Zion Lutheran Church

Since November’s Congregation Council meeting, the Council has been discussing the recent change to the way we do Holy Communion at the Communion rail. At its last meeting the Council asked that more in the congregation become involved in the discussion and thought that an on-line conversation about it would be helpful. So, here it is. What do you think about our recent practice of continuous communion where we do not have people kneel together at once as a group, or “table?”

Here are some of the thoughts about it so far:

1. Time spent in worship is an issue for some, and continuous communion is very efficient, saving about five minutes.

2. Some like the slowness, solemnity and feeling of community with kneeling and being dismissed as a group.

3. Some do not mind the continuous nature of communing by intinction, but are not comfortable with it when we do it at the communion rail, while others are not comfortable with either form of continuous communion.

4. I like the way continuous communion includes the whole community in one non-stop movement.

5. In light of #4 and #2, some have pointed out that continuous communion might actually do more to emphasize the individual rather than the community.

6. There have been some awkward moments with continuous communion initially. This may subside as we practice it more, or it may not.

7. Some have pointed out that our stairs add to the awkwardness of practicing continuous communion, that it would work more smoothly if we did not need to navigate them.

8. Some have wondered what all the hurry is for.

This issue will be discussed again at our March Congregation Council meeting. The Council and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

If you want to help the victims of horrific earthquake in Haiti please consider these two very reputable places: Lutheran World Relief was on the way today with an initial donation of $20,000. You can find information about supporting LWR’s work in Haiti by going to this website: LWR Emergency Update, Haiti Earthquake

You can also contribute to the ELCA’s work there. You can read more about it at this website: Presiding Bishop Details ELCA Response to Haiti Earthquake – News Release

And we will certainly be lifting up in our prayers the people of Haiti as well as those offering the extremely needed help.

Christmas Eve Worship will take place at 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. Each service will feature individual candlelight, Holy Communion, and a children’s sermon along with plenty of old favorite Christmas hymns. There will be solos, and a quartet featured at the first service. A brass quintet and the Senior Choir will be featured at the second service.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, our contextual education student, Bill Retza, will recite Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from memory. This is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, chapters 5 – 7. It is a great opportunity to hear this sermon of Jesus in its entirety. Usually we only hear or study bits and pieces of it. Bill is doing this as part of a class that he is taking. You are invited to read blogs that Bill and some of the students in his cohort have put together regarding the Sermon on the Mount. This blog can be found by clicking here. Following the service on Sunday, there will be an opportunity to discuss your thoughts and reactions to the Sermon. The discussion will be held in the cry room.

In addition to the Debt and DAR video which you can see below this posting, there were three other videos that we viewed and discussed. We thought they were excellent examples of what it can look like when we are doing God’s work with our hands. This first one did a great job of making the connection between what we do at the altar and what we do in outreach to others. Take and Eat

This next video features a story that takes place at a Bible camp, reminding us how simple it is to not only do God’s work through our hands, but also how that work can enable others join us in this work. And the best part of the video is how well it expresses how wonderful it feels to do this work. Unconventional

This last video shows what a difference a couple of congregations can make in the lives of the needy within a community when they use the gifts God has given them for this purpose. It begs the question: What has Zion been gifted to do? We think making a difference in the lives of kids that are ministered to by the DAR Boys and Girls Club is just such a call for Zion. What do you think? Family Dinner

Zion’s three year capital campaign is coming to a close at the end of the year. We will be engaging in a new one year campaign designed to decrease our indebtedness and to contribute to an important ministry in our community, the DAR Boys and Girls Club. To find out more about this campaign, please take a look at this video. It was locally produced by Pastor Bill Shepard of Bethel Lutheran in Menominee and it features folks from Zion. This video was viewed at each of the Dessert and Devotions gatherings this past October. Tell us what you think!
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Check out the “God’s Work. Our Hands.” website. http://www.godsworkourhands.org/ It has lots of great videos. This is a new project by the ELCA and is definitely worth the time!

Here’s a favorite of mine. It features Pastor Peter Warmanen, the son of Pastor Cy and Ruth Warmamen, of Fortune Lake fame. Pastor Peter is the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Medford, WI. It is a cute video. Check it out. http://www.godsworkourhands.org/v/155,saint-pauls-medford.html
Pastor Keith