September 2026 – Shining the Light of Christ into Our World
Dear Friends of Zion,
There’s an old saying, “Use it, or lose it.” A couch potato can understand this in time. So can a person who is in the hospital or recovering from an injury. I was once on crutches for a week, due to stitches in the bottom of my foot. By the end of the week my right leg was weaker. I had lost in that short period of time some muscle tone. I had to work to get the strength back.
Can it also apply with our faith? And what about our biblical knowledge? St. Peter wrote, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17-18). There is a danger to those who are not growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. One can be led astray by adopting attitudes and behavior that are contrary to our faith.
St. Paul wrote, “[God our Savior] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). When we are in the Word, it helps us know more about God and His work of salvation in Jesus Christ. It also reveals a lot about the world we live in and the dangers and temptations we do face. Being in the Word can help us understand ourselves and how much we need our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.
Psalm 119:105 states, “[God’s] word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We can surely use that light in this world today. May the Light of Christ always shine in your heart and mind.
Pastor
Summer 2026 – Seeking God’s Grace, Offered Through Jesus
Dear Friends of Zion, Not everyone enjoys the summer. But there are some who do. Perhaps they enjoy spending them outdoors enjoying nature and seeing and hearing the birds. It is interesting that Jesus once referred to nature as a way of teaching people spiritual truths. In His sermon on the mount Jesus was teaching people about God’s care for us, that we should not worry about what to eat and drink, or be anxious about what we should wear. He directed His hearers to look at nature.
Jesus said, “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?” Jesus also said, “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.” (Matthew 6:26-29).
“Look at the birds of the air,” and “consider the lilies of the filed,” and what can we learn? God takes care of us. Or, as Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism, “He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” Therefore, “do not be anxious about your life.” Have faith and trust in the Lord. King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
There is something more important than food and clothing and receiving the basic necessities of life. Our relationship with God is far more important. At the conclusion of these verses about not worrying, Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
What does Jesus teach about what we really need: “Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Seek God’s grace as He offers it through Jesus and through God’s Word and Sacraments. “And all these things will be added to you.”
Pastor
June 2026 – “Thanks. I needed that.” Dear Friends of Zion,
The King David once wrote, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”’ (Psalm 122:1) Over the years I have had some people say to me how much going to church for worship does for them. It gives them peace, knowing that they are connected to the Lord and the forgiveness that is offered through Word and Sacrament. When they are in church they are worshiping with other faithful people, which reminds them that they are not alone in their faith.
We are living in challenging times. We are surrounded by a lot of temptations and troubles. The world is not so friendly as it once seemed. During these times, it is good to stay close to God where He makes Himself known and available to us. It is also comforting to take time in the Divine Service to confess our sins and then hear the words of Absolution spoken by the pastor, when he says “as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
I once was asked to bring communion to an elderly man in a nursing home. He had some cognitive issues, and I wasn’t sure whether he should receive communion. I asked his wife to be present. I read the words of confession and asked, “If this is your sincere confession, please respond by saying, “Yes.” His wife said “Yes.” He didn’t. His wife elbowed him in his side and said, “Say yes. Say yes.” He did, I think for dear life. So I proceeded with the words of absolution forgiving him his sins. Then he looked at me and said, “Thanks. I needed that.”
We all need it. We are not perfect, but we have a God who is, who has paid for our sins on the cross, who has made it possible for us to be glad and be blessed in the house of the Lord through the very means that He has given to His Church on earth, namely, His Word and Sacraments.
Pastor
Search
Find Us
Address
235 Pond Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 269-6847
ONLINE & MOBILE GIVING Zion has a new online & mobile giving tool called Vanco Faith. You can download the FREE app from your phone’s app store.
For more information: How_to_Give_Using_Vanco_Mobile
Little Zion Preschool is a not for profit preschool that is dedicated to quality education in a warm Christian environment. Our concern is for the whole child; to extend skills in all areas of learning including physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development. We recognize that each child is a unique creation of God. Success in kindergarten is our goal.
Messages from Pastor Bob
September 2026 – Shining the Light of Christ into Our World
Dear Friends of Zion,
There’s an old saying, “Use it, or lose it.” A couch potato can understand this in time. So can a person who is in the hospital or recovering from an injury. I was once on crutches for a week, due to stitches in the bottom of my foot. By the end of the week my right leg was weaker. I had lost in that short period of time some muscle tone. I had to work to get the strength back.
Can it also apply with our faith? And what about our biblical knowledge? St. Peter wrote, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17-18). There is a danger to those who are not growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. One can be led astray by adopting attitudes and behavior that are contrary to our faith.
St. Paul wrote, “[God our Savior] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). When we are in the Word, it helps us know more about God and His work of salvation in Jesus Christ. It also reveals a lot about the world we live in and the dangers and temptations we do face. Being in the Word can help us understand ourselves and how much we need our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.
Psalm 119:105 states, “[God’s] word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We can surely use that light in this world today. May the Light of Christ always shine in your heart and mind.
Pastor
Summer 2026 – Seeking God’s Grace, Offered Through Jesus
Dear Friends of Zion,
Not everyone enjoys the summer. But there are some who do. Perhaps they enjoy spending them outdoors enjoying nature and seeing and hearing the birds. It is interesting that Jesus once referred to nature as a way of teaching people spiritual truths. In His sermon on the mount Jesus was teaching people about God’s care for us, that we should not worry about what to eat and drink, or be anxious about what we should wear. He directed His hearers to look at nature.
Jesus said, “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?” Jesus also said, “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.” (Matthew 6:26-29).
“Look at the birds of the air,” and “consider the lilies of the filed,” and what can we learn? God takes care of us. Or, as Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism, “He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” Therefore, “do not be anxious about your life.” Have faith and trust in the Lord. King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
There is something more important than food and clothing and receiving the basic necessities of life. Our relationship with God is far more important. At the conclusion of these verses about not worrying, Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
What does Jesus teach about what we really need: “Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Seek God’s grace as He offers it through Jesus and through God’s Word and Sacraments. “And all these things will be added to you.”
Pastor
June 2026 – “Thanks. I needed that.”
Dear Friends of Zion,
The King David once wrote, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”’ (Psalm 122:1) Over the years I have had some people say to me how much going to church for worship does for them. It gives them peace, knowing that they are connected to the Lord and the forgiveness that is offered through Word and Sacrament. When they are in church they are worshiping with other faithful people, which reminds them that they are not alone in their faith.
We are living in challenging times. We are surrounded by a lot of temptations and troubles. The world is not so friendly as it once seemed. During these times, it is good to stay close to God where He makes Himself known and available to us. It is also comforting to take time in the Divine Service to confess our sins and then hear the words of Absolution spoken by the pastor, when he says “as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
I once was asked to bring communion to an elderly man in a nursing home. He had some cognitive issues, and I wasn’t sure whether he should receive communion. I asked his wife to be present. I read the words of confession and asked, “If this is your sincere confession, please respond by saying, “Yes.” His wife said “Yes.” He didn’t. His wife elbowed him in his side and said, “Say yes. Say yes.” He did, I think for dear life. So I proceeded with the words of absolution forgiving him his sins. Then he looked at me and said, “Thanks. I needed that.”
We all need it. We are not perfect, but we have a God who is, who has paid for our sins on the cross, who has made it possible for us to be glad and be blessed in the house of the Lord through the very means that He has given to His Church on earth, namely, His Word and Sacraments.
Pastor
Search
Find Us
Address
235 Pond Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 269-6847
Directions and map
Join Us For Worship
5:00 pm Saturday
10:30 am Sunday beginning 9/13
ONLINE & MOBILE GIVING
Zion has a new online & mobile giving tool called Vanco Faith. You can download the FREE app from your phone’s app store.
For more information: How_to_Give_Using_Vanco_Mobile
CLICK HERE to donate using this secure link
Memorial Donation Form
Little Zion Preschool
Little Zion Preschool is a not for profit preschool that is dedicated to quality education in a warm Christian environment. Our concern is for the whole child; to extend skills in all areas of learning including physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development. We recognize that each child is a unique creation of God. Success in kindergarten is our goal.
Visit Little Zion Preschool website
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