LCMS Stewardship Ministry Thoughts

LCMS Stewardship Ministry Thoughts 

1 Peter 4:10 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Grace is God’s undeserved mercy toward us. And what do we have that is not a gift flowing from God’s grace? He gives all these gifts so that we may use them in service toward one another. Chief among the ways we serve one another is to support the church’s work of bringing more of God’s grace to more of God’s people. That’s what it means to be a steward! 

Luke 16:19 – “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.” This is often called the story of “The Rich Man and Lazarus.” But it should really be called the story of “The Two Rich Men and Lazarus.” The other rich man in this story is Abraham. Obviously, these two men used the gift of riches that God gave them in very different ways. The life and decisions of Abraham flowed from faith; the rich man’s life and choices flowed from disbelief and self-centeredness. Abraham was kind and generous, reflecting his trust in a kind and generous God. And the rich man? Well, you saw what happened to him and what god he served. 

Proverbs 9:9 – “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” We need the Lord’s instruction and wisdom. We just don’t know enough on our own. It seems foolish to the world that Christians drop their hard-earned money into the collection plate every week. The world just doesn’t see a benefit to the preaching of the Word, the administration of the Sacraments, the sending of missionaries, or the educating of children in the faith. But from the Lord’s instruction and wisdom, we know better. Giving teaches us generosity. The work of the church is the salvation of mankind, and we are blessed to be called to participate in it in this way 

Luke 8:37 – “Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So He got into the boat and returned.” The Gerasenes are upset with Jesus because His ministry led to the loss of their pig herd ¾ their wealth. They want Jesus to go away before He does any more damage to their bottom line. Their priorities are clear. What about our priorities? Is the work and ministry of Jesus worthy of our support and the sacrifice of some of our wealth? 

-- From your Stewardship Committee (please contact Mike Kroeger at 832-651-7295 or michael.k.kroeger@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions) 

Big Things are Coming to Zion

Click this graphic to see a preview of what’s coming!

Big Things are Coming to Zion
We’re just days away from the installation of Zion’s new digital bulletin board in the Narthex. Pictured here are Mike Debowski, Board of Trustees (left); Brent Miller, webmaster (right); and Mike Kroeger, Board of Elders (not pictured … sorry Mike). Lots of time and research went into the purchase of this 77” Samsung flat-screen TV, along with the software needed to run the bulletin board. 

The great thing is, this is an off-the-shelf TV, it’s not a special, high-priced electronic bulletin board. And more good news, the TV was purchased at a huge discount. plus, the software that runs the bulletin board is free, and member-volunteers will be installing it, and maintaining/updating the digital-sign. "Many hands make light work."

The goal of this new piece of tech is to enhance communication with members and visitors as they enter-and-exit Zion. There will be rotating slides that feature upcoming events, special announcements, the schedule for elders, altar guild, ushers, and acolytes.  There will also be photos of Zion’s council, boards, elders, staff, and helpers. And with enough notice, we can feature photos of the bride & groom for weddings at Zion, or special graphics for funerals and events. We can even embed QR-Codes (for smartphones) so that one can instantly access additional information.

VIDEO: Sunday, July 27, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, July 27, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

PLEASE NOTE: Starting Monday July 14th Pastor will be out of the office for knee surgery. Please contact the Church Administrator at 412-221-4776 for any Pastoral needs
Also, 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!

AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday, July 27, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, July 27, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

PLEASE NOTE: Starting Monday July 14th Pastor will be out of the office for knee surgery. Please contact the Church Administrator at 412-221-4776 for any Pastoral needs
Also, 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!

Old Testament Reading – Genesis 18:20–33 
Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” 

So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 

Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. 

Epistle Reading -- Colossians 2:6–19 
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. 

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the eleventh chapter
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: 

“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.” 

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 

Zion’s “Bridge Builder” Event

South Fayette Township Community Day
Saturday, August 23 • 11:00 a.m.. to 5:00 p.m. at Fairview Park, South Fayette

Come participate in our first Bridge Builders event! Bridge Builders is Zion's initiative to reach out and further connect with our community and preschool families. We will host a booth at community day. There are opportunities to help with set up, clean up, or manning the booth. You can sign up for a time slot through our E-blast or website. This is a great opportunity to connect with our neighbors!

Bulletin: Sunday July 27, 2025 + This Week at Zion

View the bulletin for Sunday, July 27, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

PLEASE NOTE: Starting Monday July 14th Pastor will be out of the office for knee surgery. Please contact the Church Administrator at 412-221-4776 for any Pastoral needs
Also, 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 July 26
No Events Scheduled

Sunday July 27
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Summer Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday July 28
No events scheduled

Tuesday July 29
No events scheduled

Wednesday July 30
2:00 p.m. - Midweek Worship with Communion
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study with Pastor Kettner (30 min.)
3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. - Open-Playground Fellowship time (additional details)
(Wednesday’s service will be streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday July 31
No events scheduled

Friday August 1
No events scheduled

Saturday August 2
No Events Scheduled

Sunday August 3
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Summer 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

They're Baaaack!

Eleven of our Zion teens and adult leaders returned from an amazing experience at the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans under the theme of "Endure" based on Hebrews 12:1-3. 

During their five days in NOLA our group joined with 20,000 Lutherans from across the country -- and the world -- for fellowship, presentations to equip them in their walk with Christ, Bible studies delivered by leaders within the LCMS, music in the Superdome from local and national recording artists, worship, and lots of BDF (big dumb fun)! 

Check out this Gathering Video Recap from LCMS Youth Ministry for a glimpse of everything the Gathering has to offer our young people.

Stay tuned in the days ahead for more pictures and video clips of our group enjoying the Gathering.