Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church

Week of June 4-10, 2018: “Filled with Light” … 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 Imagine being so filled with light that you glowed from head to toe. You’d be just like a human firefly! But while we don’t, while yet here in this world, glow in such a way, we, who are in Christ, are still filled with light. Paul tells us, in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” The very God who first brought light into creation itself (Genesis 1:1-5), has now shone His light through His Son, Jesus Christ, into the darkness of our sin (John 1:1-5). That light now comes to us to bring us salvation (Colossians 1:12-14) along with all godly knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:12, 16b). From that light of knowledge, we go on to be the light of the world as we bring the very light of Jesus Christ to others (Matthew 5:14a, 16; 1 Peter 2:9). Yes, in Christ, we are so filled with light it’s a wonder that we do not glow! But while we are still here on earth, our light in Christ is “hidden” as if it is contained in what Paul calls “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Through our weak and very breakable mortal frames, we shine the light of Christ amongst ourselves and out to many others. Our frail human nature, that “flowerpot” that it is, is cause for us to humbly realize, as Paul did of himself, that “what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Jesus Himself came to earth as such a humble servant (Philippians 2:6-8). But even in such a lowly state He proclaimed Himself to be “the Light of the world” (John 8:12). While He would glow on the Mount of Transfiguration from head to toe, on a second mountaintop, at Calvary’s cross, darkness would cover the land as Jesus would die bearing the sins of the world. But sin’s darkness could not overcome Him (John 1:5). The Risen Christ now lives in the glory of heaven and someday we, who are His sons and daughters, will join Him there. And there, in heaven, we will be “clothed in white” (Revelation 7:9) and shining like the brightness of the sky and the stars (Daniel 12:3)—so great will be the Light of Christ in us and through us!

Your Pastor  Pastor Bill Mugnolo   Hi, I’m Pastor Bill Mugnolo and I have been serving at Zion Lutherran and at our sister congregation of St Johns in Elyria since September 2017. I was born in Baltimore, Maryland and I grew up on Long Island in New York State, in Northern New Jersey, and in Atlanta, Georgia. Since my graduation from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, I have lived in and have had an ongoing family connection to the Rochester, New York area which I consider to be my adopted hometown. I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church as an adult in 1984. I went on to seminary at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. I was ordained on August 16, 1990 on the thirty-first anniversary of my baptism. I have served congregations in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (1990-1998), Newark, New York (1998-2016), and Columbia Station, Ohio (2016-2017). I was joined in marriage to Sabra LeClaire of Rochester, New York on October 1, 1993. We have two daughters—, Emilia and Rebecca. I enjoy power walking, cross-country skiing, dumbbell training, travelling, and a wide variety of music. It is my great honor and privilege to serve both the Lord and you as pastor at Zion.

Wednesday and Thursday

9 A.M to 12 

440-282-8418 

Email pastor.mugnolo@yahoo.com

440-282-8418 Pastor Bill