There is a very special day in May that should be celebrated by all who call themselves “Christian.” That day is Pentecost which falls on May 19 this year. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection God sent His Holy Spirit upon the disciples in Jerusalem, who boldly proclaimed the crucified and risen Christ in the languages of those who were present in Jerusalem. On that day 3,000 received the message and were baptized into Christ. This event is sometimes called the “birth of the Holy Christian Church.”
That same Holy Spirit continues to bless people today, working through the Word, Baptism, and Holy Communion to strengthen faith and forgive sins. The German Reformer Martin Luther wrote, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.” (Luther’s Small Catechism 2017 edition, Page205)
Since the pandemic Christian churches have seen a significant drop in attendance at worship and at Sunday School, and our church is no exception. Parents are not bringing their children to church and Sunday School. Some members who had been actively involved in worship have also left our fellowship, removing themselves from membership. Other people have discontinued being in the Word, not taking time to worship the Lord and receive the blessings of His grace. But the Holy Spirit continues to work through Word and Sacrament, calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying those whose ears and hearts are open to receive the blessings that God offers.
Jesus once referred to the Holy Spirit as “The Helper,” or “Comforter.” As we face this challenging world today we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit in our church and in our lives to bless us with strength, forgiveness, and peace with God.
Pastor
April 2024 A Source of Joy, Comfort and Peace
Dear Friends of Zion,
It amazes me to see how the disciples struggled so much to believe in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus told them three times that He was going to be handed over to the chief priests, suffer many things, be killed, and on the third day rise. And yet, on the day of resurrection, they were all in denial, believing that He never rose.
We are not much different than the disciples. We, too, can struggle with believing that Jesus really did rise from the dead. When we are dealing with personal problems, it is easier to think that Jesus never rose. When we look at the condition of our society and world, it may be easier to think that Jesus’s dead body never left the tomb. When we stand by the graves of our loved ones, it is hard to believe that Jesus is alive and risen from the dead.
Thomas is known for his doubts about Jesus. Ten of the disciples had seen Jesus on Easter evening, alive and risen from the dead. Thomas would not believe unless he saw Jesus for himself with his own eyes, and touched our Lord’s wounds with his own hands. A week later Jesus appeared again and told Thomas to each out, do what it takes to overcome his doubts. Thomas responded, saying, “My Lord and my God!” He was convinced.
Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) We are the blessed ones that Jesus spoke about, people who have not seen and yet have believed. For these words can help overcome our own doubts, replacing them with the truth of our Lord’s resurrection, His payment for our sins and His promise of eternal life. Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
The risen Lord continues to be a source of joy, comfort, and peace, whether it is at the graveside of a loved one, or in the face of the challenges that we deal with in life. “I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living head.”
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor
March 2024 We Are Alive in Christ! Dear Friends of Zion,
Somethings seem so final. Standing by the grave of our loved one reveals the end of a life that has been precious to us. No more do we see them in our home; no more do we hear their voice. We know that we do not have the opportunity to share a meal with them and enjoy their presence with us.
Jesus once said to grieving Martha at the death of her brother, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). Martha responded, saying, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Martha still grieved, even though she knew that she would one day see her brother alive, with a glorified body at the final resurrection.
But Martha was in for a surprise. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). After He spoke these words, Jesus showed His power over death and the grave when He went to Lazarus’ tomb and spoke three words: “Lazarus, come out.” And Lazarus was alive again because of Jesus.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. At the end of March we remember His death on the cross where He was “wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). Our sins were laid on Him and He suffered and died because of them. And on the third day, God raised Him from the dead. St. Paul states that “He (Jesus) was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for out justification” (Romans 4:25). God accepted His atoning sacrifice and raised Him from the dead. By His death and resurrection, we have been given life and immortality.
For those who are in Christ, death is not final. We are alive in Christ, who loved us, gave Himself for us, and rose. As St. Paul wrote, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:9-10).
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor
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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
May 2024 Happy Birthday!
Dear Friends of Zion,
There is a very special day in May that should be celebrated by all who call themselves “Christian.” That day is Pentecost which falls on May 19 this year. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection God sent His Holy Spirit upon the disciples in Jerusalem, who boldly proclaimed the crucified and risen Christ in the languages of those who were present in Jerusalem. On that day 3,000 received the message and were baptized into Christ. This event is sometimes called the “birth of the Holy Christian Church.”
That same Holy Spirit continues to bless people today, working through the Word, Baptism, and Holy Communion to strengthen faith and forgive sins. The German Reformer Martin Luther wrote, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.” (Luther’s Small Catechism 2017 edition, Page205)
Since the pandemic Christian churches have seen a significant drop in attendance at worship and at Sunday School, and our church is no exception. Parents are not bringing their children to church and Sunday School. Some members who had been actively involved in worship have also left our fellowship, removing themselves from membership. Other people have discontinued being in the Word, not taking time to worship the Lord and receive the blessings of His grace. But the Holy Spirit continues to work through Word and Sacrament, calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying those whose ears and hearts are open to receive the blessings that God offers.
Jesus once referred to the Holy Spirit as “The Helper,” or “Comforter.” As we face this challenging world today we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit in our church and in our lives to bless us with strength, forgiveness, and peace with God.
Pastor
April 2024 A Source of Joy, Comfort and Peace
Dear Friends of Zion,
It amazes me to see how the disciples struggled so much to believe in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus told them three times that He was going to be handed over to the chief priests, suffer many things, be killed, and on the third day rise. And yet, on the day of resurrection, they were all in denial, believing that He never rose.
We are not much different than the disciples. We, too, can struggle with believing that Jesus really did rise from the dead. When we are dealing with personal problems, it is easier to think that Jesus never rose. When we look at the condition of our society and world, it may be easier to think that Jesus’s dead body never left the tomb. When we stand by the graves of our loved ones, it is hard to believe that Jesus is alive and risen from the dead.
Thomas is known for his doubts about Jesus. Ten of the disciples had seen Jesus on Easter evening, alive and risen from the dead. Thomas would not believe unless he saw Jesus for himself with his own eyes, and touched our Lord’s wounds with his own hands. A week later Jesus appeared again and told Thomas to each out, do what it takes to overcome his doubts. Thomas responded, saying, “My Lord and my God!” He was convinced.
Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) We are the blessed ones that Jesus spoke about, people who have not seen and yet have believed. For these words can help overcome our own doubts, replacing them with the truth of our Lord’s resurrection, His payment for our sins and His promise of eternal life. Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)
The risen Lord continues to be a source of joy, comfort, and peace, whether it is at the graveside of a loved one, or in the face of the challenges that we deal with in life. “I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living head.”
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor
March 2024 We Are Alive in Christ!
Dear Friends of Zion,
Somethings seem so final. Standing by the grave of our loved one reveals the end of a life that has been precious to us. No more do we see them in our home; no more do we hear their voice. We know that we do not have the opportunity to share a meal with them and enjoy their presence with us.
Jesus once said to grieving Martha at the death of her brother, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). Martha responded, saying, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Martha still grieved, even though she knew that she would one day see her brother alive, with a glorified body at the final resurrection.
But Martha was in for a surprise. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). After He spoke these words, Jesus showed His power over death and the grave when He went to Lazarus’ tomb and spoke three words: “Lazarus, come out.” And Lazarus was alive again because of Jesus.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. At the end of March we remember His death on the cross where He was “wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). Our sins were laid on Him and He suffered and died because of them. And on the third day, God raised Him from the dead. St. Paul states that “He (Jesus) was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for out justification” (Romans 4:25). God accepted His atoning sacrifice and raised Him from the dead. By His death and resurrection, we have been given life and immortality.
For those who are in Christ, death is not final. We are alive in Christ, who loved us, gave Himself for us, and rose. As St. Paul wrote, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:9-10).
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Pastor
Search
Find Us
Address
235 Pond Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 269-6847
Directions and map
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Join Us For Worship
5:00 pm Saturday
9:15 am Sunday School and
Adult Bible Study
10:30 am Sunday
10:00 am Wednesday
Adult Bible Study
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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