The Zion Messenger
July 2015
From the Pastor’s Corner: THE SILENT SERMON
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace...and waited.The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.
See you in church,
Pastor
- From Vicar Koziol
Church service requires neither glamor nor glitz
I read this article from a recent Christian newspaper that I felt compelled to share with the congregation. The following is not my work, but from a gentleman named John W. Fountain that was printed in the Chicago Sun Times, Sunday, May 31st. Mr. Fountain wrote:
“Lights, camera, action! I had come for worship service but landed at a flashing gospel praise production.I hadn’t been to church in a while, backslider that I am, or so saints call me. I chose to go to a church I sometimes visited before I altogether stopped regularly attending church a few years ago.I walked through the door into the sanctuary. Immediately, I noticed how dark it was inside. I could hear music, see the shadows of people standing, swaying, praising. But why was the church so dark?
It soon became clear that it was all part of the set, apparently designed to usher worshippers into the proper frame of mind and spirit. To help us “feel” the awesomeness of God. A Sunday morning praise extravaganza. Blue and purple lights bounced around the stage. Flashing white Hollywood lights beamed and crisscrossed the sanctuary as the praise and worship team bobbed and swayed. I felt like I had been teleported back to my first Parliament-Funkadelic concert. “Flash light” could have been sung. “…Neon light, ooh, stop light.” But I only stood and watched.On the video screens flashed a psychedelic visualizer, pulsating with the rhythm. After the preacher prayed—house lights still down—the screens displayed an artist’s rendition of the hand of God, reaching down to man amid a shimmering night sky.And, in the words of the Temptations, “ the band played on…”“A praise party going on, “the church sang, “right here.”Except, I came to praise. Not to party.
I must have seemed like a fish out of water. I certainly felt like one. And neither the music or singing, nor all the lights and sparkle made me feel any closer to God than I did when I first walked through the church’s front door. In fact, it all made me feel further from God. I felt prodded by all the techno-gadgetry to become emotional rather than feeling free to engage in the kind of worship and praise that requires no pomp and circumstance, no elements of a major theatrical production. I felt as if I was being induced into a hypnotic state of spiritual euphoria by the on-stage stimuli that failed to lift my thoughts even beyond the ceiling. It was for me all simply a distraction, an impediment, to worship.
My dissatisfaction with the church, and therefore my disappearance in recent years, apparently makes me part of the growing number of what the national Christian research firm Barna Group has identified as the “churchless.” In fact, there are 156 million churchless U.S. adults and children, according to Barna, with 76 percent having had “firsthand experience with one or more Christian churches” but who now seek to “better use their time in other ways.”As one of the so-called churchless, I am more specifically among that subgroup that some researchers call “the dones”—those who once upon a time were fully immersed in the institutional church. But weary of the church politics, abuses and even performance-based worship, we have abandoned ship, though not our faith.We recognize the difference between flash and gimmick, and spirit-led service. The kind of service that that can move one closer to the presence of God whose splendor and glory are manifested by all creation itself. Any flashing lights or production, no matter how vibrant, pales in comparison. My grandmother and the little old church mothers I grew up seeing praise and worship God without any frills, lights or cameras taught me that.No props required. Just Spirit and truth…So I soon exited stage left.”
Dear friends at Zion this article raises many questions about what is out there in the world of “church services.” Mr. Fountain expressed briefly that he left church altogether for “awhile.” I’m sure that not in million years would he have thought that his church would transform into this light-filled production show. So what does this teach us? It teaches us to remain in church, to get involved in its activities, to show our support of services that give full reverence to God, not to ourselves. Most importantly it shows us that if left to our own devices, we will always make God’s church, into what we think church should be, not what God tells us it should be. Stay active, stay involved, and see you in church!
Stewardship Notes – Becky Beardsley
Work will begin on the 2016 budget soon. There will be a finance committee again this year to put that together. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please contact me as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued and generous support to Zion.
Treasurer’s Report
We are well into the summer season and our attendance is showing the impact of folks with vacations, family activities and other things that take us away from Sunday and Wednesday Divine Services. Zion’s membership is generous in their financial support, something that makes my job a lot easier. While we miss you at Church, we also miss your regular giving. Our bills and expenses carry on whether it’s vacation time or not!
Here is an idea that helps maintain our financial support. Assume you’re going on vacation and will miss two Sundays. This means that, on the Sunday you returned, you would need to make a three Sunday payment to get caught up in giving. Now, instead of that big check after you get back from vacation, for a Sunday or two before you leave, pay half a Sunday ahead. Then, after you return, make up the absent Sundays half a week at a time. This minimizes after vacation shock and helps us maintain our giving level. Try it – it works.
In July we will make our second quarterly payment of tuition assistance for Seminary students. Zion has taken the lead in this commitment, ahead of most congregations in the Synod . Thanks be to God.
The Church Year
July takes into the summer season, and in the Church Year we continue in The Time of the Church, The Season after Pentecost. Years ago this season was also referred to as the Season of the Holy Trinity, or just Trinity. During this time our readings tell us about the nature of the Trinity, Epistle readings that reinforce the role of the church and us as members of Christ’s body. Our Gospels include accounts in Jesus’ life, His miracles, parables and encounters with the scribes and Pharisees. Altar paraments and vestments are green during Trinity except on specific Feast or Festival Days.
As we moved through the Festival seasons of the year, every Sunday had a particular reading associated with it; “Epiphany 2, Lent 1, Ash Wednesday, etc”. However, since the date of Easter moves every year, so does the beginning of The Season of the Church. During this time, until we once again come to the first Sunday in Advent, each Sunday’s readings are designated as “Propers” – a particular reading for a calendar week. This year July’s readings will be Propers 9 through 12 in the Three-Year Lectionary, Series B.
Two festival days fall in July; July 22 commemorates St. Mary Magdalene and on July 25th we remember St. James the Elder, Apostle. Neither of these fall on a Sunday – no special observance is made.
260-281-2286
0389 CR 12, Corunna, IN46730
What’s in a Cover?
Have you ever looked at the cover of our hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book? Yeah, it’s red, and it keeps the pages together, so? But take a closer look at the cover and you will see that there a number of symbols of our faith there, not just some stylish decorations. As the authors of the LSB note:
The most prominent feature of the cover is the cross. The dark, innermost portion of the cross is a reminder of the darkness of Good Friday. The prominent, gold leaf cross is a reminder of the Resurrection of our Lord. The eight embossed squares surrounding the cross remind us of Christ’s resurrection on Sunday, the eight day and the inauguration of a new creation through our Baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ.
To the left of the cross are depicted the means of grace, through which the Gospel goes forth into our lives and to all the world. From top to bottom are an open Bible (Word of God), a shell with drops of water (Holy Baptism) and Communion vessels with grains of wheat and fruit of the vine (Lord’s Supper). On the back cover, the Holy Trinity is pictured in the form of the hand of God (the Father), a cross (the Son) and a dove (the Holy Spirit).
So, before we start worship, take a moment and look at the cover of our hymnal; even before we open it to sing and share in the Liturgy, it speaks to us of our faith.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL – Our Social is being held in JULY this year – so please mark your calendars! The ice cream will be made on July 15th, with the kitchen crew starting at 10:00 and the freezer team at 11:00. The social will be held on the 16th from 4:30-7:00 and we are looking forward to MANY volunteers to bake those cakes and pies we will offer!
CAMPDISCOVERYis our VacationBibleSchool which will also be in July – from the 19th through the 22nd. Get those children signed up soon!! The Adult VBS will feature three excellent speakers. Heath Eshelman will speak about the Beans & Rice Mission in Africa on the 19th; Rev. Mike Spencer will be speaking on Pro-life on the 20th, and Rev. Joseph Gudel will speak on what Muslims believe and teach on the 21st. Wednesday the 22nd will be a review of all three. If you are able to be one of thedynamic crew that will help each evening to teach, entertain, feed, and inspire the children and adults in attendance, please contact Shannon Comment or Lori Grate.
TinCaps Game: DeKalb Thrivent is offering Tin Cap tickets for the Lutheran Thrivent night for $6.00/per ticket and the date isAugust 29, 2015. There will be a sign up sheet, and the POC for this will be Linda Hoffman.
The Lord is my Shepherd
- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want
- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
-that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters
-that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul
- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
- that's Guidance!
For His name's sake
- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
-that's Testing!
I will fear no evil
- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me
- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me
-that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
-that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil
- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over
- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
-that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
- that's Security!
Forever
- that's Eternity!
Face it, God is crazy about you!
Servicemen - Could you send notes of encouragement – or cookies – to those in the service? These are our service members that we have addresses for. Please remember them in prayer if not with mail.
BM3 Aaron Mason Spc Cody Williams
JEBEL ALI52341 Biloxi Circle Unit 2
BM3 Aaron MasonFort Hood, TX76544
CRS 4 Det 1
Unit 5761EN3 Jeffery Mason
FPO AE09501-5761Reactor - RA
USS Roosevelt (CVN-71)
Colonel Mark Childs FPO AE 09599-2871
CMR 480 Box 3160
APOAE 09128
Sgt. Joshua Rittner
E5 Christopher Boles721 Parker Road
9393 Scooter LaneOceanside, CA 92058
El Paso, TX 79907
An athiest cannot find God for the same reason that a thief cannot find a policeman.
YOUR CHURCH COUNCIL
President: Charlie Martz
Vice President: Dave Swogger
Board of Stewardship: Becky Beardsley
Treasurer: Larry Beardsley
Financial Secretary:Carolyn Martz
Board of Elders Lance Hoffman
Board of Evangelism: Sandy Bartolin
Board of Education: Shannon Comment
Board of Missions: Charlie Martz
Council Secretary Kathy Swartz
CALENDAR NOTES AND EVENTS FOR JULY
July 1 - 8:00 pm CHURCH COUNCIL MEETS
July 15 – Make Ice Cream
July 16 – Ice Cream Social 4:30-7:00 pm
July 18 – Corunna’s Picnic in the Park
11:00-1:00
July 19-22 - VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
5:00 Dinner, 6:00-8:00 Programs
July 26 – 11:00 am – Elders Meeting
REAL LINES FROM CHURCH BULLETINS
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans,bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripplechildren.
The sermon this morning: 'JesusWalks on the Water.'
The sermon tonight:'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummagesale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around thehouse. Bring your husbands.
Don't let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will notpass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to thecongregation.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be try-outsfor the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter weremarried on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
At the evening service tonight, thesermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currentlyneeded due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM -prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have castoff clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.