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
Summer 2024 Finding our Rest and Peace in Jesus
Dear Friends of Zion,
How is your summer going? Some people take vacations, going to a place that they enjoy. Some travel to the mountains, and others go to places like Disney World. Some make plans to be on the shore, camping at Hammonasset Beach State Park or some other location. And for most, the purpose seems to find a place for enjoyment as well as rest.
Jesus and His disciples once tried to get away from the crowds. St. Mark records that the disciples had returned with reports from the work that Jesus had sent them to do. Jesus also had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. And they were surrounded by so many people that they didn’t even have a chance to eat. Jesus said, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).
Jesus knows that there are times when we do need rest and relaxation. But it doesn’t always happen, nor does it provide what we really need. Some people have said that they need a vacation from their vacation. Their time away did not measure up to their expectations. And for many, coming home from a vacation can be stressful, with a week or two of mail as well as the laundry, the mowing, and the other things that have been neglected.
Jesus and His disciples encountered over 5,000 people waiting for them at their quiet place. And the day was spent healing the sick, teaching them, and at the end of the day, feeding them with five loaves and two fish. This was not the quiet time away that they had been expecting. Yet, the day became an opportunity to grow in their faith and to see Jesus at work, helping, healing, teaching, and miraculously feeding those who needed Him.
No matter what your summer is like, it is good to be connected to Jesus, to find in Him our rest and peace. He is still at work helping, healing, teaching, and feeding those who need Him. His Word and Sacraments continue to bless us with the food we need for our souls and the peace we need for our minds.
May God bless your days this summer.
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
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
Summer 2024 Finding our Rest and Peace in Jesus
Dear Friends of Zion,
How is your summer going? Some people take vacations, going to a place that they enjoy. Some travel to the mountains, and others go to places like Disney World. Some make plans to be on the shore, camping at Hammonasset Beach State Park or some other location. And for most, the purpose seems to find a place for enjoyment as well as rest.
Jesus and His disciples once tried to get away from the crowds. St. Mark records that the disciples had returned with reports from the work that Jesus had sent them to do. Jesus also had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. And they were surrounded by so many people that they didn’t even have a chance to eat. Jesus said, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).
Jesus knows that there are times when we do need rest and relaxation. But it doesn’t always happen, nor does it provide what we really need. Some people have said that they need a vacation from their vacation. Their time away did not measure up to their expectations. And for many, coming home from a vacation can be stressful, with a week or two of mail as well as the laundry, the mowing, and the other things that have been neglected.
Jesus and His disciples encountered over 5,000 people waiting for them at their quiet place. And the day was spent healing the sick, teaching them, and at the end of the day, feeding them with five loaves and two fish. This was not the quiet time away that they had been expecting. Yet, the day became an opportunity to grow in their faith and to see Jesus at work, helping, healing, teaching, and miraculously feeding those who needed Him.
No matter what your summer is like, it is good to be connected to Jesus, to find in Him our rest and peace. He is still at work helping, healing, teaching, and feeding those who need Him. His Word and Sacraments continue to bless us with the food we need for our souls and the peace we need for our minds.
May God bless your days this summer.
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 NEW TIME
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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