AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday January 29, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. (focusing on the Old Testament book of Malachi)
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

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Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 
All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. . . . 

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. . . . 

They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

Matthew 6:19-21, 25-34 
“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. 

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 

The Lord’s Prayer - The Sixth Petition 
What is the Sixth Petition? 
And lead us not into temptation. 
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory. 

Bulletin: Wednesday January 29, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m.
Bible Study (the Book of Malachi): 2:30 p.m
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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From the Elders

Each new year the Elders are assigned responsibility for around 16 individuals and/or families to maintain regular contact. The list is broken down by alphabet order. The Elders are available to help you and your family with your spiritual care, questions and comments that you might have about the church throughout the year. This list is also posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

— Bob Schmidt, Outgoing Chairman of the Board of Elders

DOWNLOAD Elder Contact List

President’s Perspective

Gifts, and -- a Gift 
Enjoy the Christmas Season! Enjoy the Advent and Christmas services and celebrate a New Year knowing our God is in control regardless of events we can't control -- His will be done. 

My second term as President ends this month. Bob Schmidt will be installed as President in January. To everyone who helped keep Zion a wonderful place to gather to worship our Lord and God, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart. It's been a wonderful experience for me, one I never expected. Zion has had the blessings of many people over the years serving in many capacities to keep our church running well. Many are resting in God's peace awaiting the glory to come. I will cherish my memories of these past six years, and I hope I did a worthy job for you and our Lord. 

Every moment of our lives is a "gift" we've been given by God. How we use our gift of life is important. Sending Jesus to save mankind marked the beginning of hope for everyone who would hear and believe. We're so very blessed to be part of that promise of eternal life! We have been given the key to salvation and our doctrine is grounded in Truth and purity. A light shines on us at Zion. In James 1:17 we read: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation of shadow due to change." All of our lives are filled with gifts from above whether it's Christmas time or not; but at Christmas, we celebrate with lights and give gifts to others as we remember who Jesus is to our faith and our world -- if only they would accept Him. Jesus is certainly a "perfect gift...from above!" 

Realize that it's no accident you're a baptized Christian and a member of the LCMS! You have been placed in the pew at Zion and we've been destined to worship together as brothers and sisters! Chosen. Called. Blessed. Praise the Lord!!! 

Thanks be to God for the gift of a Savior, and the gifts of another year, month, day -- each minute of life! How can we not be thankful each and every day?!! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks be to God! Thank you for supporting your church in fellowship and stewardship. Pray for the Christians on this planet, our LCMS, District and Circuit churches -- and of course your home here at Zion. God Bless and thank you for trusting me as your President. It was an honor -- a Gift. Thank you. Amen. 

– Paul Klemash 

VIDEO: Sunday January 26, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 26, 2025
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AUDIO: Announcements, Readings, Sermon & Men’s Choir for Sunday January 26, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 26, 2025
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Old Testament Reading -- Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 
All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. . . . 

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. . . . 

They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a 
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter
[Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away. 

Men’s Choir — O morning Star, How Fair and Bright 8:00 a.m.

Youth Group Bake Sale: Sunday January 26, 2025

Bake Sale to benefit the 2025 Youth Gathering Trip
Calling all bakers! The youth group is holding a bake sale in the Fellowship Hall Sunday between the services to raise money for the Youth Gathering this summer. If you like to bake, please consider bringing a homemade baked-good or dessert to donate to the bake sale . . . bring your goodies to the Fellowship Hall by 9 am on Sunday.

If you like to eat baked goods, come prepared to buy some tasty treats!