Celebration of the Church Family

Celebration of the Church Family

Zion Newsletter, May 2026

The month of May marks the celebration of Pentecost. Fifty days after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and they began to preach. A few pages later you will read an article from Zion's President, August Selby, who visited our sister congregation in Lompoc, Bethany Lutheran Church, and how their pastor, Joseph Byrd, set a juxtaposition between the apostles who were in hiding after the crucifixion for the fear of the Jewish authorities and the same apostles who became bold witnesses and preachers of the Risen Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is very mighty in His power. He has been filling, guiding, and sanctifying the Church for the last 2000+ years. Throughout the ages and in different lands He made sure that the community of saints will receive a message about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how the blessings of His resurrection touched us in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism (Romans 6:1-4). The good news of this life-changing moment, when the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is placed upon a believer while the water of the baptismal font runs down his or her head. This marks the birth from above or birth of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3-8). This is the beginning, which starts the process of maturation in faith.

Next major step is confirmation – becoming a member of the church who consciously comes to the Table of the LORD. This year, 5 of our youngsters will pass this milestone. Three beautiful, godly girls (Melanie, Claire, and Stella) and two handsome, responsible boys (David and Andrew) will become members of Zion's family. You have seem them already helping with greetings, collection of offerings, and being acolytes. After almost two years of dedicated study and participation in Zion's family life, they will be the ones who will lead us in the Confession of Faith, making this creed their own. This is a major step for them. Let us all, together, help them find their proper place in our community.

And yet, we have more joyful news: Noah, one of our Cal Poly students, will be confirmed a week prior to Pentecost—on the Sunday when we will celebrate the Ascension of Jesus. How symbolic this is. As we remember Jesus being taking up to the heavens, one strong-in-faith young man will join the ranks of Christian soldiers, whose main weapon is the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God.

As the ages go by, the Holy Spirit is faithful to His mission—adding new people to the Church which confesses the Risen Lord Jesus, who revealed the glory of the Father (John 17:1-5). May Zion's family be a strong family of confessors, witnesses, and laborers in the Lord's vineyard (John 15:4-5).