On Sunday, November 19 at 3:00 p.m., Pastor Mark Summer and Music Director, Rod Briscoe, will be sharing their songs of faith. All are invited to come and listen to the music they have written through the years. Their songs are both personal and a witness to God’s grace.
Advent Parish Night -- December 3
Advent Parish Night is coming on Sunday, December 3rd at 4:00 p.m. This is a special time of carols, crafts, tree-trimming and dinner for the whole family to enjoy together. Sign-up sheets for crafts and dinner will be available in the narthex later this month.
Church Buddy Ministry
Do you know a college-aged young adult who would benefit from having a one-on-one connection with a member at Zion? We have new program designed to serve them! P lease send your student’s contact information to Courtney Rzeplinski, Director of Youth and Family Ministries, at courtney@zionoldwick.com. We look forward to expanding this new ministry!
Women of Zion Thanksgiving Dinner -- November 9
It’s time again for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner, being held on Thursday, November 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the CEB Great Room. Please sign up in the church narthex for what you’d like to bring— and feel free to bring a friend as well! As many of you know, this is a lovely opportunity to start the holiday season with good friends and good food. Please call or e-mail Anita Zarate with any questions. Anita can be reached at 908-534-2994 or anita.zarate@mac.com.
Second Sunday Sermon Secrets -- November 12
Have you ever wanted to do Bible Study, but didn’t have the time? Well, Second Sunday Sermon Secrets is for you. In conjunction with Second Sunday Single Service, Pastor Summer is providing a Bible Study prior to 10 a.m. worship, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the General Store. Grab a coffee or tea and pull up a chair. He will be discussing the day’s lessons as they apply to life and the world. Come join the conversation!
Commemorating Martin Luther and 500 Years of Reformation
After years of much prayer, meditation, and struggle, Luther discovered the true meaning of God’s Word: “Then finally God had mercy on me, and I began to understand that the righteousness of God is a gift of God by which a righteous man lives, namely faith.”
The Reformation was one of the decisive events that made the world we live in, for better or worse. Luther and his followers weren't trying to reshape the world: they were trying to save it. They had a gospel to proclaim and thought the end was near. But in their urgency they trampled down the walls that had kept life in Western Christendom neatly ordered.
Luther outflanked the power of the Catholic Church hierarchy with a new communications technology, the printing press that allowed him to speak directly to the people. When he was finally dragged before the assembled majesty of church and empire in 1521 and ordered to renounce his errors, he refused, insisting that his conscience was captive to the Word of God, a higher authority than any pope, bishop or king.
Suddenly, everyone had a voice and no one could tell anyone else what to believe. Luther's radical appeal to the total supremacy of personal faith would trigger nearly 200 years of religious warfare.
But, there were limits. Martin Luther wanted Christians to believe the truth, not whatever they wanted. By insisting that all human authority was provisional and that conscience can be constrained only by the Bible and the Holy Spirit, he ensured that his followers who try to police the boundaries of acceptable argument will, in the end, always fail.
As a child, ego rules. Everything is about “me” and immediate satisfaction. As a person matures, their concept of time changes. One can look back at results and consequences, as well as plan for the future. Luther and the Reformation freed people to do that; to carve out a spiritual space where the authority is scripture and the Kingdom of God is most important. It is a space where education is not only for this world but for the next as well. It is a space where each individual is able to say “here I stand”.
So, as we celebrate 500 years of Lutheran heritage, knowing “scripture alone”, “faith alone”, “grace alone”, Luther reminds us the responsibility is now the individuals. We need to know where we do stand! It behooves us to read the word of God regularly, nourish our faith, and share the grace we have each received.
Vespers -- November 2 and 16
This month, Vespers will meet on November 2nd and 16th. There is a Soup Supper at the CEB at 6:00 followed by Vespers at 7:00. This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people. Please join us!
Discipleship -- November 2 and 30
Discipleship will be meeting on November 2. It will include a potluck supper at 6 p.m., Vespers at 7 p.m., and a video at 7:30. The focus will continue to be on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. We will be viewing the second half of the PBS special, Martin Luther: An Idea that Changed the World. All are invited. We would love to see you there! Our next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on November 30.
Lunch Bunch -- November 16
The Lunch Bunch will be meeting at 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 16. We are going to the Tewksbury Inn in Oldwick. Join the fun. We’ll be looking for you!
Book of Faith
In November, the Book of Faith bible study will have regular weekly meetings at noon on Wednesdays. We will continue to explore the Acts of the Apostles (we are on chapter 4). Come join the conversation. You won’t be disappointed. The adventure continues!
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