Be Prepared
Pause and think a minute of all the people who, at a moment’s notice, have to be ready for anything. Maybe your list includes first responders, the military, athletes, teachers, parents, pilots, surgeons, and even our pastors. But does your list include you? . . . it should! As followers of Jesus, we are called to be ready…
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:14-18
Click the link below to read the complete story …
By: Mike Wallace, Congregational Vice President
Pause and think a minute of all the people who, at a moment’s notice, have to be ready for anything. Maybe your list includes first responders, the military, athletes, teachers, parents, pilots, surgeons, and even our pastors. But does your list include you? . . . it should! As followers of Jesus, we are called to be ready…
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:14-18
We can’t expect everyone to observe what Jesus has commanded us unless we are observing His commands ourselves. Do we want everyone to know about God’s love? "YES" Then we need to show God’s love to everyone. Do we want everyone to know about Jesus’ compassion? "YES" Then we need to be compassionate to everyone. Do we want everyone to be stewards? "YES" Then we need to be good stewards with our own "3T's" -- time, talents, and treasures. Do we want everyone to study God’s Word? "YES" Then we need to study it for ourselves. When we give Jesus control over our lives, we allow His love, joy, peace, and hope to transform us. As this happens, our life becomes an act of worship that reveals His hope within us for others to see.
When we live like Jesus, people are drawn to Jesus in our act's of following Jesus. As we worship Jesus with our life, we will be able to honestly say that Christ in us is our hope and glory — and other people will believe it because they see the evidence in our actions. They might not like who we are or agree with what we believe, but they won’t be able to find a logical reason to hate us when our life is centered around loving people the way Jesus loved us. So as we go about our day, we aim to live with gentleness and respect toward everyone. Let Jesus’ joy, love, peace, and hope permeate our heart, mind, and relationships.
PRAYER
Jesus, make us more like You. Please get rid of any behaviors or thoughts that don't reflect Your character or heart for us. Make us bold, brave, and courageous — but keep us humble, kind, peaceful, forgiving, and gentle. Let the way we live reflect Your joy, hope, and love. And when the opportunity arises, help us to share our faith with genuine joy. "Amen"
Psalms Bible Study — This Coming Wednesday (10/22)
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!
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 hosted by Pastor Grimenstein (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!
From Everlasting to Everlasting
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
90 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
508th Anniversary of The Reformation
The Gospel cannot be preached without offense and tumult. Why? Because the world and the devil cannot endure it. Therefore, let it not trouble you that many are offended, stirred up, and in an uproar when the Gospel is preached. On the contrary, this is its nature and its glory: that it disturbs the world, proclaims Christ the Son of God, crucified for our sins, and alone our righteousness of life.
– Martin Luther
The Gospel cannot be preached without offense and tumult. Why? Because the world and the devil cannot endure it. Therefore, let it not trouble you that many are offended, stirred up, and in an uproar when the Gospel is preached. On the contrary, this is its nature and its glory: that it disturbs the world, proclaims Christ the Son of God, crucified for our sins, and alone our righteousness of life.
– Martin Luther
VIDEO: Sunday, October 19, 2025 - Complete Service
Each service at Zion Lutheran Church (normally the first of our two Sunday services) is streamed LIVE on our YouTube channel. These streams are for Sunday’s, Wednesday’s, Lenten, Advent, and special services. The entire service is streamed from beginning-to-end. Weddings and Funerals can also be streamed, if requested in advance.
STEWARDSHIP: You are a Gift
You are a Gift
Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions, Sep 17, 2025, by Dr. Kari Vo
Ephesians 4:7-16 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the One who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Click the link below to read the complete story …
You are a Gift
Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions, Sep 17, 2025, by Dr. Kari Vo
Ephesians 4:7-16 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the One who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
I don’t know if you’ve ever thought of yourself this way, but according to the Holy Spirit, you are a gift! You are one of the many gifts that Jesus gave to His church as described in this Bible reading. Every one of us has a function in the body of Christ, even if we don’t realize what it is yet—apostles and prophets and evangelists, yes, but also pastors and teachers, givers and caregivers, those who know how to keep administration running smoothly, those who encourage, those who pray, those who notice when someone else is not in church and check on them to be sure they’re okay—even those who know where the mop is, and who make sure to restock the toilet paper!
And Jesus gave you to the church out of love. He gave His life for you, to set you free from death and evil, and to make you a child of God, living forever with the life of your resurrected Savior. And now that you belong to Jesus, He intends to use you to help the whole body of Christ grow up and mature. He put you here for a purpose: to help all of us as we listen to Jesus, our Head, and grow up in Him, more and more united in faith and love.
This may sound like fancy words to describe the very humble things that you actually do in your life—but these are the words of the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul, so we know they are true. Don’t downgrade your role in the life of the church. You matter, because Jesus has given us you. You are needed.
WE PRAY:
Dear Lord, show me how I can serve You, and thank You for giving me this privilege! Amen.
– from your Stewardship Committee (please contact Mike Kroeger, 832-651-7295 or Michael.K.Kroeger@gmail.com) if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
We Mourn the Loss of Mary Hutula
It has pleased the Lord to call unto Himself our sister in Christ, Mary Hutula.
Please include Mary's husband, Dave, and their family in your prayers. May God comfort them with the promise of eternal life in Him.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Additional details will be posted as they become available.
It has pleased the Lord to call unto Himself our sister in Christ, Mary Hutula.
Please include Mary's husband, Dave, and their family in your prayers. May God comfort them with the promise of eternal life in Him.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Additional details will be posted as they become available.
Bulletin: Sunday, October 19, 2025 + This Week at Zion
Download/view the latest bulletin. It’s filled with our hymns, the order of service, all the readings from scripture, prayer requests for family & friends, service participants, communion statement, about our worship, the schedule of events for this coming weeks, along with announcements, news updates, happenings, and more!
View the bulletin for Sunday, October 19, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins
THIS WEEK AT ZION
Saturday October 18
No events scheduled
Sunday October 19
Voter’s Meeting
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Voters’ Meeting & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Monday October 20
6:00 p.m. - 1st Year Confirmation Class
7:00 p.m. - 2nd Year Confirmation Class
Tuesday October 21
6:15 p.m. - Bell Choir
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir
Wednesday October 22
2:00 p.m. - Midweek Worship Servcie with Communion
2:30 p.m. - 30-min. Bible Study; Psalms
(Service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Thursday October 23
No events scheduled
Friday October 24
7:00 p.m. - Women’s Bunco Night (Additional Details)
Saturday October 25
No events scheduled
Sunday October 26
REFORFEST
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
REFORFEST Following 2nd Service (Additional Details)
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page