Living Among God’s Faithful People
by Vicar Lisa
One of the classes I am taking is Christian Ethics from Professor Cynthia Moe-Lobela. This professor has written a book entitled Public Church. In this book she states that “Living among God’s faithful people in a world of stunning interconnection bids us find and face such questions and challenges, seeking faithful response...in the face of inevitable fears or confusion, may this church be encouraged by recalling why we are a worldwide communion: to further God’s mission in the world through our work together and through mutual edification and support…”
She asks what might we expect as we grow more interdependent and mutually accountable within a worldwide Lutheran communion that is sent to proclaim justification and justice in a world in which death and oppression are the daily fare of many?
She answers that question as follows:
Let’s start living!
Serving 19th Sunday After Pentecost -- Sept. 29
10 a.m. Worship with Communion
Council Meeting Notes
Zion's Lutheran Church Council met after worship on Sunday, Sept 22. The secretary's reports were approved along with the Treasurer's and Financial Secretary's report.
Vicar Lisa will be attending seminary in Berkeley California Oct. 21-25. Becky McNeil has agreed to preach on Sunday, Oct. 20.
The outdoor worship and church picnic at Round-up Park on 9/18 went well. We all enjoyed the Orphan Valley Singers.
Peggy Gustafson has volunteered to oversee organizing the Usher/Communion/Lector schedule and has signed up volunteers to cover the rest of the year.
Mike McNeil will continue to lead our study on stewardship following our First Sunday Potluck.
Becky McNeil will lead a bible study "The Bible from Scratch, The Old Testament for Beginners". There will be two chances to attend each week. On the Sunday's that we do not have the Stewardship presentation, we will incorporate a session entitled "Let's Chat." Topics so far include Favorite Bible Verses, the Apples on the Tree exercise we did with the Transition Team, RIC Clunky Questions, and the Welcome/Mission/Vision Statements.
Terri Watson and Keeliey O'Hara will officially join Zion's in October, by baptism and affirmation of faith.
We are looking for people to join the Board of Trustees. This committee made up of 3 or 4 people, as spelled out in our by-laws, oversees monitoring the Samuels Trust Fund. We work with a financial advisor at Charles Schwab and make recommendations to the congregational council who have final authority in all financial matters. If you have any interest or questions, please contact Julie Wersal or Mike McNeil.
The next regular meeting will be Oct. 13. Having no other business, the meeting was adjourned with the Lord's Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Wersal,
Council President
Announcements
E-formation – 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Sept. 29
Standard Sundays continue with the proclamation of the second half of Mark’s gospel.
Mark 9:38-50
The extreme admonitions in this passage capture the metaphoric nature of Jesus’ preaching. Although later Christians saw this passage as about eternal punishment in hell, it is unlikely that Mark’s community had any such medieval understanding of “Gehenna.” In our baptism, we do “bear the name of Christ” and have been salted with God’s Spirit. The passage includes an admonition for Christians to cease competition with each other. The stark passage concludes with a blessing of Christ’s peace.
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
The narrative from Numbers has been joined with Mark 9 because both share the conviction that God’s Spirit is shared by the many rather than by the few. Thus, the Numbers reading places the focus of the gospel reading on verse 40. The Israelite nomads have certainly been salted with fire. Christians believe that in baptism all the members of the body of Christ receive the Spirit of God.
James 5:13-20
The passage from James impels us to examine our practice of prayer, which here is focused on communal healing, not on personal situations. The Elijah reference reflects early monotheistic beliefs, according to which any cosmic event, even weather, is produced directly by God.
Zion's Lutheran Church
719-846-7785