So often, we talk about the Florida-Bahamas Synod or the ELCA Churchwide Organization without really explaining what each of those means or does. A little background:

The important work of the church that is done at one level affects every other level. When we donate to ELCA Disaster Relief, for example, our donations are joined with those of every other ELCA congregation across the country, and the impact is exponentially more.

Just this week, we received two important letters that highlight our participation in this "inter-dependent" mission that God has entrusted to us.

First, we received a letter from our bishop, Pedro Suarez, thanking us for our mission support over the last three months. Every congregation is encouraged to "tithe" (10% or more) of the offerings they receive each week, and we are proud to say that we tithe faithfully to the synod.

As Bishop Suarez writes, "Mission support helps us participate in the miracles of the Christ as we respond to the needs before us. It helps us train up leaders and pastors, feed people in need, respond to natural disasters, provide resources to congregations...Your mission support is vital to who we are what we can do."

Second, we received a letter from Mission Partners 100, a synod campaign that invites donors to support specific projects for congregations. MP100 recipients are often congregations that have a specific construction or facility need related to their ministry priorities and vision for mission.  Zion has been a recipient of some of these funds over the last two years, as we have worked to restore and maintain our facility.

Good Shepherd (Tampa) is a sister congregation in redevelopment and in need of facility upgrades. Sound familiar? We at Zion have an opportunity to give back in the same way much has been given to us. The synod is looking for individual donors to fund these projects. If this kind of "giving back" resonates in your heart, you can click here for more information.

Copies of both of these letters will be on display in the sanctuary on Sunday. Thank you for your commitment with us to be "the church together," beginning at Zion and reaching the entire world!

During worship on Sunday, October 3rd, we will be welcoming new members, bidding farewell to Pastor David Potter, and witnessing as five of our most treasured young people affirm their baptisms (confirmation).

In preparation for that day, we would like to give our community the opportunity to write individual notes of encouragement and congratulations to our confirmands. You are welcome to bring them to worship that day or to send them to the church, in care of our Cantor Kurt Schmidt, who will see they get distributed accordingly. Much like party invitations, we ask that, if you send notes, you do so for all of our confirmands, whether you know them personally or not. Believe us; they will appreciate the gesture!

Help us show that this important step in faith is worthy of celebration, and that they are important members of our church community!

As we announced on Sunday, we received word that Steve Gronseth passed away suddenly last week. A Zion member for many years (since his dad was called as associate pastor and director of music in the late 1970s), Steve also served as our Assistant Director of Music before relocating to Colorado to be closer to his daughters.

This picture is the last picture taken of Steve that (as Kayla says) "embodied his personality fully." If you would like to send cards and other expressions of sympathy and encouragements to his daughters Elyce and Kayla, send to:

Kayla Gronseth Boyer

413 Laurel Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Thank you to all those (visitors and members) who participated in the spiritual gifts activity on "God's Work, Our Hands" Sunday. After worship this Sunday, Cantor Kurt Schmidt will return your tallied inventories and plant the seeds of continued reflection with a brief follow-up discussion.

If you missed the opportunity to participate, fear not! You can complete the spiritual gifts inventory at home, and then e-mail it to Cantor Kurt Schmidt for data processing. He will follow up with an opportunity for one-on-one conversation. To print the spiritual gift inventory, click here.

Matt Skinner's book can be purchased from all major booksellers. The Zoom login information and schedule of readings can be found here. Please plan to bring your Bible (print or digital) to the Bible study.