Sunday’s Schedule
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship 10:15 a.m.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 21st, 2024
“On this rock I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18)
Did You Know?
Jubilate comes from the Latin translation of the first line of the introit (Jubilate Deo omnis terra), meaning “Shout for joy to God, all the earth.” (Psalm 66:3) *resource: ww.steadfastlutherans.org
Prayer Requests 
Gratitude: First Calls extended to candidates at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN and Concordia Semianry, St. Louis; Thanksgiving for 149+ years of God’s rich grace and full salvation delivered through His Word and Sacrament ministry at Zion, Worms (150th-September of 2024) and for 100 years at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Central City, NE (1924-2024)
Healing, Recovery, Strength: Tish Niemeier (achilles’ heel surgery); Naomi Schipman (hospice); Evelyn Kurz (hospitalized); Betty Wichmann (recovery at home); Jannie Parr, sister of Bobby Larsen (cancer); Tanya, daughter of Paul Mommens (lung transplant)
Missions, Outreach, and Christian Education: Global missions—Honduras; Pr. Roberto and Katheryn {Ziegler} Weber and family—transition to Dominican Republic; Lutheran Church of Nigeria and Lutheran Bible Translator projects; Nebraska Dist.—Peace Lutheran Church, Columbus, NE; Heartland Lutheran High School; Concordia, Seward and all our Concordias; Concordia Theological Sem., Ft. Wayne and Concordia Sem., St. Louis.
Global Peace: Israel/Palestine (including family and friends of Pastor Nabil Nour); Ukrane/Russia; end of terrorism
Military: Kurt Morthole, Joseph Markvicka
News and Notes
On Worthy Reception: Do we need to receive Holy Communion regularly? How do we know? After asking whether we remain as sinners in the flesh, Luther also encourages us to “look around you and see whether you are also in the world. If you do not know, ask your neighbors about it. If you are in the world, do not think that there will be any lack of sin and needs…In short, the less you feel your sins and infirmities, the more reason you have to go to the sacrament and seek its help and remedy.” (Luther’s Large Catechism—The Sacrament of the Altar. The Book of Concord, Kolb/Wenger ed. Augsburg: Minn, 2000. pg. 475.78,79)
Bierocks: We still have some plain bierocks for sale. ($3.50) Please talk to Barb Simonson if interested.
Teaching the Faith Given in Baptism: “The Law of God is Good and Wise” is the theme for this year’s catechism camp held at Camp Comeca (near Cozad) on May 28-30th. Information is provided in the narthex. Feel free to share with anyone interested. Questions? Please let Pastor know! (Deadline to register is May 2, 2024)
Sanctity of Human Life: Join us as we CELEBRATE LIFE! South Central Nebraska Right to Life will host “Pro-Life & Pie” on April 28, 2024 at Lochland Country Club, (601 W Lochland Road in Hastings). Our speaker is Dr. John Bruchalski, OBGYN, who founded Tepeyac OB/GYN and Divine Mercy Care. During his training, Dr. Bruchalski performed abortions believing he was helping women. He experienced a profound conversion of heart following a live birth during a late-term abortion procedure and resolved to practice life-affirming medicine that supported women, children, and their families. As he explains it, “I came to see that true health care for women is not about rights, but relationships—not about limits, but about love and mercy.” Doors open at 2:00 pm with program to start at 2:30 pm. Pie buffet and coffee/tea is served. Tickets are $20/person. RSVP is required by April 24. Clergy & Students 18 & under attend free by contacting us with their RSVP! Here’s how to purchase a ticket:
• By Mail: Payment to: SCNRTL, PO Box 391, Hastings, NE 68902
• By Email: Send us an email: info@SCNRTL.org and pay at the door
• By Phone: Call 402-461-1934 to register and pay at the door
Notifications: Looking for an easy way to stay updated about potential calendar changes and upcoming events at Zion? In addition to calling a friend or checking our congregation’s Facebook page, you might consider signing up for a “slick text” updates from Zion. Those who are interested or have further questions can ask Kraig Niemoth (308-627-0289).
Stewardship Sentences: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:14) What does it mean to know the Lord? It starts with being known by the Lord: He claims us as His own and calls us by name. Then, once we are His, we learn to know Him, and in knowing Him, we learn to imitate Him. That is how the Christian life of good works and generosity grows from the Lord’s grace.
Readings
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 40:25–31
25To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. 27Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Epistle 1 John 3:1–3
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Holy Gospel John 16:16–22
16[Jesus said:] “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
1653 Worms Road, St. Libory, NE 68872 • (308) 687-6314
Zion Lutheran Church 