Question of the Day, Saturday, October 31, 2020

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 kind of blessings and rewards come to those who are reviled, persecuted and have all kinds of evil uttered against them falsely on Jesus’ account?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Question of the Day, Friday, October 30, 2020

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: Why should peacemakers be called children of God?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Question of the Day, Thursday, October 29, 2020

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 do the pure in heart see God?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Announcements for Sunday, November 1, 2020

The announcements for Sunday, November 1, 2020 are now available. To read the announcements, please open or download the file titled “20201101-Announcements”.

Sunday, November 1st is All Saints Sunday. This year Zion will be participating in a Synod wide “Tolling of the Funeral Bell” event. Beginning at noon on Nov. 1st, Zion’s bell will ring for 5 minutes! All Saint’s Day is a day that our Church remembers our beloved who have passed on before us. On this day, we will also remember the many who have died during this pandemic. Please include all those who grieve in your prayers during worship and your personal devotions. Our Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist siblings, in addition to all community churches, are also being invited to remember the dead in this way.

“Whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

May God comfort all who mourn as we surround the grieving with the warm embrace of communities of faith and the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Currently, more than 225,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. Worldwide the number is more than 1,170,000 (as per CDC and WHO). Each death represents a grieving family, a loss suffered, the absence of a loved one felt.

Question of the Day, Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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: In what ways do the meek inherit the earth?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Question of the Day, Tuesday, October 27, 2020

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 kind of comfort is received by those who mourn?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Video of Worship, Sunday, October 25, 2020

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This is the video of worship held on Sunday, October 25, 2020; Reformation Sunday!

On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, posted his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, protesting the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church. In honor and remembrance of the nailing of the 95 Theses; this worship video includes a portion or all of the Synod-Wide Online Worship. Be sure to watch-you may recognize a couple of the participants!

Question of the Day, Monday, October 26, 2020

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 this kingdom of heaven look like that the poor in spirit receive?

This week’s text for All Saints Day: Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Question of the Day, Saturday, October 24, 2020

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 do we get the same privileges that the Son has in his household?

This week’s text for Reformation Sunday: John 8:31-36 (NRSV)

31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

Question of the Day, Friday, October 23, 2020

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: In what ways do you feel like a slave to sin?

This week’s text for Reformation Sunday: John 8:31-36 (NRSV)

31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”