VIDEO: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - Complete Service

Bulletin for Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Sunday Bible Studies
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2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: I Samuel
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

Audio: Readings & Sermon for Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Audio: Readings and Sermon for Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Rev. Dr. Edward Grimenstein

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Bulletin for Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Sunday Bible Studies
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: I Samuel
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

First Reading – Deuteronomy 1:37—2:15 
Even with me the Lord was angry on your account and said, ‘You also shall not go in there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.’ 

“Then you answered me, ‘We have sinned against the Lord. We ourselves will go up and fight, just as the Lord our God commanded us.’ And every one of you fastened on his weapons of war and thought it easy to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me, ‘Say to them, Do not go up or fight, for I am not in your midst, lest you be defeated before your enemies.’ So I spoke to you, and you would not listen; but you rebelled against the command of the Lord and presumptuously went up into the hill country. Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do and beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah. And you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord did not listen to your voice or give ear to you. So you remained at Kadesh many days, the days that you remained there. 

“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir. Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink. For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”’ So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber. 

“And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab. And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot for a possession.’ (The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim. Like the Anakim they are also counted as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the Lord gave to them.) ‘Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.’ So we went over the brook Zered. And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the camp, until they had perished. 

Second Reading – Matthew 6:1-15 
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: 

“Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name. 
Your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread, 
and forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil. 

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

The Creed 
What is the Second Article of the Creed?
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. 

This is most certainly true. 

Fund Raiser: Honey Sundays

Honey Sundays, hosted by congregations across the United States, supports the residential treatment and educational programs at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Purchase a bottle of honey to change the life of a child.

How to purchase a bottle of Dakota Ranch honey:

1. Order online at DakotaRanch.org/orderhoney

2. Scan the QR-Code (above)

3. Provide the shipping address(es) and payment ($10 suggested donation/bottle at your church’s honey table

Visit Zion’s Honey Table (to order in person) on Sunday October 4th and/or 11th in the Narthex between services and after the late service. Honey will be delivered in late November or early December.

The mission of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is to help at-risk children and their families succeed in the name of christ
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch • 1-800-344-0957 • DakotaRanch.org

Bulletin: Wednesday September 30, 2026

Bulletin for Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Sunday Bible Studies
Archive of Bulletins

2:00 p.m. - Worship Service
2:30 p.m. - Bible Study: I Samuel
This service will be LIVE STREAMED on our YouTube Channel

Did You Know October is Pastor Appreciation Month?

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
October is a great time to bless Pastor Grimenstein and family in gratitude for the many ways they bless Zion! 

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 

Pastor’s Mailing Address:
3199 Washington Pike
Bridgevillle, PA 15017

FREE DOWNLOAD: Lutherans engage

Click to download Summer 2026 Issue

FREE DOWNLOAD: Lutherans engage - Summer 2026
There will always be a desire to have more workers in the church: more pastors to fill vacancies, more rostered teachers to serve in Lutheran schools, more missionaries to send around the globe. At the same time, we trust that the Lord provides.

The Summer 2026 issue of Lutherans Engage the World highlights a few of the ways that the Lord does just that, as He calls people into His service from secular careers, during times of transition and through formative experiences like time spent at a Lutheran camp. Sometimes, He also sends partners from other countries to join us in His mission. Thanks be to God that He uses all things — even imperfect people like us — to encourage His children and accomplish His purposes.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Building Daily Rhythms of Devotion

Building Daily Rhythms of Devotion
Story by Mary Henrichs | Photography by Erik M. Lunsford | Fall 2026

Families of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, Mo., receive support from their congregation to build intentional practices of faith formation in their homes.
It’s still dark outside when the Love family gathers around their kitchen table in the morning. Coffee’s on, and banana chocolate chip muffins are slowly being munched. Aiden, a sixth-grader, rubs sleep out of his eyes. His older sister, Addison, joins him at the table.

It’s quiet as dad Ahren reaches for the devotion book and begins: “You have shown me the path of life, and You make me glad by being near to me.”

After Aiden reads the day’s Bible passage and Ahren reads from the Lutheran Book of Prayer, the Loves offer simple prayers from the heart — ex corde prayers — for one another.

Ahren prays for his son to have energy for a long morning of MAP testing and an afternoon of track practice. Aiden prays for his sister to have a great day, especially in band class, where she has recently earned the position of head drum major. Addison prays for her parents — both of whom are public school teachers — that God will be with them in the classroom.

Mom Angela offers the final prayer: “Dear Jesus, we praise You for all that You are in our lives, and please forgive us for our shortcomings. Help us to get through the highs and lows of this day and every day, and help us to encourage each other to focus on You.”

In just seven minutes, it’s over, leaving the Loves time to finish up breakfast and talk before the day’s activities begin.

Finding a Time That Works
Mornings have not always looked this peaceful for the Love family. When they lived in Ozark, Mo., south of Springfield, they were only five minutes from school, but in the mornings, “everyone was running around,” says Angela.

When the Loves switched to a school in Springfield, the thought of the longer commute — now 25 minutes — was daunting.

Rather than getting frantic, though, the family began building in more time to get ready. Their alarms may be going off earlier, but, Ahren says, “We ease into the day.”

As Aiden and Addison have gotten older, their after-school schedules have filled up with homework and extracurriculars. Over time, the early morning became the most reliable time for the family to be together, and — with the encouragement of their congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Mo. — they do their best to make sure that this time includes a family devotion.

The Love family has now moved to Springfield, but they still choose to wake up early and meet in the kitchen to intentionally start their day with God and one another. “This just became our time, so we’ve held onto it,” says Angela. “There will always be those mornings that don’t work out, or we don’t have the time, but it is such a wonderful blessing, and one that we never realized we were capable of.”

‘O Lord, Open My Lips’
Across town, the Stifle family also gathers around the table for daily devotions. Since dad Bryan works remotely and mom Kelsey homeschools their children, they have a little more flexibility when it comes to start time: On a day in late May, it’s around 1 p.m. when all five children are finally gathered around the table.

The Stifles are preparing to move to Idaho, and in the stress of home showings, packing and other preparations, it’s been a challenge to fit in regular devotions. As they sit down, their second eldest, Warren, is quick to note that it’s been a while since their last one.

Bryan and Kelsey Stifle with their children during devotions in May. Top: The Love family before school in April.

Yet, as they move through the office of daily prayer, the children easily fall back into its rhythm, responding to the versicles with words they know by heart: “O Lord, open my lips, / and my mouth will declare Your praise” (Lutheran Service Book, p. 295).

Kelsey helps their eldest, Theo, through the trickier pronunciations in the day’s lectionary reading. She pauses him every now and then to check Evy and Warren’s comprehension. When Theo finishes, the children repeat the final verse after Kelsey, piece by piece: “And it shall come to pass / that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord / shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Bryan uses the same repetition method with the Third Commandment. Theo and Warren are eager to show that they know the Apostles’ Creed, reciting it in turn. After the Lord’s Prayer, the Stifles also pray for each prayer request listed in their Sunday bulletin.

Upon the final “amen,” the three older kids race out of their seats — not because they’re eager to skedaddle, but because “go joyfully to your work,” as the office of daily prayer instructs, is an ingrained rhythm, propelling them into the rest of their day.

The ‘Number One Mission Field’
The Stifle family became members at Trinity just over a year ago. Bryan and Kelsey were drawn to the “theological consistency” of Lutheran doctrine and what they saw as a “more sound view of catechizing children” in the Lutheran church.

The Stifles didn’t want their children to grow up in doubt about the meaning of their Baptism. First Peter 3:21, “Baptism … now saves you,” has become something of an anthem for the family. Having grown up in churches that left members in perpetual doubt about the state of their salvation, they now seek to remind one another of their baptismal identity every day.

“Our children are our main evangelistic field,” says Bryan. “To have them strong in the faith and remain in the faith — [that’s] our number one mission field.”

“If the kids have questions,” says Kelsey, “we want them to feel comfortable to ask us. … Bryan and I try to get in the habit, too, of when we sin, especially against the kids, that we model repentance and forgiveness: ‘I’m sorry I yelled at you,’ or ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t patient with you,’ and talking through how it relates to the commandments.”

Even with a flexible start time, it can be difficult to get devotions going every day, but the Stifles do their best to keep at it. Says Bryan: “Even though we may not want to do devotions in the morning, if we’re tired or busy or mad at each other, we ought to do it, because it is good, and it is honoring of God.”

Seeking an ‘Eternal’ Goal
The Love and Stifle families’ faith formation in recent years has been shaped by the encouragement of Hannah Knehans, director of family life ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield. “When she came into our church, it was life-changing,” says Angela. “She’s helped us to take more ownership [of faith formation] in our own homes.”

Through resources, workshops and visitation, Knehans equips and encourages the parents of Trinity for their God-given role of passing on the faith to the next generation.

“Everyone wants their kid to turn out well, but for many people, that just becomes, ‘I want my kid to be happy,’” says Knehans. “I try to help parents understand that your goal for your child should be eternal: that they will be with our Lord eternally and rest in their identity as a Christian and not as an athlete or an academic or a businessman. Those things don’t last.”

Resources for families next to the pews at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, Mo. (and exterior and interior of the church).

“The likelihood that children are going to remain connected to the church and strong in their faith is much higher if children see their parents studying God’s Word,” says the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hagerman, Trinity’s pastor. “If children study God’s Word and pray with their parents, this is the kind of thing that will help them be disciples for life.”

“You have to be intentional, whether your children are homeschooled, in Lutheran schools or public schools,” says Knehans. “Sometimes parents don’t feel that they’re equipped, especially if this wasn’t modeled to them.”

Hagerman encourages families to start small: “Do something manageable, and then over time, you can add.”

“Don’t be discouraged if it seems like your kids aren’t paying attention or participating as well as you’d like them to,” he continues. “They’re still absorbing a lot.”

Families can begin by reciting the Lord’s Prayer together each day, adding other prayers over time. Knehans provides parents with simple resources, including devotion structure outlines, to “help them see that doing devotions and centering your home around faith formation doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Trinity also finds ways to encourage parents to have “faith-filled conversations” with their children. As part of this, the bulletin includes discussion questions about the sermon so that families can continue talking about the service on the drive home.

“We’re not just Christians on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. We are Christians all days of the week and at all times of the day, and Christians are meant to be occupied with the Word of God,” says Hagerman. “Finding time to do that every day as a family is one way we continue to be strengthened in our faith.”

“Faith formation is a journey, and it’s something you’re going to continue throughout your entire life,” says Knehans. “[God’s] mercies are new every morning, and [we] can continue to grow in those little incremental areas every day.”

Learn More

• Learn more about LCMS Family Ministry

• Make a gift to support ministry in the United States