Bulletin: Sunday, October 5, 2025 + This Week at Zion

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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday October 4
No events scheduled

Sunday October 5
LWML Sunday
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 October 6
Pastor away at Conference
7:00 p.m. - Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m. - Trustee’s Meeting

Tuesday October 7
Pastor away at Conference
6:15 p.m. - Bell Choir
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir

Wednesday October 8
Pastor away at Conference
No Midweek Worship this week
No Bible Study this week

Thursday October 9
7:00 p.m. - Council Meeting

Friday October 10
No events scheduled

Saturday October 11
10:00 a.m. - LWML Pittsburgh Zone Rally @ Good Shepherd, Whitehall

Sunday October 12
FOOD BANK SUNDAY
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)

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Stewardship: Managing God’s Gifts To Us

This month's Stewardship Notes from Zion’s Stewardship Committee includes encouragement and exhortation from Scripture, as well as information on how a Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD) can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and reduce your taxes. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please contact Mike Kroeger at 832-651-7295 or Michael.K.Kroeger@gmail.com. 

Luke 16:8 – “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” The sons of this world know that they should use their wealth wisely to pro-vide for their future. Shouldn’t we “sons of light” know that the wealth God has allowed us to manage should be for God’s purposes in the roles He has given us to play in church, home and society? Don't we have more to live for, more to work for, and more to give toward? 

Luke 12:15 – “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” Coveting is the opposite of being content with what God has given us. And the cure for coveting is twofold: thankfulness to God and generosity toward God’s purposes. So be on guard against all covetousness. Acknowledge that your Father has given you all that you need, and therefore be free and confident in directing the mammon of this world toward godly purposes. 

Luke 13:26 – “Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’” Proximity to Jesus and the things of faith is not faith itself. Many Pharisees heard His Word but ignored it and refused to believe in it. We want to be not only hearers, but also doers of Je-sus' Word. We want not only proximity to Jesus, but true communion with Him. We want to hear Him, follow Him, praise Him and return thanks. 

Luke 14:11 – “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). That’s called humility. The Lord is God and we are not. With that in mind, how could we not seek to follow His Word in all as-pects of life? He knows what He is talking about and we don’t. If you believe that, then striking out on a path of faithfulness in the realm of stewardship is a lot easier: it just makes sense. 

Have you considered a Qualified Charitable Distribution for Zion? 
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows individuals aged 70 ½ or older to donate up to $108,000 annually (2025 limits) from their IRA directly to a qualified charity, potentially avoiding taxes on the distribution. This strategy can be particularly helpful for those seeking to reduce their taxable income and fulfill their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an IRA (other than an ongoing SEP or SIMPLE IRA) to a qualified charity and is limited to individ-uals who are 70 ½ or older. 

How it works and potential benefits: 

• Direct Transfer: The distribution must be made directly from the IRA trustee to the charity. 

• Tax Implications: QCDs are not included in your taxable income, unlike regular IRA withdrawals. This can lower your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and potentially reduce your tax burden. 

• RMDs: QCDs can satisfy all or part of your RMD for the year. Annual Limit: In 2025, the annual limit for QCDs is $108,000, according to Charles Schwab. No Itemization Required: You don't need to itemize deductions to benefit from a QCD. 

Of course, please consult your financial planner for more detailed information and to help you determine if this is right for you. 

Sources and references for additional information: The above text adapted from Google Chrome AI Overview; Search IRS QCD (you’ll find multiple links); Search Fidelity QCD (you’ll find multiple links); Search Charles Schwab QCD (you’ll find multiple links); Search Vanguard QCD (you’ll find multiple links). 

October 2025 Newsletter

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Shout out to Students: College Connections

College Connections
Nine of Zion's young people are away at college for the 2024-25 school year. Stay connected by dropping them a note of encouragement at the following addresses: 

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College Connections List

VIDEO: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - Complete Service

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. - Psalm 73 with Pastor Grimenstein
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no Mid-Week Service or Bible Study on Wednesday October 8, 2025

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AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, October 1, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. - Psalm 73 with Pastor Grimenstein
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

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PLEASE NOTE: There will be no Mid-Week Service or Bible Study on Wednesday October 8, 2025

Deuteronomy 2:16-37 
“So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, the LORD said to me, ‘Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar. And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.’ (It is also counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there—but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim— a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place, as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day. As for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.) ‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ 

“So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, ‘Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left. You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink. Only let me pass through on foot, as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving to us.’ But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. And the LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. And the LORD our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people. And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors. Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured. From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The LORD our God gave all into our hands. Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the LORD our God had forbidden us. 

Matthew 6:16-34 
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

The Lord’s Prayer – The Introduction 
What is the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer? 
Our Father who art in heaven. 
What does this mean?
With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father. 

Audio: Readings and Sermon for Sunday, September 28, 2025

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Old Testament Reading -- Amos 6:1-7 
“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,
the notable men of the first of the nations,
to whom the house of Israel comes!
Pass over to Calneh, and see,
and from there go to Hamath the great;
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Or is their territory greater than your territory,
O you who put far away the day of disaster
and bring near the seat of violence?
“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the midst of the stall,
who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
who drink wine in bowls
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,
and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.” 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Timothy 6:6-19 
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the sixteenth chapter
[Jesus said:] “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”