Worship is something that we can easily take for granted. In Jesus’ day, many who came to the temple just did it out of obligation, to check off the boxes with God so they “did their duty.” There is always the temptation to take what are gifts from God—His Word and Sacraments—and turn them into things we do to be religious. Jesus calling Jerusalem to repentance calls us to repentance and to see in Him our only salvation not just from our sins but from our false religion and wrong ways of thinking and believing. Jesus is the true temple and the center of our worship: Where He is, there we are gathered to live in the Good News of His death and resurrection and to live in the grace of our baptism and the comfort of His body and blood! We’ll hear that as we celebrate the Tenth Sunday after Trinity this weekend!

SCHOOL NEWS

The first day of school is this Wednesday! Please keep our school in your prayers so that we might have a great start and healthy and safe year!

We have OPENINGS for 3 and 4 Year Olds! If you know anyone who needs Preschool/Pre-K, let them know to give us a call!

Want to help support the school? Buy some School Spirit Wear RIGHT HERE. You can also order some of those beautiful Countryside Mums. Paper order forms for mums (and Spirit Wear if you don’t want to shop online) are in the bulletin this week. Thanks for supporting our school!

BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP SCHEDULE

The Elders and I met this week and we’ve worked out our worship and Bible Study schedule through September.

Bible Studies: 

For the rest of August, we will not hold Sunday Bible Study between services.

Beginning Sunday, September 13, we will have Bible Studies as follows:

Bible Study – 9:00-9:30 AM in the Narthex.

Learning the Faith (all ages) – 9:45-10:30am in the Gym.

As always, you can join us Tuesdays in the Narthex at 10:30 AM

Worship Services

We will continue Sunday services at 7:45 AM and 10:30 AM at least through September. We’ll see at that time whether it would be a good idea to return to a Saturday and one Sunday service.

Labor Day Weekend Late Service at Fish Lake

We will have our 10:30 AM service at Fish Lake Campground on Sunday, September 6. There will NOT be a service at church at 10:30 (7:45 will be as usual). If you’d like to join us you are welcome to do so at the Fish Lake Campground Shelter. Just let them know at the gate that you’re there for the Zion service. Masks are required for the service at Fish Lake (although it’s outdoors, with many people distancing may not be possible even in the shelter).

STREAMING:

We will continue to stream and record one of our Sunday services. These are available to watch live and recorded here:
We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.

Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE.

The simplest way to watch online (not live) is probably through our church’s website HERE.
Color A Stained Glass Window
Our church stained glass windows are turning into coloring sheets! Download the latest window
HERE.

PARKING LOT UPDATE:

Our Contractor choice has been made, A&A Paving out of Roselle. Trustees are working with them on a timeline which should be in within the next month. Many thanks to everyone who has given additional offerings and put in time and work on this project. We’re almost there!

WIth all the uncertainty out there—Covid rising, communities in unrest and conflict, explosions, storms, disasters, and on and on—there is one thing that is certain: Jesus is still Lord. He who made the heavens and the earth is still working all things out for our good. The cross is proof of that. The cross is the ultimate proof of God’s goodness to this world. When everything around you makes you ask the question, “Why is God doing this? What is He trying to tell us?” Turn your gaze instead to Calvary. There’s your answer: God loves you and this world in the death and resurrection of Jesus. That gift is yours at the font and altar and it can’t be wrecked by anything in this world. And it’s the promise of a better world in the life everlasting to come! See you in church or see me online!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow