From the Bishop

By Bishop Margaret G. Payne, New England Synod, ELCA

 

Reprinted from the May 2009 issue of “The Lutheran Link,” the magazine of the New England Synod. If you would like to receive “The Link,” please email sisterv@nesynod.org.

 

What’s NOT Wrong?

 

The Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh writes that we invite sorrow, suffering and depression into our hearts when we constantly focus on what is wrong – with ourselves, our companions, our church, our community, our world. But we stay connected to joy and grace when we shift our focus to what is NOT wrong, and live in gratitude – for breath, sunshine, work, love and each day that comes to us as a gift from God. This way of living is not a denial of the problems that surround us; it is the recognition that the love and power of God is bigger than the problems. An infrequently used synonym for gratitude is “refreshed.” When we cannot see daily gifts, we become weary and cynical. When we open our eyes to them, God renews our spirits.

 

Throughout the Bible, we are reminded of God’s gifts and told to live daily in thankfulness for them. This “attitude of gratitude” is not only the healthiest way to live, it is also the way that allows God to shape us to make a difference in a world that is filled with things that ARE wrong.

 

In his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul writes: “… let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God.” (Colossians 3:15-16, NRSV)

 

Paul bases his advice for “the good life” on two things: a personal relationship of indwelling with Christ and a connection with the faith community. We need both to find the spiritual balance that will provide the peace and wisdom that enables us to be true witnesses to the gospel. It is this intermingling of individual gifts with community that guides us into the joy found in lives of faith and service.

 

As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we are blessed with a strong awareness of God’s grace, regular nourishment of Word and Sacrament, and a deeply engrained impulse to work on all that IS wrong in the world. God’s Work. Our Hands. Lutherans have the DNA for helping others and we have a denominational network that gets the job done in a remarkably effective way in our own country and throughout the world. Lutherans also have the DNA for frugality, and so the money that is channeled through our church for good works is used more productively than any other charitable group. (Well, we are always in the top three.)

 

When you send mission support beyond your congregation, here are some of the ways that you fix the things that are wrong in the world: refugees are cared for in camps, immigrants are supported in new lives, Lutheran brothers and sisters in the Holy Land are accompanied in their oppression, disaster relief is given around the world, children are fed, wells are dug, fish farms are created, micro grants are provided, medical supplies arrive in hospitals, people with disabilities are welcomed and injustice is confronted. Recently, the United Nations and the Bill Gates Foundation requested the partnership of our church to help with the problem of HIV/AIDS and malaria in Africa. So, we now have a new initiative and a new partnership that will work to relieve the stigma and suffering of those diseases.

 

When you are challenged to send 10 percent or more of the gifts given to your congregation to ministry beyond your local setting, you are not sending money to “the synod.” You are supporting a world-wide network that sees all the things that are wrong in the world, and in the power of God and with your support, fixes them. Thank you for your partnership.

Scholarship Recipients Announced

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s annual Zion scholarship: Ana Dauphin, Abigail Debner, Megan Gibbs, Melissa Hastie, and Christina Webster.  We wish you continued success as you begin college in the fall.  We’ll be making a special presentation to these students at our 10:15 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 17.  Students who attend Southington High School will also receive recognition at the Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the school on Thursday, May 21.

 

New Member Info Sessions Announced

Are you interested in membership at Zion Lutheran? Attend one of the brief information sessions on either Thursday, May 14 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. or Saturday, May 16 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. We’ll receive new members in worship on Sunday, May 31 at the 10:15 a.m. service. Need more info? Call the office at (860) 628-5759.

4/26/09 – The Reality of the Resurrection (Pr. Debner)

Sermon:

 

4/19/09 Easter Faith (Pastor Debner)

Sermon:

 

Bells & Blessings Date Set

 

The Bells and Blessings musical program has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Confirmation students will be participating in the event as well. Please join us for a wonderful evening of music and bells.

 

New Way to View Contribution Statements

You may remember that in an effort to be good stewards of Zion’s resources, the congregation voted to mail contribution statements on an annual basis instead of every quarter.  This change saves Zion the significant (and ever-rising) cost of postage, and helps save paper, too.

 

You will, however, be able to access all of your giving information online any time you’d like!  Each household will be assigned a unique username and password (much like those of brokerages and banks).  Once we activate your password (which we’ll do only upon your authorization) you can view your giving history and household information online.  You can even e-mail yourself a contribution statement for any timeframe you choose.  YOUR INFORMATION REMAINS CONFIDENTIAL AND ONLY YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD CAN ACCESS THIS INFO. 

 

Once we receive your authorization, we’ll send you an e-mail with your user name, password, and the website address you’ll need to access.  Please be sure that our e-mail address, office@zionlutheranct.org is in your address book so that our e-mails reach your in-box.  In order to benefit from this service, you must provide us with an e-mail address.

In the near future you will be receiving an authorization form and letter in the mail explaining all of the details.

Covenant to Care

 Zion Lutheran and First Lutheran are pleased to have participated in Easter “baskets” for our Covenant to Care teens again this year. We were asked to remember the same 33 youth and four babies and toddlers that we helped this past Christmas. Each teen received a back sack (a lightweight drawstring bag popular with teens) filled with a few Easter treats. The babies and toddlers each received a basket filled with Spring toys and a few healthy snacks.

Our DCF social workers Steve Gambee and Deb Duncan said the teens were happy to receive their Easter bags – “it means so much to these kids that someone cares and is thinking of them”.

Zion continues to place critical goods such as twin beds, dressers, lamps and other apartment basics with teens in need. *Currently requested: boys clothing size 12-18 months. Thanks for your continued support of these CT youth!

 

4/12/09 Happy Ever After (Pastor Debner)

Sermon:

 

4/9/09 – Seeing Ourselves in the Disciples (Pastor Debner)

Sermon:

 

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