Christ Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church Elbow Lake, Minnesota Hoffman, Minnesota Together In Christ

Volume 35 Issue 9 Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist September 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

August 29, is appointed as the day to remember John the Baptist and how he was executed by Herod. What vi- olence occurs throughout the scriptures as people suffer in the name of Jesus!

When Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ was reviewed by many they said it was too violent. The Evan- gelicals couldn't handle the violence of the cross. When Dean Wenthe, then president of Concordia Theological Seminary, was asked about this, he remarked that it wasn't violent enough. For this was the moment for God’s justice for sins, Dr. Wenthe said, the cross was the most violent moment in the history of the world.

On this day in the Church Year, we are confronted with—and must not try to avoid—this violence in the per- sons of John and Jesus, men of violence.

Only the Gospel of Mark has the entire bloody scene of John’s beheading, with all the terrible nuance that his was pre-meditated—that Herodias had a grudge, and she would find a way to kill John—and then Herod Anti- pas’s weakness and cowardice in the face of his wife and stepdaughter and his fear of losing face with the crowd at the feast.

What caused John’s beheading was his calling out Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife. A clear case of marriage gone very wrong. Herod knew he was wrong. Mark reports that Herod was flirting with be- lief: “Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed: and yet he heard him gladly” (Mark 6:20).

Herod Antipas is like many people today. They may hear the word of John’s preaching gladly, but their flesh is weak and they succumb to their basest desires, to a culture that applauds a loose moral code. They lack courage in the face of persecution. But for John, Herod’s sin of adultery was against the very essence of his preaching, for marriage and fidelity are at the heart of the preaching of the kingdom of God.

In our society today, we are faced with a culture not unlike that of John and Jesus and the apostles. As we teach and confess biblical faith, preaching that the kingdom of God is most clearly embodied in a marriage of a man and a woman, a husband and wife, there will be Herodiases out there with grudges against our faithful confes- sion of the way God created us to be—male and female. And they will seek to be rid of us. If not martyrdom, a type of martyrdom that forces us to face violence for preaching the kingdom of God.

Thank God for the violence that we suffered in the waters of Holy Baptism—our uniting with Christ in His suf- fering, death and resurrection. Thank God for the violence we receive at His Table in the Lord’s Supper; the broken body and blood poured out as we proclaim His death until He comes again. Thank God that we have been given a faith to share the Good News of the Kingdom. FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT!

Pastor Aufdenkamp

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CHANGE OF WORSHIP TIME AT ZION! NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING

We will be changing our worship time to 11:00 “IN ALL THINGS” am on Sunday September 12. This is also the July 9-13, 2022 day we begin Sunday School for the fall. Houston, Texas Please make others aware of our change as we If you have an interest be sure to talk to do not want anyone to miss out. Pastor Aufdenkamp asap.

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, HOFFMAN, CONFIRMATION INSTRUCTION MN. WILL BE HOSTING THE 78TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE MINNESOTA NORTH DISTRICT LLL Begins September 15 at 4:00pm at Saturday, September 25, Registration begins Christ. You will ride the bus to North at 9:30 am. Opening Worship begins at 10:00. See the insert in the Newsletter for more info. Elementary and walk over to the church for class. Pastor will get you back to Hoffman. ZION LWML meets Thursday September 2 at 9:30 am at LUTHERAN ISLAND CAMP. There will be a time for Bible Study and then each Society attending can have their business Wedding Bells are ringing! meetings. On Friday, September 17 Lunch will be served at noon and then possibly a Pontoon Ride, weather permitting, and I James Weise and tour of Christ Serve Ranch. Kathryn Reichmann

Societies for Herman and Monson will be join- Will be joining their lives ing us. together as one. Let us pray for God’s richest blessing on Meet in the Parking Lot at 8:15 a.m. this couple.

SOMEONE YOU KNOW CHRIST LWML WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, We are inviting you to pray for someone you SEPTEMBER 16, AT 9:00 AM. know who doesn’t know Jesus as Savior, or for We will be meeting at the home of Eldrin and Sonja someone who has drifted away from the church. Schneeberger. Their address is 11328 Morningside Their life, eternally depends on it! Drive, Dalton MN. For directions you can phone Recipe for Sharing the Good News of 218-589-8421. Come and enjoy the fellowship and join in the mission. Jesus: Be a friend Be hospitable Show that you care Love all people It is not too hard! Just do it ! Who are you praying for on a regular basis? VOLUME 35 ISSUE 9 TOGETHER IN CHRIST PAGE 3

USED GLASSES: The mission group LUTHERAN HOUR “MOST” is collecting used glasses STATIONS & TIMES to be used in third world countries. WCCO—830 AM 6:05 AM Please bring your used glasses to the churches and Debi An- KXRA—1490 AM 6:30 AM derson will see that they get to where they need to go. Even KXRA—100.3 FM 6:30 AM frames without lenses can be used as they now have the ma- KFGO—790 AM 7:30 AM chines to cut lenses to fit frames. Readers are preferred, but KBRF—1250 AM 10:35 AM no trifocals or bifocals. They are also taking soft cases.

WE NEED YOUR RADIO STATIONS CHRIST WORSHIP PLASTIC BAGS : FOR CANCELLATIONS OF SERVICES Peggy Pasche is con- SERVICES ON CABLE CHANNEL 6 tinuing with her pro- SUNDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS ject of making mats KIKV — 100.7 FM 10:00 AM AND 7:00 PM. for Orphan Grain KXRA — 1490 AM & 100.3 FM Times will vary due to Train so save your KXRA - 105.1 FM programming. bags, but no Wal- KBRF — 1250 AM Mart bags. If you You can also tune into our KZCR — 103.3 FM have questions contact Church Website KJJK — 96.5 FM Peggy Pasche at 218- KMRS   http://www.christ-zion.org / 731-7629. Those at video Christ can leave them You can view the worship any- in the office. time online! SHOES FOR LIC: Lutheran Island Camp is still collecting shoes. If you have shoes to donate drop them off at the church office or contact Debi Anderson and she will be sure they get to the camp. All shoes are acceptable no matter the condition. No flip-flops please!

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September 2021

CHRIST: AT CHRIST Alex Ostenson 2 Allison Moerke 3 Elder of the Month: Jon Leis 5 Larry Schneeberger Donna Leis 9 Ushers: Ryan Rupp 9 Clay and Kim Drews Vernon VanWinkle 11 Janey Woessner 12 Caileen Ostenson 20 AT ZION Samantha Lindquist 25 Renae Lien 30 Elder of the Month: ZION: Jeff Lee Emily Rupp 4 Usher: Valerie Johnson 4 Justin Blascyk Randy Froemming 7 Jeff Lee Arlene Henrichs 9 Altar Guild: Justin Blascyk 22 Nancy Klingberg Nick Pasche 29 Cindy Blascyk Kelsey Hammer 30 Acolyte: Jeremy Blascyk

CHRIST: Rodney & Beverly Melin 1 Aaron & Morgan Fagre 24

ZION: Thomas & Emily Rupp 8 Bruce & Jeanne Marts 23 Gerald & Julie Hausmann 26 Roger & Betty Werks 30

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 9 TOGETHER IN CHRIST PAGE 5 September 2021

Sunday, September 5, 2021 Pentecost 15 Christ 8:30 am Zion 10:15 am Holy Communion

“Faith =Action” James 2:17

++++++++++++++++++++ Sunday School Classes begin at both congregations on Sunday, September 12 at 9:45 am. Let’s kick–off the year Sunday, September 12, 2021 with everyone present! Pentecost 16

Christ 8:30 am Zion 11:00 am Sunday Bible Class will begin at Christ on September 12 at 9:45 as well. All adults are welcome to attend “Is Something Burning?” James 3:5 Men’s Morning Bible Classes will meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday’s. We will be continuing our study of Jeremiah. We meet at 6:30 am. at Christ.

A NEW BIBLE CLASS begins on Wednesday, Sep- tember 15 at Christ. We meet at 9:30 am and will be Sunday, September 19, 2021 studying selected Psalms, uncovering God’s hymns of Pentecost 17 praise! We will meet 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesdays of Christ 8:30 am the month. Zion 11:00 am

ALSO NEW we will be trying out a FAMILY NIGHT “My Desires vs. God’s Will” James 4: 1&7 beginning September 22 at 6:00 pm. There will be food.. Lessons for children and adults, crafts, a short evening of sharing God’s love. We will meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at Christ.

We will also continue our Wednesday evening Bible Sunday, September 26, 2021 Class at Zion . This class will begin on September 15 at Pentecost 13 7:00pm We will meet 1st, 3rd, and 5th, Wednesday Christ 8:30 am evenings. Zion 11:00 am Holy Communion Then in January when we change worship times we will be offering a Sunday morning Bible Class at Zion “You Are Worth Your Salt” following the worship hour. Mark 9:49-50

Come and learn in God’s Holy Word!

LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES:

78th ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF MN N DISTRICT LUTHERAN LAYMEN’S LEAGUE LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES AND ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH AT ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 106 6TH STREET NORTH, HOFFMAN, MN

The Conference will feature a presentation by Rev. Fred Hinz on “A Christian Reflection on Our Current National Turmoil”

We live in one of the most distorted and confusing moments in human history. Unlike the many past eras of social tension and division in which people of good faith disagreed about how to go about addressing the various ills of society and how to promote the common good of humanity, today’s divisions are marked by a sharp disagreement about something for more basic, namely, what it means to be a human being.

Not surprisingly, this fundamental disagreement means that the common ground needed for people to “stand on” when discussing what it means to be a good person and how best to govern our life together in community has become vanishingly small—so small that serious, mutually respectful conversations be- tween neighbors of differing political persuasion rarely seems to happen. All of which has made our lives, our communities and our nation feel pretty unstable of late. Understanding the underlying source of this instability and, therefore, having some idea about how to go about restoring the stability we used to enjoy, is the topic that will be explored by Rev. Fredic Hinz at the Lutheran Laymen’s League Conference to be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Hoffman on Saturday, September 25, beginning at 10:00 am. Registration begins at 9:30 am with coffee served at that time.

Reverend Hinz serves as the Public Policy Advocate for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod here in Min- nesota. In addition to discussing the general topic described above, he will also be reporting on some of the specific political and judicial issues that are currently in play and which reflect the current tensions in our culture.

OUR SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS: 9:30–10:00 a.m. Registration & coffee 10:00-10:50 Opening service conducted by Rev. Bill Aufdenkamp and Rev. Jason Wolter 10:50-11:00 Break 11:00-12:15 “A Christian Reflection on Our Current National Turmoil” 12:15-1:15 Lunch 1:15-3:30 Greetings and business meeting

There will be no registration fee. An offering during the Worship Service will be for the support of Luther- an Hour Ministries. A free will donation will be accepted for the noon meal.

So that we will be prepared to serve you a noon meal please RSVP to our District LLL Secretary, Deborah Anderson at: [email protected] OR call Delano & Linda Meyer at 320-677-2668 or 320-287- 0531.

We encourage LCMS members and all concerned Christians to attend this very informative meeting that will address subjects that will impact our church, our nation, and Christianity itself.

In Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Delano Meyer, Minnesota North LLL/LHM District President [email protected]