July 2026
Newsletter July 2026
“Looking to the Future with Hope”
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
It is with thankfulness to God that we celebrate 250 years as a nation! God is good and we are filled with gratitude for all the blessing that we have.
The Declaration of Independence, considered the founding document of the United States, is an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the 13 American colonies were “Free and Independent States” and that “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.” In it, our Founding Fathers were quick to acknowledge God as the source of our rights, and they were wise to not separate God from state. The placement of Judeo-Christian values and Biblical morality into our founding documents and laws was clearly intentional. AS Benjamin Rush, one of the Founders, said, “Without (religion) there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” (Excerpt from The American Patriots Bible, Thomas Nelson, 2009)
We praise for our Founding Fathers and for their foresight and dependence on God in writing the documents that have guided our nation. We live in a land where we can freely worship God and live out or lives in world and nation that desperately needs Jesus. But let us remember that a nation is made up of individuals, individuals make up families, and families make up nations. As we consider this truth and as we pray for revival for the world and our nations, let us remember that revival begins with me. Revival begins with you and the church of Jesus Christ. We need to pray earnestly for God’s stirring in our hearts and the hearts of others. God has giving us His Word, law and gospel to share, with in turn bring truth freedom!
As Paul wrote to the Romans he was constantly reminding them that Christ was/is the freedom-giver. Christ death and resurrection were the cornerstones of His message. He didn’t tell the Jewish believers to trust in the fact that they were God’s chosen people, rather he said that there is no difference from Gentile and Jew, and that the “gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For it in the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16-17) When we place our faith and trust in Jesus we experience true freedom from sin and the sentence of condemnation, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1) What an amazing promise! And as individuals are set from from sin and saved God them touches families, churches, cities, counties, states and our nation. If our confidence is simply in government or our nation alone we will be disappointed and let down. Jesus is the answer to our nation’s challenges and He then uses government to help preserve freedom and our rights so that the Gospel can go out!
Let us pray for God to move us, shack us and revive us! We want to see revival come and it is possible. Let’s pray, read and follow God’s Word and share Jesus! May God bless you and may God bless our nation as well celebrate 250 years of existence!
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Mark
July 2026
____________________________________________________________________________
Newsletter July 2026
“Looking to the Future with Hope”
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
It is with thankfulness to God that we celebrate 250 years as a nation! God is good and we are filled with gratitude for all the blessing that we have.
The Declaration of Independence, considered the founding document of the United States, is an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the 13 American colonies were “Free and Independent States” and that “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.” In it, our Founding Fathers were quick to acknowledge God as the source of our rights, and they were wise to not separate God from state. The placement of Judeo-Christian values and Biblical morality into our founding documents and laws was clearly intentional. AS Benjamin Rush, one of the Founders, said, “Without (religion) there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” (Excerpt from The American Patriots Bible, Thomas Nelson, 2009)
We praise for our Founding Fathers and for their foresight and dependence on God in writing the documents that have guided our nation. We live in a land where we can freely worship God and live out or lives in world and nation that desperately needs Jesus. But let us remember that a nation is made up of individuals, individuals make up families, and families make up nations. As we consider this truth and as we pray for revival for the world and our nations, let us remember that revival begins with me. Revival begins with you and the church of Jesus Christ. We need to pray earnestly for God’s stirring in our hearts and the hearts of others. God has giving us His Word, law and gospel to share, with in turn bring truth freedom!
As Paul wrote to the Romans he was constantly reminding them that Christ was/is the freedom-giver. Christ death and resurrection were the cornerstones of His message. He didn’t tell the Jewish believers to trust in the fact that they were God’s chosen people, rather he said that there is no difference from Gentile and Jew, and that the “gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For it in the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16-17) When we place our faith and trust in Jesus we experience true freedom from sin and the sentence of condemnation, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1) What an amazing promise! And as individuals are set from from sin and saved God them touches families, churches, cities, counties, states and our nation. If our confidence is simply in government or our nation alone we will be disappointed and let down. Jesus is the answer to our nation’s challenges and He then uses government to help preserve freedom and our rights so that the Gospel can go out!
Let us pray for God to move us, shack us and revive us! We want to see revival come and it is possible. Let’s pray, read and follow God’s Word and share Jesus! May God bless you and may God bless our nation as well celebrate 250 years of existence!
In the Love of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Mark
Preaching Rotation & Worship Texts
July 5
9:00 a.m Tordenskjold (Pr. Mark) Is. 58:6-12, Rom. 2:17-29, Matt. 5:38-42
9:00 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Dan) Jer. 16:14-21, Rom. 3:1-20, John 1:35-51
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Mark) Is. 58:6-12, Rom. 2:17-29, Matt. 5:38-42
July 12
9:00 a.m Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan) Jer. 16:14-21, Rom. 3:1-20, John 1:35-51
9:00 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Mark) Ex. 20:1-17, Rom. 3:21-31, Matt. 5:17-19
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Dan) Jer. 16:14-21, Rom. 3:1-20, John 1:35-51
July 19
9:00 a.m Tordenskjold (Pr. Mark) Ex. 20:1-17, Rom. 3:21-31, Matt. 5:17-19
9:00 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Dan) Jer. 31:23-25, Rom. 4:1-8, Matt. 16:5-12
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Mark) Ex. 20:1-17, Rom. 3:21-31, Matt. 5:17-19
July 26
9:00 a.m Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan) Jer. 31:23-25, Rom. 4:1-8, Matt. 16:5-12
9:00 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Mark) Jer. 15:19-21, Rom. 4:9-25, Matt. 7:12-14
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Dan) Jer. 31:23-25, Rom. 4:1-8, Matt. 16:5-12
Communion…
July 5 Zion-Sarpsborg
July 12 Tordenskjold
July 19 Kvam
Bible StudyOpportunities
Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study
Each week at 6:45 a.m. at Underwood Quik-Stop. We are currently studying The Book of Ephesians.
Young Adults Ministry…LIFT (Living in Fellowship Together)
We are praising God for the ministry of LIFT in our communities. Each week three Bible Studies meet (2 Men’s studies, 1 women’s study) at 5:30 for food, fellowship and studying God’s Word. If you or you know anyone that would to be a part of this ministry reach out to Jacob Zacha (218) 452-8369 or Brita Zacha (218) 517-0438) we have a number of young adults from out parish involved and this is a great opportunity to grow in Christ!
Also, on August 3rd LIFT will be holding a Worship Night in the Park in Ashby at Thorson Park. It starts at 5:30 p.m. with food, games and a time of worship. We are thankful for the generous support of our Parish for the LIFT ministry in so many ways! The parish recently purchased a portable sound system that will aid our ministry the ministry of LIFT! Keep praying for our young adults as we see God at work!
Zion-Sarpsborg Ladies Group-
Will meet on July 2nd @12:00 noon at the Dalton Park for a potluck salad luncheon. Beverages and tableware will be provided.
Vacation Bible School-
We're starting to gear up for Vacation Bible School this summer! Registration will open on the Parish website on June 1st and we'd love to see you and your friends come this year. Our kick-off party will be on Sunday evening on July 26, from 6-8pm at Zion. VBS will run from 6-8pm the following week (July 27-31) at Zion. We will also be hosting a softball clinic (pending on the weather and the conditions of Dalton's ball field) from 4-5:30pm with this ministry having a significant focus on outreach; we would greatly appreciate and receive help from our members. The biggest area that could use some more manpower is being a group leader. These adults are in charge of helping move groups of students around to different areas during the week. These adults are vital to this ministry as they connect and support students during the week and serve as a more relational point of contact with the message that is shared during the week. These leaders will also receive some training to help them prepare for the week of ministry. If tthat sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, please reach out to the Parish office in the next few weeks!~ Pastor Dan.
Darlene Moore is turning 90! PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE.
Saturday JULY 18TH 1-4 P.M. Dalton Community Center
114 W Main St. Dalton, Mn.
We kindly request no gifts or card.
Greater Vision in Concert at Dalton
Greater Vision, the multi-award winning recording artist will be in concert at Zion-Sarpsborg Lutheran Church in Dalton on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. The popular group has enjoyed an exciting career in the Gospel music genre for more than 30 years. Greater Vision has received countless honors, accolades and hit songs, which has meant great music for Gospel music lovers worldwide.
Gerald Wolfe, the group’s founder, serves as pianist and emcee. Multi-award songwriter, Rodney Griffin, sings the lead part for the trio. Chris Allman, also an award-winning songwriter, sings tenor. Scott Mullins is the newest member of the group, having joined in June of 2025 as the new baritone singer. Greater Vision has appeared regularly on the “In Touch” television program and Gaither Homecoming. Greater Vision presents the Gospel through music nearly 150 times each year in a way that has endeared them to audiences around the world. The public is invited for a special evening of music, laughter, worship, and encouragement. There is no admission charge for the concert; a freewill offering will be received.
The 64th Annual Conference of the AFLC was held in Moorhead, MN last month. Our Annual Conference severs as a tremendous time to hear about different ministries taking place in our sister congregations across the country, as well as to receive updates from the different departments regarding what is being pursued. Many of the departments and boards shared about ongoing events, training, and other resources they're working to provide for congregations. Our next Annual Conference will be in Warm Beach, Washington from June 16-19, 2027.
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Parish Picnic…August 16th
We are excited to have out Parish Picnic on Sunday, August 16th at Zion-Sarpsborg in Dalton at 10:30 a.m. Bring your lawn chair, invite a friend and let’s come together to worship the risen Saviour. We will have a pot luck lunch after the service and game for the kids. Also, this has traditionally been alternate transportation Sunday and this year is the same as well. I have the traveling trophy in my office ready to award to the most creative way to get to church. Also, we are excited to have Jacob Zacha bringing the message and the LIFT/Parish Worship team sharing in the service.
Don’t forget to check the Parish website for things
happening in our churches. It is easy to navigate and also helpful to keep up to date. (www.daltonfreelutheran.org)