A Word from the Pastor: “For you.” It is my joy and high privilege to offer this profound mystery in bread broken, now given, “for you.” The power of these two little words is staggering. The Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, deeply cares about every single person who comes forward for this piece of bread and sip of wine. “For you.” Those two words make a claim on each person who re-ceives, calling us to trust that God in Christ is for us. Pretty amazing. A few Sundays ago the Spirit surprised me. I became caught up in prayer for each of you as I placed that broken bread in your hand. “For you” --- “the gift of strength” I silently prayed, during your journey through chemotherapy. “For you” --- “God’s blessing in your comings and goings,” I prayed for the visitor. “For you” --- “that your burden may be light” for the one with the heavy heart. “For you” --- “the promise of comfort for that day when every tear will be wiped away.” “For you” --- “the gift of patience and the hope of healing.” “For you” --- “the Spirit’s guidance in your uncertain future.” “For you” --- “that you may grow in the joy of God’s good creation” “For you” --- “do not be afraid.” “For you” --- “in thanksgiving for your witness.” “For you” --- “during your transition.” As each of you step forward to receive the bread and wine, we hear these powerful words: “for you.” They carry us into all times and places, con-necting us with Jesus. With him, there is no time or place that the gospel cannot reach to heal, sustain, and give new life. Then you move along, and the person behind you steps forward --- and we hear those words again. We are reminded that God’s promises are for each of us and yet not for any one of us alone. The “for you” is for you and for each of us in this community of faith. Together, sharing in our joys and sorrows, we celebrate Christ with us and for us. Pretty amazing. Connecting through grace, Pastor Steve Klemz ![]()
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![]() A Word from the Pastor: Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest…… Here it is, the ideal family gathered around an ideal holiday table. Norman Rockwell has captured the sentiment of a bygone era. It is an endear-ing picture: all smiles and family bliss with everyone sitting down for a turkey dinner. Even the table setting is perfect. My experiences certainly do not measure up to this picture. Even before the turkey is served there’s already been some hard feelings. Sulking replaces smiles for those told to put their phones away. Where’s the uncle who shows up with a ring of salami under his arm, smelling like a brewery? One is tight lipped, doing his best to remain silent when the conversation turns political. And, there is that heavy cloud, which hovers over the table because of the empty chair. Like the picture, sometimes we get caught up in ideals. The ideal job. The ideal vacation. The ideal relationship. Ideal children and ideal homes and ideal holidays. Whether the picture is painted by Rockwell, created by advertisements, or sketched into our imaginations --- they are all unhealthy. They lead us to see what we have --- and who we are – as unworthy or not good enough. In Advent we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” This is the message of Advent: Jesus comes. But he does not come into an ideal picture of ourselves or our world. Jesus comes to us just as we are. He comes into our fear of losing and dying; he comes into our troubled families and lives; he comes into our preoccupation with status and image. He comes into our differences, be they political, or racial or theological. Jesus comes into our addictions --- to substances, to work, to food; to affirmation, to control. Somehow there is peace in all of this, to be loved and accepted and counted worthy because of God’s love and acceptance for us. Come, Lord Jesus, indeed. Pastor Steve Klemz ![]()
A Word from the Pastor: My Reflections on Zion Generosity Deana Miller, director Operation Bootstrap Africa, was desperate. “We had a cancellation. If you don’t join in our walk, we will have to cancel.” The “walk” was an 8-day, 200-mile foray through Maasai land in Tanzania. Each walker recruited sponsors who pledged $15,000 to finance the construction of three classrooms in east Africa. “This is not Minnesota,” I reminded Deana, “we don’t have enough Lutherans to raise that kind of money.” “Well, do what you can,” she responded. In the end, through Zion’s generosity, we raised $24,000, enough to build nearly five classrooms! Many of us remember and celebrate our building addition, which provided needed welcoming space, elevator, offices and classrooms. Our capital appeal faced a million and a half dollar challenge with an additional commitment to provide seed money to start a preschool. In a follow up appeal, we tithed our first $30,000 for a mission start up in South Jordan. Believe it or not, we once ended a fiscal year with a $20,000 surplus. Those funds did not go into a rainy day fund. They were not used to pay down our building loan. Instead, we purchased a used van for Crossroads Urban Center; gave a special offering to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and the Rocky Mtn. Synod of the ELCA. To this day, we continue to grow our ministry of music through a financial legacy from Ellen Crooks. With her fund and special gifts from congregational members, we have purchased most of the Orff instruments used by choirs and Sunday School. This is what we do. Our money follows mission. Generosity is woven into our spiritual DNA. But right about now, Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days is bouncing through my mind’s eye. We can celebrate the past, but what is the story of generosity we are writing today? We are a congregation without debt. We believe the Spirit is calling us into a new vision for mission, connecting us through grace, moving us into new outreach venues while attending our building, correcting safety issues and reducing our carbon footprint. Trusting in God’s promise through Jeremiah, we pray that this story is being written on our hearts. In and through Christ, Pastor Steve ![]()
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
February 2022
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ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH![]() 1070 Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84108 [email protected] 801-582-2321 Summer Office Hours: June 3 - August 30, 2024 Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm Zion is a congregation of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). CLICK HERE to explore the Rocky Mountain Synod CLICK HERE to explore the ELCA |
We are a church
on a mission to proclaim Christ through word and deed. |
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