Welcome to our Newest Members

On Sunday, November 10th at the 10:30 a.m. service, Fiona Szczypinski, Michelle Hill-Dugal, and Conor and Kristin Errey became members of our church family. If you haven’t had an opportunity to meet them yet, be sure to welcome them to our fellowship! 

Michelle Hill-Dugal moved to Pennsylvania from New Hampshire nine years ago to help care for her first grandchild. Since that time she has five grandchildren ranging from 8 years to 22 months old. She has worked for Applebee’s restaurants for 20 years as a manager. Michelle says she likes Zion especially because it feels like a family … “everyone is so nice”. 

Prelude Music: 7:00 Candlelight Service — Christmas Eve 2024

Prelude Music: 7:00 Candlelight Service — Christmas Eve 2024

00:00 - We Three Kings - Drew Kress (Piano) 
00:49 - Away in a Manger - Romy Carter (Piano) 
02:02 - Angels We Have Heard on High - Michael Kress (Piano) 
03:02 - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Rex and Jesse Carter (Trombone) 
04:18 - O Come Little Children - Rachel Grimenstein (Cello) 
05:52 - We Three Kings Medley - Nathan Grimenstein 
07:53 - Hallelujah Chorus - Daniel Grimenstein 
09:04 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - Claire Schrag (Clarinet), Emily Trentini (Flute) 
10:30 - The First Noel - Pippa Carter (Violin), Jesse Carter (Guitar) 
13:49 - O Little Town of Bethlehem - Faith Bell Choir 
16:32 - Coventry Carol - Men's Choir 
18:39 - Angels We Have Heard on High - Grace Bell Choir 
21:02 - Infant Jesus - Anna Grimenstein (Cello), Douglas Krantz (Piano) 
24:10 - O Holy Night - Anna Grimenstein (Cello), Douglas Krantz (Piano) 
27:48 - A New Song - Women's Choir and Anna Grimenstein (Cello) 

Welcome to our Newest Members

On Sunday, November 10th at the 10:30 a.m. service, Fiona Szczypinski, Michelle Hill-Dugal, and Conor and Kristin Errey became members of our church family. If you haven’t had an opportunity to meet them yet, be sure to welcome them to our fellowship! 

Fiona Szczypinski is a freshman at Canon-Mac High School and the granddaughter of Ray and Sharon Barley. She has a blended family that includes her mom, stepdad, stepsister, half-sister, half-brother and two stepbrothers. Fiona likes to read, hangout with friends, and go on adventures. She also enjoys babysitting, doing yard work, and is looking forward to getting her worker’s permit. “I want to be closer with God,” says Fiona, “and the Bible studies and sermons at Zion are helping me with that!” 

VIDEO: Wednesday December 25, 2024 - Complete Service

View the Bulletin for Christmas Day, Wednesday December 25, 2024
Christmas Day Worship Service: 10:00 a.m. ONLY
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”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS

AUDIO: Readings & Sermon for Christmas Day - Wednesday December 25, 2024

View the Bulletin for Christmas Day, Wednesday December 25, 2024
Christmas Day Worship Service: 10:00 a.m. ONLY
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”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 62:10–12 
Go through, go through the gates;
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
clear it of stones;
lift up a signal over the peoples.
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the LORD;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken. 

Epistle Reading -- Titus 3:4–7 
When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the second chapter
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

---

Christmas Day Bulletin: Wednesday December 25, 2024

View the Bulletin for Christmas Day, Wednesday December 25, 2024
Christmas Day Worship Service: 10:00 a.m. (one service only)
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”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of BULLETINS

Today a Savior is Born!

The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”, and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.