CLOC: Love Speaks Week Three

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.

September 8th, 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 Common Service on Page 15 Philippians 3:4-11 Love Speaks Sacrificially 465, 428, 477, 311, 452 19 on Page 70

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 Confidently. More information can be found each week on the purple insert in the bulletin.

First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-8 The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your

country, your people and your fathers household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him . Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

Opportunities to Grow and Serve

SundaySeptember 8th
Greeters Youth 8:45 am 8:45 am 10:00 am After Church 7:00 pm Kory Schenk Jim & Becky Rogotzke Morning Bible ClassLove Speaks: Week 3 Sunday School Begins! Sunday Morning Worship ServiceLove Speaks: Week 3 Special Voters Meeting to Discuss Bat Removal NO Evening Bible ClassHow Can They Teach That? NO Worship Service at Cottonwood Ridge in Springfield Worship Service at Cottonwood Ridge in Springfield Televised Worship Service (Springfield Channel 8) Regular Midweek Worship Service Valley View Worship Service in Lamberton Televised Worship ServiceLamberton Channel 6 Church Council Meeting in the School Televised Worship ServiceSpringfield Channel 8 Eichtens Katelyn Rogotzke Morning Bible ClassLove Speaks: Week 4 Sunday School in the School Building Sunday Morning Worship ServiceLove Speaks: Week 4 Evening Bible ClassHow Can They Teach That?

Second Lesson: Philippians 3:4-11 If anyone else thinks he has rea-

Tuesday
10:30 am 10:30 am 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 10:00 am 4:00 pm 8:00 pm

sons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Wednesday

Thursday

Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:25-33 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and turning to them he said: If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sistersyes, even his own lifehe cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish. Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

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

SundaySeptember 15th

Altar GuildRoxy Cohrs & LaVonne Reese Councilman on DutyJim Kosel UshersNoel Pidde, Curt Schenk, Terry Schenk, Cary Fredrickson, Jim Zimmerman

Weekly Attendance in Worship

Wednesday 7:00 pm on August 21st: 17 Wednesday 7:00 pm on August 28th: 18 Sunday 10:00 am on August 25th: 52 Sunday 10:00 am on September 1st: 65

Announcements Continued
raising your voices in praise to God, we will be beginning practice the end of September. Watch for more specific information coming out next Sunday. Church Remodeling: Harley Johnson has completed his work on the north side of church; windows, insulation, and siding were all installed smoothly and without any real surprises. Harleys services have already been retained for next spring for the next phase of remodeling; the exact nature of next years work will be decided at the October Voters Meeting. Church Remodeling/Bat Removal: This past month the Church Council contacted Buds Nuisance Wildlife Removal to address the bats that are present in church. He inspected the church and parsonage last week. We have received an estimate from him and will need to have a special Voters Meeting on September 8th to decide what to do. Any questions can be directed to the Trustees. Offering Envelope Update: A letter from Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Milford was published in this last months Newsletter; it informed us that they had decided to close their doors effective the end of September. This means that at the end of September we will be discontinuing our monthly pledge. Members are also asked at that time to no longer earmark offerings for that box on your envelope since there will no longer be a congregation to send them to. Please keep the souls in Milford in your prayers and thanks for your assistance in this matter. The Offering Envelopes will be updated for the coming year. MLC Student Organists: Beginning September 8th we will once again be blessed to have our student organists back among us for the coming school year. Kenny Rodrige will be playing for us on the 8th; he and two other MLC students (John Miller & Lucas Krogmann) will join us for worship 1-2 times per month through the spring of 2014. 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
Minnesota River Valley and Mankato Joint Pastors Conference: Sunday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon Pastor will be out of town at a Joint Pastors Conference in Trego, WI. If there is an emergency that requires immediate pastoral care, please dont hesitate to give him a call on his cell phone: 507-276-5225. Sunday School Teachers: This week we also want to take a moment to thank our Sunday School teachers for their service this upcoming school year: Becky Prell, Karlee Eichten, Deb Fredrickson, Jenny Eichten, Sharon Leopold, Merrilee Rogotzke, Evelyn Rogotzke, Jan Steffen, and Mary Fennern. Most of these teachers have been involved for many years and are to be commended for their faithful service to and love for Gods children. Thank You: Thank you to Adam Kosel who, at the request of the Church Council, acquired a new video camera for recording church services. Thank you also Adam for taking the time to set it up and testing it, the improvement will be significant! Fall Time Change: Beginning September 8th worship are switching back to 10:00 am. Bible Class and Sunday School will be at 8:45 am. Catechism: If you have a child in 6th-8th grade this coming school year, Pastor will be contacting you concerning the start of Catechism classes for the 2013-2014 School Year. If you have not yet heard from him, either wait for a phone call or feel free to contact him. The first week of Catechism will be Wednesday, September 18th; unless there are conflicts, well plan on Catechism beginning at 6:00 pm as last year. Sunday School: September 8th, we will be starting up Sunday School for the 20132014 school year. Start time will be 8:45 am on Sunday mornings and there are two singing dates scheduled so far for the kids: Christmas Eve and Palm Sunday. Information/Invitation sheets are printed and available in the back of church on blue paper. Invitation/Reminder cards have also gone out in the mail. Choir Heads Up: Choir will be beginning in about a month; if you are interested in

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.