Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church

Week of June 17-23, 2019: “Father(s), Son, and Holy Spirit” … Romans 12:1

This year, 2019, the beloved holiday that is Father’s Day coincides with a major Church holiday—the Sunday of the Holy Trinity. I would like to link these two holidays together through the writings of one of our sainted earthly fathers, Dr. Martin Luther.

In his Small Catechism, Luther comments on the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” He then explains the Father’s roles—roles which our earthly fathers are also meant to carry out—as follows:

As Creator: Luther writes, “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.” While God created the first two human beings by His own hand, human fathers, together with mothers, have been given both the awesome privilege and responsibility of being co-creators with God in bringing new life into the world.

As Provider: Luther writes, “He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and this life.” Our earthly fathers have especially been given the role of being providers, in the stead of God Himself, for those who are in their household (Luke 11:11-12).

As Protector: Luther writes, “He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.” Our earthly fathers are also called to be such protectors as men who love their wives—and, by extension, those in their household—“as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her …” (Ephesians 5:25).

As the Giver of Goodness and Mercy: Luther writes, “All this He does out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.” Our Father’s greatest act of divine goodness and mercy has been to send the second person of the Triune God, His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from sin and death.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Holy Trinity—earthly fathers are not only brought to saving faith, but are also empowered to extend God’s goodness and mercy towards their household and others as they carry out Paul’s words in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” May all earthly fathers in Christ live out these words by faith in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit … Amen. 

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