Pastor’s Corner

The Word of our God will Stand Forever. 
Isaiah 40:8 

It seems like this time of year change is literally in the air. Our Summer clothes are slowly being swapped out for sweaters and jackets. The clothes we wear are changing. 

Take a drive around town and a quick glance will show you the trees are all starting to change. The dark shades of green are being swapped out for bright oranges and reds which will quickly turn brown, dry up, and fall off. The leaves are changing. 

On that same drive, you can notice other changes than the trees. Some changes are less pleasant. The metallic finish on cars slowly changes where water and salt hit. Metal, so strong and lasting, is rusting. Even something as strong as metal is changing. 

And an even more unpleasant sight are the dead deer carcasses littering the side of the roads. Deer that once frolicked are lying motionless. Their bodies dried up weeks, maybe even months ago, and all that is left are a pile of bones, skin and fur. Even the animals are changing. 

Change is everywhere this time of year. It reminds us that change in life is always inevitable. Nothing is frozen in time. Nothing lasts forever. Nothing has been left untouched by the Fall into Sin. But there is one thing that remains unchanging through every change we see in life – the Word of our God (Isaiah 40:8). And this Word is the gospel Jesus Himself speaks to you; the promise that your sins are forgiven by His sacrifice and that even the changing of life into death will have no effect on His grip over you and your life. The Word of the Lord stands forever! Remind yourself of this because we desperately need to remember this fact. 

Clothes may change but . . . the word of our God will stand forever. 
Leaves may change but . . . the word of our God will stand forever. 
Metal may change but . . . the word of our God will stand forever. 
Even life may change but . . . the word of our God will stand forever! 

Lots of changes this time of year. But no matter what you see, and whenever you see change, please remind yourself that one thing will never change in your life. The word of our God will stand forever! 

-- Pastor Grimenstein 

VIDEO: Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, October 5, 2025
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Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
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Audio: Readings and Sermon for Sunday, October 5, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, October 5, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

Old Testament Reading -- Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4 
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted. 
I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 
And the Lord answered me:
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay. 
“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.” 

Epistle Reading – 2 Timothy 1:1–14 
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 

To Timothy, my beloved child: 

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grand-mother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy call-ing, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am con-vinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the seventeenth chapter
[Jesus] said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I re-pent,’ you must forgive him.” 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and after-ward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was command-ed? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” 

October 5th is LWML Sunday

LWML Sunday - October 5, 20-25

Since 1942, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions. As Lutheran Women in Mission, members joyfully proclaim Christ, support missions, and equip women to honor God by serving others. 

Did you know that Zion has had a chartered LWML society since the 1950s?! Our LWML society at Zion went through a long period of inactivity, but due to a renewed desire to participate in missions and connect to our sisters in mission across the country through LWML, our Zion society was re-formed in 2022. All ladies of the congregation are cordially invited to attend our quarterly meetings and fellowship gatherings with local and regional LWML members. In fact, all female members of an LCMS congregation are officially part of the LWML . . . so there’s no formal process for women to join an LWML society. One of the many benefits of belonging to an LCMS congregation! 

You have probably noticed one staple of LWML — the Mite Box — displayed on the table in the back of our sanctuary. Based on the account of the widow's mite in Luke Chapter 21, the Mite box is intended for regular contributions of "mites" — offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations and the LCMS. 

First Trinity German Lutheran’s OKTOBERFEST

First Trinity German Lutheran Church Presents
OKTOBERFEST
October 11, 2025 from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.
531 N. Neville Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Additional Information: firsttrinity.net/oktoberfest

Food • Drink • Music
Free Admission
Live Music by Slim Forsythe

Kids Center!

• Balloon Artist

• Pumpkin Painting Pretzel Necklaces

• Temporry Tattoos

• Games and More

Discussion Event: The Anxious Generation

Discussion Event for Parents:
The Anxious Generation

• Do you struggle to manage your child’s screen time?

• Do you feel disconnected in a constantly connected world?

• How can you build a healthier family life?

• How is anxiety increased by social media?

Redeemer Lutheran School Presents:
A discussion event on the best-selling book “The Anxious Generation” by author Jonathan Jaidt
Discussion led by: Dr. Rev. Adam Koontz, Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakmont

EVENT INFORMAITON:
Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Redeemer Lutheran School, 700 Idaho Ave., Verona, PA 15147

5th Annual Reforfest

Join Us for Zion’s 5th Annual Reforfest
October 26th after the 2nd Service

• Catered German Meal

• Beer & Root Beer

• Guessing Jars

• Pastor’s Famous Bingo

Advance Tickets Required
$15 - Adults
$5 - Kids (4-10 years)
Free - Children 3 & under

Questions?
E-mail Megan Pasquini at meganpasquini@hotmail.com