AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday January 19, 2025

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Old Testament Reading -- Isaiah 62:1–5 
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.
The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you. 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 

Youth Group Bake Sale: Sunday January 26, 2025

Bake Sale to benefit the 2025 Youth Gathering Trip
Support our youth and satisfy your sweet tooth on Sunday January 26, 2025 between services in the Fellowship Hall

Ten Truths about the Sanctity of Life

Ten Truths about the Sanctity of Life
Meeting deceitfulness with certainty instead of hostility

by Pastor Michael Salemink, Executive Director - LifeDate, Winter 2024

Death thrives on lies. It feeds on them, rises or falls on falsehoods, and needs them to survive. Ever since the devil’s first, “Did God really say?” sin has loved misinformation. Our Lord Himself exposes what friendly bedfellows death and deception make: “[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning … for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The wicked world and our own sinful flesh love dishonesty almost as much, especially when they work as weapons against the commands and promises of God.

Like rust, though, lies don’t exist independently. They only come about as corruptions or parasites of realities. Every forgery derives its force from correspondence to the genuine article. The Heavenly Father turns even lies into invitations for speaking facts. So here are ten of the most common opportunities to meet deceitfulness with certainty instead of hostility:

“The Bible doesn’t say anything about abortion.” Most English translations may not include the technical term. But whole Scriptures concern how God creates, redeems, and calls every human being to be His own precious treasure from fertilization to forever. And Exodus 21:22-23 prescribes capital punishment for even inadvertent taking of unborn life.

“Abortion is a woman’s choice (and physician-assisted suicide is a matter of personal autonomy).” Pregnancy involves at least two human bodies and responsibilities (father’s and child’s) in addition to the mother’s. Physician-assisted suicide also requires at least the physician (not to mention the other loved ones and neighbors affected). Every one of these lives belongs to the Almighty Maker—and He knows best how to care for them.

“Without abortions, women will die from pregnancies.” Resolving pregnancy complications may require removing the baby, but it never demands intentionally killing the little one (even if we cannot intervene to avoid this dying). Premature delivery does not constitute abortion. Miscarriage (or even evacuation of miscarried remains) isn’t the same thing either. And women do perish every year from “legal and professional” induced abortion procedures.

“Chemical abortion is perfectly safe (but Abortion Pill Reversal isn’t).” Even the FDA acknowledges that abortion pills inflict injuries and casualties necessitating emergency intervention in at least six percent of cases (y4life.org/ wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Health-Risks-of-Abortion-Fall-2023-Updates.pdf). Hemorrhaging, septic infections, follow -up surgery, infertility, and cancers can result (along with psychological trauma). An antidote exists (abortionpillreversal. com) that has worked 64- 68% of the time to save over 4,500 lives and has harmed zero mothers (www.heartbeatinternational.org/apr-101). 

“Untreatable agony makes physician-assisted suicide necessary.” Palliative care (pain management) provides at least a measure of relief in the vast majority of circumstances. So most individuals seeking physician-assisted suicide do not even identify physical discomfort as a primary motivation. Suicidal ideation represents an appeal for community, not for execution. And the Incarnation of Our Lord guarantees a redemptive purpose to even our worst sufferings. 

“Sexual assault and adverse diagnoses require abortion access.” Further violence does not reverse or relieve from rape trauma. Victims who abort report compounded grief, while those who carry report finding meaning and healing in it. Discriminating who gets to live based on origin or ability endangers the whole of humankind. And most individuals with disabilities love their lives, as do their families, despite the distinct challenges. 

“Abortion eases social crises like abuse, inequality, poverty.” Murdering before birth exacerbates these problems by inflicting them (abusing, disadvantaging, depriving) on those who can do the least with or about them. Putting to death anyone who suffers seems like a lousy strategy for healthy society. On the other hand, the more heads and hands we raise up to address difficulties, the better our chances of success. 

“Abortion opponents don’t care about babies after birth (and they’re generally unkind).” The proliferation of pregnancy resource centers demonstrates the p r o f o u n d c o m p a s s i o n and commitment of these sensitive and generous communities. For Life Christians participate more in adoption and fostering than any other demographic. 

“Pregnancy resource centers mislead vulnerable women.” It is true that PRCs do not facilitate abortions. It’s also true that they prefer birth and do so with explicit Christian convictions. However, they support persons regardless of decisions, materially and emotionally, with patience but without pressure, providing resources and relationships. And almost all of the funding comes from private charity rather than diverting public monies. 

“Christians think abortion amounts to an unforgivable sin.” God loves everyone who permits, promotes, or participates in abortion just as much as all the lives lost to it. Jesus came and died to make up for this sin and make us free from its guilt. Anyone who desires His forgiveness already has it along with His favor. Only believing such forgiveness unnecessary excludes from it . 

Bulletin: Sunday January 19, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 19, 2025
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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday January 18
10:00 a.m. - SPECIAL Prayer Breakfast with the Still Remembered Project (Details)

Sunday January 19
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
6:00 p.m. - Youth Group Bowling Night
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday January 20
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation
6:00 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation
7:00 p.m. - Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday January 21
6:15 p.m. - Faith Bell Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday January 22
Pastor away at a Conference
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service with Pastor Mike Kettner
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study
(Service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday January 23
Pastor away at a Conference
No Events Scheduled

Friday January 24
No Events Scheduled

Saturday January 25
No Events Scheduled

Sunday January 26
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

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CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page

Sunday School Class for Babies and Toddlers

This Sunday, we will start a Sunday School class for babies and toddlers under the age of three (there is no minimum age). A parent is encouraged to attend the class with their child.  We will meet at 9:15 in Classroom 207 in the Preschool wing.

Pastor’s Corner

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 

Jesus came in human flesh. He did not come in the flesh of a duck. He did not come in the flesh of a dog. Jesus was not incarnate as a caterpillar or a goldfish. Jesus came in your flesh. The flesh of a man, of a woman, of a child. He came in the flesh of a person made in the image of God – you. 

We may wonder, “Why did He come in this way and not some other, more powerful, way?” The answer is easy, He came in human flesh to be given for you. He came in human flesh to keep God’s law perfectly in your place. He came in human flesh to rise from the dead in your place. 

During Advent and Christmas, we should always remember why Jesus Christ became man. We must remember why He came in your flesh, and not in some other way. He came in your flesh all for your sake. It is like Isaiah said, “For to us a son is born, to us a son is given.” Jesus came in the flesh to speak, and so that you could hear. He came in the flesh to suffer for you on the cross in your place. He came in the flesh to have his blood spilled for you. Jesus came in the flesh to die in the flesh. And Jesus came in the flesh to rise from the dead in the flesh, so you also might rise from the dead. 

As we prepare for Advent & Christmas, let us remember the coming of Christ and how He provides for our salvation every single day. Jesus came as a man, to suffer in our place, and He is still coming to you. Jesus comes to you cradled in a chalice and a host in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is still coming to you in the water of baptism pouring His forgiveness over you. Jesus is still coming as the Word (John 1) when we hear Christ proclaimed in preaching, heard in the readings, and sung with all the angelic voices of heaven in our hymns and liturgy. Jesus is still coming in the flesh. 

– Pastor Grimenstein 

LUTHERANS engage - Fall 2024 Issue

In February 2024, historic wildfires ravaged two communities in Chile, destroying homes and killing more than 100 people. (Read more in ‘God Is with Us in Suffering.’) As Chilean Lutherans cared for victims, one pastor noted, “On my own, I don’t have anything good to say to anybody. … [But] I realized … I could say to [the victims], ‘Through the Word of God, you are not alone.’”

This is the message Lutherans carry with them wherever they go — as they care for children who need a home, as they provide a worshiping community for isolated believers in faraway places, or as they proclaim the Gospel over the airwaves. Thank you for reading this issue of Lutherans Engage the World and for caring for those God has placed in your path.

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