Zion Lutheran Church - Valley Park, MO

04/03/2026

03/30/2026

Pastor Scott Weiler's message from March 29, 2026.

PALM SUNDAYSunday, March 29, 2026Divine Service - Setting 1O Lord, my creator, redeemer, and comforter, as I come to worship You in spirit and in truth, I hu...

03/29/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Sunday of the Passion
March 29, 2026

"All Glory, Laud, and Honor" (LSB 442)

Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor
To You, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

1. You are the King of Israel
And David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming,
Our King and Blessèd One. Refrain

2. The company of angels
Is praising You on high,
And we with all creation
In chorus make reply. Refrain

3. The multitude of pilgrims
With palms before You went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before You we present. Refrain

4. To You before Your passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To You, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise. Refrain

5. As You received their praises,
Accept the prayers we bring,
O Source of ev’ry blessing,
Our good and gracious King. Refrain

03/29/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Sunday of the Passion
March 29, 2026

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For pardon and renewal, that the blessed Son of God would lift up the gates of our hearts and be glorified as the Savior of sinners, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

That the merciful Lord would continue to provide faithful pastors and church workers, that their work would bring the light of Christ to those living in darkness; that their acts of mercy would extend His love to the disabled, wounded and forgotten throughout the world; and that His Church would serve Him in faithful service and witness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For Christian fathers, that receiving Christ and trusting His atoning sacrifice, they may be enlivened to sacrificial love for their children, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For our leaders and those who serve in law enforcement and the armed forces, that they may acknowledge God, before whom the might of man is nothing, and so serve honorably and well, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who suffer in this world, that they would not fear but fix their eyes on Jesus as they await the fullness of their salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who commune, that the Lord, who humbly rode into Jerusalem for our salvation, would give us hearts that confess our sin and rejoice in His presence in the Holy Communion for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For ears that are open to the voice of God, that hearing the precious Gospel of Christ, we would follow Christ in doing the will of the Father, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves, our bodies and souls, and all things; save us, O Lord, faithful God; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

03/29/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
Sunday of the Passion
March 29, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Isaiah 50:4–9a

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
from disgrace and spitting.

But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord God helps me;
who will declare me guilty?

EPISTLE
Philippians 2:5–11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL
John 12:20–43

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

03/23/2026

Pastor Scott Weiler's Message - March 22, 2026

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENTSunday, March 22, 2026Divine Service - No Setting - Stream Begins - Service Begins - Call to Worship - "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less"...

03/22/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2026

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all the baptized, that they would live according to the Spirit they have received, shunning the works of the flesh and living in the hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For Matthew, our Synod president; all district presidents, circuit visitors and pastors whom the Lord has sent to prophesy His Word to us, that His Spirit’s breath would enter us and we may live forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the home, that God would soften obdurate hearts, turning parents and children toward each other in love and patience; and that He would banish the spirit of impudence, stubbornness and rebellion from all, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those in authority over the lives of our people, that they would exercise this God-given duty humbly and in accord with His will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those suffering affliction, that God would strengthen their hope, show them His steadfast love, redeem them from all their iniquities, and grant healing and relief according to His will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they may come with repentant hearts to taste the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for our life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who mourn, that they might not grieve as those who have no hope but as those whose hope is the crucified and risen One, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

O Lord, God almighty, through Your Son You have kept the promise of the ages and rescued us from sin. You have raised up the dry bones of a people captive to death and made us alive in Christ forever. Sustain us in this hope, that we may endure the tests, trials and troubles of this life and be ready when our Savior comes again in His glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

03/22/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2026

"My Song Is Love Unknown" (LSB 430)

1. My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown
That they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh and die?

2. He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know.
But, oh, my friend,
My friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend!

3. Sometimes they strew His way
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King.
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.

4. Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease
And ’gainst Him rise.

5. They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful He
To suff’ring goes
That He His foes
From thence might free.

6. In life no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heav’n was His home
But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.

7. Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine!
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my friend,
In whose sweet praise
I all my days
Could gladly spend!

03/22/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Ezekiel 37:1–14

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

GOSPEL
John 11:17–27, 38–53

When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” ...

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

03/16/2026

Pastor Scott Weiler's message March 15, 2026.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENTSunday, March 15, 2026Divine Service - Setting 10:00:00 - Stream Begins0:01:20 - Service Begins0:04:30 - Call to Worship - "When I Surve...

03/16/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 15, 2026

"God Loved the World So That He Gave" (LSB 571)

1. God loved the world so that He gave
His only Son the lost to save,
That all who would in Him believe
Should everlasting life receive.

2. Christ Jesus is the ground of faith,
Who was made flesh and suffered death;
All then who trust in Him alone
Are built on this chief cornerstone.

3. God would not have the sinner die;
His Son with saving grace is nigh;
His Spirit in the Word declares
How we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.

4. Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son
Forgives all sins which you have done;
And, justified by Jesus’ blood,
Your Baptism grants the highest good.

5. If you are sick, if death is near,
This truth your troubled heart can cheer:
Christ Jesus saves your soul from death;
That is the firmest ground of faith.

6. Glory to God the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To You, O blessèd Trinity,
Be praise now and eternally!