AUDIO: Readings, Sermon & Bell Choir for Sunday, May 4, 2025

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First Reading -- Acts 9:1-22 
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was with-out sight, and neither ate nor drank. 

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. 

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 

Epistle -- Revelation 5:1–14 
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, 

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” 

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wis-dom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twenty-first chapter
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he re-vealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Gali-lee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know every-thing; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” 

Grace Bell Choir -- Easter Bells (8 am) 

Kids Fishing Derby

Don’t miss the Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 17, 2025
at Saxony Farm Lake (Addy Boy Lane, Saxonburg)

CLICK to Visit Registration Page

• No Entry Fee

• Open to all kids 14 and under

• Free refreshments

• Bait provided by Concordia

• Prizes all day

• Participants must have an adult chaperone — bring your own fishing pole and lawn chair

  Call Concordia Public Relations for more information at 724-352-1571, ext. 8268.

Bulletin: Sunday May 4, 2025 + This Week at Zion

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 4, 2025
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THIS WEEK AT ZION
Please note: There are Bibles, Handmade Wooden Wall Crosses and Pocket New Testaments/Psalms on a table in the back of the Sanctuary. They are free to anyone who would like to have them for home use, or to give as gifts!

Saturday May 3
10:00 a.m. - Trustees Spring Clean Up (additional details)

Sunday May 4
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday May 5
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation
6:00 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation
7:00 p.m. - Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m. - Board of Trustees Meeting

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

Wednesday May 7
2:00 p.m. - Midweek Worship with Communion
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study (30 min.)
6:00 p.m. - Event’s Committee Meeting
(Wednesday’s service will be streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday May 8
6:00 p.m. - Adult Confirmation Class
7:00 p.m. - Council Meeting

Friday May 9
No Events Scheduled

Saturday May 10
No Events Scheduled

Sunday May 11
FOOD BANK SUNDAY
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

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CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page

LUTHERANS engage - Summer Issue

During the past year, many people around the world have been rocked by disaster — flooding in North Carolina, typhoons in the Philippines, wildfires in California. Lutherans are not spared from the consequences of a fallen world. Yet, they are called “to be together around Word and Sacrament” even at a time like this, says the Rev. Christopher Schaar, pastor of Historic First Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Calif., which narrowly escaped the Eaton fire in early January.

In this issue of Lutherans Engage the World, you’ll find stories of the projects that are completed, the people that are cared for and the seeds that are planted when the church clings to Jesus Christ and His promises at all times, especially during a time like this.

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May 2025 Newsletter

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What About … The Differences Between the ELCA and the LCMS

What About… 
The Differences Between the ELCA and the LCMS 

August 1997 will be long remembered as an important time in the history of the Lutheran church here in America. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] made a number of very significant decisions during that month. It declared full communion with three Reformed churches: the United Church of Christ, the Reformed Church of America, and the Presbyterian Church—USA. It based this decision on its opinion that there is no longer essential disagreement between the ELCA and these Reformed churches. Furthermore, the ELCA decided that the long-standing differences between Lutheranism and Roman Catholicism over the question of how we are saved have been resolved. 

These decisions have caused considerable confusion within the ELCA as well as within our own church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod [LCMS]. It has caused many people to wonder what the differences are between the ELCA and the LCMS, even though our two churches both use the name “Lutheran.” 

The LCMS has a tremendous opportunity to make it very clear, both to our own members, as well as to the world at large, what it means to remain committed to the full truth of the Holy Scriptures and the historic confessions of the Lutheran church. This article is intended to offer a brief overview of the key differences between the ELCA and the LCMS, enabling you to understand them so that you will be able to discuss them with others. 

Our Difference Over the Bible 
The LCMS and the ELCA disagree about the nature and authority of the Bible. While both churches profess allegiance to the Reformation principle that Scripture alone is the supreme authority for the church’s doctrine and life, there are significant differences when it comes to putting this principle into practice. 

The LCMS believes that the Bible is actually the Word of God, and therefore, is totally truthful, reliable and free from any error. The Scriptures are the final standard by which we must judge everything that we believe, teach and confess. 

The ELCA, on the other hand, avoids making statements that confess the full truthfulness of the Bible. It holds that Scripture is not always accurate or trustworthy in all its parts and details. It tolerates and encourages methods of interpreting Scripture that presuppose it contains error and is unclear about various doctrinal matters. 

Our difference over the Bible explains other more visible differences. For example, the LCMS does not ordain women to the pastoral office, while the ELCA does, in spite of the fact that Scripture clearly teaches otherwise. 

In addition, the LCMS unequivocally teaches that homosexual behavior is intrinsically sinful because it is contrary to God’s Word. In love, we want to help the person caught up in the homosexual life to repent of his sin and receive God’s forgiveness. The ELCA has been unable to take a clear Biblical stand against homosexual behavior. It also tolerates groups within its midst that openly advocate the homosexual lifestyle both for clergy and laity. 

Similarly, the LCMS has repeatedly condemned willful abortion as contrary to God’s clear commandment not to murder. The ELCA has not been able to speak out clearly against abortion, and, sadly, even pays for willful abortion procedures for members in its health insurance plan. 

While there are other examples, these three illustrate that our differences over the authority and reliability of God’s Word lie at the heart of other differences between the ELCA and LCMS. 

The Authority of the Lutheran Confessions 
Our two churches also disagree about the authority of the historic Lutheran confessional statements in the Book of Concord. The LCMS binds itself to the entire doctrinal content of the 16th-century Lutheran confessional writings. We agree with the confessions of our church not merely insofar as they agree with the Bible (a position which would allow individual members to reject certain doctrines), but because these confessional statements are in complete harmony with God’s inspired and inerrant Word. We therefore accept without reservation all the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, normative also for the church today. 

The ELCA, on the other hand, does not require that its church workers and congregations pledge unquali-fied acceptance of the full doctrinal content of the Book of Concord. The ELCA views the Lutheran Confessions as historical expressions of the faith held to be true at the time they were written, but not necessarily as standards for teaching and practice today. 

What is Necessary for Church Fellowship 
Given its approach to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, it is no surprise that the ELCA would consider it possible to enter into fellowship with churches that teach things that are clearly contrary to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions. These sorts of fellowship arrangements are a reflection of the attitude that absolute truth is unable to be known and confessed. This attitude is contrary to the confessional principle of the Lutheran church that is characterized in the Book of Concord with two very important phrases: "We believe, teach, and confess" and "We reject and condemn." These phrases reflect that Lutheran church's firm belief that God's Word does assert truth that is binding for all times and all peoples, and that we are able with joy to confess this truth. 

The LCMS believes that the Bible requires full agreement in doctrine before it is possible to join in altar and pulpit fellowship with other churches (Rom. 16:17). On the other hand, the ELCA believes that disa-greement in important doctrinal truths does not pro-hibit altar and pulpit fellowship with other churches. 

A good example of this attitude is found in the doc-uments the ELCA used to establish church fellowship with the three Reformed churches. In these docu-ments, it is admitted that "important theological differ-ences … remain between our two churches in such questions as the understanding of the Lord's Supper and Christology." These differences are viewed "not as disagreements that need to be overcome, but as di-verse witnesses to the one Gospel that we confess in common." What this means is that the ELCA is willing to tolerate the Reformed church's denial that Jesus Christ is really present in the consecrated bread and wine of the Lord's Supper. The Reformed believe Jesus is pre-sent only "spiritually" but not really present in a miracu-lous manner in the bread and wine. Lutheranism has never accepted the Reformed Church's denial of our Lord's real presence in Holy Communion. The ELCA now claims that the errors of the Reformed Church regarding the Lord's Supper and the doctrine of the person and work of Christ are acceptable options. This has never before been the position of the Lutheran church, and reveals a decided movement away from historic Luther-anism on the part of the ELCA. 

The ELCA's attitude toward doctrine obscures the vital relationship that exists between the saving Gospel of our Lord and all other teachings of Scripture that are rooted in that Gospel. 

Synod's Opportunity for Faithful Clarity 
All Lutherans have a wonderful opportunity to wres-tle with the question of what it means to be a confes-sional Lutheran church in this day and age. What does it mean to say that we embrace the Holy Scripture as the inerrant and inspired Word of God? What teachings will therefore be rejected? What truths will be raised high as positions that can never be compromised or bar-gained away for the sake of external church unity? What does it mean to say we agree unconditionally with the Lutheran Confessions as pure expositions of the Word of God? Is "agreeing to disagree" an appropriate attitude for Lutherans when it comes to establishing church fellowship? 

The differences between our two churches are a source of great sadness for the LCMS. We wish that our two churches could share a common confession of what it means to be Lutheran. It is important that the mem-bers of LCMS congregations have a clear picture of why our two church bodies are not in fellowship. Knowing the basic differences between our two churches will help us talk with our ELCA friends and family members in a loving manner. 

Dr. A.L. Barry
President (1992-2001)
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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No Service on Wednesday, April 30th - Power Outage!

Today’s Service for Wednesday April 30th has been cancelled due to a power outage at church.
There will be no Mid-Week Service today!
We will resume our Service of Prayer & Preaching, followed by a 30-minute Bible study, next Wednesday (5/7).