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Growing in Grace

T h e N e w s l e t t e r o f Z i o n L u t h e r a n C h u rch
Volume 8, Issue 9

Notes and News for September


+ What a blessing we had this past month with Vacation Bible School! Throughout the course of the
week we have 50 children attend with over 40 each night! A strong majority of the children are in the lower grades which gives us optimism for futures years as well. Join me in praying that the Word works powerfully in the hearts of these children as well as their parents and other family members.

September 1st 2013

Inside This Issue


September Birthdays and Anniversaries Christian Parents & Parenting August Ladies Aid Meeting August Church Council Meeting Online Bible Study Opportunity September Service Schedules and Prayers WELS Q&A Hypocrisy

2 3 4 5 5 6 7

+ Catechism will be starting up for the 2013-2014 academic year beginning on September 18th at 6:00
pm. Pastor will be in touch with students and their parents.

+ Our Minnesota Valley Circuit of LWMS is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year. They will
be holding their Fall Rally at St. Pauls in St. Jamesthe site of the very first LWMS rally 40 years ago! The theme for this Rally is Generation to Generation (or unofficially High Heels to Flip Flops). The Rally will be Saturday, September 28th, beginning at 9:00 am. There is no cost to attend and childcare will be provided also free of charge. More information can be found in the bulletin in the coming weeks.

+ A seven week Bible Class has in the Sunday morning slot. It emphasizes the worship emphasis also
going on this month; more information is found in the bulletin.

+ We switch back to the 10:00 am service time beginning on September 8th; Sunday School will also
begin September 8th and all children and parents are encouraged to make every effort to come to both Sunday School and worship that week for mutual encouragement and edification.

Zion Lutheran Church is affiliated with and actively supports these Christian institutions:

Zion Lutheran Church


105 South Street PO Box 25 Sanborn, MN 56083 507-648-3601 bbprell@yahoo.com Bryan Prell, Pastor

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Growing in GraceThe Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church

Worship
Sundays at 10:00 am (9:00 am June-August) Wednesdays at 7:00 pm

September Birthdays & Anniversaries


Birthdays
Brian Pabst1st Ian Matejka3rd Kendall Krueger3rd Alyssa Fredrickson4th Todd Weber10th Vicki Kletscher11th Sam Altermatt15th Doris Kosel15th Andrew Radel16th Lee Stern17th Jeff Graff18th Terry Schenk19th Irene Weber21st Diane Ohlemann22nd Frank Trebesch22nd Brenna Pabst23rd Bridgette Bertrand24th Jeff Pape24th Lorraine Hellickson26th Nick Altermatt28th Don Steffen28th Paul Steffen28th

Worship Service Broadcasts


Wednesday & Friday at 4:00 pm on Local Access Channel 8 (Springfield) Thursday at 4:00 pm on Local Access Channel 6 (Lamberton)

Anniversaries
John & Char Altermatt24th Ed & Roxy Cohrs27th

The list on which the above dates are based is a continual work in progress. PLEASE let Ladies Evening Circle know if we have either missed or misdated your birthday or anniversary. The following designations have been made for offerings at special services in 2013. The offering is collected from the envelope for that day along with any unmarked loose offerings:

New Years Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Christmas Eve & Christmas DayZions General Fund Midweek Lenten Services & EasterMissions (CMO) Ascension & ThanksgivingThe Church Extension Fund
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. II Corinthians 8:9

Bible Class
Sundays at 8:45 am (10:30 am June-August) Sundays at 7:00 pm

September Worship Emphases


CLOC Week TwoLove Speaks Confidently CLOC Week ThreeLove Speaks Sacrificially

September 1st

September 8th

Sunday School
Sundays at 8:45 am (September-May)

CLOC Week FourLove Speaks Passionately CLOC Week FiveLove Speaks with a Focused Heart CLOC Week SixLove Speaks with Urgency

September 15th

September 22nd September 22nd

Volume 8, Issue 9

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Christian Parents & Parenting

Why should children obey their parents? Ask different people and you get different answers: Theyre supposed to... or Im the parent! or If they dont, theyll be grounded. A Christian parent might reply, The Bible tells children to obey their parents. And it does. But none of these responses gets at the real heart of God-pleasing obedience. The answer to that question sets Christian children apart from others. Take away Christian faith, and a childs obedience is usually connected either to the fear of punishment or the promise of reward. For the Christian child, obedience to parents flows out of a love for Jesus. All of us as Christiansadults or childrendo what we do because its our way of showing our gratitude for all that the Lord has done for us, beginning with His gracious gift of salvation. The Bible says it this way: We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). This is a fundamental principle: We obey God by living according to the Ten Commandments, and we live that Christian life out of love for Him. So, the essence of all Christian discipline is serving the Lord with our lives. Loving the Lord doesnt happen on its own. The Holy Spirit plants the seed for such an obedient life at the moment of Baptism. And God is with Christian parents every day as they teach children that misbehavior and disobedience are sins. Its really quite simple: Christian parents teach their children that wrong is wrong because it ignores Gods Ten Commandments. But along with teaching children right from wrong, parents need to tell their children about the wonderful gift of forgiveness that is theirs through faith in Christ Jesus. Their sins are forgiven. That forgiveness brings joy. And the joy is expressed in the childrens obedience. Its that message of forgiveness that motivates them. Yes, a child will sin again. And probably again and again. But each time, there is forgiveness and joy and a renewed commitment to do Gods will. Parents dont need to go through this explanation every time their child does something wrong. The key is to remain consistent with Gods will in setting rules and expectations for children; let the Ten Commandments set the standard. There is still an appropriate time and place for timeouts, grounding, other types of punishment. Sin has consequences. Star charts posted on the refrigerator door and surprise hugs can still reinforce good behavior. But these things in and of themselves do not bring about Christian behavior. Christian children obey their parents because they love their Savior.

Patient Parenting: Raising your Kids in the Shadow of the Cross


This book is a collection of 49 articles about the Christian home that appeared in Lutheran Parent magazine. Each article looks at godly parenting as seen through the eyes of a Christian psychologist. Dr. Juern is a father of five, has authored several books for families, has served as a Lutheran elementary school teacher and principal, and has worked as a family counselor and child psychologist. While many parents today consult professional advice for their family issues, Juerns articles draw on Scripture to provide proper guidance for parents in a changing world.

Patient Parenting: Raising Your Kids in the Shadow of the Cross, is currently found
either on our Synods website www.wels.net or at the following link for Northwestern Publishing House: http://online.nph.net/p-959-patient-parenting.aspx

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Growing in GraceThe Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church

Offering Envelope Goals & Commitments for 2013


The Congregational Mission Offering $19,000.00
$13,243.70 through June 30th which is 69.7% of our annual commitment

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School $2500.00


$2799.00 through June 30th which is 111.9% of our annual commitment

The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity. (NLT) A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pigs snout. (NLT) Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. (NLT) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT) Proverbs 11:20, 22, 24-25

Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church District Home Mission $1800.00


$1680.00 through June 30th which is 93.3% of our annual commitment

August Ladies Aid Meeting


Zion Ladies Aid met on August 7th at Valley View Manor. Pastor Prell presented two different WELS Connections on mission work in our Synod under the theme Christs LoveOur Calling. He closed with a prayer. President Nancy called the meeting to order and roll call was answered by 7 members. The Secretarys and Treasurers Reports were approved as read. Georgine H. gave the Cheer Report and Mission Sunday will be August 18th with a potluck dinner after the worship service. A motion was made and passed to purchase flowers for Mission Sunday; Nancy K. will pick them up. Discussion was held on desserts for Valley View Manor; the issue was tabled until the next meeting. There being no further business brought forward, we closed with the Lords Prayer and Table Prayer. Our next meeting will be held on September 4th in Valley View Manor at 2:00 pm.

Martin Luther College in New Ulm currently has no formal commitment. We are currently committing $2500.00 per student to St. Johns Lutheran School in Redwood Falls.

Volume 8, Issue 9

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August Church Council Meeting


The August Zion Lutheran Church Council Meeting was called to order by Chairman Beyer on August 8th at 8:50 pm in the School Building. The Secretarys Report was read and accepted as read. The Treasurers Report was accepted as read with one notation: 375.00 was donated to the Organ Fund not paid out in organ repairs. Pastor reported an average weekly attendance for the month of July of 78. There was one funeral for Julie Panitzke and one committal service for Mavis Pint. The Sunday Evening Bible Class continues to work through the How Can They Teach That? series. The Sunday Morning Bible Class will be taking July off and beginning a new series the end of August. There is nothing really new to report on Sunday School; it will begin again after Labor Day weekend on September 8th at the normal 8:45 am time. Vacation Bible School just wrapped up and went phenomenally well! We had over 40 children in attendance each night and a total of 50 different children throughout the week. Many of the kids will be back on Sunday to sing as well. The week itself went quite smoothly thanks to the efforts of our many faithful volunteer teachers and helpers, and the Closing Servicedespite some confusion as to when it waswas still well attended. Catechism will be beginning in September and Pastor will be getting in touch with the families of students. The Youth Group had a campfire/cookout following VBS Wednesday evening; it was very well attended and enjoyed by parents and kids. Services continue as normal at Valley View and Cottonwood as well as visits to members and prospects. The Trustees reported that Harley should be beginning work on the North Side of Church in about a week and a half and the dumpster has already arrived. The main roof on the Church is also beginning to show some wear. A bid was received from Ochs for 4800.00 to brick up the foundation windows; other bids will be sought. We will also get in touch with an exterminator to address the bat problem once and for all in church. Mission Sunday will be on August 18th with a meal following. Pastor will get in touch with Mike Mason to see how things are coming with estimates for stained glass windows. Adam Kosel will be getting a new camera shortly for recording church services and we will be making the switch to DVD format. There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8:40 pm with prayer.

Elected Church Officers


Chairman
Arlan Beyer

Treasurer
Don Steffen

Financial Secretary
Jim Rogotzke

Elders
Lynn Weber Sam Altermatt Brian Pabst

Trustees
Al Larson Dale Fennern Jim Kosel

The Ministry of Elijah will begin September 4th, 2013. Marvel with us at the grace of God...even in times of rampant apostasy. Prof. Keith Wessel will lead this six week online study. For more information: http://www.wels.net/adult-discipleship/online-bible-studies

Cemetery Board
Jim Kosel John Rogotzke John Ohlemann A full listing of elected positions, delegates & phone numbers is posted in the back of the church.

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Growing in GraceThe Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service , but the same Lord. I Corinthians 12:4-5

September Service Schedules


Ushers Noel Pidde, Curt Schenk, Terry Schenk, Cary Fredrickson, Jim Zimmerman

Councilman on Duty Jim Kosel Altar Guild Roxy Cohrs & LaVonne Reese Youth Josh AltermattSeptember 1st, Kory SchenkSeptember 8th, Katelyn
RogotzkeSeptember 15th, Karlee EichtenSeptember 22nd, Josh Altermatt September 29th

Greeters Brian PabstSeptember 1st, Jim & Becky RogotzkeSeptember

8th, EichtensSeptember 15th, Sam AltermattSeptember 22nd, Lynn Weber September 29th

September Prayer Requests


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

May the prayers and intercessions of Gods people be offered in the coming month for:
+ Doug Leopoldwho is undergoing rehabilitation for back issues. + Robin Pape-Leegaardwho continues to recover from open heart surgery. + Betty Fennernwho is in hospice care for cancer. + Arlan Beyerwho continues treatment for a chronic medical condition, and has undergone surgery in
Sioux Falls

+ The beginning of our Sunday School Yearmay God bless us not only in turnout but spiritual
growth and stronger bonds of friendship and faith.

+ Christians undergoing persecutionmay God keep safe all who trust in Him. At this time showing
special care on those Christians in danger in the Middle East.

+ The Christian Church in Americamay God preserve us from violent persecution, and may He further strengthen His Church to speak clearly, confidently & lovingly the Word of God to a nation which has drifted away from Him.

Volume 8, Issue 9

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WELS Q&AHypocrisy
What exactly is hypocrisy? Are churches full of hypocrites? Am Ione when Ifall into temptation and am called hypocritical?

Hypocrisy in a wider sense is pretending to be someone or something we arent. This can be all right for actors and undercover cops, but not for con artists or swindlers. Biblically and culturally, hypocrisy refers to bad behavior, that is, purposeful pretense or intentional insincerity that is self-serving, unloving, and unhelpful to others.

Zions Purpose & Mission


Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. II Peter 3:18 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 Be devoted to one another in love. Romans 12:10

Confess Sin
Churches arent full of hypocrites, but theyre full of sinners. We freely confess our sinfulness to God and to the world, so the charge of widespread hypocrisy is usually unfair. We seek to deceive no one. But as forgiven sinners and new creations in Christ, we despise sin and struggle against itand earnestly wish we were as holy as God declares us to be because of Jesus. This tension can lead religious people to pretend they have attained a higher level of godly conduct than they really have. So hypocrisy can surface among sincere believers. When this is diagnosed among us, let us confess the sinto God and outsiders. Additionally, there likely are insincere church members among us. Those seeking outward respectability, wanting to develop business connections, or merely appeasing family members or friends join churches for reasons other than a Christ-centered faith life. The result is hypocrisy in churches. We are wise to admit this.

Confront Excuses
Usually the accusation that the church is full of hypocrites is little more than an excuse to evade the topic of personal church membership or a tactic to defend ones own lifestyle at the expense of anothers. The charge itself is a version of hypocrisy. This should surprise no one, since the world as well as the church is full of sinners who by nature want to be or look better than they really are. I am reminded of a quote attributed to D. James Kennedy a generation ago in response to someone who spurned churchgoing because of hypocrites in churches: Well, theres always room for one more. It is fitting that we testify to hypocritical attitudes outside churches as well as within them. Sometimes unbelievers may honestly be confused. They really dont understand the sinner and saint at the same time reality of Christians. The unchurched may be thinking, They say theyre Christians, and Christians arent supposed to sin; since they are sinning, they must be hypocrites. The logical deduction rests on a flawed definition of what a Christian is. In love we can expose the false idea by stressing churches are hospitals for sinnersforgiven sinners who nevertheless remain sinners and struggle against sin.

Clarify the Real Issue


The truth everyone needs to know is not that hypocrisy lives in churches and outside them. The real issue for the churched and unchurched is our relationship to Jesus. He alone was never hypocritical and always perfectly put into practice what He preached. More than that, He did this in our place and gives us credit for His moral perfection. The good news remains the same: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23,24). All must look to Christ for pardon and new life. Thats our cue. To those who accuse us of hypocrisy, we may say, Lets leave hypocrites to God; dealing with them is one of His specialties. But let us, as sinners who know and confess we are sinners, look to Jesus! Saving us is His specialty. Follow Him, not them.

Zion Lutheran Church


105 South Street PO Box 25 Sanborn, MN 56083 507-648-3601 bbprell@yahoo.com Bryan Prell, Pastor

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