January 24, 2011

COPY:

The Honorable Michael Waddoups, President, Utah State Senate

The Honorable Rebecca Lockhart, Speaker of the House

The Honorable Gary Herbert, Office of the Governor

In our response to God’s love as religious leaders in Utah, we are compelled to welcome newcomers and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. We have seen the negative consequences of a broken immigration system. Countless families are torn apart and communities are living in a state of fear. We believe that we need to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and provide them with an earned pathway to permanent residency, to protect family unity, and ensure the just and equitable treatment of all people. We call upon the United States Congress and the administration to pass and enact into law fair and humane immigration legislation.

We are frustrated by the lack of movement on comprehensive immigration reform and we recognize significant challenges the state of Utah faces in confronting the broken immigration system. Still, we are deeply concerned about the impact certain proposed enforcement measures would have on families and communities.

Instead of creating heightened immigration enforcement laws, we ask that you join us in addressing the United States Congress and the administration to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.

Thank you for your public service. Please know that we hold you in prayer as you work to promote the general welfare of all people in Utah.

Rev. Steven A. Klemz

 “People give money for all sorts of reasons, but the good news of biblical stewardship is that we are encouraged to give out of glad and generous hearts, motivated by sincere love for God.”       ”Giving to God” by Mark Allen Powell 

STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATIONS - THE BASIC IDEAS

It’s about all of life. Everything in life … and life itself … comes from God as a gift. Think “life management.” Romans 12:1-2 It’s about trust. Ever wanted to be a trust manager? Your life and everything in it is a trust from God. God trusts you to manage it faithfully (that is, with confidence or trust in God). Luke 19:11-17 Generous. It’s what you hope to be. So, it would be a tragedy if you were forced to live a stingy life. That tragedy won’t happen. God makes sure by being generous with you. You have what you need … and more … to be the generous person you were created to be. 2 Corinthians 9:8-15 Proportionality. Big word, simple idea. You give what God has given you to give - no more, no less. Everyone’s “portfolio” of assets is different - material wealth, priceless talent, rich wisdom, a treasury of experience, a heart full of love - but we’re all rich. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Blessed to be a blessing. The Body of Christ is you. You are where God is alive and at work. You are the hands and feet of Christ. God has a job to do - redeeming the world - and God is getting it done through you. Genesis 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 12:4-26 Traditions - the basic practices: “Tithe.” It means “one tenth” or 10%. From the beginning it’s been the standard for what God’s people set aside specifically for the service of God’s Word. The “tithe” offering isn’t the only offering you make. In faith, all your life is an offering for God’s redemptive purposes in the world. (Remember, everything you do with everything you have is “stewardship” or “life management.”) The “tithe” is your offering for God’s Word and what God accomplishes through it. Numbers 18:21; Malachi 3:8-10 “First fruits” giving. Long ago it was the practice of dedicating the first and the best of the harvest to the service of God’s Word. Today faithful Christians know it’s still the best way to get the job done. “The bottom of the barrel” isn’t good enough. Neither are “leftovers” - what’s left after you do everything else. Off the top, cream of the crop. When God’s Word “Yes!” is the first and last word in your life, “first fruits” giving comes naturally. Deuteronomy 26:1-15.

INTERIM YOUTH DIRECTOR! Zion’s Youth Committee is excited to welcome Lisa Mensinger as our Interim Youth Director. Last month at our committee meeting we discussed an interim part-time position, which allows our program to move forward as we continue to search for a permanent director. Lisa brings experience and a passion for youth. She was part of a two‐person youth team at her last church. She has already begun to lay plans and reach out to our students. Please keep Lisa and all of our youth activities in your prayers and look for opportunities to assist her and our other youth leaders as they help to develop our students’ spiritual growth. Bob Hackworth, for the Youth Committee Service Project: Thanks to Lisa, husband Brian, and all the 12-14 youth who worked Sunday, Nov. 28th making many pans of lasagna and brownies for the Volunteers of American Teen Resource Center. The food was delivered and served on Monday, Nov. 29th by Lisa and several of Zion’s youth. Thanks for a great effort! 

Sales Tax on Food: Proposals to more than double the sales tax on food are already being considered for the 2011 Utah State legislative session. Others may be introduced in the coming weeks. We need to stand up and tell our legislators, new and old, that this is the wrong move at the wrong time. The current draft bill will raise the sales tax on food prepared at home (groceries) from 3 percent to close to 8 percent for most Utahns. Low income people spend about 25 percent of their income on food prepared at home. The impact on them will be severe. The current draft bill takes some of the money raised by the increase in the sales tax on groceries and uses it to cut property taxes. That means low and middle income tax Utahns will be subsidizing those with the highest incomes. Utah is already ranked somewhere around 35th among the states in the cost of property taxes. Do we really need to go even lower? Even if the draft bill already making its way through committee is stopped we expect other bills with similar impacts on the sales tax on groceries to be put forward in the next legislative session. If you agree and want to sign the petition to fight this legislature, please contact the church office to obtain the web link. There will be paper copies of the petition available as well. Speak with Art Sutherland if you have any questions. 

Zion Youth Prayer Project Update

Please see Liz Prystas (or contact her at eprystas@eathlink.net) to “enlist” as a youth prayer partner. The requirements are minimal–a few moments of prayer each day for a Zion youth member–but the rewards (for the youth AND you) are countless. Thank-you!

“Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace.” Psalms 144:12

Ladies’  Bible Study

This bible study is on hiatus until further notice.

Standing for Welcome - In response to last spring’s forum on immigration, Pastor Steve Klemz is forming a network for those who are interested in increasing their awareness of immigration issues through our faith perspective; and, for those who desire to advocate for reform through action and prayer. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Steve. 

ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 13, 2010 ELCA Presiding Bishop Says Time for Immigration Reform is Now Bishop Hanson writes, “It would be tragic if we withdraw as people of faith and our voices fall silent,” wrote Hanson. “We have an opportunity for evangelical witness to our faith in God who is present in the stranger and calls us to extend hospitality.” (Go to www.elca.org and search “Hanson, Immigration” for the full text.)     

Book of Faith—Open Scripture; Join the Conversation

The Book of Faith is an initiative of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture, in order that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered and sent by the Word.

Dennis and Alyce Gross returned from the Rocky Mt. Synod Assembly with some bookmarks that explore

“Four Ways to Approach the Bible.” Denny challenges us to randomly select any chapter of the Bible, to read it and answer the questions which follow. “Anybody can do it,” he says, “and you will learn something about the writing which you did not know before.”

Four Ways to Approach the Bible

Devotional Reading:

What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?

What delights me in this text?

What stories or memories does this text stir in me?

What is God up to in this text?

Historical Reading:

Who wrote this passage?

Why was this text written?

Where was this text written, and what do we know about that part of the ancient world?

When was this text written and what do we know about that time in history?

Literary Reading:

What is the plot?

Who are the characters?

What is the theme of this passage?

What is the setting for this passage?

Lutheran Theological Reading:

In what ways does this text point to or lead us to Christ?

Can other passages in the Bible help us understand or interpret this passage?

What is the plain meaning of this text?

Is the interpretation we are commending accessible to everyone?

To understand the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s stance on the death penalty, please click and read:  ELCA Social Statement on the Death Penalty

For larger print click: Thank You, God music