Messages from Pastor Bob

November 2024 Steadfast and Enduring Love

Dear Friends of Zion,

If Thanksgiving was not a federal holiday, would you observe a day of thanks? If our calendar did not have a day called “Thanksgiving”, would you celebrate a day to be grateful? I think that we do need to be reminded to give thanks to the Lord. It is easy to forget.

Once, while visiting family, everyone began to eat. My wife and I looked at each other, knowing that the prayer had been forgotten. Then my mother said, “We forgot to say grace.” As we all folded our hands, bowed our heads, I heard my uncle say, “Who will bless the food we’ve already eaten?”

Psalm 136 reminds us to give thanks. Verses 1 – 3 says,

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for His steadfast love endures forever.

These verses address God three times, reminding us to give thanks. And in every one of the 26 verses it says, “for His steadfast love endures forever.” Sometimes we do need to be reminded that God’s steadfast love endures forever. He created everything, and has redeemed us by His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. He has given us a reason to give thanks and to be grateful – not just one day a year, but always.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”

Pastor


October 2024 The Blessings of God’s Grace
Dear Friends of Zion,

In October we celebrate the “Reformation of the Christian Church.” October 31 is the date that was chosen. It was on October 31 that the German Reformer, Martin Luther, posted 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. He was hoping to establish dialogue over some of the church practices that were contrary to the doctrines of Holy Scripture as well as our faith.

Martin Luther was also concerned about the lack of knowledge about Christ and biblical teachings that were evident, not only in the church, but also in the homes. He wrote the Small Catechism so that the heads of households could teach their children. In a society that has in many ways abandoned the Christian faith, it is important for parents to take an active role in the Christian education of their children.

Our congregation has dedicated people who are willing to serve as Sunday School teachers. But they need to have children who will come and learn and discover the wonderful things that God has done for us all in Jesus Christ.

The Reformation brought people back into the blessings of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. And because of it, people today can receive the blessings of God that is offered in His Holy Word, in the waters of Holy Baptism, and the precious Body and Blood that Jesus gives to us through the elements of bread and wine in Holy Communion.

Pastor


September 2024 SING TO THE LORD!
Dear Friends of Zion,
Worshiping the Lord is an important part of our faith. Our Lord is present when we gather in His name. He deserves our praise and adoration. But He is also present to bless us with His gifts of grace through His Word and Sacraments. During worship our Lord offers the forgiveness of our sins. He strengthens our faith. The Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to teach us, guide us, and help us in our lives.
It’s time to get back to using our hymnals again. The pandemic brought us worship inserts. But our hymnal offers so much more, such as hymns with the music score, a solid liturgy to guide us in our worship, and a repetition that can help us put to memory our time with our Lord. It also offers the Psalms and many prayers for various occasions.

In September we will be using Setting Four of our Divine Worship for Holy Communion. It starts on page 203 of our hymnal. This service is not complicated, and has some beautiful canticles that are easy to learn. We have used this service in the past at one point, but that was many years ago. And for services without communion we can use the Service of Prayer and Preaching (Page 260), which most of us know rather well.

It will be good to get back to the hymnals for our worship. Our bulletins will also be easier to manage without the worship insert. But especially, it will be a blessing to meet with the Lord through the richness of our liturgy, through Word and Sacrament.

Pastor