125th Anniversary of  
Zion Lutheran Church
February 16, 2020

Built on the Living Stone

"As you come to Him, the Living Stone---rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him---you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)

AS WE GATHER 
In thanksgiving we gather to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Zion Lutheran Church, recognizing that this congregation is built on the Living Stone, our Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice to see and participate in the many opportunities for ministry in the present. We reach out with hope and prayer, trusting the promises of God for growth and mission in the years that lie ahead. We welcome you, our members and guests, and pray that you would be blessed this day by God's Word, and join in the unending song of the Church. We especially thank all those who attend from St. Peter’s and Immanuel and who will sing in the choir to help us celebrate, as well as anyone away from their home church this morning to worship with us today.  We look forward to walking together in our future, until Jesus builds us up to be His Bride with Him in heaven.    
PRELUDE 

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME

+ PREPARATION +

PROCESSIONAL HYMN "The Church's One Foundation" 	LSB 644

INVOCATION (Please rise)
Pastor:	In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People:	Amen.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 
Pastor:	Almighty God, as we gather to celebrate the anniversary of this congregation, we confess that we have failed to live as Your people. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, and we come to You seeking Your forgiveness.
People:	We confess that we have too often built our lives on our own selfish desires, and not on Your holy will and Word. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  Forgive us, Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior.

Pastor:	In His mercy, Almighty God sent His one and only Son to suffer and die on the cross to take the punishment for our sin. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, I announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People:	Amen.

KYRIE (Spoken)
Pastor:	In peace let us pray to the Lord. 
People:	Lord, have mercy. 
	
Pastor:	For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord. 
People:	Lord, have mercy.
Pastor:	For the peace of the whole world, for the wellbeing of the Church of God both here in Hemlock and throughout the world, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord. 
People:	Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:	For this holy house of prayer and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.  
People:	Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:	Help us to praise You today as You desire. Save us from the temptations of this world that hinder Your work and worship. Comfort us in time of trial and defend us from weakness and timidity in our witness. 
People:	Lord, have mercy. Amen. 

CHOIR ANTHEM “Majesty/How Great Thou Art”	Raney

PRAYER OF THE DAY 
(Responsive Prayer based on the Old Testament text, 1 Samuel 8:22-30)

Pastor: 	Let us pray as Solomon did with outstretched arms to heaven in our Old Testament reading for today:  “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—You who keep Your covenant of love with us Your servants of Zion, who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.  
People: 	You have kept Your promises to Your servants our forefathers: Henry Scharf, Albert Schultz, Gustav Stenzel, August Schultz, Franz Zastrow, August Tessin, Bernhardt Kade, Herman Schultz, Peter Harms, as well as Rudolpf Kade, Wm. Dankwardt and Frederick Beyersdorf, from 125 years ago, up to this very day today.  

Pastor:  	Now, Lord, keep Your promises You made to us all, as Jesus sits on the thrones of our hearts, and only as we His descendants are careful in all we do to walk before You by faith in Him, as many faithful have done at Zion in our past.  
People:  	Let all Your promises to us for Jesus’ sake come true in our lives together as Your people.  

Pastor:  	For many do not understand how God could really dwell on earth, especially in this remote spot in the country, on the outskirts of the town of Hemlock, filled with simple sinful people like us at Zion.  
People:  	Yet, give attention to Your servant’s prayers and our pleas for mercy, LORD our God.  

Pastor: 	Hear the cry and the prayers that Your servants are praying in Your presence this day.  
People:  	May Your eyes be open toward us here at Zion night and day, and for Jesus’ sake, hear the prayers we servants pray toward this place.  
		
Pastor:  	Hear our prayers whenever we pray concerning Zion, and when you hear from heaven, forgive us for Jesus’ sake, and bless us to be a blessing, for as many days as You see fit to give us, until we appear in Your heavenly dwelling place, with all the beloved saints before us.  
People:  	In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.  

HYMN OF RESPONSE "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past"  	LSB 733

EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:1-9 
(We are living stones, built into a spiritual house, 
built on the foundation of the one Living Stone.)

HYMN OF RESPONSE "Christ is Our Cornerstone"	LSB 912

HOLY GOSPEL John 10:22-30 
(My sheep hear My voice and follow Me.)

NICENE CREED	

HYMN "To God Be the Glory" 
To God be the glory, great things He hath done; 
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, 
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin 
And opened the Lifegate that all may go in. 
	
Refrain: 	
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, 
Let the earth hear His voice! 
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! 
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son, 
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done. 

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, 
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes, 
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Refrain

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, 
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; 
But purer and higher and greater will be 
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. Refrain

SERMON “Stone Soup”	1 Peter 2:1-9

RESPONSE HYMN “For All the Saints”	LSB 677 
v. 1- All, v. 2-Women & girls; v-3 Men & boys; v. 4- Choir; v. 5- Men & boys; V. 6- Women & girls; v. 7-Choir; v. 8- All

ANNIVERSARY PRAYER OF THE CHURCH 
Pastor:	Dear loving heavenly Father: Your loving-kindness toward us is especially evident today. We thank and praise You for creating Your Church and for giving life to this congregation through the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Hear now our petitions for Jesus' sake as we come to You as Your people. 
People:	Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

Pastor:	We give You thanks for the blessings You have given to our congregation during these 125 years. We’ve rejoiced in times of blessed harmony and grieved in times of discord. Forgive us for our lack of faith and fill us with a forgiving love for those within and outside of our fellowship. Send us Your Holy Spirit. Work in our hearts that we may not be obstacles, but channels for the coming of Your kingdom to a lost and evil world. 
People:	Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 

Pastor:	We praise You that we live in a prosperous land blessed by You. This congregation has shared in that prosperity both as individuals and as a fellowship. Give to us the portion of these blessings as You choose, so we may have what we need to do Your will.  
People:	Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

Pastor:	We pray for each of the members of this church, who are at times attacked by trials and losses. We especially pray for those who are ill and those who are suffering in body, mind or spirit, especially …  Sustain them by Your strength and protection. Preserve all of us from despair and depression caused by the circumstances of our lives. Keep us strong in faith and give us the wisdom of perspective that places all earthly concerns under Your care. 
People:	Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

Pastor:	Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all from whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People:	Amen. 

OFFERING

CHOIR ANTHEM “First Song of Isaiah”	White

+ SACRAMENT +

WORDS OF INSTITUTION 

LORD'S PRAYER

PEACE OF THE LORD 

AGNUS DEI 	LSB 210 

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
"I Come, O Savior, to Your Table”	LSB 618
"How Firm a Foundation"	LSB 728
“Amazing Grace”	LSB 744
“We Sing for All the Unsung Saints”	LSB 678

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 
Pastor:	Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good. 
People:	And His mercy endures forever. 
		
Pastor:	Lord of the Church, You have blessed us with forgiveness, life, redemption, truth, comfort, and now this blessed communion with Christ and with one another. We praise You once more and pray that this blessed Sacrament may renew and strengthen our commitment to You and to the work You have given us to do as Your disciples. Increase our love and care for this community of faith, for the people of Hemlock, and for the mission fields of this world. Help us to do all we can to be in mission in the years to come, until we join the Church Triumphant. 
People:	Amen. 

BENEDICTION 
Pastor: 	"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  (1 Corinthians 15:58) and "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  (Colossians 3:17) and "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-25)
People: 	Amen.  

RECESSIONAL HYMN (Please rise)
	"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" 	LSB 656 

SILENT PRAYER

POSTLUDE

Dinner will be served at approximately 11:30 am. You are encouraged to greet each other in the fellowship hall and reminisce over the past 125 years at Zion.

Pastor 	Paul Hauser     		Organist  	Tami Mosher
Elders	Paul Bohn & Dale Rohde	A/V		Dave Hutfilz
Greeters	Elmer Blehm & Myrna Pruitt	Acolyte   	Jadon Mayer
Ushers     	Dick Bluemer, Bruce Tessin, JoAnn Pinet
Altar Guild 	Chris Farrar & Arlene Rohn

Our Measure of Love and Gifts
Attendance last week –74  Needed for The Lord’s Work at Zion $4,128 ~ Received for the Lord’s Work $2,102 = Loose Plate $67, Envelopes $1,722, Mission $40, Maintenance $173, Hall Rent $100; Cap. Prj. $15.
Please pray for your fellow Christians on their birthday: Feb 22-Wm. J.  Beyersdorf; Feb 23- Larry Klemish; Feb 25- Harvey Neuenfeldt; Feb 27- Annette Berger, Paul Bohn, Jim Bohn. 
Movie Night at Zion ~ Everyone is invited to join us for a movie night in the fellowship hall on Saturday, February 22, at 6:00 pm. The movie “Breakthrough” is based on a true story as tragedy strikes when Joyce Smith's adopted son, John, falls through the ice on a frozen lake in Missouri. Trapped underwater for more than 15 minutes, rescuers bring John back to the surface and rush him to the nearest hospital. While doctors fear the worst, the 14-year-old boy continues to fight for his life as Joyce, her husband and their pastor stay by his bedside and pray for a miracle. See Mark Richardson for details. 

Zion Lutheran Church 
1895 ~ The Beginning
(Excerpt from History of Zion as written by Marie Walter)

It was on a cold and wintry day the 17th of February 1895 that the Lutherans of the Iva community held a meeting in the Tilden Public School. The purpose of this meeting was to consider the possibility of organizing a new congregation. Following are the minutes from the first meeting, translated from the written German language.	

“The first meeting was held in the afternoon of February 17, 1895 at the schoolhouse of the First District in Richland Township, Saginaw County, Michigan. The meeting was opened with prayer by Pastor K. F. Mueller of St. Peter congregation. Heinrich Scharf was elected chairman and Pastor Mueller was elected secretary.  The reason for the meeting namely, that the gathering was to deliberate whether it might be time for a new congregation to be founded in this area. After it was noted that this meeting was only for discussion and that those may be included who will be granted voting rights later, the meeting continued with the discussion.

Several of the people present declared that it is certainly time to found a new congregation, primarily because of their children who have so far to go to school and confirmation class. After the matter was discussed further the list of those that were willing to join the congregation was presented. The following were from the St. Peter Congregation in Hemlock: Heinrich Scharf, Albert Schultz, Gustav Stenzel, August Schultz, Franz Zastrow, August Tessin, Bernhardt Kade, Michael Blank, Herman Schultz and Peter Harms. New members also present was Rudolph Kade, William Dankwardt, and Frederick Beyersdorf. Not present but declared a willingness to join the new congregation if organized was August Bohn, G. Bernbach, John Bluemer, W. Koeppen, Karl Kratz, W. Pommerning and John Weiskirch.