Summer Happenings - Zion Lutheran Church 15.pdf · 1 1 Continued on page 9 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 420...

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ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

420 1st Street SE Gwinner, ND 701.678.2401 www.ziongwinner.org

Divine Service 9:00 am Every Sunday

June 2015 Newsletter

Summer Happenings…

Over the next three months of summer we have several changes and additions that you should be aware of.

First, as you have already noted, our Sunday morning time for Divine Service has changed from 10:00 AM to 9:00 AM. With that said, we will be having the Summer Family Bible Study after the Divine Services, starting on June 7th. How this will work is rather simple. After the service, grab some coffee and cookies with your family and hang around in the fellowship hall. Then 10-15 minutes after the service, we will begin our study. This is open to the whole family. The junior and senior high are asked to attend with their parents, and the small children can simply draw, read, and play at the other tables. The Summer Family Bible Study will only last about 45 minutes and will serve as a way to let you wrestle a bit more with the scriptures.

Secondly, I am happy to announce that on Mondays at 9:00 AM, the junior and senior high will get together for “Table Talk.” Yes, each Monday, youth from our community are invited to come to Zion’s Library for donuts, coffee, and juice, while we discuss theology, current events, scripture passages, ethics, and so forth. This youth gathering is definitely geared to make the youth think and process the Christian faith in our ever changing and challenging American Culture. So, please help get the word out!

Thirdly, keep in mind that Vacation Bible School is around the corner (July20-23). There will be signup sheets in the church narthex for you to volunteer and get involved. Furthermore, we will be canvassing the city of Gwinner again this summer, that is to say, leaving fliers on the doors of residents. We will also need help with baking snacks, registration, and so forth. At this point, simply keep your eye and ears open as information about our VBS comes your way.

The Lord bless and keep you in His forgiveness of sin unto everlasting life,

-Pastor

Pastor’s Note

Youth Events

Mission of the Month

Baby Shower

Cleaning List

June Birthdays

Calendar

Service Lists

Newsletter Devotion

In This Issue…

http://www.ziongwinner.org/

WWW.ZIONGWINNER.ORG 2

Our amazing group of youth and chaperones

is ready to head to Concordia University,

Seward, NE on July 27th.

Please keep them in your prayers

as they prepare for this journey.

This summer’s 2015 Higher Things Conferences will rejoice in

the gift of the Te Deum, a hymn of praise that gives us a foretaste

of what’s happening in worship in heaven and on earth.

Final Fundraiser….The Higher

Things Youth will be selling Pizza Corner Pizzas as their final fundraiser for the trip. Watch for details in the coming weeks!

Youth from our community are invited to come to Zion’s Library for donuts, coffee, and juice, while we discuss theology, current events, scripture passages,

ethics, and so forth.

This time is definitely geared to make the youth think and process the Christian faith in our ever changing

and challenging American Culture.

We truly appreciate and are so grateful for the fantastic support that everyone has given us for this trip. It wouldn’t be possible for us to take this great

group of kids to this amazing conference without your prayers and support! Thank You!!


July 20-23

Join us for Camp Discovery July 20-23 Monday – Thursday

9:00am to 12:00 noon

Open to Preschoolers through 6th Grade

If you are able to help with VBS in any way, please sign up on the

sheet in the Narthex or talk to Hollie, Marsha, or Mike. Thanks!!


June Birthdays

2 – Derek Wangler

3 – Teresa Illies Janet Nelson

4 – Curt Colemer

5 – Allen McDaniel

7 – Mia Bopp

10 – Sy Hansana

16 – Celeste Metzen

21 – Cindy Enderson Leo Lakpa

22 – Rosalyn Brockman

24 – Kelly Neustel

25 – Pearl Rehborg

27 – Brittini Bergeman

28 – Ron Bergemann Maverick Stroh

We are updating our General church cleaning list. If you feel you can no longer participate and/or would like to be removed from the General cleaning list - contact Cindy Enderson.

Our current list consists of:

Cindy Linderkamp Chelie Greenmeyer Hollie Asche Carmen Cavett

Jen Hansana Brook Olson Tana McKenna Sandy Asche

Mary Stroh Shellie Colemer Stephanie Stroh Geneva Waswick

Ella Rempfer Diane McDaniel Cindy Dietz Diane Johnson

Celeste Metzen Sandy Mathias Jan Swanson Corrine Haussler

Teresa Rodahl Genise Arnst Kathy Schriener Jan Riebe

Marcia Asche Cindy Enderson

A special Thank You to men that help with the ceiling fixtures! If you would be willing to help us out again blessing to you! If you want to be removed or if there are any other men that would like to help please let Cindy Enderson know.

Dennis Linderkamp Kevin Dietz Mike Mlnarik Lonnie Hoechst

Oops! If we missed you for General Church Cleaning and

you would like to be on the list and help with the General cleaning please contact Cindy Enderson or email [email protected].

General Church Cleaning

Tentatively scheduled for

August 2 – 8th

mailto:[email protected]


For Alaythia Jane Richard

Proud Parents are Pastor Matt & Serenity Richard. The baby shower will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on

Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at 7:00pm.

All are welcome to attend! Lunch will be served.

A gift registry can be accessed through Amazon at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/baby-reg/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_br_vu.ivb11RJMNA?ie=UTF8&lid=3A1S0O06EO49S

Parish Assistant Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Friday Off

Email: [email protected]

Please call or email either Pastor or the Church Office if you need spiritual care,

know of somebody in the hospital needing a visit, have prayer submissions for the

divine service, or for any other church related circumstance.

Mission of the Month –

Make note of these:

Pastor’s Office & Study Hours

Monday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Thursday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Friday Pastor’s Day Off

If Pastor is out for visitations, meetings, etc…

during the scheduled times above, he will

generally have a ‘be back soon’ sign on the

church’s front door informing you of

his estimated time of return.

Need to Contact Pastor?

Email: [email protected]

Cell: 701-680-2658

Office: 701-678-2401

Blog: www.pastormattrichard.com

LHM is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches worldwide. LHM produces Christian radio and TV programming for broadcast, as well as Internet and print communications, dramas, music, and outreach materials, to reach unchurched people in the United States and more than 30 other countries. LHM's flagship program, The Lutheran Hour, airs weekly on 1400 stations and the American Forces Network. The first program was broadcast Oct. 2, 1930 and continues on the air today, making it the world’s oldest continually broadcast Christ-centered radio program.

Local Sunday broadcast times are 7:30am KFGO 790AM and 4:30pm KFNW 1200AM.

At Lutheran Hour Ministries, we want to be your partner in calling the lost and hurting back to the Church; back to forgiveness and grace; back to God and His Word. We have made it our mission to encourage and support you as you respond to God’s call to action. While you may know us because of our flagship radio ministry, THE LUTHERAN HOUR, we invite you to take advantage of everything that Lutheran Hour Ministries offers for discipleship and outreach: evangelism training events and resources; opportunities for hands-on international outreach; resource media and materials for men’s ministry; mission resources for children and schools; and much more. For more results of how the Lord blesses Lutheran Hour Ministries with opportunities to plant the Gospel seed in exciting ways around the world please visit our website at www.lhm.org

Bringing Christ to the Nations – and the Nations to the Church

http://www.amazon.com/gp/baby-reg/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_br_vu.ivb11RJMNA?ie=UTF8&lid=3A1S0O06EO49S






Ushers

June 7

th Greg & Janet Nelson

14th

Duane & Shelli Bergemann

21st

Scott & Teresa Illies

28th

Rich & Virginia Beaver

July 5

th Dale & Martha Asche

12th

Ella Rempfer & Teresa Rodahl

19th

Randal & Michelle Brockman

26th

Kelly & Liz Neustel

CHIP Families (Christians Held in Prayer) June 7

Delores Johnson 415 4th Ave SE Gwinner, ND 58040

June 14

Kendall & Diane Johnson PO Box 85 Gwinner, ND 58040

Acolytes

July

5th Adam Neustel

12th Reed Nelson

19th Grace Mathias

26th Schuyler Utecht

Cleaners List 31st to 6th

Jason & Hollie Asche

Jay & Karen Enderson

Rich & Virginia Beaver

Andy & Stephanie Stroh

7th to 13th

Jan Swanson

Scott & Teresa Illies

Duane & Sharon Orth

Jody Schreiner

Kathy Schreiner

Note: If you are unable to usher or acolyte on your scheduled date, we ask that you please contact another member to switch with.

14th to 20th

Dale & Martha Asche

Joey & Cindy Enderson

Lonnie Hoechst

Paul Bartz

21st to 27th

Rodney & Sandy Asche

Vince & Donna Olson

Ella Rempfer

Teresa Rodahl

Kevin & Cindy Dietz

June 21

Dennis & Cindy LInderkamp 12543 86th St SE Cogswell, ND 58017

June 28 Brian & Angela Lukes Tallie 127 Maplewood Dr. Gwinner, ND 58040

*Please remember to sign your name

on the chart on the bulletin board

by the kitchen noting which area of

the church you have cleaned*

June

7th Christina Mathias

14th KyAnna Halmrast

21st Matthew Asche

28th April Gaden

28th to 4th

Duane Bergemann

Rick & Dawn Gaden

Sy & Jen Hansana

Tim & Jess Peterson


June 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7:15 pm LWML

9 am Pastor’s Study

Pastor’s Day Off

Church Office Closed

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 9 am Divine Service

*Communion

10:15 am Family Bible Study

9 am Table Talk

10 am Staff Mtg

7:30 pm Council


2 pm LWML

Pastor’s Day Off


14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 am Divine Service


9 am Table Talk

10 am Staff Mtg


Pastor’s Day Off


21 Father’s Day

9 am Divine Service

*Communion


22 9 am Table Talk

10 am Staff Mtg

23

24 9 am Pastor’s Study

25 *Newsletter Material Due

26 Pastor’s Day Off


27

28 29 30 9 am Divine Service


9 am Table Talk

10 am Staff Mtg

8 pm LYF Bonfire @ Immanuel


8 8

Continued on page 9

We Speak the Truth in Love to All: on same-sex marriage by Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison

In the face of another radical cultural shift — a denial of God and His creation, a

rejection of Christ, the Ten Commandments and God-given natural law (Romans 1)

— a great Lutheran responded with truths that are also true for our times:

The lie is the death of man, his temporal and his eternal death. The lie kills

nations. The most powerful nations of the world have been laid waste because

of their lies. History knows of no more unsettling sight than the judgment

rendered upon the people of an advanced culture who have rejected the truth and are swallowed upon in a sea

of lies. Where this happens, as in the case of declining pagan antiquity, religion and law, poetry and

philosophy, life in marriage and family, in the state and society — in short, one sphere of life after another falls

sacrifice to the power and curse of the lie. Where man can no longer bear the truth, he cannot live without the

lie. Where man denies that he and others are dying, the terrible dissolution [of his culture] is held up as a

glorious ascent, and decline is viewed as an advance, the likes of which has never been experienced. (Hermann

Sasse, Union and Confession, 1936)

In just a few weeks, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of same-sex marriage in America and roll

out the implications of that ruling for individual states. I expect the ruling to create an alleged constitutional right to

same-sex marriage, contrary to God’s created orders, natural law and the inerrant Scriptures. This will be the earnest

beginning of a very long struggle for faithful Christians who will, more and more, be driven from participation in the

culture. We shall come to know and understand parts of the Word of God like never before. “But our citizenship is in

heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

Brothers, the battle has already been won. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, has

already defeated the foe. Satan surrendered at Golgotha. It is finished.

But what do we do? If the Supreme Court rules that same-sex

marriage is legal in every state or must be recognized in every state,

what is our response?

We stand fast (2 Thess. 2:15). We live in and by our Savior, who calls us

to stay the course, to repent of our sin, to be in the Word of God and in prayer. We redouble our teaching on God’s

gift of marriage. And we show love and mercy to those harmed by the dissolution of God’s ordering of marriage and

family, intended for protection for all. We take legal action where absolutely necessary. “Public remedy, made

through the office of the public official, is not condemned, but is commanded and is God’s work, according to Paul

(Romans 13)” (Apology XVI 59).

The plan fits the nature of the Church: she is enduring and eternal. She speaks Christ’s forgiveness and peace to men

and women struggling with same-sex attraction and heterosexual attraction alike, in and out of season. She doesn’t

do flash-in-the-pan or drive-by ministry. She works in the world for the long haul. She doesn’t change her tune or

stop her singing. She keeps telling real people about a real Jesus, from black-robed Supreme Court justices to the

protestors on the steps of that building to the young people in college watching the ruling unfold to those of us


who never imagined we would see this seismic shift in our lifetime. And she lives to demonstrate the mercy and love

of Christ (1 John 3:15ff).

Most importantly, she speaks of the One who came for sinners — all sinners — and of the One who showed His love

for us by dying for us. She simply stays the course.

That’s why you, dear brothers in the Office, will need our prayers in the days ahead. And you will have them. Legal

marriage may be redefined, and outcomes we never imagined will occur. But these don’t surprise or alarm us. The

crumbling culture merely proves that what began in the Garden of Eden is still prevalent today, that we are sinners

among sinners, that we are all in need of Christ’s mercy and grace. This world is wending its way toward the end

(Matthew 25). The story ends well (Revelation 7). That is what those in the pew and those disenchanted by the

people in the pew need to hear, and will always need to hear, the most.

Beyond the theological consequences of this ruling, however, there are also practical implications, and I urge you to

consider the following:

(1) The Synod’s legal team is carefully examining the potential ramifications of this case. It will likely be a messy

ruling that will require time to unpack. We may discover that there is ultimately no constitutional protection for

the Synod, its institutions, you or your congregation. We don’t know, but we will be reporting back to you with

our findings.

(2) Your congregation should give serious thought to obtaining counsel from your own attorney. Also consider

utilizing the Synod’s document on marriage policies for member congregations, which offers sample provisions

limiting the use of church property to marriages that are consistent with LCMS beliefs. The day may come when

even this legal protection will not be enough, but it may assist you and your congregational leadership in

forestalling issues as long as possible.

(3) Be prepared to discuss what marriage will look like in the future. Will LCMS pastors eventually be forced, as

agents of the state, to perform same-sex marriages? If that happens, will we be prepared to let the state perform

the legal marriage ceremony, while we as pastors provide a religious ceremony for those marriages that are in

keeping with our confession of faith as Lutheran Christians? We must have these discussions as pastors and as a

Synod, and we may even need to make decisions at the next Synod convention in the summer of 2016.

(4) Know that I, as Synod president, stand with you. What protections will the Synod or even the Constitution

offer you? I don’t know. But here is what I am personally sure of: The Gospel is enduring. It never changes. Jesus

Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. We as pastors are called to repent and to be faithful to Him —

and to His Gospel — alone. Will we be fined for not performing same-sex marriages? Potentially. Will we be

thrown in jail? Maybe. A recently deceased Catholic bishop (Cardinal George) described what I believe we shall

now begin to face: “I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in

the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as

the church has done so often in human history.”

Make no mistake, the battle has been won. The devil has been defeated. The Victor reigns triumphant in mercy, love

and truth. The Gospel knows no limits, but proclaims the gracious kingdom of our Lord to all, through Christ’s Word

and Sacraments.

The temptation will be to run out into the melee, to abandon the home front or to give up all together. But we are

called instead to repent, to be ready, to move confidently into the future, come what may. We speak the truth in love

to all. We share Christ’s forgiveness with each person He sets in our path.

And the Lord will work all things for good, even these trying times.

He is faithful, brothers. He will do it.

http://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=2640


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Zion Lutheran Church A Church of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

THE MISSION OF ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH IS TO

CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST BY

BEING ROOTED IN THE WORD,

BY GROWING IN FAITH,

AND BY BRANCHING OUT

WITH THE GOSPEL

www.ziongwinnger.org

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