Zion Youth Group - GroupMe Text Alerts
Youth in grades 8-12 sign-up for our GroupMe texts today!
We will be using this as our primary way to communicate with youth and parents. Mark your calendars for our next monthly youth meeting/activity -- Sunday, November 19th 6-8 pm.
Spare Change Sunday + Youth Group Soup Sale
Spare Change Sundays
Every bit — large and small — helps our fundraising efforts for the LCMS Nat'l Youth Gathering!
Sunday November 19th is the LAST Spare Change Sunday. Please return your take-home containers and empty them in the large collection jar. Thank you for your support!
Soup Fundraiser
Get your quarts of homemade soup for eating or freezing! There are five delicious varieties to choose from. DOWNLOAD ORDER FORM HERE
Thanksgiving Eve Service Schedule
Join us Wednesday November 22nd at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
for Thanksgiving Worship. All offerings given will support the Save the Seminary Campaign of the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society. This will be Zion's fifth year of supporting this vital mission with our Thanksgiving offerings.
Pastor's Corner
Rev. Dr. Edward Grimenstein
Our Refuge & Strength
“. . . Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Confession and Absolution, Divine Service IV
The recent war between Hamas and Israel was a shocking surprise for many. As the invasion passed and the stories of Israelites were told, horrible details came to light of how Hamas treated them. One thing I found particularly shocking is that the Israelis would hide in shelters which are designed to be a refuge for them from rocket and mortar attacks which, sadly, are frequent. Many Israelites ran to these shelters seeking refuge from the invasion. But Hamas knew this. In some cases, Hamas would set these bomb shelters on fire, other times fighters would toss grenades inside, in other cases they would indiscriminately shoot the people seeking refuge inside these bomb shelters. These concrete refuges supposed to be “safe spaces,” ended up being a concrete tomb for the people inside.
When life or death comes at us, we seek shelter, a place of refuge where we will be safe. But it doesn’t matter sometimes, does it? Sometimes it seems like no matter what we do, there is no safe refuge that we can build with our human hands. Bomb shelters in Israel failed to keep the people safe. Even less dramatic refuges we seek can also fail. If you are caught in a sudden downpour of rain outside only to seek refuge under an awning, the awning might have holes that still let the water drip on you. If a blizzard suddenly hits, people could take refuge in a house seeking comfort, only to find the house has no electricity. No electricity means no heat. We can seek all kinds of refuges in this world from all kinds of threats. But for us Christians only one refuge is eternal, and always standing; the refuge we find in the forgiveness of our sins.
When the weight of our sin weighs us down, when the devil himself attacks us with guilt, or when our sinful nature is pestering us yet again, where do we go for refuge? Concrete bunkers? Awnings? Warm houses? Of course not! We go to our Lord Jesus Christ and in Him alone we, “take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ.” And there in Christ, we are safe, we truly are safe, and no one and no thing can touch us! During this month when our attention often turns to those things to be thankful for, I pray we are thankful every single day for the safe refuge we each have in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Lutherans For Life
Life Thoughts in the Church Year ...
… are designed to help Christians see the church year through the lens of the sanctity of human life. Life Thoughts are based on the appointed readings from Lutheran Service Book using the Three-Year Lectionary.
November 5 – Pentecost XXIII (Proper 26A)
The Lord our God has given us sexuality for relationship, family, and community. These matters cannot become merely private choices or personal preferences. What we do with our bodies also affects our neighbors (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6). Abortion reveals that lust always leads to destruction. Marriage and parenting prove we do not need abortion – indeed, these gifts leave us no room for it!
November 12 – Pentecost XXIV (Proper 27A)
Like the parable’s bridegroom, Jesus often meets us in unexpected moments (Matthew 25:10). He even sometimes hides in surprise pregnancies or terminal diagnoses in order to rescue and bless. So, we dare not ignore the poor and needy neighbors who cry out for deliverance (Psalm 70:1, 5) from abortion and assisted suicide. If we do indeed love the Lord’s salvation, then let us say so (Psalm 70:4)!
November 19 – Pentecost XXV (Proper 28A)
Many around us despair because the world pressures them into the violence and fraud (Zephaniah 1:9) of viewing death as a solution to difficulty. In the sanctity of every human life, we have riches to spare (Matthew 25:15). Gospel hope and joy are not just for us to possess. Jesus brings us faith and life to proclaim and put into practice.
November 26 – Pentecost XXIV (Proper 29A)
Guilt and grief can devastate those who abort their own children (Matthew 25:37-38). The Lord God longs to relieve their wounds with His forgiveness (Ezekiel 34:16). If Jesus overcomes death for us, He can also subdue it for them (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). May our mouths make the joyful noise (Psalm 95:2) of explicitly applying His atoning grace to every sin!
VIDEO: Wednesday November 15, 2023 - Complete Service
View the Bulletin for Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Service Time: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m.
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative
Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS
AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Wednesday November 15, 2023
View the Bulletin for Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Service Time: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m.
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative
Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS
Jeremiah 30:1-11
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.”
These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah:
“Thus says the LORD:
We have heard a cry of panic,
of terror, and no peace.
Ask now, and see,
can a man bear a child?
Why then do I see every man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor?
Why has every face turned pale?
Alas! That day is so great
there is none like it;
it is a time of distress for Jacob;
yet he shall be saved out of it.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD,
nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for behold, I will save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
and none shall make him afraid.
For I am with you to save you,
declares the LORD.
Matthew 26:57-75
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to
rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
The Creed
The Third Article
What is the third article of the creed?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.