Zion Lutheran

Reformation Sunday October 28, 2007   READING FOR THE DAY Romans 3:19-28   Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.   ¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  ²⁰For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.              ²¹But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,  ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,  ²³since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;  ²⁴they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  ²⁵whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;  ²⁶it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.              ²⁷Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.  ²⁸For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

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Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost October 21, 2007   GOSPEL Luke 181-8   Jesus tells a story reminding his listeners they are to be persistent in prayer, unceasing in their appeals. If an unethical judge will ultimately grant the plea of a persistent widow, how much more will our loving God hear those who call upon him!   Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.  ²He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.  ³In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’  ⁴For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,  ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”  ⁶And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  ⁷And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?  ⁸I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

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Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost October 14, 2007   GOSPEL Luke 17:11-19   A Samaritan leper becomes a model for thanksgiving. He does not take for granted the kindness shown to him but takes time to thank Jesus and to glorify God.   ¹¹On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.  ¹²As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, ¹³they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  ¹⁴When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean.  ¹⁵Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.  ¹⁶He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.  ¹⁷Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?  ¹⁸Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”  ¹⁹Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

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The weekly announcements have moved to http://zionbuffalo.wordpress.com/category/weekly-announcements/

I think that this site is more user-friendly, at least for the non-audio items.  Let me know what you think.

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 7, 2007

GOSPEL Luke 17:5–10   On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus instructs his followers: exhibit mutual support and forgiveness, to realize the power of faith, and to adopt the attitude of servants who do what is right without thought of reward..

  ⁵The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  ⁶The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.              ⁷Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’?  ⁸Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’?  ⁹Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?  ¹⁰So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”  

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