Our mission is to Glorify God as we Gather around the Gospel to help people Grow in the Gospel and Go with the Gospel

Transcription

1 4 th Sunday after Pentecost August 6, 2014 The Christian is planted by the Word and produces fruit. The Sunday is summarized in the Prayer of the Day which thanks God for the implanting of the Word and asks for the Spirit s help in producing fruits of faith. Morning Praise Morning Praise is a revision of the historic Order of Matins. Matins was the service marking the beginning of the new day. Joined to Christ our risen Lord, we glorify God as we rise to the activities of the new day. In Christ we face the day unafraid, knowing that the Lord s compassions never fail. The are new every morning (Lamentations3:22,23). Morning is a necessary and natural time for praying, praising, and giving thanks. Opening Hymn Hymn 255 Open now thy gates of beauty; Zion, let me enter there, Where my soul in joyful duty Waits for him who answers prayer. Oh, how blessed is this place, Filled with solace, light, and grace! Morrison Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Our mission is to Glorify God as we Gather around the Gospel to help people Grow in the Gospel and Go with the Gospel Gracious God, I come before thee; Come thou also unto me. Where we find thee and adore thee, There a heav'n on earth must be. To my heart, oh, enter thou; Let it be thy temple now! Here thy praise is gladly chanted; Here thy seed is duly sown. Let my soul, where it is planted, Bring forth precious sheaves alone, So that all I hear may be Fruitful unto life in me. Speak, O God, and I will hear thee; Let thy will be done indeed. May I undisturbed draw near thee While thou dost thy people feed. Here of life the fountain flows; Here is balm for all our woes. Text, Tune, Setting: public domain. STAND Welcome! We thank God that you have joined us at worship today. Restrooms are located in the basement of the church. Today we gather together in the presence of God. He is present among us in a special way through his Word and Sacrament. We humbly acknowledge our sin and rejoice in the good news of forgiveness through the life and death of Christ. This is the focus of our worship.

2 Come. Oh Come, Let Us Sing To The Lord The congregation will sing the refrain and the verses 2

3 3 BE SEATED Psalm of the Day Psalm 89 Refrain At the works of your hands, O Lord, I lift up my voice in song; I sing for joy. I will sing of the Lord's great love for'ever;* I will make your faithfulness known through all gener'ations. I will declare that your love stands firm for'ever,* that you established your faithfulness in heav'en itself. The heavens praise your won'ders, O Lord,* your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the 'holy ones. Refrain O Lord God Almighty, who 'is like you?* You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness sur'rounds you. Blessed are those who have learned to ac'claim you,* who walk in the light of your pres'ence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name 'all day long;* they exult in your 'righteousness. Glory be to the Father and 'to the Son* and to the Holy 'Spirit, as it was in the be'ginning,* is now, and will be forever. 'Amen. Refrain

4 4 Second Lesson Acts 18:1-11 The field of Corinth was filled with birds and stones and thorns. Though Paul reasoned and preached, one seed after another fell on soil that did not produce a crop. Yet God s Word would accomplish his good purpose. Paul did not have to go far to find a fertile field. He walked out of the synagogue and went right next door. In the home of Titius Justus he found good soil that produced a crop one hundred times that which was sown. 18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (New International Version) Gospel Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 What a description of Jesus ministry! What a description of ours! The Sower scatters the seed of the Gospel to all with no regard for where it might land. Yet most of his seed bears no fruit. This parable brings warning and such comfort. Christ warns us that the seed of the Word faces great opposition from sin, Satan, and the world. Newborn faith can be choked or scorched. The Gospel promise can be snatched from apathetic or misunderstanding soil. Though we sow the seed faithfully and generously, Jesus warns us that most of it will never bear fruit that lasts. Yet for every faithful Gospel preacher, Christ comforts us by showing that the preacher s job is to sow the seed and leave the growing up to God. He comforts us by pointing to what his Word does in the good soil: it plants great faith that does great things. In the man who hears and understands it, the simple sowing of the Word will produce a crop a hundred, sixty, or thirty-fold. 13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.. 18 Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (NIV)

5 Seasonal Response M: Give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Hymn of the Day Hymn Almighty God, your Word is cast 3. Let not the world's deceitful cares Like seed into the ground; The rising plant destroy, Now let the dew of heav'n descend But let it yield a hundredfold And righteous fruits abound. The fruits of peace and joy. 2. Let not the foe of Christ and man 4. Whene'er the precious seed is sown, This holy seed remove, Life-giving grace bestow But give it root in ev'ry heart That all whose souls the truth receive To bring forth fruits of love. Its saving pow'r may know. Text, Tune, Setting: public domain. Sermon Isaiah 55:10-13 Though many seeds fall among soil that does not produce fruit, Isaiah gives us God s promise that his Word will never return to him fruitless. The Word is like the rain and snow sent from God in heaven that fall to bring blessing upon the earth and make it fruitful. Just as precipitation makes the earth bud and flourish, so God s Word will always do its work of planting faith in the heart of man and making it fruitful. God sends his Word out for our joy and for the LORD s renown. Intermediately fulfilled in the return from Babylon, God s promise is ultimately fulfilled in the Holy Christian Church. The Word goes forth to plant faith for the glory of God and the salvation of man. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever. (NIV) The Christian Is Planted By The Word And Produces Fruit STAND 5

6 6 You are God; We Praise You Te Deum The congregation will sing the refrain and the verses

7 7 BE SEATED Offering STAND Lord, Have Mercy Kyrie Lord s Prayer C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Prayer of the Day M: Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your Word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy and to bring forth fruits in faith and hope and love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Prayer for Grace M: Grant us, Lord, the spirit to think and do what is right that we, who cannot do anything that is good without you, may by your help be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

8 8 Blessing BE SEATED Closing Hymn Hymn 323 Almighty Father, bless the word Which through your grace we now have heard. Oh, may the precious seed take root, Spring up, and bear abundant fruit. We praise you for the means of grace As homeward now our steps we trace. Grant, Lord, that we who worshiped here May all at last in heav'n appear. Text, Tune, Setting: public domain. Today Light Bible Readings Week 49 August 4-9 Monday Proverbs 1-3 Tuesday Proverbs 4 Wednesday Proverbs 5-6 Thursday Proverbs 7 Friday Proverbs 8 Saturday Proverbs 9 Questions/Comments about Zion? Contact: Pastor Randy Ott home: ; mobile: ; ottrr@mzluth.org Principal Brian Humann , school@mzluth.org President Charles Edinger , candmedinger@icloud.com Elders: Howard Schultz School Board: Jeff Krueger School Faculty: Website: Joan Wegner, Brenda Kuchenbecker, Brian Humann, Tim Pingel, Rick Muchka Custodian: Beverly Leiterman Synod : Church/School Secretary: Nancy Pantzlaff Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Service (WELS counseling) Appleton Kathleen Jasman Living Hope Counseling Ministries De Pere (WELS counseling) Dr. John Johnson, Director,

9 News From Zion Mo r r is o n Z io n L ut h eran C hu r c h P as t or Randy O t t w ww.m zl u th.o r g ( h om e) (mobile) ottr zl u th. org (em a i l) Announcements Food and Fun Join us after the 10:30 service this Sunday for a meal of burgers and hot dogs. Weather permitting, we will eat outside. After the meal their will be games for all ages. We will have inflatables for the children and games for the children and adults. We will serve food at about 11:30 a.m. Join us even if you worshipped on Thursday or at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday! God s Faithfulness will meet this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement. Our lesson will be: God s Faithfulness at the Manger. Next Sunday we will look at God s Faithfulness at the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Join us as often as you can and bring the family! Today s Light Bible Discussion will meet Sunday and discuss Psalm New discussion guides for August are available in the rack at the back of church and in the church basement. The discussion guides include suggested answers! Voters Meeting The Voter s meeting approved the proposed change to Article 6 of the Bylaws. The last sentence of the article has been removed. They also issued a call to Amanda Humann to substitute teach to provide administration time for Mr. Humann. This was a part of the accreditation process. The voters had approved a plan to phase the cost of a substitute into the budget over a number of years. The School Board and Council moved the plan forward to this year without impacting our budget. The money will come from school funds not our general fund. The impact on the budget will be the same as originally planned. The call was issued so that Mrs. Humann may retain her synod certification. The voters also received David Matthies by transfer from Immanuel, Shirley and Jason and Michaela Hagenow and their sons, Kaden and Mason by transfer from St. John s, Wrightstown. Only One Thing Is Needed is the theme of this Fall s Capital Appeal. This appeal is de- signed to inform the congregation about our plans to add a second pastor or staff minister. The voters approved calling a second pastor or staff minister after the debt is paid off and we have $100,000 on hand for adding this person to our staff. The Appeal committee is beginning its work this month. Please pray that the Lord would bless their efforts. Please pray for our congregation. The next few months will shape the direction of our ministry in the coming years. Please pray for God s blessings upon us! School Registration packets are now in the church basement for you to pick up. Please make an effort to pick them up before home visits are scheduled and before registration on August 10 and 14. The packets include school supply lists, updated school calendar, classroom schedules, and forms to fill out. The handbook and curriculum guide will be available at registration. Registration for the upcoming school year is on August 10 at 11:30 a.m. or August 14, 5:00-6:45 p.m. If you cannot make it on either date, contact Nancy for a time to reschedule. Keep in mind that if you need to reschedule, the classroom teacher may not be available. Feel free to bring your school supplies either day! Lutheran Ladies League Rally will be Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at St. John s Lutheran Church, Maribel. The focus will be our work in Nigeria and Cameroon. Truck Jam Join us on September 20, 10:00 a.m. Noon for Truck Jam. This every other year event is held on the school grounds with trucks of all kinds to explore. Crafts and snacks will also be available in the school commons. This event is free and open to all! If you would like to donate money toward this event, please speak to Mr. Humann. Volume 2, Issue 32 July 31 & August 2, th Sunday after Pentecost Our Mission is to Glorify God as we Gather around the Gospel so that we Grow in the Gospel and Go with the Gospel

10 Page 2 News From Zion Sunday Tuesday Thursday Sunday Tour with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary July 28, 2014 Weekly Calendar 9:15 a.m. Bible Study 11:30 a.m. Meal, Games for kids & adults 7:00 p.m. Today s Light Bible Discussion 7:00 p.m. Worship Committee 7:00 p.m. Worship, communion 8:00 a.m. Worship, communion 9:15 a.m. Bible Study 10:30 a.m. Worship, communion 7:00 p.m. Today s Light Bible Discussion Dear friend of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, A hammer struck, and a young university professor set in motion events God used to change history, and most important, hearts. A chant began and a city nearly rioted. But nothing came of it. Only ruins remain. We are approaching the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. We are just a few decades away from the 2000th anniversary of a riot in Ephesus that glorified the goddess Artemis and defied the glory of Christ. It is only by God's grace that the Reformation gospel has been preserved to this day. It is only by God's grace that the message of the Apostle Paul has triumphed over idolatry in our own hearts. Yes, the history of the Refor- News From Our High Schools FVL All are invited to attend a special installation service held at FVL on Sunday, August 17 at 2:00 pm. This service, held in the Auditorium, will include the installation of new staff members. Registration is now open for the FVL Schools Band Program! To register for the upcoming school year, simply go to the FVL Schools Band Program website at middleschoolband.fvlhs.org. will also host our Beginner Camp, meant for all beginning band students regardless of grade, on August 11 and 12. All information for this camp is also on our website. MLHS Jr. Lancer Football. Any boys (grades 5-8 this fall) still interested in Today s Light Bible Reading Week 49 August 4-9 Monday Proverbs 1-3 Tuesday Proverbs 4 Wednesday Proverbs 5-6 Thursday Proverbs 7 Friday Proverbs 8 Saturday Proverbs 9 Our Stewardship of the Means of Grace Worship 244 (32, 109, 103) Communion 179 (26, 81, 72) Bible Study 71 (44, 27) WELS News mation and the history of the Christian church is really our history. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary invites you to join us in reliving this history. In honor of the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Lutheran reformation, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is sponsoring a 12-day tour to the Land of the Lutherans, from May 24 through June 4, Beginning in Berlin and ending in Prague, this tour will highlight the places and people that made Reformation history. The tour to Turkey and Greece called In the Footsteps of Paul and John will take place from January 2-16, In addition to other sites, we will visit all seven cities of Revelation, the island of Patmos, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens. But there's more. You can help equip young men to share the gospel. Academic effort in the classroom is key to that process. But reliving biblical and Reformation history at actual historical sites can add a valuable dimension. By seeing, he better remembers. By hearing Bible texts while viewing ruins, he notices new details and asks better questions. By expanding understanding, he can make certain details of salvation history come alive in new ways for those he teaches. Would you like to help a seminary student afford such an opportunity? Consider making aspecial gift for that purpose. And then, of course, join us on the very tour you are helping students enjoy! May God richly bless your service to our Savior. Prof. Steve Geiger Financial Aid Officer Overseas Tours Coordinator Glorify Gather Grow Go playing Jr. Lancer Youth Football may still register. Forms are available on the Athletics / Jr. Lancers page at Practices begin Monday 8/4; call Scott Reinhard ( ) with questions.