Zion Lutheran Church “Those who trust in the Lord shall be like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” (Psalm 125:1)

August 23, 2020

Pastoral Letter............................................................................ Page 3 Liturgy ....................................................................................... Page 4 Catechumenate, Remembering .................................................. Page 5 Outreach and Mercy, Praying, Baptism .................................... Page 6 A “Note” from Kantor ............................................................... Page 7 News & Events .......................................................................... Page 8 Fiction Excerpt: “The Yellow Cloth” ............................. Pages 9 & 10 Calendar (for the upcoming week)........................................... Page 11

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On this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of

hell will not withstand it. (Matthew 16:18)

Beloved Saints, What is God doing in the world? One word: Church. People may not like such a simple answer, but the truth is there for all to see. The resurrection of Jesus was the first haul of God’s golden harvest (1 Cor. 15:20), and the second crop is growing right now as He builds Himself a Church through the Gospel. By building a Church, God enlarges the joy of the final resurrection. What does that simple truth mean for Zion? It means that Zion is more important for central Wisconsin than ever before. As St. Paul writes, “How can they believe in one of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14) The Word of God matters more than anything, and therefore you matter, Zion. God has outfit-ted you, first, with His saving Word and Sacraments, and then with all that supports and shares them: ministers, music, radio, internet, and a congregational spirit of invitation and hope. Here you are, Zion, and the children the Lord has given you (Isaiah 8:18)! Our land and neighbors need what Zion is more than ever. This year has held much evil. With evil comes loss, with loss comes grief, and with grief comes anger and despair. We will see more of it, dear children of God. But not even the gates of hell can withstand the Lord happily forgiving sins and feeding souls in His Church. More than ever, He gives the Church as a ray of light in the darkness and a drop of balm in the midst of pain. He has given Zion to this land of ours for the sake of hope, peace, and rejoicing. And if hell can’t overcome it, neither will anything else. Peace! Pastor Gjerde

Pastoral Letter

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Weekend Schedule

Saturday: Holy Communion, 5:15 PM Sunday: Holy Communion, 9 & 11 AM

Live Radio Broadcast: 9 AM WSAU 550 AM, 99.9 FM, 95.1 FM, www.wsau.com

Social distancing and extra care will be observed in keeping with the

recommendations of the public health department.

Daily Holy Communion Monday-Friday, 12:15 PM (about 20 minutes long; spoken service)

These smaller services are open to the public.

Social distancing and extra care will be observed.

Calling ahead is not required, but it will help us prepare for you.

Facebook Live Stream Morning Devotion: 8:30 AM, Monday-Friday Compline: 8:30 PM, Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday Vespers: 6:30 PM, Wednesday Music at Midday: 12:00 Noon, Tuesday and Thursday

Most videos are mirrored on our YouTube channel and website

Readings for next Sunday, August 30:

Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Liturgy receiving the gifts

Procession of Thanksgiving

Sunday + September 13 + 12 Noon

It’s time to give thanks! Christians give thanks in every circum-stance, even times of suffering or doubt (1 Thess. 5:18). We re-ceive more blessings daily than we could ever number. So come away from your cares, worries, and distractions, and either join or watch Zion’s outdoor process of thanksgiving to our Good Shep-herd for His many gifts on Sunday, 9/13, at noon. We will begin in front of the church (Grant Street) and circle through the neighborhood back to the parking lot. Our only purpose: to give God our thanks, praise, and adoration.

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Sunday School and Youth Education

Zion will hold both in-person and online options for Sunday School, confirmation, and high school learning this fall. The curricula for both in-person and online education will be the same and designed to be friendly for use in the home as well as at church. Keep alert for more information! The precautions taken at worship will be re-spected for in-person learning, as well.

Bible Studies: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Zion church council has approved the resumption of our smaller, in-person Bible studies. Tuesday morning Bible study at 9 AM will resume on Tuesday, September 8. Mens’s Breakfast at 7 AM will resume on Thursday, September 10. The precautions taken at wor-ship will be respected for in-person learning, as well.

Online and In-Home Study Continues

Sundays: Bible Study, 10:15 AM Live-Streamed and Posted to Website

Tuesdays: Table Talk, 9:00 AM. Live-Streamed and Posted to Website

Wednesdays: Word at the Middle of the Week Live-Streamed and Posted to Website Weekly: “The Shepherd’s Voice”

Devotional Guidance, included with this mailing

Catechumenate learning the gifts

Remembering examples of the faith in August

August 28: Saint Augustine of Hippo

Born in northern Africa to a pagan father and Christian mother, St. Augustine lived his earlier years in a lusty pursuit of pleasure. However, his father became Christian shortly before dy-ing, and Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, prayed for his conversion. In time, Augustine not only converted, but also became bishop of Hippo. He wrote several treatises, contending for salvation by grace alone, through the merit of Christ alone, and not by our own works.

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Monthly Mission Emphasis:

The Neighbors’ Place, Wausau, $1,000

The health and safety of the community is of the utmost importance to their organization, so The Neighbors’ Place has chosen to limit the amount of people inside the building - only volunteers and staff are currently allowed to work indoors. Their food distribution model now serves all of their guests outside the building via a drive-up ser-vice, with walk-ups and bikers also welcome. This limits interaction between staff, volunteers and their guests coming to utilize their ser-vices, but still allows them to serve the community! The Neighbors’ Place follows the guidance from the USDA, DHS, and Marathon County Health Department and will continue their outdoor food distribution model until they feel it is safe to return to their indoor food pantry. The Neighbors’ Place will continue to offer outdoor food distribution in the safest manner possible to ensure they protect those they serve as well as their volunteers, visitors and staff.

Outreach and Mercy sharing and being the gifts

Persecuted Christians in: Egypt, Algeria,, Uzbekistsn

Sister Congregation: Lehurutshe Parish, South Africa

Missionaries: Elliot & Serena Derricks, Lutheran Bible Translators

Those who need our on-going prayers: Hilmar Baumann, Karen

Baumann, Dave Bevington, Max Breon, Les Brolliar, Rich Cornell,

Ruth Draeger, Carol Edelburg, Barbara Ellen, Dennis Falk, Rita

Falk, Ben Fiedler, Lydia Hauge, Ken Heinzen, Avery Kluck, An-

nette Lach, Olivia Lang, Debra Mertes, Grace Mueller, Maggie Otto,

Tina Parker, Barb Ramker, Trandy Revie, Krista Salas, David Skola,

Richie Thiemer, Curt Thorson, Lexi Uttecht, Mark Wendorff, Nancy

Ziebell, Nancy, Jim, Richard, Lenette, Mike, homebound members.

Baptism

Colson William Conachen, son of Nathan and Kara Conachen, was baptized at the 5:15 p.m. service on Saturday, August 22. Colson’s sponsors are Jessica Beil and Hicham Ougayour.

Praying in our prayers this week

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When was the last time you used the word “steadfast” in conversation? Synonyms include faithful, devoted, loyal, committed, and dependable. But “steadfast,” which means resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering, takes the dedication to a higher level. The Hymn of the Day for August 30 is Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word. The earliest source of this hymn from 1543 calls it “a children’s hymn.” The Wittenberg hymnal of 1544 called it “a children’s hymn to sing against the two archene-mies of Christ and His holy Church: the pope and the Turks.” While this conveyed Luther’s intent, it created controversy. So in 1548, the singing of the hymn was forbidden in Strassburg under threat of corporal punishment. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the threats referred to in the hymn had waned so many Lutherans changed the text to a more general statement against any who would threaten His Church. With the publication of The Lutheran Hymnal in 1941, the accepted phrase was: “curb those who fain by craft and sword would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son…” Updated language uses “curb those who by deceit and sword.” The Trinitarian form of the hymn addresses each person of the Trinity. Stanza 1 the Church prays for steadfastness in God’s Word during the devil’s unwavering attacks to body and spirit. Stanza 2 returns to the source of the Church’s strength in the battle against its enemies - Jesus. In stanza 3 Christians implore the Holy Spirit to comfort and lead them to the heavenly peace in Christ’s kingdom.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love to-

ward us sinners You

have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlast-

ing life. Continue

to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith

to the end and

finally come to life everlasting, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [Lutheran Service Book prayer #200.]

Joy in Jesus, Kantor Beethe

A “Note” from Kantor

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News & Events

Looking for a Missing Bible

A white leather-covered Bible was brought to Zion and now is mis-placed. The Bible is 8” x 10”, has gold-edge pages, and many col-ored pictures. Written in the Bible are many family names, includ-ing Alvin and Lucille Kasten, so it would be easily identified. If you have this Bible, please return it to Zion. Thank you.

Memorials & Other Gifts Received In memory of Gladys Langenhahn, Dave and Lori Torkko gave a

gift to Strassenfest. In memory of Elaine Edwards, Marty and Janet Dettmering gave

a gift to Altar Guild. In memory of Elaine Edwards, Donna Nuernberg gave a gift to

the Music Fund and Altar Guild.

Huge Outdoor Rummage Sale

… Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beth-any Lutheran Church, 174701 Church Rd., Town of Easton. Social distancing will be respected!

Flower Sponsors Through the end of 2020, these are the dates that sponsors are needed for flowers: September 27; October 11, 18 and 25; Novem-ber 22. Please sign up on the charts by the stairs by the northwest entry by the church office. Or, call the church office, 715-848-7286 if you would like to sponsor any of these dates. The cost to sponsor flowers is $60.

Condolences

We remember retired pastor Clarence Harms and family at the death of his wife Linda following a 3 month bout with cancer. Clarence and Linda had been married 54 years. No public memorial service is planned. A family committal of her ashes will be held at a later date. Condolences can be sent to: Rev. Clarence Harms, 3226 Fondotto Dr., Neenah, WI 54956-9539. Pastor Harms served Zion congrega-tion from 1975-1998.

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Fiction Excerpt: “The Yellow Cloth” ~ C. Kenneth Meadows

The following scene takes place in Arabia, in the 600s A.D., in a

small Christian community recently conquered by Islam. It imagines

the response of one Christian family to the Muslim mandate that all

Christians wear yellow belts, or “the zunar.”

Just then, Jonah’s father came through the door, several yards of yellow cloth draped over his arm. “Juzi!” Miriam rushed to him and fingered the bright folds, smiling. “What is this for?” Her husband sighed and let his wife take the cloth into her hands. His eyes seemed tired, Jonah thought, and something else, too. Was it fear? Or was he ill? Slumping onto his stool by the fire, Juzi Akhdira rubbed his face slowly before responding. Finally, he looked at his wife with a mournful expression. “General Al-Sayed has ordered us to wear the zunar.” Jonah’s grandmother stopped her spinning and clucked her tongue, while his mother just looked stunned, still grasping the yel-low cloth between her fingers. “What?” Jonah blurted. “What is a zunar?” “The devil’s work!” his grandmother snapped. “Aljida!” Jonah’s father cast the family’s matriarch a weary look. “You’ll scare the children. And we must wear it.” The old woman ignored him. “I’ll never wear it!” Her hands took up her spinning once more, fingers flying, almost snapping. “I’ll never wear what that man orders!” “What is it?” Jonah was desperate now. His father sighed. “It’s a belt, a yellow belt, that we must wear because we are Christians.” “I’ll never wear it!” Aljida was adamant. “I will,” Jonah’s sister called out. “Better to wear it and live than die!” Their mother’s face pinched in horror. “No! You must never wear it! If you do, you’ll deny all that we are!” “Why?” Jonah asked. “Do we have to wear it to mass?” No one answered him. His father spoke up. “We must wear it. Otherwise, they will harm us.” “Never. I’ll never wear it!” continued next page >>>

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“You must wear it!” “I won’t!” “YOU MUST!” A loud clap silenced the room. Jonah’s grandfather, sitting in the corner, gazed at his family with a forehead creased by disap-proval. “You know who doesn’t care if you wear it or not?” he asked quietly. Aljida cocked her head, looking doubtful. Everyone else sat utterly still. Several moments passed before he answered his own question. “The devil.” His voice was very soft. “The devil does not care.” At mention of the evil one, the women crossed themselves, and Jonah’s father murmured a prayer for angels, but the old man continued. “The devil does not care if you wear the zunar or eat it,” he said. “If you don’t wear one, and you die, he will not rejoice. If you do wear one, and you live, he will not mourn. He does not care about the zunar, or whether you live or die. He only cares that you fight over it. If he can get the Christians to fight over what they wear or don’t wear, then he will have won over our Master, Christ.” Aljida pursed her lips and grabbed a handful of wool. Jo-nah’s sister looked down at her own hands, her face flushed, and his parents simply stared at the yellow cloth. Jonah leaned towards his grandfather. “I’ll wear one, Al-jidu,” he whispered. His grandfather did not look at him. “I told you,” he mur-mured. “The devil doesn’t care, and I don’t, either. But if we fight

over it, we’ll lose something more precious than our lives.”

+ + +

Fiction Excerpt, continued

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Sunday • August 30 (Pentecost 13)

9:00 AM Holy Communion; Live Radio Broadcast, WSAU 550 AM 10:15 AM Bible Study, Facebook 11:00 AM Holy Communion

Monday • August 31

8:30 AM Devotion, Facebook 12:15 PM Holy Communion 8:30 PM Compline, Facebook

Tuesday • September 1

8:30 AM Devotion, Facebook 9:00 AM Table Talk Bible Study, Facebook 12:00 PM Music at Midday 12:15 PM Holy Communion 8:30 PM Compline, Facebook

Wednesday • September 2

12:15 PM Holy Communion 6:30 PM Vespers, Facebook

Thursday • September 3

8:30 AM Devotion, Facebook 12:00 PM Music at Midday 12:15 PM Holy Communion 8:30 PM Compline, Facebook

Friday • September 4 (St. Moses)

8:30 AM Devotion, Facebook 12:15 PM Holy Communion 8:30 PM Compline, Facebook

Saturday • September 5 (Sts. Zacharias & Elizabeth

5:15 PM Holy Communion

Calendar for the upcoming week

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ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 709 N SIXTH STREET WAUSAU WI 54403-4791

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Where you can reach us: Church — 715-848-7286

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Web: zionlutheranwausau.com

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