They're Baaaack!

Eleven of our Zion teens and adult leaders returned from an amazing experience at the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans under the theme of "Endure" based on Hebrews 12:1-3. 

During their five days in NOLA our group joined with 20,000 Lutherans from across the country -- and the world -- for fellowship, presentations to equip them in their walk with Christ, Bible studies delivered by leaders within the LCMS, music in the Superdome from local and national recording artists, worship, and lots of BDF (big dumb fun)! 

Check out this Gathering Video Recap from LCMS Youth Ministry for a glimpse of everything the Gathering has to offer our young people.

Stay tuned in the days ahead for more pictures and video clips of our group enjoying the Gathering. 

LWML: Lutheran Women in Mission

The 41st Biennial Convention of the LWML was held June 26-29th in Omaha, Nebraska. Hundreds of delegates gathered from across the country to fulfill the mission of LWML -- to joyfully proclaim Christ, support missions, and equip women to honor God by serving others. 

It’s a small world . . . especially for Lutheran sisters in Christ! 
Three ladies from different cities -- each with a Zion connection -- came together for a picture at the Omaha Convention! 

Shown L to R: Anna Grimenstein (Young Woman Representative -- Ohio District), Denise Johnson, mom of Joanna Lee (Heart to Heart Sister -- Carolina District) and Megan Migyanko (Young Woman Representative -- Eastern District). 

Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Ministry

On Saturday, June 28th, Pastor Grimenstein and Deaconess Joanna Lee led a Prayer Lunch at Zion for Shepherd’s Canyon, a retreat ministry. With locations in Arizona and Missouri, Shepherd’s Canyon serves pastors, missionaries, chaplains, DCEs, and other full-time ministry workers dealing with stress, conflict, burnout, depression and grief. Zion members came together to learn more about this vital ministry and pray for all those burdened by the cares of this sinful world. 

VIDEO: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 - Complete Service

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Kettner
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.

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AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, July 23, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Kettner
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.

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1 Samuel 6:10—7:17 
The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the LORD. And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. 

These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. 

And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow. Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.” 

And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the LORD. From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 

And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD only. 

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. 

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites. 

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD. 

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (last-minute change, not reflected in the downloadable bulletin)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The Ten Commandments
What is the fourth commandment?
Honor your father and your mother.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. 

Bulletin: Wednesday July 23, 2025

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. with communion
Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Kettner
All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relative

Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.

Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
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In Memoriam: Gloria Godfrey

In Memoriam: Gloria Godfrey
Our sister-in-Christ, Gloria Godfrey, was called to the arms of her Savior on Sunday, June 29th . Please include Gloria's sister, Gladys Kolljeski, her children and grandchildren in your prayers. May the Lord comfort them with His peace that surpasses understanding. 

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Gloria Godfrey, 88, of Cecil, died Sunday, June 29, 2025, in St. Clair Health. She was born January 5, 1937, in Cecil, a daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Storm Scanny. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Bridgeville. Gloria enjoyed word puzzle books, watching her grand and great-grandchildren play sports, going shopping and out to lunch, and cooking. Surviving are son, Richard (Susan) Godfrey of North Strabane; daughter, Tina (Tom McGinnis) Godfrey of Cecil; and son, Jerry Godfrey of Cecil; grandchildren, Matthew (Rachel) Godfrey of Fort Smith, Ark., Nicholas (Ann) Godfrey of Cecil Township, Evan (Alicia) Godfrey of North Strabane and Ian Godfrey of Cecil; along with great- grandchildren, Payton, Jackson, Bailey, Kensington, Henry, Ford and Olivia Godfrey; and sister, Gladys Kolljeski. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Godfrey, Sr. in 2020; sisters, Dolores Preaux and Joan Kovach; and her daughter-in-law, Anastasia Godfrey.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, in the Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, 3378 Millers Run Road, Cecil, PA 15321, where a funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 3, with Pastor Edward Grimenstein officiating. Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.