2026 LCMS March for Life

The 2026 National March for Life is in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 23, 2026. Plan now to join other Lutherans to march and stand boldly together in the public square and confess our beliefs about the sanctity of life. The events of the day begin at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va. (1801 Russell Road, Alexandria, 22301) for Divine Service followed by brunch.  There is limited bus seating to take marchers to the National Mall. To learn more, and to register, visit LCMS Life Ministry Walk for Life.

An Urgent Call for Missionaries to Africa

By Shauen Trump 

Greetings in Christ from Nairobi, Kenya. I am Pastor Shauen Trump, the regional director for Africa for the LCMS. My family and I are grateful to have served the church in Africa for many years. We feel privileged to be raising our children here in the midst of these rich and vibrant cultures where talk about spiritual and religious matters is welcomed. We get to tell people about Jesus — and they want to talk about Him! 

Today in Africa, we have a problem — a good problem! Almost every Lutheran church body we work with is growing, some as much as 15% a year. Those churches are constantly playing a game of catch-up: trying to catch up with newly planted congregations that need pastors, with new member classes, with the astounding work of the Holy Spirit to carry out the work of the church as it grows. 

The rapid spread of the Gospel and the church in Africa makes even more painful the shortage we are currently facing in the ranks of LCMS missionaries to the Africa region. The LCMS currently has just seven missionary families serving in Africa. 

Pastors in Africa are stretched thin. Almost every pastor you meet is overseeing between five and 15 congregations. The leaders of the Lutheran partner churches we work with in 25 countries across Africa are urgently renewing their requests for LCMS missionaries to serve with them as elementary, middle , and high school teachers; English as a Second Language instructors; computer and technology specialists; nurses; deaconesses; business managers; volunteer coordinators; church planters; and theological educators. 

Beyond these requests for embedded, grass-roots missionaries, these rapidly growing church bodies are asking for the programs and projects we offer — for new member and lay leader materials, for continuing education for church workers, for translation of Lutheran resources into their vernacular languages, for short-term volunteers, for support in pursuing advanced degrees for their own seminary faculty and church leaders, for visitation, and for advisors on seminary development and curriculum. We have a great need for missionaries to facilitate all these programs and projects! 

Further, our own dear missionaries in Africa — who have given their lives to this service — are so passionate and convicted that they constantly over-stretch themselves to take advantage of the myriad opportunities to spread the Gospel, plant Lutheran churches and show mercy. These missionaries need partners to share the work and support them: field chaplains, missionary care coordinators, business managers, accountants, and communication specialists. Our Africa Team needs missionaries to multiply the impact of the whole team. 

Missionary service in Africa is not easy, and not everyone can do it. Missionaries must be solid Lutherans. They must be healthy physically, mentally and spiritually. They must have resilient relationships and be able to thrive in stressful and challenging situations. They must be able to operate both independently and on a team. They must be intelligent and flexible. 

We have these kinds of amazing people in our LCMS congregations across the country, fulfilling good vocations in all walks and stages of life — and maybe you’re one of them. We need this message, this appeal, to reach these kinds of people, perhaps even you, and anyone you can think of whom the Lord may have gifted for this particular type of work. 

Please prayerfully consider missionary service. The harvest is plentiful. The church needs missionaries — from all walks and stages of life — for every region of the world. If you are wondering whether you are called to this kind of service, please reach out. If someone in your congregation comes to mind, please send us a referral so we can reach out to them even as you suggest the possibility to them directly. You can start now by contacting our director of missionary recruitment, the Rev. Dr. Mark Rabe, at mark.rabe@lcms.org. 

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. 

VIDEO: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Wednesday, January 14, 2026
2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study

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Audio: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - Epiphany

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Isaiah 60:1-6 
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, 
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. 

Ephesians 3:1–12 
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 

Matthew 2:1–12 
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 

Lutheran Student Fellowship in Oakland

Campus Pastor Eric Andrae

If you're not a college student in the 'Burgh, you might not know that our church body has a vibrant Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF) in the Pittsburgh university community! The LSF ministry is based at First Trinity Lutheran located in the heart of the Oakland campuses of Pitt, CMU, Chatham, and Carlow. Campus Pastor Eric Andrae engages students who want to learn more about the Lutheran faith and experience how Scripture and the Divine Service connect us to Christ, to each other, and to the Church of the ages. Through Bible studies, weekly meals, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for international students, fellowship activities and more, Pastor Andrae engages with students to grow in faith during the vitally important college years.  

If you'd like to join the group, or learn more about becoming a supporter, visit LSFpgh.com

Bulletin: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 – Epiphany

View the bulletin for Wednesday, January 14, 2026
2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study

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Zion Soup Club

The Zion Soup Club is a way to connect people in our church and preschool, while also simplifying meal schedules for all involved. Everyone who signs up for the soup club will be assigned to groups of 4-5 households. Each week, one family will be responsible for making soup for everyone in their group. The other families will simply need to pick up their soup that week.

If you sign up, please commit to at least two cycles of the soup club (cooking two times).