An excerpt from yesterday's sermon...  (full text attached)

This unconditional love received from God is the love His children are to have for one another, and for all of God’s children.  Agape love is the foundation of the alternative community.  This love flows from the heart of a servant who has experienced God’s profound love and is eternally grateful for that love.  Gratitude—not fear—is the basis of agape love…“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear… we love because He first loved us.”  

With all that said, we do need to be reminded that agape love does involve an act of the will.  It is something we decide to do.  And I am very grateful to be a part of this special alternative community that goes by the name of Zion Lutheran, a grace-centered community of servants.  Our members live out agape on an individual basis through the love of family members, and by caring for friends and neighbors… most of which is done without fanfare or drawing notice.

Our church family also lives out agape on a collective basis, impacting the lives of others in significant ways through our food bank and Harvest Farm ministries, through our support and involvement with Serve 6.8, our mission trips with youth and adults who’ve traveled to Tijuana, Mexico, hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, and the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Through our mission and benevolence, we have supported the work of many others, including missionaries in New Guinea, India, and eastern Europe, and organizations addressing the horrible reality of human trafficking here in our country and in places like Cambodia.  We support others who respond to natural disasters around our country, as well as those who do ministries with children and families in crisis.  We also respond to many other local needs as they arise, including our efforts to establish Grace Village.  Zion… well-done, good and faithful servants!

With You in His Service,

Mark