February 2026 – Reflecting the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ Dear Friends of Zion,
We sometimes give honor and recognition to those who have served us and our country, sometimes with their very lives. We have heard of the bravery of soldiers and others who paid for freedom with their very lives. But that does not compare to what Jesus has done. Jesus walked the servant way, suffered rejection and punishment from the people of God, and even death, death on a cross. He did that for us all, not to bring us earthly freedom, but to release us from the bondage of our fallen, sinful nature.
Lent is a time to focus on what Jesus did to provide us with the gift of God’s grace. Some encourage Christian people to give something up for Lent. This can be helpful, if we give something up that we cling to, that means a lot to us. One year one of my sons gave up eating beef for Lent. At the end of Holy Week he bought himself a steak to cook on his George Foreman grill in his dorm room on Easter. He was tired of eating canned tuna fish.
We do get attached to the things of the world, the things we love to eat and do. I wonder what it would be like to give up using an iPhone. We do get attached to this. Take a look at people waiting in a doctor’s office, or eating in a restaurant. So many are holding their iPhones and not even talking to the people at their table. It might be helpful to give up the things we do that are contrary to our calling as redeemed children of God.
St. Paul writes, encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Maybe during Lent we might focus on what we can do to others to reflect the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and do things to the glory of God and the benefit of others.
May God bless you together we observe the season of Lent.
Pastor
January 2026 – “Know that Christ Lives in You“
Dear Friends of Zion,
Happy New Year! I almost hesitate to say those words. The world has changed so much As I write this, I noticed another campus shooting at Brown University, with two dead and nine wounded. Also making the news are the stabbing deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, apparently committed by a family member. Tragedies and disasters do happen. That is part of living in this fallen world. Sometimes they come close to home. At times they are with us. But there is someone else who is also with us: our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As you read this you have just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. St. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). It must have been remarkable to witness the Son of God dwelling among the people back then. But do not underestimate His presence with us who believe in Him.
St. Paul once wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “Christ lives in me,” St. Paul said. Those are powerful words. His presence gives us the power to face a new year. St. John put it this way, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Jesus in my life is greater than the forces of evil in the world.
As I look to the new year, I see the wonderful opportunity to grow in my faith, to grow closer to God through His Word and Sacraments. Well, that makes me happy. Knowing that Christ lives in me is a nice source of peace that the world cannot give.
God bless you, and Happy New Year!
Pastor
December 2025 – Treasure the Reality of Christ in Our Lives
Dear Friends of Zion,
The birth of Jesus is a miracle of God’s grace. The Word that is with God, and the Word that is God, became flesh to dwell among us (John 1). God sent an angel to tell the shepherds, not the people in Bethlehem, about the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord. The shepherds went with haste to see the Christ Child wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. The shepherds, according to St. Luke 2:17, spread the word about the birth of the Savior.
Luke doesn’t reveal how the people in Bethlehem responded. Did they go with haste to see the Christ Child? We do not know. Did they even care? We don’t know that either. Sometimes I wonder if the presence of Christ the Lord was important to the people of Bethlehem at that time. Did His presence make a difference in their lives?
Then I look at our society today. We have “angels” and “shepherds” proclaiming the birth of the Savior Christ the Lord. Those shepherds may be pastors and church members who realize the true meaning of Christmas. Some people seem to be too busy for Jesus. Some people put up decorations but don’t really know what the celebration is about, nor do they have a desire to learn.
Today Christ continues to come to us. Through the Word of God, Holy Scriptures, and the Sacrament of the Altar, Christ’s true body and blood given with and under the elements of bread and wine for forgiveness and strength, Christ makes Himself known and available to those who seek Him. The angel said to shepherds, “For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). And the shepherds went quickly to see Him. May we treasure the reality of Christ in our lives as we seek Him and find Him today in Word and Sacrament.
Have a joyful and blessed Christmas!
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
February 2026 – Reflecting the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Dear Friends of Zion,
We sometimes give honor and recognition to those who have served us and our country, sometimes with their very lives. We have heard of the bravery of soldiers and others who paid for freedom with their very lives. But that does not compare to what Jesus has done. Jesus walked the servant way, suffered rejection and punishment from the people of God, and even death, death on a cross. He did that for us all, not to bring us earthly freedom, but to release us from the bondage of our fallen, sinful nature.
Lent is a time to focus on what Jesus did to provide us with the gift of God’s grace. Some encourage Christian people to give something up for Lent. This can be helpful, if we give something up that we cling to, that means a lot to us. One year one of my sons gave up eating beef for Lent. At the end of Holy Week he bought himself a steak to cook on his George Foreman grill in his dorm room on Easter. He was tired of eating canned tuna fish.
We do get attached to the things of the world, the things we love to eat and do. I wonder what it would be like to give up using an iPhone. We do get attached to this. Take a look at people waiting in a doctor’s office, or eating in a restaurant. So many are holding their iPhones and not even talking to the people at their table. It might be helpful to give up the things we do that are contrary to our calling as redeemed children of God.
St. Paul writes, encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Maybe during Lent we might focus on what we can do to others to reflect the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and do things to the glory of God and the benefit of others.
May God bless you together we observe the season of Lent.
Pastor
January 2026 – “Know that Christ Lives in You“
Dear Friends of Zion,
Happy New Year! I almost hesitate to say those words. The world has changed so much As I write this, I noticed another campus shooting at Brown University, with two dead and nine wounded. Also making the news are the stabbing deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, apparently committed by a family member. Tragedies and disasters do happen. That is part of living in this fallen world. Sometimes they come close to home. At times they are with us. But there is someone else who is also with us: our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As you read this you have just celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. St. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). It must have been remarkable to witness the Son of God dwelling among the people back then. But do not underestimate His presence with us who believe in Him.
St. Paul once wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “Christ lives in me,” St. Paul said. Those are powerful words. His presence gives us the power to face a new year. St. John put it this way, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Jesus in my life is greater than the forces of evil in the world.
As I look to the new year, I see the wonderful opportunity to grow in my faith, to grow closer to God through His Word and Sacraments. Well, that makes me happy. Knowing that Christ lives in me is a nice source of peace that the world cannot give.
God bless you, and Happy New Year!
Pastor
December 2025 – Treasure the Reality of Christ in Our Lives
Dear Friends of Zion,
The birth of Jesus is a miracle of God’s grace. The Word that is with God, and the Word that is God, became flesh to dwell among us (John 1). God sent an angel to tell the shepherds, not the people in Bethlehem, about the birth of the Messiah, Christ the Lord. The shepherds went with haste to see the Christ Child wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. The shepherds, according to St. Luke 2:17, spread the word about the birth of the Savior.
Luke doesn’t reveal how the people in Bethlehem responded. Did they go with haste to see the Christ Child? We do not know. Did they even care? We don’t know that either. Sometimes I wonder if the presence of Christ the Lord was important to the people of Bethlehem at that time. Did His presence make a difference in their lives?
Then I look at our society today. We have “angels” and “shepherds” proclaiming the birth of the Savior Christ the Lord. Those shepherds may be pastors and church members who realize the true meaning of Christmas. Some people seem to be too busy for Jesus. Some people put up decorations but don’t really know what the celebration is about, nor do they have a desire to learn.
Today Christ continues to come to us. Through the Word of God, Holy Scriptures, and the Sacrament of the Altar, Christ’s true body and blood given with and under the elements of bread and wine for forgiveness and strength, Christ makes Himself known and available to those who seek Him. The angel said to shepherds, “For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). And the shepherds went quickly to see Him. May we treasure the reality of Christ in our lives as we seek Him and find Him today in Word and Sacrament.
Have a joyful and blessed Christmas!
Pastor
Search
Find Us
Address
235 Pond Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 269-6847
Directions and map
Join Us For Worship
4:00 pm Saturday
10:30 am Sunday
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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