Sunday School Rally Day, Sunday, September 8

Sunday School will kick-off with Rally Day on Sunday, September 8.

At 9:00 a.m., all children should arrive and enter the Fellowship Hall (downstairs) to sit with their class during the opening presentation. Following this, they will leave with their teacher and head to their classroom.

Our teachers are excited and are dedicated to bringing the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ to your children and youth. So bring your children and youth to learn about more and more about Jesus, so that they may commit themselves to following and serving Him. This will enable them to have life abundant here and eternal to come. 

Note: We have an adult class led by Marjie Weber watching and discussing “The Chosen” TV Series. See the opening article.

Join us on Rally Day, and every Sunday thereafter. Invite your family and friends to do so as well.

Rally Day Notes

At 10:15 a.m., all children should sit with their families in Worship. The following Rally Day events will take place during Worship.

Children who achieved faithful attendance throughout the previous year will be recognized.

These are (with number of years of faithful attendance.  Katelyn Allen (11),   Caleb Doerr (3),   Jocelyn Doerr (4),   Micah Doerr (4),   Sadie Notter (2),   Wyatt Notter (2),   Alessandra Riemann (10),   Josephina Riemann (10),   Ella Weaver (9),   George Wolfmeier (6),   Isabelle Wolfmeier (7)   and Olivia Wolfmeier (4).

Bibles will be presented to our children who are entering the third grade. To our knowledge, they are:   Lester French,   Sadie Notter   and.  Olivia Wolfmeier.  Please contact the church office if you are aware of other children entering third grade.

Our Confirmation class will be introduced to the congregation. Our 7^th graders are:   Drew Kish   and   Alessandra Riemann.   And our 8^th is:   Caleb Doerr.   Please contact the church office if you are aware of any other youth who would be interested in Zion’s Confirmation class.

Sunday School Teachers will be installed.

PreK-2^nd Grade:   Jodi Notter,   Marcia Twellmann

3^rd - 6^th Grade:     Debbie Doerr,   Sherri Vogt   and   Stacy Woehlke

Confirmation:        Pastor Darrell Weber

High School:         Joshua Seidlitz   and   Jessica Seidlitz

Adult:                    Marjie Weber

Chosen

Chosen, to choose, to make a choice, is foundational to our Cristian faith. We are called to choose (believe in [Acts 16:31], place our faith in) Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Yet, He choose you (John 6:70). This is like the 2 sides of a coin – our choice and God’s choice.

But Jesus made an odd statement in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you …” Jesus is saying that He made the choice of you. His choice is the first and foundational choice that enabled you to choose Him. Paul emphasized this in Ephesians 1:4, “he (God) chose us in him (Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world.”

This speaks of being predestined. This is exactly what Paul states in the next verse of his letter to the Ephesians, “he(God) predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ.” This is a great mystery which God alone knows the answer.

Chosen for what? To “go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide,” (also John 15:16). To bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8), righteousness (Philippians 1:11), goodness (Ephesians 5:9), holiness and blamelessness (Ephesians 1:4), and of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). In bearing this kind of fruit we glorify the Father and so prove that we really are Jesus’ followers (see John 15:8).

You have been chosen by God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, not simply to live with Him in eternity. You have been chosen by Him in order to be made like Him and to display Him to all those around you (the fruit mentioned above).

Chosen will be our theme for Rally Sunday, September 8^th, and for our Sunday School year. In fact, we will also be using “The Chosen (TV series)” in our adult and high school Sunday School classes, as well as in our Monthly movie nights.

The following description of “The Chosen (TV series) is taken from Wikipedia.

The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series. Created, directed, and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins, it is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the 1st century, the series centers on Jesus and the people who met and followed him.

The producers primarily employ a crowdfunding approach to finance production; The Chosen became the most successful crowdfunded TV series or film project in history. The series streams for free on its own app, using a pay-it-forward model for viewers to contribute funding to make it free for others.

In contrast with typical Bible-focused productions, Jenkins has given more depth to his scripts by adding backstories to various characters from the gospels without contradicting material that is present. This is noted in the opening credits of the first episode, which include the following:

The Chosen is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical context and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the gospels. The original names, locations and phrases have been translated into English for anything spoken.

No TV mini-series (e.g., “Jesus of Nazareth”) or movie (e.g., “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” The Passion of Christ,” etc.) about Jesus is a perfect presentation of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Only projects like “The Visual Bible: Matthew,” etc. are taken from the scriptures word for word. But the “The Chosen” like the other series and movies mentioned above seeks to engage the viewer, while calling upon the viewer to actually read the Gospels.

Marjie Weber has been using “The Chosen” with the adult class since January. They will be starting Season 3. Josh Seidlitz has been using “The Chosen” with the high school class. They will resume with Season 2, Episode 6.

So join us as we explore and live out the lives of God’s chosen people in Christ Jesus;

Blessings;

Pastor Darrell