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Do You Have a Will?
by Pr. Lisa Rygiel

Did you know that August is the National Make-A-Will month? I didn’t until I opened up an email I received from Luther Seminary.  We have experienced a lot of deaths recently and our family has seen the results of people who passed with wills and without them. If you pass without a will, it can cause a lot of problems for those left behind. Nobody wants to plan to die but we all will at some point. If you have not prepared one yet, please take advantage of this free tool that Luther Seminary has shared.

Here is what Tim Larson, Senior Planned Giving Advisor had to say:

Dear Lisa,

Here at Luther Seminary, we believe Scripture calls us to lives of faithful stewardship and enduring love, caring for all of God’s blessings. Creating a will is a vital step in answering this call. It’s estimated that nearly two thirds of American adults do not have a will—missing a chance to provide for their loved ones, support their favorite ministries, and pass on their legacy of faith.

That’s why I’m excited to share a free estate planning resource for National Make-A-Will Month this August.

In gratitude for being part of our community, we want to share this free resource from FreeWill. This online tool has been used by over 1 million people to create a will aligned with their faith and values. I invite you or a loved one to join them this month!... Create my will 

I hope this resource makes it simple to protect the people and the causes you love during this Make-A-Will Month.

Sincerely,

Tim Larson
Senior Planned Giving Adviser

651-641-3503

Tlarson001@luthersem.edu
P.S. Many people of faith include legacy gifts in their will to provide sustained support for the causes they care about. While creating your will, you’ll be asked if you want to make such a commitment to a ministry or nonprofit of your choice. Please know this is an optional step.

The 11th Sunday in Pentecost, August 9

Announcements

  • Fellowship: Everyone, please join us after worship in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and conversation. All are welcome.
  • Church Council: The Zion’s church council meets after worship on Sunday, downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday Book Club: Book Club is on hiatus during August.
  • Summer Supper Gatherings: Our next summer supper is at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12. There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall for food and activities. We look forward to seeing you there.
  • Fellowship Hall Flooring: Following the congregational meeting last Sunday, authorizing the church council to proceed with flooring replacement in the Fellowship Hall, a tentative schedule has been set. Work to remove the old carpeting should begin Aug. 13. And, while there may be some inconveniences during this process, the long-term results will be well worth the trouble.
  • Connections Newsletter: The August issue of the Zion’s newsletter Connections was sent by email on July 31. Paper copies are available in the Fellowship Hall. We are looking for people to submit recipes for the September newsletter. If you can help, please let Jo Moss know.
  • Save the Date: God’s Work Our Hands Sunday for Zion’s will be Sept. 13, details will follow in E-Formation, the Bulletins, and the September Newsletter.
  • We’re Here for You: For pastoral care, call Zion’s at 719-846-7785 or send an email: zionsluth@gmail.com.

E-Formation

Do you know the old song that goes “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me”? That song is about the gospel for this coming Sunday. Come to worship, to encounter Christ standing by you, no matter the storms, and to stand with others, to be the presence of Christ for them.

Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew’s story of Jesus walking on the water recalls Old Testament descriptions of God as the one who controls the chaotic seas. The Greek of Jesus’ response to the frightened disciples echoes the Hebrew name of God, “I am.” Matthew has added to Mark’s telling of this narrative an episode with Peter, a leader in the early church who is shown to be also a doubter. Once again, Matthew’s interest in church leadership is evident.

1 Kings 19:9-18
The historian of 1 Kings (see Lectionary 17) described the prophet Elijah as having faithfully preached the word of God to the evil king Ahab, his Phoenician wife Jezebel, and the many Baal-worshiping Israelites. Afraid of arrest by the queen, Elijah hid at Mount Horeb, another name for Mount Sinai. But this time no fire and smoke show God’s power. Rather, Elijah’s encounter with “sheer silence” calls him back to his prophetic tasks among a people unfaithful to the Lord God.

Romans 10:5-15
Paul’s letter to the Romans continues by clarifying what he means by the gospel of righteousness through faith. Paul discourages a kind of literalist interest in where the risen Christ currently resides. Instead, he proclaims the existential power of the good news about faith in Christ preached here and now to Jew and Gentile alike.

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