-Zion Lutheran Church of Marshall, Michigan

---1848 - 2006: Confessing the Historic Christian Faith for 150 Years!

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From Pastor James

And a special welcome of the fine readers of the Battle Creek Enquirer! We have provided (below) a copy our pastor's recent editorial in that paper. As webmaster of this site and one of thirty some folks who happily drive up from Hillsdale every Sunday to experience the joy of knowing the grace, mercy, and peace found in Christ alone through the wonderful preaching and faithful administration of the Lord's Supper, let me tell you that Zion is a pretty special place. Please feel free to join us some Sunday! Here is also an mp3 recording of Pastor James' initial comments to our congregation about the Enquirer article, as he shared his thoughts to us during the Sunday morning Bible class. God's blessings to you all! Rob Olson Webmaster Hillsdale, Michigan Forgiveness won for us by what Jesus did I was amused when I heard these thoughts attributed to our dear member Phyllis Heidenreich: "(C)hurch is to gain forgiveness of sins, not a place to make a joyful noise." (The Enquirer, Sunday, Feb. 17, page 4A.) I know Phyllis would never assert such things. She even showed me the little piece that she wrote the Enquirer. First, Lutherans do not believe that we "gain" forgiveness by going to church, as if going to church somehow merited God's forgiveness. Nor do we gain forgiveness and salvation by doing anything else. We believe that forgiveness was won for us entirely by what Christ Jesus did for us by His incarnation, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension - all the things mentioned in the creeds. In church, through the preaching of the word of forgiveness and through the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood, God gives out to us now everything that Jesus accomplished for us then. In church we receive forgiveness, eternal life and the faith, hope and love needed to go out to live in the world for another week as His people. Secondly, if in church we receive all these blessings because of the Triune God's merciful love, then church most certainly IS a place to make a joyful noise. Our liturgy is filled with the most joyous of noises, for in the liturgy we say and sing of all the blessings of our gracious God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Rev. Roger B. James Zion Lutheran Church Marshall