LCMS singles: Finding the Lutheran needle in the haystack

Esther and the Rev. Eli Voigt met through LCMS Connections, an online Lutheran matchmaking site. They married in Sept. 2025. 

By Mary Henrichs, May 11, 2026

“It’s becoming obvious to all of us in the older generation — parents and grandparents — that it is increasingly difficult for young people to meet and connect,” said the Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Lutheran Church of the Deaf in Austin, TX. Wolfmueller has done significant work sharing Lutheran theology online. Singles in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) looking to find their spouse within the church are often stymied because there are “just very few Lutheran singles that are concentrated in one spot,” he explained.

Many LCMS singles agree with his assessment. Matt Nitsch, 28, a technical support specialist in Sheboygan, Wis., concurred: “If you ask a lot of [young LCMS] people, [they will say] they’re the only person their age from their church.” In Nitsch’s congregation, he says, there are “maybe five people within my age range, and two of them are married to each other.”

With local LCMS dating pools seeming so small, many singles will try dating outside of the church, but without unity in faith, forming a lasting relationship can be difficult: “Certain things … you can debate with your significant other — you may like pasta, but then she doesn’t,” said Matt. “But when it comes to, say, abortion — you want to be aligned.” Marica Turan, a 36-year-old who works in the corporate world near Akron, Ohio, hopes her future husband will share her faith: “[With] Christ in the middle, … everything else falls into place around that.”

‘A great place to start’
Seeing the need to help LCMS singles connect with one another, Wolfmueller and his wife, Keri, stepped in with an unconventional idea: a Lutheran singles cruise. In total, 138 singles ages 21 to 41, each endorsed by their pastor, set sail in August 2024, hoping to find love or, at the very least, enjoy a “vacation with fellow Lutherans,” as Gideon Baldwin put it. As a “baseline,” agreed fellow cruise attendee Terrin Boozikee, “you’re surrounded by people who have common values, which is a great place to start.” She and Gideon, both 29 at the time of the cruise, hit it off during a round of minigolf — which she won — after he helped her by moving a rock that had been blocking her shot’s path.

Read the entire REPORTER article posted on Zion’s website at zlcb.org/singles

VIDEO: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - Complete Service

Bulletin for Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: The Book of Galatians
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

Audio: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Audio: Readings and Sermon for Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Rev. Dr. Edward O. Grimenstein

Download

Bulletin for Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: The Book of Galatians
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

First Reading – Revelation 21:1–8 
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 

Gospel Reading – John 16:17-33 
So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 

“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 

His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

Sacrament of the Altar 
Who receives this Sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” 

But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe. 

Bulletin: Wednesday June 17, 2026

Bulletin for Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: The Book of Galatians
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

LHM’s Daily Devotions are available on a variety of platforms, so you can take the Word with you wherever you are. Have them delivered right to your inbox, access them on your mobile device through the FREE app, or listen with Spotify, iHeart Radio, and more!

Those who use LHM’s app have noticed some changes recently: a new name (Connected by LHM); a fresh, new look; many expanded, easy-to-use features; and immediate access to sermons from The Lutheran Hour®.

When you download the FREE “Connected by LHM” app on your mobile device, you can read or listen to the day’s message and access the day’s Scripture text and related Bible readings. Users who create a free account will have access to a feature that allows them to take notes on the devotions. You can easily share devotions and sermons directly from the app via text messages, email, or on social media.

Subscribe to Daily Devotions

Available through a variety of platforms, LHM’s devotions can be read or heard online, delivered right to your inbox, accessed on our FREE mobile app, or listened to as a podcast with Spotify, iHeartRadio, Alexa, or Google Home. In addition, seasonal devotions for Advent and Lent are available in both English and Spanish and are perfect for personal reflection or to share with family, friends, and congregations. Subscribe to receive LHM’s Daily Devotions in your inbox at www.lhm.org/subscribe.

Patriotic Prayer Luncheon

Patriotic Prayer Luncheon
As we look ahead to the 250th Anniversary of our nation’s founding in July, let us come together in prayer, praise and thanksgiving for the goodness God bestows on the United States of America.

Saturday, June 27, 2026
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker:
Pastor Grimenstein served as an active-duty U.S. Army chaplain from 2004-2011. He primarily served with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Ft. Bragg, was involved in missions in Afghanistan/Middle East, and at SHAPE in Belgium. Pastor will be sharing about the unique mission work LCMS military chaplains perform on a daily basis.

Use Sign Up Genius to RSVP to this event:
Sign Up Genius Link

Benefitting LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces

President’s Perspective

Mark your Calendar 
Zion’s Annual Budget Meeting June 21st 

On Sunday, June 21 at 9:15 we will present the 2026–27 congregational budget. Zion operates on a fiscal year that runs July 2026 through June 2027. We encourage all voting members to attend so they can better understand the financial commitments being made for the upcoming ministry budget, and how our collective giving supports those commitments. 

This upcoming budget was developed with input from 12 boards and leaders: Elders, Events Committee, Financial Secretary, Human Resources Committee, Music Ministry, Pastor & Admin Office, Preschool, Sunday School, Long-Term Planning, Treasurer, and Trustees. 

We have been truly blessed by the many individuals who volunteer their time and talents to support our ministry, as well as by the generous financial support we have received over the years. Because of this, it is important for every member to understand the ministry commitments reflected in this budget. 

Our outreach ministries continue to make a meaningful impact. For example, our Preschool shares the Gospel with more than 160 children, their families, and 20 teachers and aides. We are also now supporting the Pittsburgh Deaf Ministry, helping share the Gospel with those in the hearing impaired community. We continue to support those in need in our local community through our long-term partnership with the Bridgeville Food Bank. In addition, we are honored to support Charles Wallace as he completes his final year at Concordia Seminary St. Louis. Zion is truly blessed to nurture and encourage the second pastor to come from our congregation. These are just a few of the ways in which we share the message of Jesus Christ with the world around us. 

One of the greatest challenges in building the budget is estimating the ongoing costs of operating the church, including utilities, maintenance, and online ministry support. Even with these challenges, we remain thankful and blessed by your continued prayers, service, and financial support. 

I hope to see you at the Budget meeting! 
— Bob Schmidt