Bulletin: Sunday, January 25, 2026 + 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, January 25, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins
THIS WEEK AT ZION
Saturday, January 24
No Events Scheduled
Sunday, January 25
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, January 26
6:00 p.m. - 1st Year Confirmation Class
7:00 p.m. - 2nd Year Confirmation Class
Tuesday, January 27
6:15 p.m. - Bell Choir
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir
Wednesday, January 28
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study (we’re studying Galatians)
(Service streamed on our YouTube channel)
Thursday, January 29
No Events Scheduled
Friday, January 30
No Events Scheduled
Saturday, January 31
12:00 p.m. - Prayer Luncheon (additional details)
Sunday, February 1
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)
CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page
John 1:29–42 - ‘Not Andrew’s Success but Christ’s Gain’
John 1:29–42 - ‘Not Andrew’s Success but Christ’s Gain’
Yesterday I heard a fine sermon from Vicar Sergiu Trifa on the Gospel reading for the day. One line stood out regarding verses 40–42, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” — that we would “focus not on Andrew’s success but Christ’s gain.”
Click below to read the complete story — and/or view the video.
John 1:29–42 - ‘Not Andrew’s Success but Christ’s Gain’
Yesterday I heard a fine sermon from Vicar Sergiu Trifa on the Gospel reading for the day. One line stood out regarding verses 40–42, “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” — that we would “focus not on Andrew’s success but Christ’s gain.”
This is absolutely correct.
For all that we can and should say about population dynamics in the area around the Sea of Galilee and the social capital of these two brothers, they only serve one end — Christ’s gain through faith into the communion of the Church. What credit could Andrew really take for bringing Peter to Jesus?
All the mission work of the Church amounts to the same. Every day is an opportunity for the church to recognize, long for, and delight in Christ’s gain. Whenever the Holy Spirit works the gift of faith so that someone who was not a disciple of Christ is now His disciple, there is the delight of the church.
For more information on the work of Sergiu Trifa on vicarage in Romania, see the first half of this video:
For the work of his father Pastor Sorin Trifa, see this article from Lutherans Engage. For more information on the Romanian diaspora in the United States, see the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, this menu from the Romanian Food Festival in Dallas/Fort Worth , and Chicago’s Romanian Community Summit.
Winter Storm Watch! (Update)
New Information:
On Sunday, only Entrance #2 (the entrance at the side of the church in the main parking lot) will be cleared of ice and snow. Everyone attending church and Sunday school must use that entrance. The front steps and sidewalk near the cross WILL NOT be cleared for use.
Forecasters are predicting a chance of a winter snow storm Saturday evening into Sunday. For your planning, please know that regardless of the weather outcome, Pastor and the Board of Elders will conduct worship services, Bible study and Sunday school as usual on Sunday. Please use your discretion regarding whether or not to come to church, as only you can gauge your comfort level and local road conditions. As a reminder, the 8:00 a.m. service is live streamed on our YouTube channel: LIVE STREAMS -- and the corresponding worship bulletins are posted at “Bulletins”. Viewers can watch the service anytime from 8:00 a.m. onward.
New Information:
On Sunday, only Entrance #2 (the entrance at the side of the church in the main parking lot) will be cleared of ice and snow. Everyone attending church and Sunday school must use that entrance. The front steps and sidewalk near the cross WILL NOT be cleared for use.
Forecasters are predicting a chance of a winter snow storm Saturday evening into Sunday. For your planning, please know that regardless of the weather outcome, Pastor and the Board of Elders will conduct worship services, Bible study and Sunday school as usual on Sunday. Please use your discretion regarding whether or not to come to church, as only you can gauge your comfort level and local road conditions. As a reminder, the 8:00 a.m. service is live streamed on our YouTube channel: LIVE STREAMS -- and the corresponding worship bulletins are posted at “Bulletins”. Viewers can watch the service anytime from 8:00 a.m. onward.
Where Do You Fit?
Bill Bishop, chair of the Board of Elders for Zion Lutheran Church talks about how the Board of Elders might be a good fit for you.
Bill Bishop, chair of the Board of Elders for Zion Lutheran Church talks about how the Board of Elders might be a good fit for you.
Download: The Pittsburgh Lutheran
The Pittsburgh Lutheran is a long-form journal of news and events recently passed. Between this publication and PALM’s digital newsletter, The PALM Digest, we aim to bring the news of our congregations and missions to you presently and promptly. Click on the graphic above to download a free copy of the most recent issue.
Click to download the most current issue
The Pittsburgh Lutheran is a long-form journal of news and events recently passed. Between this publication and PALM’s digital newsletter, The PALM Digest, we aim to bring the news of our congregations and missions to you presently and promptly. Click on the graphic above to download a free copy of the most recent issue.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry Thoughts
Romans 15:5 – “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.” All of our good works are indeed granted to us from our heavenly Father. We live in complete dependence upon His grace and mercy. What do we have that we have not received as a gift from His hand? And knowing that, how can we not be thankful?
Isaiah 35:4 – “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’” The return of our Lord at the Last Day is a cause of joy and anticipation for us believers. We know our Lord and His love, and we look forward to His Second Advent. Indeed, how we live our lives here and now flows from our certain hope of resurrection and eternal life.
John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Through all of our hardships, all of our sorrows, all of our pains and loneliness, Jesus’ light shines in the darkness, and we are not overcome. In the face of our sin, in the midst of our pettiness, against all our pride, Jesus’ light shines and illuminates our hearts and changes us, day by day, into a greater reflection of His likeness.
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Life was no easier for the Philippians than it is for us. They had the same sorrows, sicknesses, and disappointments as we have. And yet St. Paul tells them to rejoice in the Lord. We have an abiding joy, a peace which passes all understanding, because we know our Lord Jesus and His love for us. This gives us confidence in the face of every hardship; it gives us strength to lead lives in imitation of Jesus’ own generous love.
-- 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)
VIDEO: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - 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.
