AUDIO: Announcements, Readings, Sermon & Bell Choir for Sunday May 5, 2024

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 5, 2024
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First Reading -- Acts 10:34–48 
Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. 

Epistle -- 1 John 5:1–8 
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 

Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter
[Jesus said:] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” 

Grace Bell Choir -- Come, Christians Join to Sing (8:00 a.m. service)

Sunday School News for May 2024

It's been a cold Spring, but warmer weather is here!
During May, Sunday school classes will be continuing with Enduring Faith Unit 8. See chart above.

Important Dates: 
June 9th – Sunday School End-of-Year Party
Please arrive at 9:15!!! We'll have a final lesson then start our party festivities. 

June 16th through August:
Summer Sunday School at 9:15
Summer session is geared toward students in PreK through 3rd grades. Kids in 4th through 6th grade are welcome to help in the classroom or attend the Adult/Teen Bible Study in the fellowship hall. 

Bulletin: Sunday May 5, 2024

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 5, 2024
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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday May 4
No Event’s Scheduled

Sunday May 5
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Children’s Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
12:00 Noon - Zion Women’s Ministries Spring Rally ADDITIONAL DETAILS
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday May 6
6:00 p.m. - 1st Year Confirmation
6:30 p.m. - Faith Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - 2nd Year Confirmation
7:00 p.m.- Trustee’s Meeting

Tuesday May 7
6:15 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday May 8
2:00 p.m. Mid-Week Worship with Communion
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study
(The 2:00 p.m. service is streamed Live on our YouTube channel)

Thursday May 9
Pastor out of town
6:30 p.m. - Council Meeting

Friday May 10
Pastor out of town
No Event’s Scheduled

Saturday May 11
Pastor out of town
No Event’s Scheduled

Sunday May 12
Pastor out of town
FOOD BANK SUNDAY
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Children’s Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

The Scammers are at it again!

Another scammer targets Zion!
Unfortunately, once again a fake email has been circulating to Zion members .... the email appears to come from "Pastor Edward O. Grimenstein" and requests “Open Schedule Request” OR "a favor" OR "money and/or gift cards." 

THIS EMAIL IS A SCAM.  PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO IT! 

Pastor’s Corner

The Peace of God 
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice . . . And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:4-7 

What does it mean to have “peace”? Maybe we have peace when our bodies are healthy. That makes sense. When we are healthy, our bodies feel peaceful. Maybe we feel like we have peace when everything is going well at work, or even when we have work. Being out of work, or not having steady work, is stressful. Life definitely feels peaceful when work is going well. But a lot of times in life, we would probably not describe our life as being “peaceful.” 

In the passage above Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always . . . And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When Paul wrote this, I don’t think we would say Paul’s life was exactly “peaceful.” When Paul wrote this, he was sitting in a prison in Rome. On top of this, Paul’s health was not great, but that was alright. Paul’s health did not bring him peace, Christ did. Paul’s work was not always going well. Paul was constantly dealing with false teachers who threatened to take grace out of the church, but that was alright. Paul’s work did not necessarily bring him peace, Christ did. 

This is why Paul was so bold as to say, “Rejoice always.” It didn’t matter in what circumstance Paul found himself. Whether well fed, hungry or poor, Paul still had peace, because his peace was one that did not come from this world, his peace came from Christ. The peace Paul had was not dependent upon his good health or poor health, his peace came from Christ. The peace Paul had was not dependent upon his work going well or poorly, his peace came from Christ. 

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, we can understand the peace Paul is talking about. As Christians, our peace almost has nothing to do with what is ongoing on in the world around us. Our peace is a lasting, eternal peace because the Son of God offered a perfect sacrifice for us on Good Friday, died for us, and rose from the dead for us three days later. Because of what Christ has done, He has mended our broken relationship with God the Father. And now, we have peace with God given to us by Jesus. This is why, like Paul, we may rejoice always. Our peace does not depend upon what is going on in this world or even in our own lives. Our peace is in Christ, and nothing has the power to take that peace away from you. 

-- Pastor Grimenstein 

Voter’s Approve Deaconess for Zion

Voters approved the Call Committee's recommendation to call Joanna Lee for the role of Deaconess at Zion. Joanna graduates from Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN) in August. Lord willing, she will arrive at Zion sometime in August or September! Pastor and the elders have already begun assisting the Lee family with the beginning stages of the relocation process. Please include them in your prayers -- that the Lord would bless Joanna, her husband Richard and their children during this transition, and use them mightily in the work of His Kingdom at Zion! 

Thank you to those who attended our Voters' Meeting on Sunday, April 28th to support the important work of Church Council and the Deaconess Call Committee! 

Sixty-one members, 27 percent of Zion's confirmed membership, were in attendance to participate in the historic process of calling a Deaconess for our congregation. 

LWML Eastern District Convention

LWML Eastern District Convention
The LWML Eastern District 40th Biennial Convention will be held June 14-16, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Mars, PA.

Keynote Speakers include President John Pingel, CPH author Hedi Goehmann, and many more!
Registration forms available in the Sanctuary

Eastern District Convention Devine Service on Friday, June 14th — All members of Zion are invited to attend.

Please see the Winter 2024 LINK for additional details.
Learn more and find a registration form at Convention Information.