What is Youth Confirmation at Zion . . .

What is Youth Confirmation at Zion . . . 
Confirmation is the public affirmation of a person’s baptism and faith, and is an important milestone in the life of a Christian 

What began at a person’s baptism, continues throughout their life of faith. Public affirmation of faith happens after a period of instruction. At Zion, confirmation instruction is provided through a weekly class for young people (typically in 6th & 7th grades) under the guidance of Pastor Grimenstein. “Confirmands” meet over a two-year period (Sept-May) culminating in the Rite of Confirmation during a Sunday worship service in the spring. 

What Do Confirmands Study? 

• God’s Word and how it works 

• The six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism which expound on God’s Word (Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, The Sacrament of the Altar, and Confession) 

• What worship is, and what it does 

Finally, they discover that learning from God’s Word and growing in faith does not end with Confirmation, or when they reach adulthood. Staying connected to Christ through regular participation in Word and Sacrament in the Church throughout one’s life, is both an exhortation and a privilege. An additional benefit is the bond that often develops between confirmands as they go through this formative time together. 

To learn more about Confirmation at Zion, or inquire about enrolling your child, please reach out to Pastor Grimenstein at pastor@zlcb.org. 

Stamps for Missions

Stamps for Missions
Zion’s Women’s Ministry is collecting YOUR canceled and collectible stamps to support the mission work of LWML.

A collection box is located in the back of the sanctuary. Bring your stamps at any time and deposit them the box.

We collect:

• Envelope halves (tear the envelope) with the stamps attached

• Intact picture postcards

• All foreign stamps, large and small

• Stamp albums

• Collectible stamp sheets

• Commemorative U.S. Stamps

VIDEO: Sunday, May 18, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 18, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
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CLICK TO Register for Zion’s 2025 Vacation Bible School
July 7th - 11th — 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday, May 18, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 18, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

CLICK TO Register for Zion’s 2025 Vacation Bible School
July 7th - 11th — 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

First Reading -- Acts 11:1–18 
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” 

Epistle Reading -- Revelation 21:1–7 
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.” 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the sixteenth chapter
[Jesus said:] “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 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.” 

From the LCMS Reporter – Forming Youth in the Faith

YouthLead participant Lucas Lorenz from Zion Lutheran Church, Bethalto, Ill., gives a high five to adult leader Megan Pfeiffer on July 21, 2024, at NATIONAL24 in New Orleans. The event was an opportunity for youth, young adults and adult leaders to connect and prepare for the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering, coming up in July 2025. (Logan Sheffer)

Connection Points: Forming Youth in the Faith
by James Baneck, Executive Director for Pastoral Formation – LCMS

Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is working to build a culture of church work formation and recruitment in every congregation, family, school, district and entity. It is a culture that requires the involvement of every pastor, commissioned worker, parent, layperson and Synod employee.

There are several wonderful organizations that walk beside our congregations, families and schools in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), creating connection points that help form our youth in the Christian faith according to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. These connection points also supplement and reinforce the formation and recruitment of our youth to consider full-time church work.

The LCMS Youth Gathering, held every three years, provides nearly 20,000 youth and adults the opportunity to come together as God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and to learn about the Christian faith. At this summer’s Gathering, to be held in New Orleans July 19–23 under the theme “Endure,” SAS will be featured in the LCMS booth in the exhibit hall, creating an opportunity for LCMS church workers, missionaries and others to connect with thousands of youth about church work careers.

SAS is also leading three sessions for youth and adult leaders that will feature panels of church workers discussing their journey to full-time church work and highlighting the eight LCMS full-time church work vocations. Find out more at lcmsgathering.com.

Higher Things (HT), an LCMS Recognized Service Organization, focuses on making the gifts of Christ Jesus (Word and Sacrament) known to youth and young adults. This summer, HT is holding its annual summer gatherings at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (June 24–27); Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb. (July 8–11); and Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 29–Aug. 1), under the theme “All Things New.” 

SAS is partnering with HT by sponsoring church work students from the Synod’s Concordia universities so they can attend. The students will talk to HT participants about why they decided to pursue church work and will share their experience of being a church work student at a Concordia. They also will present at HT breakout sessions and visit with the participants throughout the conference. Learn more at higherthings.org.

Christ Academy (CA) is hosted each summer by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, to provide two weeks of catechesis, worship and fun to high school students. In previous years, SAS has partnered with CA by teaching about the Office of the Holy Ministry and the Augsburg Confession to the young men. This year, the women have asked that they, too, be able to study the Augsburg Confession. In conjunction with this study of the Lutheran Confessions, SAS will also talk to students about considering full-time church work within such a rich confession. Learn more at ctsfw.edu/christ-academy.

Vocatio High School is hosted by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), to encourage high schoolers to explore God’s calling for their lives by experiencing many aspects of the seminary, including worship and devotions, sessions with professors, and fun and recreation. SAS will once again partner with CSL this summer by visiting with participants at the SAS booth to talk about full-time church work. SAS will also talk to the participants about considering full-time church work over the Monday evening meal. Learn more at csl.edu/vocatio-high-school.

Shepherd’s Hill at the Crossroads Camp (SHC) is a beautiful LCMS camp in north-central North Dakota. SHC is hosting its annual Encounter Camp for high schoolers July 27–Aug. 1. SAS is partnering with SHC as a pilot site to learn how best to encourage youth to consider full-time church work in a camp setting. SAS will then develop resources so this encouragement can be multiplied at Lutheran camps for years to come. 

Bulletin: Sunday May 18, 2025 + This Week at Zion

View the bulletin for Sunday, May 18, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

CLICK TO Register for Zion’s 2025 Vacation Bible School
July 7th - 11th — 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
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!

THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday May 17
8:00 a.m. - CLM Kids Fishing Derby (Additional Information)
10:00 a.m. - CLM Spring Fling Ladies Fundraiser Luncheon (Additional Information)

Sunday May 18
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study (1 Corinthians) & Youth Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
5:45 p.m. - Youth Group Escape Room Event (Additional Information)
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday May 19
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation
6:00 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation

Tuesday May 20
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday May 21
2:00 p.m. - Midweek Worship with Communion
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study (30 min.)
(Wednesday’s service will be streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday May 22
7:00 p.m. - LWML/Women’s Ministry Quarterly Meeting & Crafting Night (Additional Details)

Friday May 23
No Events Scheduled

Saturday May 24
No Events Scheduled

Sunday May 25
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

Shout Out to Students (part 2 of 2)

Claire and John Lemonovich, Sophomore’s at South Fayette High School, were inducted in April to the National Honor Society (NHS). Brother, Luke Lemonovich, will graduate with NHS honor cords from South Fayette in June. To achieve and retain membership in NHS, students must maintain a 3.75 cumulative grade point average. In addition, each year they must complete at least 10 hours of community service with at least two different organizations and complete at least one hour of service toward the Chapter’s service project.