10 a.m. Sunday Worship

 Announcements

  • Reformation Sunday at Zion's: Over the centuries, Lutherans have kept a special day to thank God for the freedom that the word of God grants to believers and to pray that with the help of God’s Spirit, the church will be continually reformed and renewed. You are invited to worship with us on this Reformation Sunday, in praise and petition to God for the ongoing health of the church.
  • Fellowship: Join us after worship Sunday for food and fellowship. All are welcome!
  • The Way Ministry: At 1 p.m. each Sunday, Zion’s welcomes the Way ministry to our fenced lower yard as they offer food and worship to the unhoused and others in need.
  • Children’s Choir: Children’s Choir is at 3 p.m. each Sunday, through Nov. 30, in the Fellowship Hall. (Please note that this is an hour later than originally announced.)
  • Yoga: At 5:30 p.m. each Friday, join Cora Gardiner for yoga in the Fellowship Hall.
  • Weekly Christian Education Studies: Our next study sessions are at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, (repeated at 12:30 on Saturday, Oct. 25), Pastor Lisa is leading a Study entitled By What Authority: Rethinking Early Christian History.
  • Thanksgiving: Zion’s will serve its traditional community dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone who receives 5-Loaves meals will get a Thanksgiving meal automatically. People who do not want a Thanksgiving meal, or who need extra meals that day, may let us know by calling Zion’s Lutheran at (719) 846-7785 or send an email to 5loaveszions@gmail.com. If you know someone who should be added to the Thanksgiving and/or 5-Loaves lists, please let Jo Moss or Norine Hazen know.
  • Congregational Meeting Announcement: A special congregational meeting is called for Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, to approve the Church Council request to withdraw additional funds from Zion’s Lutheran’s trust fund. This is needed to cover expenses for November, December, and January. It also will help to cover capital improvements such as the new handrails as well as mitigation and safety upgrades that our insurance company is requiring be completed by the end of the year. In addition, Zion’s monthly expenses have risen substantially this year, in particular utilities and our church insurance premiums.

    The meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. During discussion, all points of view, whether for, against or neutral, will be provided an opportunity to be heard. As defined in our constitution (Chapter 8), voting members are confirmed members of Zion’s who, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have a contribution of record.

If you wish to attend the meeting via Zoom the link follows:

Topic: Congregational Meeting

Time: Nov 2, 2025, 11:30 AM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85653526926?pwd=OXqTwOGea6L0STPldlpaKg4huwUnSy.1

Meeting ID: 856 5352 6926 -- Passcode: 795951

 E-formation – Reformation Sunday, October 26

John 8:31-36

It is not the church, or any one church, that is truth; rather, Jesus Christ is truth. No church can claim ownership of the word; rather, Jesus Christ is the Word. The son is free, that is, free to remain in the house. We gather around that word to receive the truth and experience life in the Father’s house.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The oracle from Jeremiah is appointed because of its promise that God will continue a covenant of grace. Christians have seen that new covenant, and the forgiveness of sin and knowledge of God it brings, as embodied in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and renewed at the Supper — ”the new covenant in my blood.”

Romans 3:19-28

This excerpt from Romans is appointed because it summarizes the biblical gospel so transformative for Martin Luther. It is faith in Christ that saves, not “law,” that is, religious practices stipulated in the Torah, nor by “boasting” in our church either. The church is called perpetually to renew its faith in God’s grace.

Zion's Lutheran Church

A Reconciling in Christ Community
zionsluth@gmail.com
719-846-7785