Question of the Day, Monday, April 5, 2021

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 was it important for Jesus to show the disciples his wounds?

This week’s text for the Second Sunday of Easter is from John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Hunger in the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey with Mark

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Today marks the 40th Lenten daily devotion!

We are happy to share that we have surpassed last year’s total of $3,147.28! So far this year, we have raised $3,695! In addition, Zion has two families that promise to match 10% of what is donated during Lent! Help encourage their generosity, with yours!

THANK YOU to each of you for your generous donations to combat world hunger! Together, we are making a difference!

Contributions clearly marked “World Hunger” can be made electronically from: our website, Facebook page or the app called “Give Plus”. Or, if you prefer, place it in the offering plate when you commune on April 4th!

Please note, the final day of the drive is Sunday, April 4th.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of what you can do to fight world hunger in 2021.

Last, but not least, please extend a sincere thank you to Pastor Keith for making the “extra” time to record the daily devotions and for increasing our awareness and knowledge of world hunger. Many of the statics cited are quite humbling. You have made a difference. THANK YOU.

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Fortieth Day of Lent, Saturday, April 3, 2021.

Easter blessings!

Question of the Day, Saturday, April 3, 2021

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 were they so afraid of?

This week’s text for the Resurrection of our Lord: Easter Day is from Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Video of Worship, Thursday, April 1, 2021

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This is the video of worship held on Thursday, April 1, 2021; Maundy Thursday.

The Choir Anthem for this worship is titled “We Will Remember You” as sung by Zion’s choir, accompanied by Rachel Rosenfeldt and directed by Ann Buscher. This was recorded on March 29, 2018.

Hunger in the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey with Mark

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Today marks the 39th Lenten daily devotion!

We are happy to share that we have surpassed last year’s total of $3,147.28! So far this year, we have raised $3,695! In addition, Zion has two families that promise to match 10% of what is donated during Lent! Help encourage their generosity, with yours!

THANK YOU to each of you for your generous donations to combat world hunger! Together, we are making a difference!

Contributions clearly marked “World Hunger” can be made electronically from: our website, Facebook page or the app called “Give Plus”. Or, if you prefer, place it in the offering plate when you commune on April 4th!

Please note, the final day of the drive is Sunday, April 4th.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of what you can do to fight world hunger in 2021.

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Thirty-Nineth Day of Lent, Friday, April 2, 2021.

Easter blessings!

Question of the Day, Friday, April 2, 2021

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 could they keep silent about such a thing, especially in light of the direction given by the angel?

This week’s text for the Resurrection of our Lord: Easter Day is from Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Hunger in the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey with Mark

<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”>?</span>

Today marks the 38th Lenten daily devotion!

We are happy to share that we have surpassed last year’s total of $3,147.28! So far this year, we have raised $3,695! In addition, Zion has two families that promise to match 10% of what is donated during Lent! Help encourage their generosity, with yours!

THANK YOU to each of you for your generous donations to combat world hunger! Together, we are making a difference!

Contributions clearly marked “World Hunger” can be made electronically from: our website, Facebook page or the app called “Give Plus”. Or, if you prefer, place it in the offering plate when you commune on April 4th!

Please note, the final day of the drive is Sunday, April 4th.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of what you can do to fight world hunger in 2021.

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Thirty-Eighth Day of Lent, Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Easter blessings!

Question of the Day, Thursday, April 1, 2021

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 did the angel mean when he said that Jesus was not there? Isn’t that exactly what the resurrection enabled, that Jesus would be present everywhere?  

This week’s text for the Resurrection of our Lord: Easter Day is from Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

1When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body]. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.