A Special Word of Welcome!
We would like to take this time to welcome Pastor Stephanie Roth to Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church!
We look forward to working with her in the various ministries of our church. As Pastor Stephanie gets acclimated to the workings of our church, please help her out by introducing yourself to her. We are sure that it will take a while to learn everyone’s name.
Additionally, we are also excited to announce that Pastor Stephanie’s Ordination will be held on Sunday, February 18, 2024, and will be held here at Zion’s. More details will be in next month’s newsletter as she is in the early stages of planning for this momentous event. Stay tuned to future newsletters and bulletins for posting of office hours too.
Respectfully submitted by Tiffany Gruber, Church Council President
Church Update:
Our church service begins at 10:30 AM worship services will be filmed and live-streamed on Facebook. Sunday School begins at 9:15 AM.
Welcome to Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Perry Township.
We hope that you find this site to be helpful in learning about our church, activities, and committees. Visitors and new members alike are always welcome at Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Sunday Services – 10:30 am
Sunday School – 9:15 am
(No Summer Sunday School June – Aug)
Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Where there’s always something exciting happening.
Letter from Pastor Stephanie:
Every year on Ash Wednesday, we join people all over the world when we receive the sign of the cross in ashes
on their forehead. We are reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. When you walk through
Walmart and see that same mark on someone’s forehead or see co-workers with those sooty ashes, you feel a
sense of community as we once again embark on our journey through Lent. We remember that God creates us,
but are also reminded that we will eventually die. On Ash Wednesday we begin the journey with Jesus, as he
travels the road to Jerusalem and to his eventual death.
Last week I was talking to a longtime friend. She recounted how Allen, her son’s father, who had never had a
relationship was finally connecting with his son Jacob. After a few meetings, Allen’s cancer returned and he
missed his son’s 40th birthday. Recently, just eight months later Allen’s prognosis was six more months. Allen
died within a week without seeing his son again. One day he connecting with Jacob who he never gotten to
know as he was growing up, months later, he was told that he was dying and then Allen was gone.
Life is like that…full of unexpected turns. Allen was told that he had months to live. Allen had plans to make
time for Jacob who he had not acknowledged for too many years – he knew what he wanted to do with the rest
of his life.
It made me think about Jesus. Jesus knew that he only had a short time to live. As he journeyed to Jerusalem,
he was going to his death, his death on the cross. In the upcoming weeks we will hear about what Jesus decided
to do with the rest of his life. He healed the sick, he fed the poor, he taught people how much God loved them,
he visited his friends, he raised the dead and whenever he had a chance…he found a place to be by himself and
he prayed. What we see in these weeks ahead is a template of a life well lived, an example of love in action.
As we contemplate the words of Ash Wednesday and remember that we are dust and that we will return to dust,
we make the choice each day what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. During this Lenten season we
will be gathering at different churches in the NB Ministerium on Thursdays at 11:30 am with a short worship
service, to hear a message about “Living Water” and to share a simple meal of soup and bread. I encourage you
during this Lenten season to spend some time like Jesus: praying, worshiping, sharing the Good News—the
good news that God accompanies us always and goes ahead to prepare the way.
. . . he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
Mathew 14:23
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Stephanie
Loving God,
As we continue our Lenten journey, accompany us each day as we choose what to do with the rest of our life.
We give you thanks for all the blessings you have given to us. Help us to share those blessings with others so
that they too might know the grace and mercy that you offer to all. We ask these things in the name of Jesus
Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
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