Zion Lutheran Church 12/19/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/19/25

Special Audio Presentation

Special Audio Presentation
“Empty Boxes” is a special presentation of The Lutheran Hour®. Hosted by Lutheran Hour Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Ziegler, this original story invites listeners on a chilly car-ride home after a candlelight Christmas Eve service that becomes a turning point for a teenage boy—an enlightening moment he will return to for years to come.

A single question: what are you thinking about? A nostalgic man reflects back when he realized why, not just Christmastime, but all of life, is such a let-down—glimmering wrapping, nothing on the inside. Ecclesiastes calls it meaningless or “vanities of vanities.” How does one put a word to something that isn’t there? But then, maybe what we’re searching for can’t fit in a box?

Featuring the following:

Rev. Dr. Jason Broge – Writer and Narrator
Rev. Ron Rall – Retired Pastor
Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler – Bible Study Pastor and Service Pastor
Ashley Bayless - Ruth
Chris Macky - Usher
Julie Atwood-Wise - Teacher
Mark Eischer – Radio Announcer
James Davis - Boy
Jeanine Davis - Girl
Parker Broge - Girl

Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25

Zion Goes Caroling at Concordia of Bridgeville

Members of Zion went Christmas Caroling on Saturday December 13th and brought Christmas carols and joy to the residents of Concordia Bridgeville. Check out our “EVENTS” page on ZLCB.org for a complete list of recent, and upcoming events. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get involved.

Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25

Merry Christmas, Pastor, Deaconess & Staff

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Zion,

Once again we begin a new church year. As we move through the season of Advent, we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ, our Savior. It is a joyful season, when we focus on giving to others because we have been given so much, including the forgiveness of sins and salvation.

It is the tradition of Zion to take a collection for Christmas gifts for the Pastor and Staff to show our appreciation for their efforts throughout the year. Enclosed are three envelopes in which you may contribute a free will offering toward their Christmas gifts.

In the envelope marked Pastor insert either cash or a check made out to Pastor Edward Grimenstein.
In the envelope marked Deaconess insert either cash or a check made out to Joanna Lee.
In the envelope marked Staff, please insert cash only. Monies collected will be distributed between six staff members: Susie Bishop (Office Admin), Jim Oelschlager (Custodian), John Migyanko (Treasurer), Mark Killinger (Music Director), Sandra Quinlan (Lead Organist), and Doug Krantz (Asst. Organist).

Click the link below to read the complete post ….

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Zion,

In the envelope marked Pastor insert either cash or a check made out to Pastor Edward Grimenstein.
In the envelope marked Deaconess insert either cash or a check made out to Joanna Lee.
In the envelope marked Staff, please insert cash only. Monies collected will be distributed between six staff members: Susie Bishop (Office Admin), Jim Oelschlager (Custodian), John Migyanko (Treasurer), Mark Killinger (Music Director), Sandra Quinlan (Lead Organist), and Doug Krantz (Asst. Organist).

You may deposit the envelopes in the large collection box in the Narthex up until Christmas Eve; hower, please make every effort to return your envelopes by Sunday, December 20th.

We also want to gratefully acknowledge our Preschool Staff. Zion members Tracey Harris .(Preschool Director), Kari Gresh (Asst. to the Director) and Barb Oechslein (STEM Curriculum Leader), Marian Oelschlager (Teacher’s Aide), and Tevia Grimenstein (Enrichment Teacher) -- together with 14 additional teachers and aides in the classrooms - diligently share Christ's love with hundreds of children each week. Their efforts are vital to Zion's mission, and they have received a Christmas gift from the operating budget of the preschool, thus are not included in the church staff collection.

On behalf of the congregation, we thank you for your generosity in donating toward the Christmas gift for Pastor, Joanna, and the Staff.

Merry Christmas,
The Board of Elders
Bill Bishop, Jon Dever, Roger Diederich, Tom Erbrecht, Jim Neill, Sam Garloff & Mike Kroeger

Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/18/25

In Memoriam: Mary Hutula

In Memoriam
It pleased the Lord to call unto Himself on October 17th our sister in Christ, Mary Hutula. Mary was an active member of Zion for many years, leading the altar guild and acolytes. May the Lord comfort Mary’s husband, Dave, and the rest of her family and friends with the assurance of eternal life in Him.

Read full obituary
Audio recording of Funeral
Video recording of Funeral

Read full obituary
Audio recording of Funeral
Video recording of Funeral

Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25

VIDEO: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - Complete Service

Each service at Zion Lutheran Church (normally the first of our two services) is streamed LIVE on our YouTube channel. This includes 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.

Third Mid-Week Service in Advent
View the Bulletin for Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Worship Service: 7:00 p.m. with communion
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.

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Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25

AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, December 17, 2025

This audio-only file includes all the readings from scripture, along with the sermon — and when available, the announcements, adult choir, men’s choir, and/or bell choir. Also posted along with the audio file is the text for all the scripture readings, and a link to the current bulletin, and our YouTube channel if you prefer to watch the LIVE Stream.

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First Reading -- 1 John 1:1–4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Second Reading – Matthew 1:18–25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus.

Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25 Zion Lutheran Church 12/17/25

Bulletin: Wednesday, December 17, 2025

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CRÈCHE
“Prepare!” is often the watchword of the season as the world gets ready for another celebration of Christmas. An integral part of any preparation is decoration. We see decorations everywhere this time of year. The world may not comprehend the real meaning of Christmas, but even secular preparations use many of the same decorations beloved by Christians—an appropriation we shouldn’t mind at all, because these decorations point us to Christ. This year, as we look forward again to the coming of the Messiah, we take a fresh look at how the adornments of the season draw our eyes to Jesus, that we may more richly behold the love, peace, joy, and hope He comes to bring as this beauty is set before us.

To read the complete text, click below …

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Tonight, we focus on the crèche—those miniature models of the nativity scene that abound each December. Unlike lights and evergreens, the symbols that aided our meditation these last two weeks, the crèche is distinctly Christian. In it, we behold Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, the angels, the stable animals, and, at the center, baby Jesus. Some places introduce the characters in chronological order; others put them all out at once. Either way, the crèche represents a crucial, historical event: God taking on human form and human nature so that He could take our place and redeem us from all sin. We behold it with fresh eyes this evening.