From the Elders

Each new year the Elders are assigned responsibility for around 16 individuals and/or families to maintain regular contact. The list is broken down by alphabet order. The Elders are available to help you and your family with your spiritual care, questions and comments that you might have about the church throughout the year. This list is also posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

— Bob Schmidt, Outgoing Chairman of the Board of Elders

DOWNLOAD Elder Contact List

President’s Perspective

Gifts, and -- a Gift 
Enjoy the Christmas Season! Enjoy the Advent and Christmas services and celebrate a New Year knowing our God is in control regardless of events we can't control -- His will be done. 

My second term as President ends this month. Bob Schmidt will be installed as President in January. To everyone who helped keep Zion a wonderful place to gather to worship our Lord and God, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart. It's been a wonderful experience for me, one I never expected. Zion has had the blessings of many people over the years serving in many capacities to keep our church running well. Many are resting in God's peace awaiting the glory to come. I will cherish my memories of these past six years, and I hope I did a worthy job for you and our Lord. 

Every moment of our lives is a "gift" we've been given by God. How we use our gift of life is important. Sending Jesus to save mankind marked the beginning of hope for everyone who would hear and believe. We're so very blessed to be part of that promise of eternal life! We have been given the key to salvation and our doctrine is grounded in Truth and purity. A light shines on us at Zion. In James 1:17 we read: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation of shadow due to change." All of our lives are filled with gifts from above whether it's Christmas time or not; but at Christmas, we celebrate with lights and give gifts to others as we remember who Jesus is to our faith and our world -- if only they would accept Him. Jesus is certainly a "perfect gift...from above!" 

Realize that it's no accident you're a baptized Christian and a member of the LCMS! You have been placed in the pew at Zion and we've been destined to worship together as brothers and sisters! Chosen. Called. Blessed. Praise the Lord!!! 

Thanks be to God for the gift of a Savior, and the gifts of another year, month, day -- each minute of life! How can we not be thankful each and every day?!! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thanks be to God! Thank you for supporting your church in fellowship and stewardship. Pray for the Christians on this planet, our LCMS, District and Circuit churches -- and of course your home here at Zion. God Bless and thank you for trusting me as your President. It was an honor -- a Gift. Thank you. Amen. 

– Paul Klemash 

VIDEO: Sunday January 26, 2025 - Complete Service

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 26, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

AUDIO: Announcements, Readings, Sermon & Men’s Choir for Sunday January 26, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 26, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

Old Testament Reading -- Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10 
All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. . . . 

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. . . . 

They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a 
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter
[Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away. 

Men’s Choir — O morning Star, How Fair and Bright 8:00 a.m.

Youth Group Bake Sale: Sunday January 26, 2025

Bake Sale to benefit the 2025 Youth Gathering Trip
Calling all bakers! The youth group is holding a bake sale in the Fellowship Hall Sunday between the services to raise money for the Youth Gathering this summer. If you like to bake, please consider bringing a homemade baked-good or dessert to donate to the bake sale . . . bring your goodies to the Fellowship Hall by 9 am on Sunday.

If you like to eat baked goods, come prepared to buy some tasty treats!

Bulletin: Sunday January 26, 2025

View the bulletin for Sunday, January 26, 2025
Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”
Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”
Archive of Bulletins

THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday January 25
No Events Scheduled

Sunday January 26
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
9:15 a.m. – Youth Group BAKE SALE (details)
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday January 27
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation
6:00 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation

Tuesday January 28
6:15 p.m. - Faith Bell Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday January 29
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service with Pastor Mike Kettner
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study
(Service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday January 30
No Events Scheduled

Friday January 31
No Events Scheduled

Saturday February 1
No Events Scheduled

Sunday February 2
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

---

CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page

Christ, the Book of Life: On the Comfort of Divine Election

From The Lutheran Witness
Cover image: Christ in Majesty with the Virgin and St. John the Evangelist, Italian master, c. 1310–20.

When the Day of Judgment comes, the Lord will gather the living and the dead before Him. On that day, both the prophet Daniel and the evangelist St. John record that books will be opened (see Dan. 7 and Rev. 20). Everyone will be judged according to what they have done. The holy apostle Paul explains, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor 5:10).

So, what exactly are these books of judgement? Perhaps we picture something akin to Santa’s list of naughty and nice people. Perhaps the book is filled with every misdeed and unseen sin. We may think of it as a Book of Doom! It is a terrifying thought that all our sins and misdeeds are permanently recorded and will be exposed.

That terror is a result of the Law’s condemnation of sinners. The Law of God always accuses us. We know and believe that the Lord sees and knows all we think, speak and do. We know what we have striven to hide and conceal from others. We don’t even want to confess our sins to our pastor lest we be embarrassed.

What’s a poor miserable sinner to do? What comfort is there for those who believe in the Lord’s promises and yet continually find sin in themselves?

The books are opened then to all,
A record truly telling
What each has done, both great and small,
When he on earth was dwelling,
And every heart be clearly seen,
And all be known as they have been
In thoughts and words and actions.
(LSB 508, st. 3)

Thank God, that comfort can be found right there in Scripture, too. St. John records in his vision of the Last Things that another book will also be opened on that day. That book has a name: the Book of Life. What will the Book of Life say on the Last Day?

This may surprise you. The Book of Life will have none of your sins written in it. There is nothing found in the Book of Life but good news. Why is that? Because the Book of Life is Jesus.

What comfort this is for the Christian! The book listing all our thoughts, words and deeds is a real book — but it will not have the final say. The Book of Life, in which our names are written, reveals our salvation and glory in Christ our Lord.

Why do we say that the Book of Life is Jesus? The Lutheran Confessions give us this beautiful answer and consolation. The Formula of Concord explicitly names Jesus as the Book of Life in the article about divine Election:

• “But the Word of God leads us to Christ, who is the Book of Life.”

• “The eternal election of God, as it has been revealed in God’s Word, which presents to us Christ as the Book of Life, which He opens and reveals to us by the preaching of the holy Gospel …”

• “The counsel, purpose, and ordination of God in Christ Jesus, who is the true Book of Life, is revealed to us through the Word.”

• “But they should hear Christ, who is the Book of Life and of God’s eternal election of all of God’s children to eternal life: He testifies to all men without distinction that it is God’s will that all men should come to Him who labor and are heavy laden with sin, in order that He may give them rest and save them, Matt. 11:28.”[i]

Why is Jesus the Book of Life? It is His salvation that brings us out of troubled waters of shame and guilt. It is His blood that atones for our sins. It is His death which is the death for our sins. It is His resurrection from the dead that promises that we, too, will rise. His righteousness saves us. The Book of Life says to us, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

On the Last Day, the Son of Man will gather all the nations before Himself. He will then separate them to His right and to His left as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Note that this separation, based on faith, takes place before the judgment. Those on His right, the sheep, are praised for their good works. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:40). Those on His left, the goats, are condemned to eternal punishment and hell because they had no good works. That is, they had no faith in Christ and His atonement and thus have no works to be commended.

What consolation this is for the Christian! All your works are seen in the light of Christ. The Christian’s works are good because they flow from faith in Christ. Faith leads us to lead a life filled with good works. The good works are evidence that the Gospel is believed and trusted. All who believe, who labor in the Gospel, are written in the Book of Life (Phil. 4:3).

This is not a new teaching. Moses references the Book of Life (though not by name). He pleads with God to blot him out of God’s book if He is not willing to forgive the Israelites (Exod. 32:22, 32). Psalm 56 references the book in which God records the prayers (tears) of His saints (Psalm 56:8). The holy prophet Daniel also references the Book filled with the names of those who are delivered (Dan. 12:1).

We live confidently knowing that our names are written in the Book of Life. We do not fear the judgment of the Last Day. We gladly go to confession to receive the absolution. Being absolved, our sins are washed away. The blood of Christ cancels the record of debt that stood against us (Col. 2:14). Receive the Lord’s Body and Blood often and so avail yourself of the gifts granted to you in your Baptism.

Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Rejoice that your sins are forgiven and that you are engraved in the Book of Life.

By Robert Wurst

My Savior paid the debt I owe
And for my sin was smitten;
Within the Book of Life I know
My name has now been written.
I will not doubt for I am free,
And Satan cannot threaten me;
There is no condemnation! 
(LSB 508, st. 5)