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
May 2026 – Blessed with God’s Forgiving Grace Dear Friends of Zion,
We celebrate Easter with the words, “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” Easter lasts fifty days. Forty days after His resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven. That day is called the Ascension of our Lord. Ten days later the disciples were all together again in one place. And the Holy Spirit descended upon them as “tongues as of fire”, giving them the ability to speaking in other languages. People who were in Jerusalem we able to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ in their own languages.
In a world where communication problems arise even among those who speak the same language, this was an amazing event. Not everyone appreciated what was happening. Some of the people in Jerusalem made fun of it, accusing the disciples of being drunk (Acts 2:13). They didn’t understand. Even today there are people who continue to mock and make fun of Christian people practicing their faith to the point where many Christian people have given up going to church and partaking of the Lord’s Supper and hearing the Word of God.
In some houses, an empty shelf is not empty for long. Someone comes along and fills it with something. The same thing has been said of the church. If we do not keep the churches active and alive, if they grow empty and close, something else will fill it. And what replaces the church will not offer the blessings of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
On Pentecost, the disciples preached in the languages of the people and on that day over 3,000 were baptized. St. Luke wrote, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). People were blessed to be received into the kingdom of God’s grace, to live with a divine purpose, and to be a blessing in the world.
This year Pentecost is celebrated on the weekend of May 23 and 24. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, you and I can say that we are members of God’s kingdom of grace – His church on earth. We are blessed with God’s forgiving grace, and even our bodies have been made to be temples of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us! May we treasure that gift and leave no room for something else to replace it in our hearts and lives.
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
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
May 2026 – Blessed with God’s Forgiving Grace
Dear Friends of Zion,
We celebrate Easter with the words, “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” Easter lasts fifty days. Forty days after His resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven. That day is called the Ascension of our Lord. Ten days later the disciples were all together again in one place. And the Holy Spirit descended upon them as “tongues as of fire”, giving them the ability to speaking in other languages. People who were in Jerusalem we able to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ in their own languages.
In a world where communication problems arise even among those who speak the same language, this was an amazing event. Not everyone appreciated what was happening. Some of the people in Jerusalem made fun of it, accusing the disciples of being drunk (Acts 2:13). They didn’t understand. Even today there are people who continue to mock and make fun of Christian people practicing their faith to the point where many Christian people have given up going to church and partaking of the Lord’s Supper and hearing the Word of God.
In some houses, an empty shelf is not empty for long. Someone comes along and fills it with something. The same thing has been said of the church. If we do not keep the churches active and alive, if they grow empty and close, something else will fill it. And what replaces the church will not offer the blessings of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
On Pentecost, the disciples preached in the languages of the people and on that day over 3,000 were baptized. St. Luke wrote, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). People were blessed to be received into the kingdom of God’s grace, to live with a divine purpose, and to be a blessing in the world.
This year Pentecost is celebrated on the weekend of May 23 and 24. Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, you and I can say that we are members of God’s kingdom of grace – His church on earth. We are blessed with God’s forgiving grace, and even our bodies have been made to be temples of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us! May we treasure that gift and leave no room for something else to replace it in our hearts and lives.
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
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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