Hunger in the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey with Mark

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This year, Zion’s ELCA World Hunger Drive features a daily devotion with Pastor Keith!

Last year we raised $3,147.28 to alleviate world hunger. So far this year, we have raised $400! In addition, a family will match 10% of what is collected during Lent. Encourage their generosity, with yours!

Contributions to this cause (clearly marked “World Hunger”) can be made online with the “DONATE” button on our website, the “SHOP NOW” button on our Facebook page or via an app called “Give Plus”. If you prefer, you may mail a check or you may also bring your donations with you when you commune! Thank you for your prayerful consideration of what you will do to help alleviate world hunger.

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Seventh Day of Lent, Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

We are blessed to be a blessing!

Question of the Day, Wednesday, February 24, 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 would Peter take Jesus aside and rebuke him?

This week’s text for the Second Sunday in Lent: Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)

31[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

          34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Hunger in the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey with Mark

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This year, Zion’s ELCA World Hunger Drive features a daily devotion!

Last year, Zion raised $3,147.28 to alleviate world hunger through our World Hunger Drive. Special offerings can be made online with the “DONATE” button on our website. You can also use the “SHOP NOW” button on our Facebook page. There is also an app called “Give Plus” that can help you make an electronic donation. Of course, the U.S. mail still works and cash as well as checks are still accepted. A family will match 10% of what is collected during Lent. Encourage their generosity with yours!

Thank you for your prayerful consideration during this pandemic. Presently 1 in 10 people in the world suffer with chronic hunger. It is expected that the pandemic may DOUBLE that figure. We want to be of help and the ELCA’S World Hunger Program is one of the best at offering the necessary help with extremely low overhead costs. Together, we can do so much to make a difference!

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Sixth Day of Lent, Tuesday, February 23, 2021.

Blessings unto you and yours!

Question of the Day, Tuesday, February 23, 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: If you were one of the disciples, how would you feel about hearing that the religious authorities of the time would have a significant role in putting Jesus to death? 

This week’s text for the Second Sunday in Lent: Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)

31[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

          34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Video of Worship, Sunday February 21, 2021

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This is the video of worship held on Sunday, February 21, 2021; the First Sunday in Lent.

As you can see, this worship video was recorded via Facebook live, from Pastor Keith and Karen Kolstad’s home. Thank you Pastor Keith and Karen, for your quick thinking to “invite” us into your home (and to introduce us to Mortimer) during these times in the “wilderness”.

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>

This year, Zion’s ELCA World Hunger Drive features a daily devotion!

Last year, Zion raised $3,147.28 to alleviate world hunger through our World Hunger Drive. Special offerings can be made online with the “DONATE” button on our website. You can also use the “SHOP NOW” button on our Facebook page. There is also an app called “Give Plus” that can help you make an electronic donation. Of course, the U.S. mail still works and cash as well as checks are still accepted. A family will match 10% of what is collected during Lent. Encourage their generosity with yours!

Thank you for your prayerful consideration during this pandemic. Presently 1 in 10 people in the world suffer with chronic hunger. It is expected that the pandemic may DOUBLE that figure. We want to be of help and the ELCA’S World Hunger Program is one of the best at offering the necessary help with extremely low overhead costs. Together, we can do so much to make a difference!

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Fifth Day of Lent, Monday, February 22, 2021.

Blessings unto you and yours!

Question of the Day, Monday, February 22, 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: If you were one of the disciples, how would you feel about Jesus predicting his suffering and death?

This week’s text for the Second Sunday in Lent: Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV)

31[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

          34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

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>

This year, Zion’s ELCA World Hunger Drive features a daily devotion!

Last year, Zion raised $3,147.28 to alleviate world hunger through our World Hunger Drive. Special offerings can be made online with the “DONATE” button on our website. You can also use the “SHOP NOW” button on our Facebook page. There is also an app called “Give Plus” that can help you make an electronic donation. Of course, the U.S. mail still works and cash as well as checks are still accepted. A family will match 10% of what is collected during Lent. Encourage their generosity with yours!

Thank you for your prayerful consideration during this pandemic. Presently 1 in 10 people in the world suffer with chronic hunger. It is expected that the pandemic may DOUBLE that figure. We want to be of help and the ELCA’S World Hunger Program is one of the best at offering the necessary help with extremely low overhead costs. Together, we can do so much to make a difference!

This brief video is the Lenten Devotion for the Fourth Day of Lent, Saturday, February 20, 2021.

Blessings unto you and yours!

Question of the Day, Saturday, February 20, 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 would his time in the wilderness affect his ministry?

This week’s text for the First Sunday in Lent: Mark 1:9-15 (NRSV)

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

          12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

          14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”