AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday, September 14, 2025

AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday, September 14 2025

Rev. Dr. Edward O. Grimenstein

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Old Testament Reading -- Ezekiel 34:11-24 
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. 

“As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 

“Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Timothy 1:12-17 
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fifteenth chapter
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 

Women’s Ministry: Upcoming Events

Zion’s Women’s Ministries Quarterly Meeting & Stamps fro Mission Night
Please note new date and time … Thursday, September 18th at 7:00 p.m. in Zion’s Fellowship Hall
Join us as we gather to hear God’s Word, clip stamps, and review our 2026 LWML mission grant proposal.

Pennsylvania March for Life … September 22, 2025

Pennsylvania March for Life
September 22, 2025 — Harrisburg, PA

Gather with your pro-life Lutheran brothers and sisters prior to the 2025 PA March for Life at The Hilton Harrisburg. One N. 2nd Street. Harrisburg, PA 17101.

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Meet and Greet with Full Breakfast

10:00 a.m.
Welcome, and Keynote Speakers: “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” Scott Licht, Lutherans for Life, and Mary Ann Albertini, Advancement Director of A Woman’s Concern Pregnancy & Parenting Resource Center.

10:30 a.m.
Walk to the Capitol Steps for the Rally

12:00 p.m.
March Begins

For more information contact”Jeanie Zentz at 717-475-0271 or visit www.lancasterlutheran.com - Full breakfast graciously provided free of charge by Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, PA

Visit marchforlife.org/Pennsylvania for walk details.

Bulletin: Sunday, September 14, 2025 + This Week at Zion

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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday September 13
No Events Scheduled

Sunday September 14
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday September 15
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation 1st Year
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation 2nd Year

Tuesday September 16
6:16 p.m. - Bell Choir Practice
7:15 - 8:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday September 17
2:00 p.m. - Midweek Worship with Communion
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study (30 min.) Psalm (More Details)
(Wednesday’s service will be streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday September 18
7:00 p.m. - LWML Quarterly Meeting

Friday September 19
No events scheduled

Saturday September 20
No Events Scheduled

Sunday September 21
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
7:00 p.m. - Youth Group Board Game Night
(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

Vocatio: Retreat

Rest in God’s Word and in prayer in a faithful community of fellow believers

Vocatio: Retreat is a three-day event held at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in the spring and fall for college students and second-career men and women.  It provides an opportunity to rest in God’s Word and learn more about the path to full-time service as a pastor, deaconess, missionary or chaplain.  The next retreat is being held October 5th-7th.

You will devote time to prayer and the study of God’s Word, and engage in sessions that focus on the spiritual and personal aspects of the decision-making process of becoming a seminarian, as well as learn about academic courses, field education, vicarages/deaconess internships, financial aid, housing and the enrollment process.

Open to college students and second-career men and women, the event is free.

News from the Board of Trustees

Short samples of what you can expect on the new Narthex Digital Bulletin Board

News from the Board of Trustees 
The Trustees want to thank Zion Webmaster “extraordinaire” Brent Miller for his extensive research and expertise in transitioning us from our old-school bulletin board to updated digital bulletin board. Check out the new narthex screen for all the latest updates, photos, news, people, sign-ups, and happenings! 

What About … The Ordination of Women to the Pastoral Office

What About …
The Ordination of Women to the Pastoral Office

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many denominations ordain women to the pastoral office, even some Lutheran churches. It is important that Missouri Synod Lutherans be able to give a kindly response and explanation to those who may question our position on this issue. We have an opportunity to speak the truth in love.

What does God say about women serving in the pastoral office?
The Lord teaches us through His Word that women are not given the responsibility of serving the church as pastors. We read the following statements:

“As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says …what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord” (1 Cor.14:33–34,37).

“Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent”(1 Tim.2:11–12).

“The saying is sure: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Now an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife…”(1 Tim.3:1–2). “This is why I left you in Crete …that you might appoint elders in every town as I directed you, if any man is blame-less, the husband of one wife…”(Titus 1:5–6).

God has given His church many gifts. Among them is the gift of the office of the public, pastoral ministry. We receive what God gives, in the way He has given it, and in the form He has given it. We do not tell God that His gift is not good enough for us, or that we don’t like the form in which He has given the gift. We receive God’s gifts as He gives them, with thanks and praise. We rejoice in the opportunities God has given us, as His redeemed people, to serve Him in the church, and in our daily lives.

The church which wishes to remain faithful to the Word of God cannot permit the ordination of women to the pastoral office.

The Bible says that we are all one in Christ. Don’t these words imply that women may serve as pastors?
There are those churches which believe that St. Paul’s words in Gal.3:28 mandate the service of women as pastors: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

But this verse does not teach that there is no dis-tinction between these various groups; rather, it teaches the equality of salvation that all Christians have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul wants us to know that all individuals are equally sinful and equally saved by the work of God through Jesus Christ. Gal. 3:28 does not contradict or overturn St. Paul’s comments elsewhere. This passage does not speak to the issue of the ordination of women; instead it is speaking of the equality of our salvation in Christ, for which we praise the Triune God, but it certainly does not mean that all may serve as pastors.

If men and women have equal rights, why can’t women be pastors?
The issue of the ordination of women is not a matter of “human rights” or “church traditions” or various human opinions and customs. Nor is it a matter of “discrimination against women.” Various social reformers in our culture would have us believe that men and women are totally interchangeable and that their God-given differences simply have no bear-ing on life in this world. Not only does this run contra-ry to the clear testimony of nature, it also contradicts the Bible.

The Bible teaches us that both men and women were created in the image of God, but are two dis-tinct and special creations. We praise God for His wis-dom in creating human beings as man and woman.

We believe that God has gifted men and women with different responsibilities and duties. For exam-ple, men are gifted by God to be husbands and fa-thers; women are gifted by God to be wives and mothers. So also in the church, God has gifted men and women with different, though complementary, opportunities and responsibilities for service.

What are the roles of men and women in the church?
Together, men and women serve their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Men have the divine obligation to be the leaders of the church. Women are called to be of assistance to men in this capacity. An attitude of service guides what we do in the church, not a demand for “rights” or an attitude of “lording it over” one another. We have one Lord and one Master, Jesus Christ. We serve Him in the ways He desires.

God has given the responsibility to serve as pastors only to certain qualified men. The church calls these men to serve as representatives of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the pastoral office. Women are not called to serve in this way because God has not given this responsibility to women. Why didn’t Jesus call a woman to serve as an apostle? Why, through the Apostle Paul, does He prohibit women from serving as pastors in the church? We must leave the answers to these questions to God. We honor and respect God’s will in these matters and praise Him for the many gifts He has given us all, including the marvelous opportunities He provides to both men and women to serve Him.

Why then do some churches ordain women?
Here again, as with so many issues, the reason for differences we have with other church bodies is based on their differing attitude toward the Scriptures.

Our Synod affirms the truth that the Holy Scriptures are God’s perfect and errorless revelation to us. We receive what God has given to us in His Word. We are not free to overlook that Word, ignore it, explain it away, or otherwise disregard what the Lord has revealed through the Apostle Paul.

Churches that ordain women have chosen to regard St. Paul’s writings as his own personal opinions. This is a difficult position to maintain in light of the fact that St. Paul goes out of his way, on more than one occasion, to repeat his position on this matter, and explicitly declares that this is not merely his personal opinion, but a command of the Lord.

How can faithful Lutherans respond to the ordination of women?
First, we never should become defensive or antagonistic about this issue. Instead, we need simply to speak the truth in love, witnessing to our beliefs and recognizing this as yet another opportunity to say, “This we believe, teach, confess and practice.”

Second, we need to be loving and gentle with people who belong to church bodies that ordain women. In many instances, they are simply unaware of why this has been done. They have been given incorrect information and have no clear foundation in Scripture to understand why the ordination of women is contrary to the Word of God. We need to explain these issues in love, with gentleness and compassion.

Third, it is important for us to explain how women may serve their Lord in the church in a fulfilling manner. There are many ways for women to serve as full-time church workers in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, including service as teachers, directors of Christian education, directors of Christian outreach, deaconesses and parish nurses. Laywomen have many opportunities for service through various church societies, guilds and leagues, along with the service they provide as volunteer teachers. They have additional opportunities to serve in their local congregations as members of various boards and committees.

We need to emphasize the opportunities that God has provided to all of us, both men and women, to serve Him in His kingdom. How unfortunate it would be if we permitted ourselves to become ensnared in self-centered demands for “rights,” and thus take our eyes off of our Lord’s call to service. Demanding from God what He has not given is contrary to what it means to be a child of God. When our focus is on love and service to one another, we realize that there is more than enough for all of us to do.

We serve each other in love, conforming our service to the Word of God. Nobody in the church is called to be the “master” over anyone else. Pastors are Christ’s servants who care for the people of God with Christ’s Word and Sacraments. Thus, through these gifts, our Lord graciously gives Himself to us for our salvation, in humble sacrificial service, according to His Father’s will.

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