Pastor’s Corner

“Hey Satan, I Have Something to Say to You!” 
I know we talk to God. We pray, we sing, we talk out loud to God in our homes and while we are driving. I think that is normal and expected of Christians. Let me ask you something maybe a bit unex-pected . . . have you ever talked to the devil? Now, I do NOT mean that you pray or sing or talk to the devil in the same way we talk to God. But, have you ever said anything to the devil? 

Full disclosure: I have. I have not “talked” to the devil so much as I have basically “told him off.” I was thinking about this unusual phenomenon on Sunday when we were singing hymn #594 “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It.” This hymn has 5 stanzas to it. The 1st and 5th are proclamations of what Christ has done for us. But stanzas 2, 3 & 4 are not addressed to God. Stanza 2 has us speaking to “sin.” Stanza 3 has us speaking to “Satan.” And Stanza 4 has us speaking to “death.” But we are not talking to this unholy Trin-ity as we do a friend or God. Instead, we are “talking” to them by basically telling them that they have all utterly failed to separate us from Christ. Stanza 3, which is addressed to Satan, says this (and please note how YOU are the one doing the talking in this stanza!): 

Satan, hear this proclamation: 
I am baptized into Christ! 
Drop your ugly accusation, 
I am not so soon enticed. 
Now that to the font I’ve traveled, 
All your might has come unraveled, 
And, against your tyranny, 
God, my Lord, unites with me! 

Well, it looks like I am not the only one who has said something to Satan, all of us have! And what we have reminded Satan is that Christ has beaten him and united Himself to us in baptism (we also remind “sin” and “death” that they have also lost in the other stanzas). 

Jesus Christ is doing such amazing things for you through His death and resurrection all of which have been poured over you in baptism. When you have a chance check out the other stanzas from hymn #594 and remind yourself of all the wonderful things Christ has done for you. And while you are at it, go ahead and have a conversation with “sin, Satan, and death.” Remind them they have lost and because of Christ, you have won! 

-- Pastor Grimenstein 

Zion Women’s Book Club Summer Meeting & Salad Potluck

Zion Women’s Book Club Summer Meeting & Salad Potluck

Make This Place Your Home
by Mary Rubarb (Link to Amazon/Kindle website)

Thursday, July 10th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. (after VBS) in Zion’s Outdoor Pavilion

Bring a favorite lunch salad to share!

This is also a Meet the Author event – Mary Rubarb will be with us that day to talk about her book!

About the book: Libby knew that the life she'd always known wasn't normal, but it was hers. When that life is suddenly gone, all that Libby has to cling to are the memories of what she once had. When Libby is sent off to live with an aunt she never knew, she is faced with an entirely new life. Suddenly, she has friends. Here, she is thought of as smart and talented. But how could she be happy in her new life when in her old life, she'd let everyone down? Is it only a matter of time before these people realize that this life isn't where she belongs?

VBS 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church

VBS 2025 is now underway at Zion Lutheran Church
Monday, July 7, 2025 is opening day for this year’s “Epic Australian Adventure.”

We’ll encounter amazing animals, lush landscapes, stunning sea life, and wondrous wilderness. And most importantly, we’ll be guided by our Savior, Jesus, who tells us, 

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” 

in our theme verse, John 14:6.

Wednesday’s at Zion - Psalms Bible Study

In the Psalms God speaks to us, His people. God speaks to us about many different topics in the Psalms like: His existence, the Messiah, forgiveness, doubt, thanksgiving and many more! Join us each Wednesday for worship at 2:00 p.m. followed by a 30 min. Bible Study (starting at 2:30 p.m.) as we study a different Psalm each week for a total of 12 weeks. God truly is speaking to us, come and hear what He is saying!

God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

VIDEO: Sunday, July 6, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, July 6, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday, July 6, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, July 6, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 66:10–14 
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,
all you who love her;
rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her;
that you may nurse and be satisfied 
from her consoling breast;
that you may drink deeply with delight
from her glorious abundance.”
For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;
your bones shall flourish like the grass;
and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,
and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.” 

Epistle Reading – Galatians 6:1–10, 14–18 
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. 

One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. . . . 

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the tenth chapter
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. 

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 

Birth of the Nicene Creed

Trinity Lutheran Church in Glen Savage, Ss. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Central City, and Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Johnstown Present:

Commemoration

A celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the birth of the Nicene Creed
With special Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Daniel Hahn, Vice President Eastern District, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Special Vespers Prayer Service
Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
711 Chestnut Street
Johnstown, PA 15906
(Refreshments follow*)

Sponsored by: Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries
*If you’re planning on staying for refreshments, please RSVP to holycrossjohnstown@gmail.com