VIDEO: Ash Wednesday, February 18, 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.
Audio: Readings & Sermon for Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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.
View the bulletin for Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins
Old Testament Reading -- Joel 2:12–19
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the LORD your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples, ‘
Where is their God?’”
Then the LORD became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
The LORD answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations
Epistle Reading -- 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the sixth chapter
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Bulletin: Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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 Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins
2:00 p.m. - Worship Service with the imposition of ashes
7:00 p.m. - Worship Service with the imposition of ashes
Photos from Zion’s Mardi Gras Luncheon and Bingo Event
Photos from Zion’s Mardi Gras Luncheon and Bingo Event
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2025
This event included delicious food like jambalaya, po’boys, salad, rolls, soft drinks, coffee, king cake, bread pudding and more. After everyone had their fill of Mardi Gras-style food, we played bingo with a wide array of prized awarded. Thanks to all who planned this event, set up, cooked, and cleaned up. You helped guarantee a great time for Zion’s members!
Click on photos to enlarge and see the complete image
Photos from Zion’s Mardi Gras Luncheon and Bingo Event
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2025
This event included delicious food like jambalaya, po’boys, salad, rolls, soft drinks, coffee, king cake, bread pudding and more. After everyone had their fill of Mardi Gras-style food, we played bingo with a wide array of prized awarded. Thanks to all who planned this event, set up, cooked, and cleaned up. You helped guarantee a great time for Zion’s members!
From the Elders
From the Elders
Whether you have a question, concern, or would like prayer, Zion’s Elders are here to support you. We assist Pastor Grimenstein in caring for the congregation through encouragement, prayer, and presence. We oversee groups of members organized by last name: Listed Here
We welcome Joe Marsh and Ray Barley Jr. who are new to the Board of Elders, and Mike Sterba who is returning to the board after a hiatus. We are thankful for the dedicated service of Jon Dever, Sam Garloff, and Mike Kroeger who recently finished serving.
Click the link below for the complete story …
2026 Board of Elders (shown L to R) — Mike Sterba, Roger Diederich, Joe Marsh, Ray Barley Jr., Bryan Kress, Bill Bishop (Chair), Jim Neill, and Tom Erbrecht
From the Elders
Whether you have a question, concern, or would like prayer, Zion’s Elders are here to support you. We assist Pastor Grimenstein in caring for the congregation through encouragement, prayer, and presence. We oversee groups of members organized by last name: Member Document Page
We welcome Joe Marsh and Ray Barley Jr. who are new to the Board of Elders, and Mike Sterba who is returning to the board after a hiatus. We are thankful for the dedicated service of Jon Dever, Sam Garloff, and Mike Kroeger who recently finished serving.
During the recent snow storm on January 24-25th, Pastor Grimenstein, Roger Diederich, Mike Sterba and Doug Krantz held our worship service at 8 am Sunday morning. Thank you to these faithful servants for giving us the opportunity to worship in person and online during the storm.
LWML Women’s Ministries Quarterly Meeting
LWML Women’s Ministries Quarterly Meeting & Stamp for Mission Night
Thursday, February 26, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. in Zion’s Fellowship Hall
Join us as we gather to hear God’s Word, clip stamps, and prepare for a new year with our sisters in Christ.
Bring an appetizer or dessert to share!
Upcoming Events
March (TBA) - LWML Prayer Service, Zion Fellowship Hall
May 2 - Mission Event, details TBA
June 12-14 - District Convention, Lancaster, PA
September 18-20 - District Fall Retreat, Pioneer-on-the-Lake
LWML Women’s Ministries Quarterly Meeting & Stamp for Mission Night
Thursday, February 26, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. in Zion’s Fellowship Hall
Join us as we gather to hear God’s Word, clip stamps, and prepare for a new year with our sisters in Christ.
Bring an appetizer or dessert to share!
Upcoming Events
March (TBA) - LWML Prayer Service, Zion Fellowship Hall
May 2 - Mission Event, details TBA
June 12-14 - District Convention, Lancaster, PA
September 18-20 - District Fall Retreat, Pioneer-on-the-Lake
VIDEO: Sunday, February 15, 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.
