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Sarina Siljander | Hearken Update -- Do you sometimes find it difficult to read something on your smartphone because the screen is so small? To read the words you might need to zoom in, only to find that you might now have to track back and forth to read an entire article? This is usually how it goes with PDF documents. They are nice, small files that print well and read well on bigger screens. They provide one consistent presentation or formatting no matter where they are displayed. However, these types of documents can be challenging to read with smaller devices. When you zoom in on a PDF or similar document, you are enlarging the page size, not only the content on the page. This is one example where reflowable documents work much better. Depending on what type of program reflowable documents are opened with, you might have the option to enlarge text and even change the font. Instead of changing the page size, the content is adjusted to fit the screen. With this you do not need to scroll left and right, back and forth to read. This week we continue our search for a suitable software program to create these types of reflowable pages for easier reading on Hearken. For these files, we will use the .epub format. Once the software is determined, then begins the work of converting all of LLC's print publications into reflowable digital publications. Future publications will be released as epub/reflowable documents. We also plan to make archived content available as reflowable/epub files. Can you imagine the amount of work this will be? Nearly fifty years of publications and more! If you would like to volunteer to help with this activity, or any other digital publications work, let us know! **note: this first release of Hearken for Apple users does not include the ability to enlarge text. We have noted the request for font size adjustments in future Hearken updates.

Sarina Siljander | Hearken Update -- The developers have signed off on the final release of the build of the app. Hearken has been built! When can users have it on their phones and enjoy listening to music and the many other digital publications there? Well, that’s still a ways away. This week begins the last testing phase, one of the final phases of the app development. Although the LLC Digital Communications Committee and LLC office staff have been testing different features of the app as they have been made ready, we now have access to the whole app with all the features built. We have also reached out to a handful of others who have not been involved with the project to get feedback on their user experience. Following this testing phase, the developers will address any issues that are discovered and update the app. Then begins the work of moving the app to LLC cloud servers. Finally, the process of getting the app into the Apple app and Google play stores can begin after that. The timeframe for all of this is not sure, so it is difficult to give a release date for the app at this point. Stay tuned! **Hearken is the new LLC digital publications app that will be released sometime 2022. To learn more about the app see the video below.

Sarina Siljander | Hearken Update -- Last Thursday evening the Apple beta version of Hearken was made available to us and thus ensued a busy weekend of adding test users and uploading content to be tested. Currently we are at about 100 active test users and the flood of feedback has been very much appreciated! The focus of this phase of testing is to find any issues with the features that have been built for this first release. For example, testing the audio player to make sure all the buttons work as expected. Also to make sure the audio player works as a mini player and when the phone is locked. When the user clicks play on the listen button and hears the Voice of Zion being read, can they easily open the digital version of the Voice of Zion and follow along? When the user is done listening to music and wants to now listen to the Evening Devotion, does the player easily move from music to listen? Are the videos opening without issue in the video player? Every user experience is different. Not everyone has the same device. What someone is looking for in the app might not be something another person would even think to look for. For these reasons it has been good to include these additional test users from variety of areas, stages of life, and technology expertise. The feedback sent to us is being compiled into three different categories: bugs & glitches, future feature request, and FAQs. We are hearing much positive feedback about the usability of the app. We feel much excitement both as LLC office staff and LLC Digital Communications Committee members to share with a small group of users what has been talked about and worked on for over a year. It's one thing to hear and imagine what is being built, and it's another to finally be able to download and login to start enjoying the music, the devotions, the books, the videos on your own devices. We are thankful for all the support from all of you. We are also thankful for the willing test users who are spending time reviewing the app and giving feedback. Above all we are thankful to the Heavenly Father for blessing us with this gift of a new app where LLC digital publications can be released in one location that is safe and easy to use. Below are some screenshots of Hearken. We do not have a release date for the app yet but we are getting nearer to that day! Stay tuned for further updates! Opening Screen Home Screen Music Album Screen Books & Periodicals section: listening to Voice of Zion reading while following along with the digital version of the Voice of Zion Watch Screen An Evening Devotion opened from the Listen Screen

Sarina Siljander | Hearken Update -- Digital work is not new at the LLC office. For over two decades now LLC has been, for example, producing digital music for sale in the form of compact discs (CDs). Articles, presentations, books and other content has been created using digital platforms. The part of this digital work that has been slowly changing over the years is the availability of this type of content for general consumption. Since the early 2000s, the LLC website has provided a platform for such things as live and archived sermons, presentations from larger services, and videos. For about the last ten years, music has been available via digital platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Books and periodicals have been made available via epub files, though these publications were only used by very few. The Voice of Zion and Shepherd's Voice have been available as audio files. In 2020 we saw an even bigger need for more digital content and this area of work underwent significant growth. All LLC digital publications have been saved and stored in ways that made sense in the time they were produced and in the way that they were used. This week begins the work of library cataloging all of LLC digital content to make it readily available and searchable for all digital needs, with Hearken being the primary impetus for this work. In essence, this means creating a digital filing cabinet. This cabinet will contain layers of folders where content will reside. Each file within the folder will contains its own metadata, i.e. labels that describe and identify the file making the files much easier to search. Many have asked if the current publication methods will change once Hearken is released. Our plan is to still continue to release books, periodicals and music as we have been. We don't know what the future will bring. We look forward to your continued feedback and requests as we work to publish content and make it available in ways that you find useful and uplifting to your life of faith. Adrian Pirness working with an Apple computer at the LLC office in the 1990s.

Sarina Siljander | Hearken Update -- Last Thursday marked the end of one week beta testing our new Hearken app. We had roughly 100 active testers. Total we found 95 issues and have a list of 42 items on the wish list for future app development. This list of fixes has been shared with the developers who will proceed with making updates and corrections where needed. Thank you all who participated with this testing and feedback phase of the app build! We hope we were able to personally respond to each of you but in the flood of messages we also hope we did not miss responding to one of you. All of your feedback was read and appreciated! The main purpose of our beta testing was to get feedback on app usability and to flesh out any issues. Amongst the issues, we heard overwhelming positive feedback. I would like to share some of those thoughts now, keeping the names of the individuals anonymous. "Love this! Beautifully done! And very easy to use! I didn’t run into any glitches!" "I'm already impressed with the usability of the layout." "I have liked it so far. Like the music part of is. No ads interrupting as I used to listen to it on YouTube." "I like the ability to favorite things as well as the ease and user-friendliness of the app. Everything is laid out really nicely. The icons clearly match their category." "So… my feedback so far…I LOVE IT!! I had no glitches during usage. Very smooth. Easy to use and appealing to the eye! Thanks to all who have worked on this. I cannot wait until it is released!" "Amidst my feedback, I also want to just say that I'm very impressed with this app. In almost all regards it works the way I would expect a music, video, audio related app to work, and I'm very happy and excited about it. Thanks for all the work you've put into this, it's such a professional and "real" app, I think people are going to be very happy with it, myself included! I know I'll get a lot of use out of it." This week we will continue work preparing digital content for the app as well as many things involved with the app build. These app build items include subdomain creations with SSL for the subscription website and admin panel, getting information together for app stores including Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, formatting pictures properly for the subscription website, and other such things. Once the developers complete the necessary updates based on our feedback, the LLC Digital Communications committee will confirm completion of these items in 1-2 days of testing. Stay tuned for the next update next Tuesday!

Carolyn Ylitalo | The Voice of Zion September 2022 - Home and Family Article -- Here as a flick’ring candle has been my life of faith; often my footsteps stumble and waver on the way. But from the open fountain which freely flows in Zion new strength I here receive. – SHZ 560:1 The songwriter so beautifully portrays the life of a believer. As believers we are “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel message flows freely from our brothers and sisters in faith. Many of us are blessed with escorts in our home setting, or they are a phone call away if we live alone. Our lives ebb and flow. We go from school life to work life. Regardless of one’s calling and individual place of watching, we endeavor daily to walk as children of God. We are strangers in a foreign land. Our school mates and coworkers may notice we are different. God’s children identify as a group – people who believe the same. Part of our identity is being a child of God. It is a treasure to be identified this way. Yet we stumble, like Peter did when he was hesitant to admit he was a follower of Christ. Sometimes I have felt embarrassed in public when someone has made a comment that singles me out. For example, at a previous workplace two coworkers were visiting in the break room and their talk included a string of swear words. As I walked into the room, the speaker apologized to me for swearing. I mumbled, “That’s okay.” I felt sheepish that they would notice this difference. I think this is only a small part of the text, “for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” A word similar to “ashamed” is “embarrassed” and as timid believers it is easy to feel embarrassed. Without even opening our mouths we may be noticed to be different and being different can feel uncomfortable. It wasn’t until later that I appreciated the apology for swearing in front of me. I didn’t need to be embarrassed of my faith. We can be flickering candles in the dark world. We pray for strength and pray that those outside of God’s kingdom could be called into God’s kingdom. How do we keep our individual walks of faith aligned with God’s kingdom? When we put away sin it is our desire to be obedient to God’s Word. Our desire is to attend services to strengthen our faith. At services the sweet message of the gospel is preached. Throughout my life Satan has tempted me many times not to go services. My list of reasons changes over time. I have heard speaker brothers also share this temptation to stay away from the hearing of God’s Word. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Once we get to services, we are happy to be there; thankful that we came. The gospel gives strength to travel one more day. At times I feel ashamed to ask for the gospel when Satan tells me no one will understand or when I have become proud and convinced that my actions and poor behavior are justified. Whatever lies Satan uses to deceive us are not true. Our escorts in faith freely preach the gospel. They are drowned in the sea of grace never to be remembered again. Dear youth, remember that your parents and grandparents were young once and there are no new sins under the sun. Freely go to the grace fountain to care for your matters. Parents, today is the time to start blessing your children. When I was a new mother at mother’s camp, the minister gave instruction to bless your babies. At first I thought it felt a little funny to bless an innocent baby. Yet, they have inherited sin. I would have not known when is a “good” time or age to start. It is so beautiful when three-year-olds learn how to bless you in return. Children are so forgiving and are wonderful teachers on how to believe. When we endeavor to keep faith and a clean conscience a great reward awaits us in heaven one day. Blended-Race Family Christine Hautala | The Voice of Zion September 2022 - Home and Family Article -- Greetings from our Finnish-American-Colombian family! I am Christine, married to Onni Hautala and we reside in Helsinki, Finland. We have lived here in the capital region of Finland for most of the nearly eighteen years of our life together. After getting married in 2004, we thought our family would grow as so many other families do. God had His own plans for us, however. Our first son, Noa, was born in January 2009. We were given several years with Noa as our only child. We embraced the chance to give him our undivided attention and the opportunity to travel the world with him. By the time Noa turned eight, a feeling had strengthened within our family that our home and our hearts had more love to give. Gradually we came to understand that if it was meant to be, we could also become adoptive parents. Our journey to adopt started in 2018. In November of 2020, we found ourselves packing our bags to travel to Colombia – Luka, our four-month-old baby son, a brother for Noa, was waiting for us to come and bring him home. During the lengthy adoption process and before we knew anything about Colombia, we had several conversations with our social worker on various topics. One discussion in particular stood out. We were instructed to ponder the various special needs or backgrounds an adopted child may have. We had to think about the ethnicity of the child – Colombia is a diverse country. Furthermore, in addition to possibly having physical disabilities, a child waiting for adoption has a family history which can be traumatic. These considerations were required in the formal process in which we had to define what kind of a child we believed we would be able to care for. Our faith and the outlook on life that comes with it was a solid refuge in the midst of these contemplations. All children are gifts of God, regardless of their ethnicity, background or how they have entered the world. They have the right to be accepted and loved just as they are – innocent saplings from heaven. Already a family integrating two distinct cultures, it felt natural for us to pursue an international adoption. Over the years we had blended traditions to create our own family heritage and cherished the richness this brings. Getting the chance to learn about another culture would only yield more to all of us. Consequently, with the newest addition to our family, there is another identity now that is visible: race. We are thankful to our heavenly Father that in this age and time we are living, people are generally aware of the sensitivities related to this topic. In the year and a half we have had Luka, we have received overwhelming love and support from family, friends and the community around us. As we felt with Noa, Luka is a reminder of the power of God in our lives. Somehow, this is captured in Psalm 139 which we revisited around Luka’s baptism: Your eyes saw my unformed body. In your book all my days were written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. It is with awe and thankfulness that we look back over the past years, times of joy, sorrow and even excruciating uncertainties. As we were told in the beginning of our married life, we can plan, but God decides. So it has been. Positive Identity: Being a Child of God Erica Hendrickson, pre-school education specialist | The Voice of Zion September 2022 - Home and Family Article -- How do we help a child discover who they are as an individual and hold true to that while also keeping their identity as a believer in a world with so many opinions and beliefs? There are many forms of identity we have as a person, and we hope they all meld easily into one to make our whole: our identity as an individual, who we are in a family unit, in a friends’ group, and our identity in a larger community. Adults can encourage children’s sense of individual identity by showing interest in the things children are interested in. Conversation about interests and about the day’s activities also encourage the individual. Noticing and conversing helps a child feel valued as an individual and also keeps communication lines open. If that line of communication is free and open when children are young, then they will be much more likely to talk about important issues that come up when they are older. When young people have a positive sense of who they are as individuals, they are less likely to want to change for others or to seek less desirable means of connection. When disagreements and other negative behaviors arise, modeling for children how to say “I’m sorry, I was wrong” is an important restorative measure, along with the power of the gospel, to restore love. Individuals also need to feel respected and valued as part of a family and a community; this means having a place where you feel you belong. We can ask key questions to think about this: Does every child feel like they are an important part of the family unit? Does every child feel they belong at church? Personal connections are needed for a sense of belonging. One way to foster this connection at church and Sunday school is to greet everyone by name. We can encourage children to say hello and greet others by name as well. Even if we don’t have common interests with another person, we can still be welcoming and polite. This helps us keep a loving connection with everyone at church, instead of ignoring those with whom we find it challenging to connect. We all want a place where we can be ourselves and still belong. Every child wants to feel seen and heard. We all have different personalities, interests and physical appearances and God intended us to be created that way. Developing a sense of empathy allows children to help others find connections and a sense of belonging. Look at other children’s faces and identify the emotion that is there. Then talk about what makes us feel a certain way. Developing this skill as a young child helps them express how they are feeling as well and as children get older, they will have the words to explain how their peer relationships are going and they will also be able to notice how others are feeling. This ability to articulate and express feelings helps children develop their own identities – by being heard. And this practice helps others by developing the habit of noticing when someone else may seem lost or struggling to fit in. The beauty of looking at things through the eyes of a child is that most things can be simplified into being kind. Some people look different, some people like different things, we may not agree with some things people do or say, but we can still be kind and respectful because these are people God has also created. How can you be a light unto the world? It starts with small acts of kindness that become an instilled behavior, so when children get older, they are respectful towards others and may be able to have open conversations with others, even with someone who may be seeking God’s kingdom. A concept we work on at the preschool level is self-advocacy. A key adage to remember here is “If you don’t like something, say something.” It is good to start at a very young age to encourage children to say something when they are uncomfortable. It is also good that they are aware not everyone thinks the way we do, and they may do things differently in their home. The innocence and boldness of a child is a reminder of how we should live our lives. They are willing to accept people as they are, bold enough to say when something is wrong, kind enough to welcome them in. The ability to say no is important. When we allow children to say no at a young age, they have the practice for when they encounter more peer pressure at an older age. For example, if a child is not done playing with a toy it’s ok if they do not share right away. It’s a balance between not keeping things all to themselves and not feeling like they must give something up just because someone asks. We hope that when they face peer pressure at an older age, they will have the confidence to say “no” or “I don’t like that” or “I don’t want to.” Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. It is the duty of parents, friends and family to teach the ABCs of faith. We are fortunate to have a variety of resources at our fingertips to help teach our young. The LLC has produced several books and music albums to fill our home, materials that we know will help teach the basics. Books are a great catalyst for conversation about how we believe. Music is also a powerful tool. Children remember, as adults, the songs they sang as a child. Most of us are also fortunate that we are able to attend church regularly. Though it is sometimes taken for granted and one may become complacent in attending, prioritizing church attendance for children is so important. Bringing children to church functions helps them build the most positive identity: that of believing, being a believer. There at church we hope all children can make positive connections with peers who will be their escorts along the way. Questions for Discussion What helps us identify another believer, even one who is previously unknown? What traits do we notice? Our identity is socially developed. In view of this, what contributes positively to a child’s identity development? What contributes negatively? Explain how name calling, often using an identity label viewed as negative, can be hurtful to all people involved. Our children and young ones learn by example. In what ways do adults’ actions and words contribute to a young person’s upbringing and identity? Believers’ identity is tied to the gospel. Explain this connection!

Carey Simonson | The Voice of Zion April 2017 - The Sabbath Word 1 -- The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.—Luke 13:31–35 Passion The fifth Sunday in Lent is Passion Sunday. Here Passion means the suffering Jesus experienced on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday during Passion Week (the week prior to Easter). In our text, the Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod wanted to kill Him. Jesus replied, “Be­hold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Jesus refers to His coming resurrection from the grave on Easter, a victory over sin and death. Jesus knew that He must continue the work that His Father had sent Him to do until it was time for Him to be crucified (John 9:4). His work was to preach the gospel of God’s kingdom and to call sinners to repentance (Matt. 4:17; Mark 2:17). Jesus also performed miracles “that you may be­­lieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Jesus continues: “Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.” Only at the appointed time would Jesus suffer and die. He was willing and prepared to give His life so that all people could have life by believing on Him (John 3:16). Christ's Love Calls, Gathers “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” When we read these words we can feel the love that Jesus had for the people of Jerusalem, the spiritual center of His Jewish nation, even though they had rejected Him. This is the same love that Christ extends to people of all nations. We may wonder: how could someone reject this loving call? However, Scriptures say: “But though He [Jesus] had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:37–40). Christ’s love calls all sinners to come to Him and gathers His own to a place of rest. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Holy Spirit Calls, Gathers Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would continue His work when He returned to the Father in heaven. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). Thus, the Holy Spirit continues the work of calling sinners. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). This call is not an earthly or fleshly call. It is a spiritual call. A call to drink of the living waters that flow in God’s kingdom. These waters are the gospel of the forgiveness of sins and give life to those who believe. Just as Christ yearned to gather the children of Jerusalem “as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings,” the Holy Spirit yearns to gather God’s children together to­­day. We only need to submit to this love and allow ourselves to be in the tender care of the Holy Spirit in God’s kingdom. In this care we are secure and protected, which contrasts Jesus’ prophesy for Jerusalem. “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” The multitudes would praise Jesus as He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matt. 21:9), but would shout “Crucify him, crucify him” (Luke 23:21) on Good Friday. Later, the visitation of the Gentiles would begin (Act 13:46) and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Romans. Nevertheless, in God’s kingdom even the servants have plenty to eat (Luke 15:17) and through eyes of faith, revealed by the Holy Spirit, we see our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. O blind and foolish nations, will you the Savior shun? The kingdom He established is not an earthly one. No pow’r can overthrow it, nor earthly wisdom know it. Hosanna to the King, O daughter of Zion, sing! The city Jesus entered, its temple is no more; its festive songs are silenced, its sacrifices o’er. But Zion, silent never, proclaims Him priest forever. Hosanna to the King, O daughter of Zion, sing! (SHZ 5:4,5)

Sam Roiko | The Voice of Zion May 2017 -- We live in a time when we experience instantaneous communication with individuals across the world through social media and the Internet. This has developed to a point where it seems that our standard expectations of communication are that it would be rapid and brief. The era of waiting days for a letter to arrive in the mail are largely gone. In our time, it seems that if the exchange of messages does not take place rapidly, it is not worth waiting for. We become frustrated when the network seems to take an extra second to load a webpage. We may habitually refresh our email or check to see if any new messages have arrived. Often, communication is reduced to a picture on Instagram or Snapchat with a few words for a caption, or a 160-character Tweet, or a brief text message. Many times a concise response in email or a short message is all that is expected. Our eyes glaze over when an email longer than a paragraph appears in the inbox. Combining the rapid pace and short length of messages results in a stream of information that flows by our eyes at a dizzying pace. It can often seem impossible to keep up with—many times we can scroll far in Facebook or Twitter or Whatsapp (we even call these platforms “feeds”!) to find something we would have already seen. In such a time, we easily become habituated to the rapid pace of messages and information. It can seem that we seldom are able to take the time to read and think about what has been written. When we consider our life of faith and endeavor in this world, it is important that we take the time to read and study God’s Word. The enemy of souls works to fill our lives and our time with mindless streams of information, so that we would not pause and read the Bible or the publications of believers. Reading the Bible, God’s written Word, is an important activity that we all too often neglect in our daily life. We feel our smallness before God’s Word and often lack understanding. When we approach this reading with a humble mind, God can bless those moments! If we don’t understand what we read, we can freely with Luther “tip our hats in honor and pass it by.” Reading the Bible is often challenging, considering the density of text and King James language. We have a great blessing in our publications work: believers have been moved to write about their life’s experiences or discuss Scripture texts. The articles in the publications of the believers are written at a level that is often easier to read, with the goal to encourage the believer in faith and shine the light of God’s kingdom into this world. We sing in a dear and familiar song of Zion, “With sel­­­f­­­­­ishness and hurry, how blinded we become…” (SHZ 420:3). May we remember to pause in our busy lives and read the publications and study the Bible! These help us in our endeavor of faith, and often in the midst of everyday life, we find that these moments around Christian publications and God’s Word provide the encouragement to continue to believe. As Paul reminded the Colossian believers, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).

Matthew Keranen | The Voice of Zion December 2020 -- Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. – 1 Sam. 7:12 Another year is passing. In a sense, the turn of the year is no more momentous than any other moment in time; time always ticks its course forward and on. Yet the new year, the increase by one numeral at the end of four digits feels like a change, the end of something old, the start of something new. We take stock of the year that is ending. A look back can help inspire hopes, goals and dreams for what is to come. Meanwhile, we ask ourselves, how has this year’s journey gone? We know God has already assigned each of us a number of days, a number of years here on this earth. Each day is one day less to live, each year brings us a year closer to the end of our life. In this perspective, and especially as the number of days and years spent here accrue, these days and years feel like a gift. We can pause to thank God for all that has passed, all we have experienced, and especially for His grace, which suffices year to year. God is the source of the strength that again this year carried us to each new dawn. The year 2020 has been exceptional. When it began, we couldn’t know what was in store for us. A global pandemic overtook us in the spring and brought many changes to how we study, work, live and even worship. Many areas of the country experienced stay-at-home orders, and our houses of worship were closed for a period of time. Instead of gathering with other children of God, we stayed in the midst of the congregation in our home to gather around God’s living Word. The big, festive gatherings at special services were changed to online broadcasts. Sunday schools and Bible classes happened via online meeting platforms or in video format. Social gatherings and travel were limited as well. As we ponder the meaning of all this, we can also ask ourselves: how did I receive this new situation God set before me? In the face of continuing restrictions and continuing illness, we must rely on God’s guidance and pray to God for patience and acceptance. We especially ask God for the gift of healing and health to those who have fallen ill to the coronavirus or other afflictions. This year was also an election year, one in which United States’ citizens elected a president. The year, on this score, was not without strong opinions or harsh judgments as well as discussions about race, equality and justice. We are thankful for our government, our laws and our constitution, which are gifts from God. We especially send a prayer of thanks to God for the right to exercise our religion. We acknowledge that our leaders are set in their positions according to God’s will and they deserve our respect. We wish our next president God’s blessings and success in leading our nation. We ask God to grant every country’s leaders and all of us the peace to do the tasks God sets before us. We pray God blesses our nations’ people and awakens in each heart the desire to seek peace in daily life and peace of conscience. Christmas is called the season of giving. God is the richest Giver, and on us He bestows His rich grace. We should pause to consider how we have used God’s grace gifts. Each of us individually must ponder, how have I borne my cross, my burdens? Have I faced what life places before me with acceptance and acknowledgement of God’s providence? How have I treated my neighbor? Have I showed compassion? Have I been a vessel of God’s love and grace? In taking stock of this past year, in light of these questions I pose to myself, I find myself woefully lacking. I have failed on all those counts. Were it not for the grace that suffices for each of us and for every day of the year, I would have had to admit defeat in the face of all that is asked of me. I have not carried my trials with gladness, but with sighs and anger and self-pity. I can only thank God for His saving grace that, to this moment, has sustained me. Advent and Christmas are a good preface to the new year. Advent is a time of waiting, and the message of Christmas is that we can always have a fresh start. No matter what kind of year we’ve had, we can gladly observe the birth of this innocent baby, the one who was born for us and died for us. Again we are reminded that the words of love from the manger and words of grace from the cross are ours to own. May we be given words in the new year, as God sees fit, to share of this great gift with our neighbors who seek peace. As Christmas approaches, and an old year passes, we thank our heavenly Father for His gifts of mercy and love, for the goodness and blessings that, exceptional times notwithstanding, do suffice from day to day. On behalf of the LLC Communications staff, I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a wonderful, blessed 2021.

Paul Honkala | The Voice of Zion December 2020 -- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – John 1:1–4,14 Read the entire Bible portion in John 1:1–14. John, the Apostle of Love, wrote these words to remind us of the great love of the heavenly Father toward sin-fallen humans. We are now in the Advent season preparing for the festivities of Christmas, when families gather, sing hymns, share meals and exchange gifts. The events of the Christmas season can too easily become common practice. It’s important to pause to consider the meaning of Christmas. God Created All People and Hope of Heaven Our text relates; “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made.” We can see in nature the powerful hand of God, who created all things. The birth of a child and its first cry of life make us marvel at the great work of God. However, dear travel friend, we can look even closer at the work of God: that hope of heaven placed in your heart, that Christmas peace, the knowledge that you own living faith and that your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. This is the great work of God. He has given you the gift of living faith – the greatest treasure one could own. What is this gift of living faith? The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of a believing person. It not only places hope in the heart, it teaches one to stay away from things that bring danger to the life of faith. It encourages us to attend services, to hear God’s Word. It teaches us to seek the safe center of the flock of God’s children. It teaches us to keep faith and a good conscience. It teaches us to comfort and care for one another. Most importantly, it gives us strength to believe our own sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood. God has done all of this by His Word. John the Baptist Bore Witness God so loved fallen people that he sent His only Son into the world that through Him sinners might be saved. As our text relates, the forerunner of Jesus was John the Baptist. John came to bear witness that all men through Christ might believe. John was given to understand the work of Jesus. It was John’s heartfelt desire that humankind would learn of God's word and believe the works that Jesus was to accomplish. This is also the heart of a believer today. When one considers the greatest gift of all – living faith – the believer wishes it for everyone. We need to pray for a heart like John the Baptist that we could boldly speak of God’s grace for the penitent sinner. This matter of confessing our faith is not an easy one. The believer carries this earthly portion that often battles against the holy portion. We are slow to speak our own psalm of faith, and we often feel powerless. It is important to remember when we speak our own psalm to an unbelieving person, God promises to fill our mouth with words. This is not easy to believe. We are always left to that place of trusting God. We also know and understand that we cannot give faith to anyone. God prepares and opens the heart of a person in unbelief to receive His word. That is the reason that John the Baptist preached of Jesus the coming Savior. He was given to understand this great work of God’s son. Like John, We Also Bear Witness This same knowledge that John the Baptist understood you also know and understand. When sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood, you also own Christmas peace. Through eyes of faith your hope is anchored to heaven’s shore. The believing heart has this unceasing prayer to God: keep me in living faith. At this Christmas season we pause to consider the great gift of faith; we, along with John the Baptist, want all people to own it. We pray, that God gives each of us strength to speak of the greatest Christmas gift of all, living faith.