CLOC: Love Speaks Week Seven

As He did at Pentecost, we ask the Holy Spirit to continue to infuse the hearts of His faithful people with a fiery zeal to share the life-giving Gospel with a dying world. The Liturgical color is red. It is the color of fire, fervor, blood, martyrdom, and the shining truth of the Christian faith based on the blood of Christ.

October 6th, 2013

The Lords Supper at Zion

participation in the Blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the Body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. Those who celebrate the Sacrament together are expressing unity with both each another and Christ Jesus their Savior. When the faith publically confessed by the participants is unified, what God gives us in the Sacrament is pure Gospel and a truly a blessed communion and union with one another and our God. But if there is disagreement concerning Gods Word underlying a celebration of the Sacrament, its intended purpose is spoiled and those involved are improperly declaring unity where unity does not fully exist. The Lords Supper is truly a most high and intimate expression of unity. Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:16-17: Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a

Welcome in the Name of Christ!

We pray that you enjoy your time with us and that your spirit is enriched as we together sit at the feet of our Savior. Gods richest blessings be on you! Bathrooms are located in the north and south side of the entryway as you go down into the basement. The mens is on the north side and the womens on the south side. A small Nursery with a changing table and rocking chair is in the back of church on the south side; a carpeted play area is found in the basement; and black activity bags are available in the entryway. If you would like talk to Pastor about anything, catch him after worship or give him a call at 507-648-3601 (Cell: 507-276-5225).

Our practice as it involves the Lords Supper is based on a deep reverence for God and His Word; it is based on our profound respect for the purpose of the Sacrament; and it is based on a deep desire to in every way honestly, accurately, and clearly confess all of Gods Word to the world. Therefore, those who are not yet fully united to us are cordially invited and encouraged to speak with Pastor or an Elder so that we may work together for the truth (III John 8); for when spiritual unity is achieved on the basis of Gods Word, outward unity can and will be joyfully celebrated. Those who have declared their unity with us, either by their membership here or by their membership in another congregation with which we are unified, are cordially invited to express that unity at the Lords Table.

Order of Service Sermon Text Sermon Theme Hymns Psalm

The Service of the Word on Page 38 Romans 5:6-11 Love Speaks Unconditionally 379, 387, 749, 384, 399 145 on Page 119

Service Notes
Normally, green banners and paraments would adorn our Sanctuary this time of year. The red color helps us set off these weeks as being part of our special worship focus. This week we continue our fourth and final year of the Fall worship emphasis: Christs LoveOur Calling. This years theme is Love Speaks; this weeks theme is Love Speaks Sacrificially. More information can be found each week on the purple insert in the bulletin. Hymn 387, Drawn to the Cross, will be sung in place of Oh, Taste and See on page 39.

First Lesson: Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin

and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be true to Jacob, and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.

Opportunities to Grow and Serve

SundayOctober 6th
Greeters Youth 8:45 am 8:45 am 10:00 am 7:00 pm 10:30 am 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm Pastor & Becky Prell Erika Rogotzke Morning Bible ClassLove Speaks Sunday School in the School Building Sunday Morning Worship ServiceLove Speaks: Week 7 Evening Bible ClassRomans 1-8 Worship Service at Cottonwood Ridge in Springfield Televised Worship Service (Springfield Channel 8) Catechism Class in the School Building Regular Midweek Worship Service Valley View Worship Service in Lamberton Televised Worship ServiceLamberton Channel 6 Televised Worship ServiceSpringfield Channel 8 Bob & Jan Steffen Cora Eichten Morning Bible ClassLove Speaks Sunday School in the School Building Sunday Morning Worship Service Evening Bible ClassRomans 1-8

Second Lesson: Romans 5:6-11 You see, at just the right time, when

we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were Gods enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Tuesday Wednesday

Gospel Lesson: Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing

through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Thursday
10:00 am 4:00 pm

Friday
4:00 pm Greeters Youth 8:45 am 8:45 am 10:00 am 7:00 pm

SundayOctober 13th

Altar GuildDeb Fredrickson & Sharon Leopold Councilman on DutyDon Steffen UshersJohn Rogotzke, Jim Rogotzke, David Friedrich, Justin Reese, Jim
Zimmerman

helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? This applies

to how we deal with strangers, with prisoners, with money, even with our own spouse.

Week 3Love Speaks Sacrificially: Everything Paul had he

considered loss for the sake of knowing Christ. Like Abraham in the Old Testament and like all who would follow Christ, we consider the resurrection worth the cross. Focusing on the cross Christ suffered, we willingly count and pay the cost of discipleship and sharing our faith. Love speaks sacrificially because it is worth the cost.

Christs Love, Our Calling (CLOC) has been the theme for our synods four-part stewardship program. Each year focuses on a different area of stewardship. Year One focused on our use of time. Year Two focused on our use of spiritual gifts. Year Three focused on our use of our treasures. Our focus for the fourth and final year of this series is our use of Gods truth. The title for this years emphasis is Love Speaks. Our goal is to encourage Gods people to respond to the love of Christ by boldly and courageously speaking Gods truth and witnessing their faith. This series is based on Pauls words in II Corinthians 4:13: It is written: I

Week 4Love Speaks Passionately: The emphasis in the

Gospel on the passion felt by the shepherd, the rejoicing in heaven, and the celebration of the woman with the found coin is our passion as our love speaks the rescuing message of salvation that Paul considered his undeserved privilege to share. Love speaks passionately because it values the lost.

Week 5Love Speaks with Focused Heart: Love speaks

with focused heart because Christs love has set our priorities right. The shrewd manager was a secular example of someone focused on the long term. In the sermon text God is glorified as we focus not on earthly riches, but the glory of God.

believed; therefore I have spoken. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.
All of the sermons and services, lessons and Bible studies will help encourage people in their sharing of Gods Word in their everyday lives. The Seven Week Bible Class and Worship Emphasis begins Sunday, August 25th and concludes Sunday, October 6th.

Week 6Love Speaks with Urgency: Love puts God first

Week 1Love Speaks Precisely: Some will be saved and

some will be damned. As the love of Christ flows out of us and speaks, we are compelled to speak precisely about our salvation through Christ since the door to heaven is narrow.

in its speaking. In Pauls second letter to Timothy, seeing his end in sight, Paul expends everything for the gospel. Time is limited for each of us as well as for the ones we are called to love. With the Lord at our side we can speak with the urgency of heart that an appreciation for human frailty brings us, knowing that God will bring in his elect, and He uses us to do that as the time grows short.

Week 2Love Speaks Confidently: Todays texts stress the

humility that we have in our own importance and position. Yet love speaks confidently because it isnt our own agenda or message that we speak. Love speaks confidently because we have Gods promise that he will never leave us. We say with confidence, The Lord is my

Week 7Love Speaks Unconditionally: Micah wonders

at this God that loves the sinner, Luke records Jesus love of the sinner Zacchaeus, and our epistle text celebrates the reconciliation won while we were still sinners. Love speaks unconditionally because that is the kind of love weve been shown.

Weekly Attendance in Worship

Wednesday 7:00 pm on September 18th: 15 Wednesday 7:00 pm on September 25th: 19 Sunday 10:00 am on September 22nd: 67 Sunday 10:00 am on September 29th: 69

Announcements Continued
2013 Fall Choir Season: A first brief practice was held over in the school this past week. Our first singing date will be on Reformation Sunday, November 3rd. All past members of the choir are cordially invited to attend as well as all members of the congregation. Hospital Visits: If you or a loved one is going to be in the hospital for surgery, tests, etc., please call Pastor Prell and let him know. He will add you to the Prayer Chain (if you wish) so that others can join in prayers for you. This also helps Pastor know who he needs to visit; due to health care regulations concerning privacy, hospitals no longer publish who is in the hospital. Thanks in advance for your help!

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25 I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1

Announcements
Ladies Aid Bake Sale: The Ladies Aid will be hosting a Bake Sale in the church basement following the worship service on October 27th. Families and individuals interested in donating toward the Bake Sale are asked to get in contact with Nancy Kosel or another member of the Aid. There will be no set cost on items on the day of the sale, funds will be gathered via freewill offering. Proceeds will go toward congregational projects. Keep watching for any new details in the coming weeks! CIC Meeting Update: A meeting of the Church Improvement Committee was held Thursday, September 19th, at 8:00 pm in the church basement. Those in attendance discussed both short-term and long-term capital projects and their connections to the ministry of this congregation. They will come to the Voters Meeting in October with recommendations as to projects for both the remainder of 2013 as well as 2014. New Sunday Evening Bible Class: Beginning October 6th, we will be starting a new series in the Sunday Evening Bible Class. Over a number of weeks we will be covering the first eight chapters of St. Pauls letter to the Romans. A unique aspect of this class is that we will have a guest lecturer of sorts, Pastor Paul Wendland, who currently serves as President and classroom teacher at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Look for more information on this in an upcoming mailing! Catechism: Catechism has begun for the 2013-2014. It will meet most Wednesdays beginning at 6:00 pm. Confirmation students and their families are encouraged to attend the Wednesday evening service beginning at 7:00 pm if they will be unable to attend worship the upcoming Sunday. DVD Presentation and Invitation: On the Wednesdays of October 9th and 23rd our Catechism students will view of the DVD God of Wonders. This DVD defends the Creation account as contained in Scripture and lays out evidence for the historicity of Genesis. The parents of our confirmation students and any other interested individuals are cordially invited to come watch this movie at the church. Both Wednesday evenings we will begin at 6:00 pm and go until 6:45 pm. The Regular Midweek Service (which everyone is invited to stay for) will begin at 7:00 pm.