Zion Lutheran Church – Marinette

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: Notice: Who found favor with whom?

This week’s text for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

You are invited and encouraged by Zion Lutheran Church to sign up for “Distribution of Holy Communion” on Sunday, December 27, from 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (with the last group entering at 12:00 p.m.).

To view the online sign-up sheet and to reserve your element setting, please click on the link below. Or you may call Zion’s office (715-735-7898) and ask for assistance in reserving your element setting.

TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE STAYS HEALTHY AND SAFE PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE UPDATED PROTOCOLS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION THAT ARE BELOW.

Distribution will be “No Contact”. We have 5 tables for each time slot with a maximum of 4 people per table from the same household. Tables can be filled with an individual, a couple or family groups. If your family/household has more than four members, please sign up for more than one table. When signing up you will be required to answer “Which do you need? Wine, grape juice, bread, gluten free or a chair?”. It is of utmost

importance that you inform us of what you need (wine, bread, grape juice, gluten-free wafers or a chair). (Chairs have been added so that we can control one time use only.)

You will not be able to sign up unless you include your answer in the space provided.

Please do not come if:

• You have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• You have been in contact with someone who has been tested but has not yet received their COVID-19 test result.
• You have tested positive for COVID-19.
• You are waiting for your COVID-19 test result.
• You are not feeling well.

When arriving for Holy Communion:

• Please arrive 5 minutes prior to your reserved element setting time (we will have chairs available for those who need one).
• Social distancing and masks are required (masks, of course, will be removed during the consumption of the elements).
• The service will last about 5 minutes.
• While waiting for your turn, please be sure to practice physical distancing by keeping yourself at least 6 feet away from other members of Zion (the exception being members of your immediate household).
• An usher will greet you at the main entrance and will guide your entry.
• Exit will be out the north (office hallway) door.
• All doors will be open for no contact entrance and exiting.
• Windows will be open and exhaust fans will be on for optimum ventilation.
• All tables will be sanitized before/after each table is prepared for the next group.
• Chairs will be one time use only.
• Blessing of our young members who have not received First Communion instruction will be done from a distance of no less than 6 feet.

If at any time you feel this procedure exceeds your comfort level for safety, but you still wish to receive Holy Communion, please contact Pastor Keith. Obviously, safety for all is our primary concern. Patience and graciousness are always welcome as we continue to experiment with this new form of worship. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns please send an email to: zion@newbc.rr.com or call Zion’s office.

Please follow this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054AABAB29A5FB6-distribution12

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: How would you react if an angel suddenly appeared to you?

This week’s text for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: When John says “Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal,” what kind of expectation does that create within his audience?

This week’s text for the Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

     ¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
     ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’?”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
     ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: When have you been accused of doing something that you did not have permission or authorization to do? How did you feel?

This week’s text for the Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

     ¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
     ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’?”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
     ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: What does a voice crying out in the wilderness sound like?

This week’s text for the Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

     ¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
     ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’?”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
     ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The announcements for Sunday, December 13, 2020 are now available. Please follow the link below to view them.

Be sure to “tune in” to worship on Sunday, December 13th for the Virtual SPARK Christmas Program! Also, there are a handful of tables remaining for Communion (also on Sunday, December 13th)!

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: How would you feel if someone thought you were a person who had been dead for many years?

This week’s text for the Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

     ¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
     ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’?”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
     ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The Question of the Day helps prepare you for next Sunday’s focus text in worship. These questions are posted here each day offering an opportunity for discussion. (Just click in the title of this post and you will be taken to the discussion window.) Try it out for a week and see how Jesus will use your time of pondering upon God’s word to deepen your faith.

Today’s question is: With what kind of emotion did John the Baptist say, “I am not the Messiah?”

This week’s text for the Third Sunday of Advent: John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

     ¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
     “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
     ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’?”
as the prophet Isaiah said.
     ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.