Can you recite the Ten Commandments? You should be able to! The Ten Commandments are a summary of what it means to love God and love our neighbor. The Commandments are more than rules. They are indications of the gifts God gives us. Each commandment is teaching us about a gift that the Lord gives us. Sin isn’t just that we “break the rules.” Sin is us telling the Lord we have other things we love more than the things He has given. That’s why we don’t cling to His Word, honor our parents, and desire what doesn’t belong to us. The Commandments, which are to be a guide for our lives instead have become a mirror of our sins. That’s where Jesus comes in. Holy. Perfect. Always loved the Father and others more than Himself. So much so that He took our breaking the Commandments and died for that to set us free. The Spirit then gives us the gift of trusting and believing that we are no longer in trouble with the Lord. Now, the Spirit teaches us how to use the Commandments to show us how to love the Lord and others. This love of God and neighbor is the fruit of our salvation and our being believers in Jesus. The Law of God is good and wise for sure! Even better is the refuge we flee to in Jesus. We’ll do that again this Sixth Sunday after Trinity coming up!

BRINGING BEAUTY TO THE LORD’S HOUSE – A PROCESSIONAL CRUCIFIX
This year marks the 145th Anniversary of the Lord’s congregation at Zion, McHenry. It’s also been five years since we’ve had a major project to beautify the Lord’s sanctuary (our stain glassed windows!) Things have come together to present an opportunity for Zion to acquire a one-of-a-kind piece of art: a Processional Crucifix by Lutheran Artist Ed Riojas.

This processional crucifix (read more below) is being sold by the artist for $12,000. HOWEVER…we have a generous donor who has agreed to match funds for us, bringing our cost to $6000. At the recommendation of our Elders, Church Council has approved asking for donations to raise the $6000 for this piece to adorn the sanctuary and to be used in worship. As you’ll read below, the processional crucifix is full of details that confess our faith in Jesus, the testimony of the Gospels, and the foundation of the Word of God. If you wish to make an offering for this please place it in an envelope (or mark your check with a memo) for “PROCESSIONAL CRUCIFIX.”

You can read the artist’s commentary and see pictures of the crucifix at THIS LINK.

PASTOR OUT OF TOWN
Please be aware that I’ll be out of town from this Monday, July 12  through next Monday, July 19. I’ll be back in the Office on Tuesday, July 20. Because of our travel there will be NO WEDNESDAY SERVICE THIS WEEK (July 14th). If you need pastoral care, call your Elder or the Office and they will get you in touch with Pastor Richardson (St. John, Island Lake) who is covering any emergencies while I’m gone. 

ONE SERVICE SUNDAY – 9:00 AM

Just a reminder that we’re back to ONE SUNDAY SERVICE at 9:00 AM each week.

• Pews will not be restricted.
• We will kneel at the rail for Communion.
• Masks will not be required. Those who are not vaccinated or who may be more comfortable doing so should wear a mask. (Vaccination status will not be asked or checked). If you are not feeling well, consider remaining at home and watching our livestream.
• The passing of the offering plate will be resumed.
• For now, we’ll continue to take attendance by list. We’ll return cards to the pews soon.

BIBLE STUDY will be at 8:00 AM on Sundays

LEARNING THE FAITH will be held following the service on Sundays.

SUMMER SCHEDULE CHANGES
Please note the following exceptions to our regular schedule over the summer:

No Wednesday Services – July 14 and 28.

No Tuesday Bible Study during the month of July. (We resume August 3).

FISH FOOD PANTRY
Make sure to bring donations this week for the F.I.S.H of McHenry Food Pantry. Remember that every dollar you give buys $8 worth of food to stock the shelves!

SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Come on out and cheer on our Zion Zephyrs. No game on Monday, July 12. They play Monday, July 19 at :30 p.m. Zephyrs vs. St. John’s, Township 1.

LIVE STREAM INFORMATION
We will continue to Live Stream and Record the service each week:

You can watch live and find recorded services 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.

Jesus’ teaching on the Fifth Commandment (“You shall not murder”) reminds us that all of the Commandments expose not just our deeds, but our hearts. That’s where the problem lies. Jesus rescues us from the condemnation of the Law and sets us free so that the Spirit can work the fruits of repentance in us: loving God and loving our neighbor. The Commandments are truly a wonderful gift from the Lord. Yet they can’t save us! Only Jesus does that by His perfect life, death, and resurrection for sinners. For you and me! See you in the Divine Service this Sunday!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow