Service of the Word (page 38 and following in CW)

Transcription

1 8 th Sunday after Pentecost July 16 & 19, 2015 With this Sunday the emphasis in the readings begins to shift. The emphasis has been on the creation of faith and its preservation in spite of the evidence of suffering and persecution that seem to contradict his promise. With this Sunday the second cycle of the Pentecost season begins and with it an emphasis on the response of those who hear the Word. The response emphasized this Sunday is: Those who have the Savior in his Word share him by sharing the Word. Service of the Word (page 38 and following in CW) The Service of the Word makes room for the full scope of preaching and teaching God s Word in sermons and hymns. It was designed for use when there is no communion Opening Hymn: Hymn 518 STAND After the opening hymn the congregation and minister exchange words of blessing to each other, using the words of the Apostolic greeting. M: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. C: And also with you. CONFESSION OF SINS The Confession of Sins and Absolution (pronouncement of forgiveness) in this service emphasizes the scriptural themes of original and actual sin, and Jesus perfect life and innocent death to remove the guilt of sin. M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath 1 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 Welcome! We thank God that you have joined us at worship today. Restrooms are located in the basement. Hearing loop headphones and Large Print Hymnals are available from an usher. If your children need to leave worship, please take them to the basement. A TV broadcasts the service in the basement. 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 and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy. C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt. M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. C: Amen. PRAYER AND PRAISE M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. Oh, Taste and See (sung) This Song of Praise is based on two Psalms. The refrain comes from Psalm 37:8. The verse comes from Psalm 119:89. The focus and message of this song of praise is especially fitting in a service that focuses on teaching and preaching the full scope of God s Word. C: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who take refuge in him. Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues forever. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who take refuge in him. Prayer of the Day M: Let us pray. 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: (sung) Amen. 2

3 BE SEATED THE WORD First Lesson: Amos 7:10-17 False or hypocritical prophets always assume that true prophets have the same motive that they do: To earn a living by their work. But the true prophet depends on God to keep his Word, i.e., to send opposition and to send success when and where it pleases him. Notice, however, the love and patience and mercy of God; even when he knows that his Word will be rejected, he sends his beloved messengers to proclaim it. The unbelieving Jeroboam and Amaziah are without excuse. The faithful Amos has this as his reward, that he was faithful to God and his Word, whether they would hear or not; faithfulness is its own reward. We, too, need to remind people that God is serious about his Word whether we are or not. He paid so high a price for our salvation that the judgment is fierce for those who trample the gift of the Savior underfoot and despise his generous offer of grace and eternal life. 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying: Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land. 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom. 14 Amos answered Amaziah, I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. 16 Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac. 17 Therefore this is what the LORD says: Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land. (NIV) 3

4 Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78 (p. 95 of CW) Second Lesson 1 Timothy 3:1-7 While we can take no credit for the success of the gospel, we can certainly throw obstacles in its path. There is a danger that we degenerate into a certain professionalism that ends up making the assumptions of Amaziah in the first lesson not all that wide of the mark. There is a danger that in a godless age we see ourselves even at our worst as better than the common herd. But God wants us to take his Word seriously before we tell others to do so. Have we become so cocky, so arrogant, so self righteous and self confident that we imagine that these words are dead letters to us and apply only to someone else. May it not be! So noble is our task, so holy our vocation! May we not cheapen it by contempt for its solemn and saving essence! 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil s trap. (NIV) Verse of the Day (sung) C: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written they we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! STAND Gospel: Mark 6:7-13 In the forefront of those sharing the Savior by sharing his Word are those that he has specifically called into that office. What should we expect of them? We should expect that they are ready for some to receive and some to reject that word. Notice that he sends them to share only what they have received; he does not give them permission to fudge the message when many or most reject it. For Jesus does not come through false doctrine to create or strengthen faith. It is in faithfulness to the message and reliance on his promise that repentance is worked which both confesses sin and 4

5 rejoices in absolution. He will keep his promise when and how it pleases him without the help of our opinions, our compromises of the truth, our eagerness to be popular and always successful. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: Take nothing for the journey except a staff no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (NIV) M: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! BE SEATED Hymn of the Day: Hymn 525 Sermon Mark 6:7-13 Sent Where Transcends Timidity Where love informs Where hope sustains STAND Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 5

6 He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. BE SEATED Offering During the offering, please sign the friendship register in your pew. Thank you! STAND Prayer of the Church Lord s Prayer 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. BE SEATED Hymn Hymn 770 STAND 6

7 M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: (sung) Amen. Benediction M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen. BE SEATED Hymn Hymn 572:1,5 7

8 Today Light Bible Readings Week 99 July 27 August 1 Monday Hebrews 13 Tuesday James 1 Wednesday James 2 Thursday James 3 Friday James 4 Saturday James 5 Questions/Comments about Zion? Contact: Pastor Randy Ott home: ; mobile: ; ottrr@mzluth.org Principal Rick Muchka , school@mzls.org President Charles Edinger , candmedinger@icloud.com Elders: Howard Schultz School Board: Bill Doyen School Faculty: Joan Wegner, Brenda Kuchenbecker, Katie Muchka, Tim Pingel, Rick Muchka Website: Synod : Custodian: Beverly Leiterman Secretary: Nancy Pantzlaff Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service Appleton (WELS counseling) 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) Burden Bearing Study God has borne all our burdens in Christ. His love compels us to bear each other's burdens. Our study leads us into Scripture's lessons on suffering. Discussion based on real-life accounts lets students consider how they should demonstrate love for others. This week we look at Burdens are bridges to repentance and faith. Please join us as we explore how to live our faith in this way! We meet Sundays at 9:15 a.m. in the church basement. Join us and bring the family. Voters Meeting is set for this Sunday after late service. We will meet in church. Today s Light Bible Discussion will meet Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in the church basement to discuss Hebrews join us! Softball Youth Group invites all ages to join them in playing softball. We will meet at 7;00 p.m. on Sunday. Please join us! CD Ministry Meeting is this Monday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the church basement. Sermon Suggestions If there are sermons that you think would be especially suited for use in our CD Ministry please give your suggestions to Pastor Ott or Howard Schultz. Thanks! Golf This Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. is our weekly golf outing at Wander Springs. Everyone (male, female, young, not so young) is welcome! VBS Thank you to everyone who helped with VBS this past week. We had over 70 students and over 20 helpers! Thank you to everyone who helped us proclaim the One Thing Needed! Help! We need help with ushering. Please stop on your way into church and see if help is needed. Also please take the time to sign up in the basement or back of church to usher at an upcoming service. Sign up as a family or individually. Thank you for serving the Lord and his people! Soup for Souls If you would like to help make soup to take to members or non-members that were recently hospitalized, please speak to Pastor Ott. We plan to begin later this summer if enough people are willing to help. Any member would be free to take a meal to a friend, neighbor, or co-worker who was hospitalized along with a note of encouragement from our congregation. What a great way to share the love of Jesus! Parents As you start to think about the upcoming school year, we have all registration materials, supply lists, and classroom schedules online at Announcements You can also pick up your registration materials in the church basement. School Fall Service Project We will help children who need care in foster homes. The Children s Safety Network needs supplies to distribute. These items include school bags and cinch sacks (new or gently used in excellent condition), toiletries, coloring books, crayons, books, and pillows. Our school will collect these items which the Manitowoc County Child Protection Service Unit will distribute. If you wish to donate any items, please drop them off in the office. If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Wegner. Food Pantry needs the following items: canned fruit, canned pasta, juice, canned carrots, pork and beans, baked beans, hamburger helper, rice, syrup, barbeque sauce, laundry detergent, shampoo, and bandaids. Please drop your items off in the church basement or at school. Items Wanted The 4K & 5K classroom would like a cassette player to play cassettes with their books. The 5th and 6th grade classroom would like a dvd/ vhs player. If you have any of these items to donate please drop it off at school or talk to Nancy Pantzlaff. After the recent Supreme Court decision, you may ask yourself "How do I respond to homosexuality and gay marriage?" Northwestern Publishing House offers books that can help you reflect on what God's Word says on these topics, including Forgive Us Our Sins. Jointly authored by Pastor Richard Starr and Scott Barefoot, this book lovingly balances law and gospel for a clear scriptural view of homosexuality. Plus, as you read the firsthand account of Scott's exodus from the gay lifestyle back to Christ, you will receive hope for overcoming your own unique temptations. You can learn more about this title and other NPH books on homosexuality at Religious Tours You are invited to join retired Pastor Eugene Kock on either tour. On April 4-13,2016, he will lead a tour to the Holy Land. All key sites in the life of Jesus will be visited. On Sept , 2016 he will lead a tour to Germany high-lighting places of the Reformation and more. Beat the crowds and prices by going a few months before the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. There are discounts for early enrollment. Pastor Kock, who has led 50 tours, can be contacted at pastorkock@yahoo.com or for more information. Volume 3, Issue 27 July 16 & 19, 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 Weekly Calendar Sunday 9:15 a.m.. Burden Bearing Study, basement 11:30 a.m. Voters Meeting, church 7:00 p.m. Softball 7:00 p.m. Today s Light Bible Discussion Monday 7:00 p.m. CD Ministry Meeting, church Wednesday 5:15 p.m. Golf at Wander Springs Thursday 7:00 p.m. Pentecost 9 Worship, communion Sunday 8:00 a.m. Pentecost 9 Worship, communion 9:15 a.m. Burden Bearing Study, basement 10:30 a.m. Pentecost 9 Worship, communion 7:00 p.m. Softball 7:00 p.m. Today s Light Bible Discussion Today s Light Bible Reading Week 99 July 20 July 25 Monday Hebrews 13 Tuesday James 1 Wednesday James 2 Thursday James 3 Friday James 4 Saturday James 5 News From Zion Our Stewardship of the Means of Grace Worship 255 (25, 131, 114) Communion 204 (20, 104, 80) Bible Study 44 (35, 9) Update on Humanitarian Aid and Relief Work At its June meeting, WELS Christian Aid and Relief approved grants totaling $332,426 for humanitarian aid projects in both home and world missions fields. These projects help our missionaries reflect Christ s love to people in need and also open doors to share the gospel, says Rev. Robert Hein, chairman of WELS Christian Aid and Relief. World mission fields receiving grants include Zambia, Nigeria, Malawi, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, East Asia, Mexico, Haiti, Nepal, Pakistan, and India. Grant money will be used for projects such as borehole drilling to provide clean water, English as a Second Language classes, home-based care for the chronically ill and dying, food assistance to the needy, agricultural projects, food and nutrition for orphans, midwife training classes, and medical equipment and health clinics. Home mission fields in Las Vegas, Nev.; Chicago, Ill.; Farmington, N.M.; New Orleans, La.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, are receiving grant money for projects that include welcome packages for immigrants, a community garden, and a camp in a financially depressed area. Christian Aid and Relief works closely with the WELS Boards for Home and World Missions, WELS missionaries, and sister congregations in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference in determining humanitarian aid grants. The group also provides money for disaster relief efforts and people facing extreme medical emergencies. Two large disaster relief efforts this year following flooding in Malawi, Africa, and earthquakes in Nepal are ongoing. In January, Malawi experienced damaging floods that destroyed or damaged the homes of many families who are members of WELS sister synod, the Lutheran Church of Central Africa Malawi (LCCA). Initial relief efforts included providing supplies so these families could construct temporary housing. But a larger upcoming need is food. The floods washed away crops and depleted the local food supplies. These people are subsistence farmers, says Missionary Mark Panning, mission coordinator for Malawi. They depend upon the harvest to survive. This means many families will face hunger in the coming year. To help families get through until the next growing season, Christian Aid and Relief is working with LCCA church leaders to distribute almost 450 tons of maize (the staple food of Malawi) to an estimated 4,000 LCCA families so they will have something to eat from September through January. This gives us a great opportunity to let our light shine and to show our Christian love to our brothers and sisters in the LCCA. They know that this is assistance coming from donors in WELS, people are who concerned about their physical and spiritual needs and want to WELS News do something to help, says Panning. I pass along the sincere thanks of the national church for everything. In Nepal, more than 9,000 people have been killed by two recent earthquakes in April and May, including 39 members of our church in Nepal. The WELS mission contact in Nepal traveled to nine villages in the rural areas of the Dhading district after the first earthquake to distribute blankets, medicine, sleeping mattresses, and food. He returned in June to bring more food and blankets as well as Bibles and large tents so the people could worship during the monsoon season. Our contact also visited villages and brought aid to the Makwanpur district where there are churches that have expressed interest in WELS doctrine. People see the love of Christ when you share the words of the gospel, the message of salvation, says the WELS friendly counselor to Nepal. Then they see the love of Christ in these acts of kindness. It s a powerful one-two. Nepal church leaders and Christian Aid and Relief currently are exploring the idea of offering a grief workshop in Dhading to help those struggling with losses. It s really a privilege that the Lord would use us to channel his blessings to our brothers and sisters in need, says Hein. We are truly thankful for your prayers and gifts. Learn more about WELS Christian Aid and Relief at Glorify Gather Grow Go