Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church

  Week of July 23-29, 2018: “Surrounding Events” … Mark 6:30-44
 

      The Feeding of the Five-Thousand is the one miracle, outside of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, that is recorded by all four Gospel writers. But as outstanding as this miracle was in feeding such a multitude with just five loaves of bread and two fish, there were several other surrounding events that are worth our looking at.
 

      First, we see that Jesus and His disciples needed a break. Mark 6:31 tells us, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not have a chance to eat, He said to them (His disciples), ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” We, too, can be pushed to our limits in caring for the needs of others. We often feel guilty when we feel too worn out to be able to meet these needs. In Jesus’ words, we see that it is okay for us to take a break and get away so that we would be refreshed.
 

      Second, after a short rest while sailing across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus is greeted by a huge crowd who raced around the shoreline to meet up with Him when the boat landed. Who could have blamed Jesus if He had turned the crowds away—at least for a time. But instead, Jesus “had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Sometimes we also feel as if we are running on “short rest” or even “on fumes”. Then, we hear that little voice that says, “Mommy” or “Grandpa”. Or the deeper voice that calls out “honey”. We might groan inside and wish to turn them away. But, through it all, we can, as Paul says, “do all thing through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
 

      A third “surrounding event” involved how Jesus, before He multiplied the loaves and fish, had his disciples arrange the crowds into groups of hundreds and fifties. This was done to provide needed order for the proper distribution of the food. Here, Jesus shows us that order is a good thing—a blessing to us. This is especially true when it comes to having an orderly form to our worship (as Lutheran Christians do in their Divine Service Liturgies) as Paul tells us, “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
 

      Finally, we hear how the apostles picked up twelve baskets full of leftover food fragments—one for each of them. Clearly, Jesus is never one to let anything go to waste (John 6:12). He will never waste any time, talent, or treasure that we give to him having not withheld the very treasure of His life that He gave—for you and for me (Romans 8:32)!

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