Zion Lutheran Church Harrisburg

Newsletters

September 2, 2023

Dear Members & Friends of Zion,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God.

The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose. - Acts 16:25-26 (The Message)

“Oh, to have heard that midnight song. They sang so heartily that the other prisoners heard them. Paul & Silas did not know how this story would end…. They were not sure of their deliverance, but they were sure of their deliverer. You can be, too. Rather than panic, you can […] praise.” – Max Lucado, from Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength & Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Recently, while visiting a couple in a hospital room, the husband shared that a recent worship service had left him with an earworm. After hearing verses from Psalm 18, especially verse 3 - I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised. He had a popular praise song playing in his head for days. Spontaneously, we broke out singing, “I Will Call Upon the Lord,” right there at his wife’s bedside. We were joyfully reminded that the Spirit of the Lord was with us then and there.

Twice a week at Zion, on Sundays and Wednesdays, we are gathered together in worship, praising the Lord in song and remembering all He has done for us when hear His Word and come before His throne of grace in prayer. We are gathered in-person and online. The online community stretches across the US and often overseas. It includes rooms at home, in nursing homes, and in hospitals. This rhythm of worship strengthens us to continually dwell in the Spirit’s power throughout the week, particularly at times when we face difficult challenges.

May the music and message of the Good News of Jesus Christ in our weekly worship dwell within us always. Following the Apostle Paul’s instruction: Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:18-20

In the Peace and Love of Christ,
Pastor Karin Pejack

Fall 2023 Newsletter (PDF)

Previous Newsletters:
May-August 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
February-April 2023 Newsletter (PDF)

2022
November/December 2022/January 2023 Newsletter (PDF)
September/October 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
May/June/July 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
March/April 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
February 2022 Newsletter (PDF)

2021
December 2021/January 2022 Newsletter (PDF)
October/November 2021 Newsletter (PDF)
September/October 2021 Newsletter (PDF)
June/July/August 2021 Newsletter (PDF)
May 2021 Newsletter (PDF)
February/March 2021 Newsletter (PDF)
December 2020/January/February 2021 Newsletter (PDF)

2020