Bulletin: Wednesday May 7, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. - Book of Malachi (30 min.)
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

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Food Bank Sunday: Sunday, May 11th

The May collection for the Bridgeville Area Food Bank is Sunday, May 11th The “items of the month” are condiments, although any non-perishable food items are gladly accepted! Items may be placed in the wicker receptacle in the narthex near the coat rack. 

During the April 19th Easter distribution, the BAFB assisted 107 local families which included 39 children, 71 adults and 84 of the elderly. Your generosity makes this possible … thank you! 

Youth Group: Escape The Rooms

Zion’s Youth Group will be visiting “Escape The Room” on May 18th.
But in order to make this happen, we need people to sign up in advance using Sign-Up Genius.
Check out that link: SIGN UP NOW

We will meet at Escape The Room (1505 E. Carson St., 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15203) where we will play the escape room, eat dinner, and have a Bible study. Our youth group funds will cover most of the cost, but anyone who wants to participate will need to pay $20 to cover the rest. Parents are also welcome to play!

About the Escape Rooms…
”The Dig” is a multi-layered game with hidden twists and unexpected turns. With every clue you solve and every secret you reveal, you peel back another layer of the story. Can you solve the mystery and escape?

“The Agency” — You’ve been selected for a top-secret mission. After gathering together you get your top secret assignment. You must complete this mission in one hour or you are relieved of duty. Believe us when we say no international man of mystery wants to be relieved of duty.

Date: Sunday May 18, 2025
Time: 5:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. EDT
Cost: $20
Location:1505 E. Carson St., 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Created by:  Zion’s Deaconess, Joanna Lee

Pastor’s Corner

“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!” These are the words we start Easter with. Our entire Easter reason is peppered with these words, salted with them so we may never forget. Jesus Christ truly has risen from the dead. Because we have been baptized into Christ, united to Christ through baptism, we will also rise from the dead (Romans 6). It is very right and fitting we shout, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!” 

We need to say these words. We desperately need to be reminded of the reality of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, because the reality we see around us is so often very different looking. We see our parents die, we see our spouses die, our friends, our family, even our children. We see the cold reality of death staring us in the face all the time. This is why we need the warm reality of the resurrection being shouted into our ears. 

St. Paul understood what Christians like us go through. The church in the city of Thessalonica had Christians who were worried about the resurrection. They saw their loved ones die, just like we do. They saw spouses, friends, and children die as well. Seeing them die was just as hard for them as it is for us. St. Paul wrote to them, and you as well, saying: 

[we do not want you to] grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep . . . For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command . . . and the dead in Christ will rise first . . . so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

The reality of death we see around us is hard, it is bitter, it is heartbreaking. But the Easter proclamation “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!” can soften the blow of death, comfort the sadness, and soothe the bitterness of death. We do grieve, but we do not grieve as those without hope. May we shout it out loud and remind ourselves constantly, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!” 

-- Pastor Grimenstein 

Good Samaritan Endowment Fund

The Giving Spirit
Good Samaritan Endowment Fund -Your Donation can Change Lives

The Good Samaritan Endowment Fund (GSEF) is one of the most compelling and historic cornerstones of Concordia Lutheran Ministries' mission. The GSEF underwrites confidential charitable care for residents and patients in all of Concordia's facilities who have limited financial means. This is an essential part of Concordia's heritage of Christian service toward others and your donation to the GSEF changes lives.

Keith Frndak. President & CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, shared, "This is Concordia's long-term focus for our organization to support those in our care who run out of money. It is the right thing to do."

At Concordia, we are committed to ensuring that no resident is forced to leave our community due to financial hardship. Our GSEF is a lifeline to those in our care at all of our locations who have outlived their savings.

History
Part of Concordia's mission statement is, "To serve those with limited funds to the best of our ability." In the late 1980s, Mr. Frndak and the Concordia Board of Directors had discussions on how to do just that.

Concordia's Statement of Values includes, "Financial Stewardship: Like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, Concordia aims to be wise stewards of all of our resources, including financial. We manage money with a 'scarce dollar' mentality and are always looking for financial ways to ensure that our mission continues on for generations." As such, Concordia tries to ensure that all residents and patients have sufficient funds for their care upon admission to uphold this value. Aging, though, comes with unpredictable changes. Increased life expectancies, surprise healthcare costs and unexpected emergencies can deplete even the most carefully planned finances.

In the early 1990s, the GSEF was established to cover shortfalls in our residents' and patients' care costs. Concordia was inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37 for the naming of the fund. In 1993, the GSEF paid its first subsidy.

Today
Over the years, so many generous good Samaritans have donated to the GSEF, which has changed lives. In the last fiscal year, Concordia provided nearly $13 million in benevolent care to nearly 500 Concordia residents. Gifts from loyal donors have helped sustain our organization and enriched the lives of those that God has asked us to serve.

Today, Concordia is called to do more. There is currently a crisis with many senior care facilities having to close their doors, leaving vulnerable residents with no place to go. Recently, we witnessed this firsthand.

After being contacted for help by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Concordia Executive Director of Personal Care Hope Rouda traveled to a local personal care facility that had given a one-day closing notice. Upon arrival, she was shocked to see residents seated in the hallway with their personal belongings in garbage bags lying at their feet. Hope and the team reviewed each resident's file and discussed with Concordia's senior leadership. Concordia accepted five of the displaced residents residents to multiple Concordia locations. It was the right thing to do! Those residents were so thankful to be offered a new home and stability at Concordia. One man even said, "Today, I won the lottery."

No senior should face the fear of losing their home. Every dollar provides care and support to those who need it most. Your investment in the GSEF, no matter the amount, makes a profound difference and changes lives. If you have questions or would like to give toward our GSEF, please call us at the CLM Foundation office at 724-352-8227 or email Giving@ConcordiaLM.org.

VIDEO: Sunday, May 4, 2025 - Complete Service

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AUDIO: Readings, Sermon & Bell Choir for Sunday, May 4, 2025

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First Reading -- Acts 9:1-22 
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was with-out sight, and neither ate nor drank. 

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. 

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 

Epistle -- Revelation 5:1–14 
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, 

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” 

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wis-dom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twenty-first chapter
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he re-vealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Gali-lee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know every-thing; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” 

Grace Bell Choir -- Easter Bells (8 am)