Angel Tree Gifts

Please return your unwrapped Angel Tree gift with the gift tag attached no later than SUNDAY, DEC 15th. 

In Christ’s Service, 
Barb Oechslein, Bridgeville Area Food Bank Rep. 

Bulletin: Sunday December 8, 2024

View the bulletin for Sunday, December 8, 2024
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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday December 7
10:00 a.m. - Church Christmas Decorating Party - Lunch Served (Additional Details)

Sunday December 8
2nd Sunday in Advent
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 December 9
12:30 p.m. - Gingerbread Bus Trip (additional details)
7:00 p.m. Preschool Christmas Program

Tuesday December 10
7:00 p.m. - Preschool Christmas Program

Wednesday December 11
2:00 p.m. - Advent Mid-Week Worship Service with Communion
7:00 p.m. - Advent Mid-Week Worship Service with Communion
Please note, there will be no Wednesday Bible Study until after the conclusion of Advent.
(The 2:00 p.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
7:45 p.m. - Council Meeting

Thursday December 12
7:00 p.m. - Preschool Christmas Program

Friday December 13
No Events Scheduled

Saturday December 14
1:30 p.m. - Christmas Caroling Sponsored by Youth Group & Sunday School at Concordia of Bridgeville (Additional Details)

Sunday December 15
3rd Sunday in Advent
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion (Christmas Video following Service)
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion (Christmas Video following Service)
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)
6:00 p.m. - Women’s Christmas Dinner & Ornament Exchange (Additional Details)

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CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page

Food Bank Sunday - December 8th

The December collection for the Bridgeville Area Food Bank is Sunday, Dec. 8th The “items of the month” are Hot Drinks, but any non-perishable food item is appreciated. Items may be placed in the wicker receptacle in the narthex near the coat rack. 

The number of families and elderly in need of assistance from the Food Bank is increasing each month. Please consider donating! 

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Please return your unwrapped Angel Tree gift with the gift tag attached no later than SUNDAY, DEC 15th. 

In Christ’s Service, 
Barb Oechslein, Bridgeville Area Food Bank Rep. 

Pastor’s Corner

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6 

Jesus came in human flesh. He did not come in the flesh of a duck. He did not come in the flesh of a dog. Jesus was not incarnate as a caterpillar or a goldfish. Jesus came in your flesh. The flesh of a man, of a woman, of a child. He came in the flesh of a person made in the image of God – you. 

We may wonder, “Why did He come in this way and not some other, more powerful, way?” The answer is easy, He came in human flesh to be given for you. He came in human flesh to keep God’s law perfectly in your place. He came in human flesh to rise from the dead in your place. 

During Advent and Christmas, we should always remember why Jesus Christ became man. We must remember why He came in your flesh, and not in some other way. He came in your flesh all for your sake. It is like Isaiah said, “For to us a son is born, to us a son is given.” Jesus came in the flesh to speak, and so that you could hear. He came in the flesh to suffer for you on the cross in your place. He came in the flesh to have his blood spilled for you. Jesus came in the flesh to die in the flesh. And Jesus came in the flesh to rise from the dead in the flesh, so you also might rise from the dead. 

As we prepare for Advent & Christmas, let us remember the coming of Christ and how He provides for our salvation every single day. Jesus came as a man, to suffer in our place, and He is still coming to you. Jesus comes to you cradled in a chalice and a host in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus is still coming to you in the water of baptism pouring His forgiveness over you. Jesus is still coming as the Word (John 1) when we hear Christ proclaimed in preaching, heard in the readings, and sung with all the angelic voices of heaven in our hymns and liturgy. Jesus is still coming in the flesh. 

– Pastor Grimenstein 

Sunday School News

Sunday School … In the Classroom:

During December, we finish off our study of Enduring Faith Unit 9, "Jesus Sends the Church", then we move on to Unit 1, "God Creates a World and a Kingdom":

Date Lesson

• 12/1 Paul Writes to Timothy

• 12/8 The Last Call - Jesus Will Return

• 12/15 CHRISTMAS PARTY

• 12/22 A Mighty Wonder - Creation

• 12/29 LARGE GROUP ACTIVITY

• 1/5 The Fall and a Promise - Fall into Sin

• 1/12 A New Beginning - Noah

• 1/19 A Call to Action - Abram

• 1/26 A Promising Dream - Jacob 

Volunteer Opportunity

Zion is a church partner of the Bridgeville Area Food Bank, which is operated out of Bethany Presbyterian Church on Washington Rd. in Bridgeville. The food bank distributes non-perishable food and hygiene products to needy families within the Chartiers Valley and South Fayette communities. 

Barb Oechslein is Zion's volunteer Food Bank coordinator. Additional volunteers are always needed! If you're looking for a way to serve others and get involved in the community, reach out to Barb at barb@zlcb.org to learn more! 

AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday December 4, 2024

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Advent Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
During Advent, there will be no Wednesday Bible Study, it will resume Wednesday January 8, 2025
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

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First Reading – Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 

The people who walked in darkness 
have seen a great light; 
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, 
on them has light shined. 
For to us a child is born, 
to us a son is given; 
and the government shall be upon His shoulder, 
and His name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
Of the increase of His government and of peace 
there will be no end, 
on the throne of David and over His kingdom, 
to establish it and to uphold it 
with justice and with righteousness 
from this time forth and forevermore. 
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 

Second Reading – Romans 11:32-36 
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, 
or who has been His counselor?” 
“Or who has given a gift to Him 
that he might be repaid?” 

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. 

Third Reading -- Matthew 7:24-29 
“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” 

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.