07/12/2026
Greetings from the Zion Lutheran Church in Downs!
Attendance: This Sunday, 39 people attended the service, 8 people in adult Sunday school, 5 kids in the children’s sermon.
Readings: the First lesson came from Isaiah 55:1-5, the Epistle was from Romans 8:12-17, and the Gospel was from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.
Sermon: Pastor Stenson’s sermon was entitled “Seeds and Soil”. One of our Zion members, Gwen Smith, passed away this week. She hadn’t attended services here in recent years, but I was able to spend time with her and get to know her.
The first Gospel seed I know is that Gwen, by nature and by her own admission, was a sinner. How do I know that? It’s an absolute certainty, because Gwen was a human being like you and like me.
The second Gospel seed I know is that Gwen wasn’t just a sinner, she was a redeemed sinner. Redeemed means to be bought back, one thing exchanged for another. In Gwen’s case—and in your case, and mine—our sinfulness was exchanged for the righteousness of the Son of God.
The third seed I know about Gwen is that she was a baptized sinner. To some, this seems nothing more than a ritual, a splashing of common water that only represents a washing away of sins. Yet the Scriptures make clear that this is not just a symbolic act, for it carries both the power and the promise of God.
The fourth Gospel seed I know about Gwen is that she was a repentant sinner. Receiving that forgiveness, Gwen was reconciled with her heavenly Father for the sake of Christ’s suffering and death.
The fifth seed I know about Gwen is that she was a refreshed sinner. Following her confession and God’s absolution, Gwen and I shared the Sacrament of the Altar. In this Holy Communion, Gwen received the body and blood of the Lord, the fruits of Christ’s sacrifice given us for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.
The sixth Gospel seed I know about Gwen is that she is no longer a sinner, she is rejoicing. Not on account of anything Gwen ever did or said or thought, but on account of what God has done in Christ for her, and to her.
Through the sufferings of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we, too are: Redeemed; Repentant; Reconciled; Rescued; Righteous; Restored; Refreshed; and Rejoicing.
It is my prayer that you, too, will receive the seeds of God’s Word in hearts that remain good soil; that you might flourish and grow to bear good fruit. In the end, those who do will be gathered into the Lord’s heavenly storehouse, where we will share with Gwen the eternal blessings our heavenly Father has prepared for us in His unbounded mercy and wondrous grace.
(You will find a full video of Pastor Stenson’s sermon on our Facebook church page: Zion Lutheran Church.
This week at Zion and the community:
Next Sunday, July 19th: Communion Worship Service at 9 a.m., Brunch following the service with a Voters’ meeting following the brunch.
