Zion Lutheran Church

06/03/2026

Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Romans 4:13-25 (NRSV)
Read Romans 4:13-25 on biblegateway.com

13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") -in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be." 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness."

23Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Devotion
Paul’s words in Romans feel deeply personal to me at a time when it often seems so difficult to live in hope, when what we hope for seems so distant. In Romans 4:13-25, Paul calls on the example of Abraham as one who trusted that God would make good on God’s promises even when those promises made no sense—Abraham’s body was “as good as dead,” and Sarah’s womb was long barren. But Abraham hoped against hope, trusting not in what could be seen but in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist. We are reminded in this passage that the promises of God are not rooted in logic or what is predictable but in the faithfulness of a God who always shows up and always provides. Today we are invited to trust—not because things are clear and it all makes sense, but because God is faithful, even in our waiting.

Prayer
Faithful God, on the days when hope seems difficult, maybe even ridiculous, strengthen our trust in you, that even though we don’t see it, you are moving in ways we have yet to imagine. Be our reason and source of hope when we can do nothing but hope against hope. Amen.

Rev. Gabriella Conklin '21 M.Div.
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Edinburg, TX

06/03/2026

Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Psalm 50:7-15 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 50:7-15 on biblegateway.com

7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.

8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.

9I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds.

10For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

11I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine.

12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine.

13Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

15Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Devotion
In Psalm 50 the psalmist becomes a spokesperson for God about how and why we worship. Speaking for God the psalmist reminds us that God does not need or require offerings that are just going through the motions, like performances of checking the boxes of our “faith checklist.” God desires something much deeper than that. What God requires has to do with the expression of a relationship of trust and dependence. That relationship is evidenced in thanksgiving and the confidence that God will deliver us in the time of trouble. With such confidence we are invited to let go of our need to prove ourselves, let go of our striving, and instead turn toward our Creator God with gratitude and trust.

Prayer
Creator God, free us from the need to prove ourselves, and turn our hearts from striving to trust. Teach us to come before you with gratitude and to call on you in every need, knowing you are near. Amen.

Rev. Gabriella Conklin '21 M.Div.
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Edinburg, TX

06/03/2026

VBS Registration is live on our website. Register your child today by clicking on the link below. Also, if you child is in Middle or High School, we would love to have them serve as mentors. And as always, we need adult volunteers too. All those registration forms can be found at the link below!

Zion is a dynamic, mission-focused congregation located in the beautiful valley of Middletown, MD. We strive to welcome, educate and serve the needs of our members and the surrounding community. 

06/01/2026

Monday, June 1, 2026
Hosea 5:15-6:6 (NRSV)
Read Hosea 5:15-6:6 on biblegateway.com

15I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor:

6"Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth."

4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Devotion
where our strength comes from, in times of renewal, we return to God. As imperfect people, there is this sort of ebb and flow to our faithfulness. In Hosea 6:1-3, God longs for the people of Israel to return, imagining them saying words like this: “Come, let us return to the Lord.” God calls them out for their fleeting love that vanishes so quickly like the clouds and the dew. God desires a steadfast kind of love and devotion that goes deep. The prophet Hosea invites us to notice how, even in moments when our faith seems to slip away, God does not turn away from us. God waits patiently, not for perfection, but for presence. We are being invited to not just return but remain faithful with God.

Prayer
Merciful God, help us to remain continually present and faithful to you. Let our love for you not be as fleeting as the morning dew but as deep and steadfast as the living water that never runs dry. Amen.

Rev. Gabriella Conklin '21 M.Div.
Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Edinburg, TX

05/31/2026

Sunday, May 31, 2026
Let the Whole Creation Cry (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 876)
1 Let the whole creation cry,
"Glory to the Lord on high!"
Heav'n and earth, awake and sing,
"Praise to our almighty king!"
Praise God, angel hosts above,
ever bright and fair in love;
sun and moon, lift up your voice;
night and stars, in God rejoice.

2 Servants striving for the Lord,
prophets burning with the word,
those to whom the arts belong
add their voices to the song.
Pow'rs of knowledge and of law,
to the glorious circle draw;
all who work and all who wait,
sing, "The Lord is good and great!"

3 Men and women, young and old,
raise the anthem loud and bold,
and let children's happy hearts
in this worship take their parts;
from the north to southern pole
let the mighty chorus roll:
"Holy, Holy, Holy One;
glory be to God alone!"

Text: Stopford A. Brooke; Music: Jakob Hintze; Public Domain

Devotion
Although the source of Stopford A. Brooke’s inspiration for this hymn was Psalm 148, I hear echoes of Psalm 8 in it as well. Humanity joins together with all of nature to give God the glory. We are included in the summons to sing our grateful praise. Everyone has a part to play in this grand celebration; no one and nothing is excluded. And at the center of it all is the One who creates, sustains, and holds all things, united in everlasting love.

Prayer
Almighty and Ever-living God, you have included us in your creative work so that your will and your way will be done on earth “as it is in heaven.” No matter what our gender, age, or calling, may we glorify you with grateful hearts in all that we say and do. Amen.

Angela K. Renecker '95 M.Div.
Pastor, Galilean Lutheran Church, Ocean Shores, WA

05/31/2026

Welcome to worship this morning. We are so happy to have you with us. To download a copy of today's bulletin, visit www.ZionMiddletown.org. Today’s liturgy is used with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # SAS004159. Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from both ONE LICENSE, License A-716392 and CCLI Streaming License CSPL055440. All rights reserved. Music in today's worship is covered under both CCLI license 837681 and ONE LICENSE, License A-716392. All rights reserved.

05/30/2026

Saturday, May 30, 2026
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 836)
1 Joyful, joyful we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before thee,
praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.

2 All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heav'n reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird, and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.

3 Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine!

Text: Henry van D**e; Music: Ludwig van Beethoven; Public Domain

Devotion
I can’t think of a more happy marriage of text and tune than this hymn of praise. The words of Henry van D**e set to Beethoven’s composition simply radiate joy. No wonder it is a favorite hymn of many! Whenever I sing it, I feel connected to all of God’s good creation: stars, flowers, critters, natural beauty, and supernatural mystery. I find myself joining in a universal chorus, caught up in the everlasting love of God. And when we sing together, my spirit soars. My faith is renewed.

Prayer
God of grace and glory, in our ordinary daily tasks, may we discover that we are indeed connected to the world around us. May we love what you love. By the power of your life-giving Spirit, inspire and encourage us so that—with all of creation—we may respond with grateful praise. Amen.

Angela K. Renecker '95 M.Div.
Pastor, Galilean Lutheran Church, Ocean Shores, WA

05/29/2026

elca Composer of our days and director of our lives, your wonder is engraved in the foundations of all creation.
Tune our hearts to praise, and silence our crowded minds so we might sing the majesty of your love. —Bread for the Day

05/29/2026

Friday, May 29, 2026
Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 28:16-20 on biblegateway.com

16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Devotion
It seems the readings for this week have brought us full circle from the beginning of God’s creating to Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples. Christ Jesus has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth”—supreme power over all of creation—and he in turn empowers us to be agents of his grace to all people. We are now delegated, diplomats who bear the seal of authority granted by a higher power. Indeed, the highest power! As we are called by our Creator to be stewards of creation, we are sent by our Lord to mentor others in the faith. To quote the Blues Brothers, “We are on a mission from God”! And though this mission is often challenging and not without peril, Christ Jesus promises to be with us always. Let us get up in faith and go out in love. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Almighty, ever-living Lord, grant us your courage and wisdom today to be witnesses of your glory and agents of your grace. Amen.

Angela K. Renecker '95 M.Div.
Pastor, Galilean Lutheran Church, Ocean Shores, WA