Newsletter: Travel to Eternity

Travel to Eternity

We just had a wonderful celebration of the Feast of Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. It is a milestone in the history of the Church -when the Comforter came upon them. Once more there was proof that all of God's promises in Jesus are “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). It is great to look back into the history of the community of the saints and be reminded of what God did for them: 6000 years ago, 4000 years ago, 2000 years ago, etc. How He always carried His Church though the stormy waves of worldly oppression.

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.

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup

When we eat this bread and drink this cup

[Newsletter article for April 2026]

Dear brothers and sisters!

We begin this month with the Paschal Triduum. An observance of the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday through Easter Vigil to the Resurrection Day. All three of these dates and events are intertwine with each other and can not be separated by a simple dissection. We could not celebrate Easter unless Jesus came through the pangs of death on the Cross. At the same time, He wouldn't be on the Cross if Judas stayed in the Upper Room when the Savior instituted the Lord's Supper. The history is a clothing of the world events made without seams...

Traveling

 Traveling

[Newsletter article for March 2026] 

Over and again I re-read the wilderness account of the temptations of Jesus. I think I understand “bread one.” For sure, bread is important for life, but we are not to place the gifts of God before the Giver. He is the great provider. His living Word – our Lord Jesus – is our primary source of satisfaction. Maybe I just scratching the surface of the meaning – I find it sufficient for now.

But what about the other two? What puzzles me is not the response of Jesus – the whole approach is off: jumping of a pinnacle of the Temple? (Matthew 4:5-7). I can easily see how Jesus steps out of the roof and very slowly descends to the ground without ANY angelic help – as He did it later in His ministry walking on waters. So, what was devil trying to accomplish there? Test the boundaries of trust the Son has toward the Father? See is it really the incarnate Creator who rules over the law of gravity He embedded into the nature?

REFORMATION or REVOLUTION

 ReFORMATION or Re-volution

Every October Lutheran churches celebrate Reformation Day. We all remember that on All the Saint’s Day Eve Dr. Martin Luther nailed an invitation for a discussion of Indulgences. His pastoral taste and practiced was “attacked” by Johann Tetzel’s sale’s events. As a result, we ended up with the Reformation. Restoration of the value of the Word of God operating through the Scriptures and the Sacraments.

Luther was not the only one who attempted to implement some changes in the life of the Church. Yet, their practices were radically different from those of Luther’s. What they argued for is more compatible with revolution, rather than Reformation. They wanted to get rid of liturgical practices, office of the ministry, and beauty of the sanctuaries. They wanted to start anew, thinking that the Church is SO corrupt, it’s irredeemable…

Unfortunately, they probably did not consider the depth of the Biblical statements about the Church. St. Paul writes to his disciple that the Church of the Living God is the pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). God preserved the church through the ages. Luther was very careful to identify the mistakes and sins of the clergy and hierarchy. He was ready to reform, to bring changes into life by teaching and preaching, and not by rioting or destruction.

Church is a living organism and is constantly changing. The proper way to achieve the godly changes is returning to the Word of God – holy, written, and inerrant Word of God – and prayerfully consider what can be done better in our context that Zion will reflect His glory, love, and grace. Teaching, preaching, and sharing the Word is the way transform from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Zion has a great history, and the Bridegroom of the Church will lead us into a greater future, if we will be faithful to His transformative Word, the Word of Reformation.            

LIFT UP the CROSS

LIFT UP the CROSS

On September 14^th Zion will commemorate Holy Cross Day (LSB, p. xi). And many of you will say: what is this? Allow me to introduce you to a small piece of our church history. Let me start with the vision of Emperor Constantine before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. It was an important route over Tiber, and winning this fight let Constantine to a position of sole rule over the Roman Empire. On the night of the battle, he saw a dream with the sign of the Cross and a phrase ‘In hoc signo vinces’ (in [or with] this sign you shall conquer). He led his troops to the battle with the symbol of the lifted Cross and won. To commemorate his rise to power to dedicated two churches in Jerusalem – Holy Sepulcher and Mount Calvary. As a part of dedication, on September 14 335AD, the worshipers were gathered to observe the newly installed Cross in the Church of Sepulcher.   

About three hundred years later, on the same day of September 14 in 629 the Byzantine Emperor elevated so-called “the True Cross” in Hagia Sofia in Constantinople. This began to raise some theological concerns among the Christian scholars. As a result, the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 drew the distinction between the veneration and the worship, which belongs to God alone.

Continuing the same idea, Dr. Luther once wrote a letter to Frederich the Wise (his patron) concerning the acquisition of a new relic. It was 1522 and Martin Luther was safely kept by his wise protector in Wartburg castle. Yet, caring for a spiritual estate of his Prince, the Reformer wrote:

Grace and gladness from God the Father on the acquisition of the new relic! I put down this greeting, Gracious Lord, in place of my assurance of respect. For many years Your Grace has now been acquiring relics in many countries; but now God has heard Your Grace’s desire and without any cost and trouble has sent to your address an entire cross, with nails. Spears, and scourges. I say again: Grace and gladness from God on the acquisition of the new relic!

What Luther was going after is not a physical cross from Holy Land or Vatican. He meant the suffering that came with the preaching of the Gospel in his beloved Saxony – he compared the cross-bearing of a Christian with the attacks of those who oppose to the Reformation.

The same meaning we apply to the cross today. At Zion we have a beautiful Altar Crucifix, on the main feasts we use a processional Cross – when a Crucifer, followed by choir, bell choir and clergy lifts up the cross walks down the isle during the hymn of Invocation. We have an Old Ragged Cross that we place in the chancel from the forty days of Lent. Yet, none of these crosses should be treated as worship objects. They are reminders of the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins. Following St. Paul we can say: we preach Christ crucified (2 Corinthians 1:23). For on the Cross of Calvary the sins have been atone for, debts have been paid, reconciliation between God and the sinful world completed.

That’s why we treasure our heritage – church history commemorated in liturgical calendar reminds us of the Biblical teachings. Teaching of Creation, Fall, God’s love, and Salvation. September is associated with Holy Cross – a profound sign of God’s undying love for the world. The love we are to share, as the hymn instructs us:

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

Till all the world adore His sacred name (LSB 837). 

NEWSLETTER: FINAL PUSH

FINAL PUSH

Dear brothers and sisters!

There are two factors that shape my newsletter article this month. On the one hand, we are at the beginning of April. At the same time, the celebration of the Resurrection of our LORD. Therefore, when we enter the time of April there are almost three more weeks ahead of us arriving at the time of Easter. So, our weeks can be compared to the final minute of any sport game regulated by time. First one that comes to my mind is Ice Hockey (I am sure you are shocked 😊). At the same time, it can be Super Bowl (or any football games), or a basketball tournament…  There is this moment when the win is very close, but there is need for the final push. Keep the defense line, keep pressing hard at the offense, not making fouls which might result in penalties in loosing people to the bench, or loosing points… So, final push.

First of all, we are in the process of ending Lent. This year we began our very special Evening services – services of Light. As the daylight time grows longer, we are blessed with a visual of keeping the sanctuary in a twilight while we sing “stay with us, LORD, for it is evening.” He, being the guiding light of our lives, leads us through the challenges which help Zion to mature.       

Then we will arrive at Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday. Many of you know how beautiful Zion looks during this Sunday- everyone is invited back to the Garden where God walks among us and talks to us in His Word. This “date” with God will be followed by Maundy Thursday – the celebration of the Lord’s Supper institution, when Christ is not only talking to us but also feeds us with Himself.    

Maundy Thursday opens the way to the victory of the Cross and Resurrection. There is a reason for St. Paul to exclaim: “we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23) – Good Friday remembrance of Calvary lays the foundation for the Resurrection. These days in a close connection, making the final push of Lent particularly meaningful. It is not to us, but to Him be the glory (Psalm 115:1) – for we are nothing but the receivers of the benefits of His victory over death, sin, and the devil. Final push – let us get ready!  

NEWSLETTER: March - THINKING of LENT

Faithfulness to the Lord, loyalty to the Church

Dear brothers and sisters,

The time of Lent is upon us. Thinking of Lent, there are a few layers to consider. On March 9, the first Sunday of Lent, we’ll read Luke 4:1-11. Allow me to explain these layers based on the Gospel reading: First, the time of Lent reminds us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Right after His baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness where natural dangers were testing His will, and when the absence of food, comfortable sleep, and the lack of joyful fellowship with other people reached its peak, the supernatural temptations came to surface.  The devil came, trying to penetrate the guard of the Son of Man. Everything began as a simple earthly question: what about this bread, the basic means to survive? The same questions we have here at Zion: what about the money, paying the bills, etc. All of them are reasonable and should concern a genuine believer, but the focus should stay on the LORD who generously provided in years past. 

SHINING NEW BEGINNING!

Shining New Beginning

Dear brothers and sisters!

2025 is here. January begins with the feast of Epiphany [technically, it begins with the Circumcision of Jesus on January 1st, but I’ll make my point]. Thinking about Epiphany, we celebrate the arrival of the wisemen to worship Jesus. They saw the star while they were East of Judea, they came to Jerusalem, for it is the city of the King, and to their surprise no one was expecting them. No one had even heard of the birth of the new King, Messianic ruler of the World. Herod was consumed with his own sense of power: he is known for murdering his own offspring for alleged conspiracy. He did not want any competition.  When we see him attempting to find out the time of Jesus birth, it obviously was not driven by pious reasons. We know how the story ends with him–special forces were commanded to go to Bethlehem and kill all babies under 2 years of age.

UNIQUE TAPESTRY of the CHURCH

Unique tapestry of the Church 

(Zion Newsletter, November 2024)

November concludes the Church Year. This year the calendar is very precise – we begin the next Church Year on December 1. Also, November concludes the regular part of the Church Year – when our paraments are green (most of the time), then we talk about our spiritual lives, and when our walk with God is the focus of our attention.

The regular part begins right after the Day of Pentecost – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the First Apostolic Church in Jerusalem. So, we begin this half year with the celebration of the church, and we end it with a commemoration of All the Saints, contemplating our final destiny, and enjoying the festivities of Thanksgiving Day. Thinking of the Church what fills a mind of a Christian these days.

REFORMATION LIFE

Reformation of life

Dear brothers and sisters!

October comes very suddenly. We just had a spike in the temperature – a September heat wave. WOW week at Cal Poly passed, and then, to our surprise, October comes. Usually, it gets more obvious with toy pumpkins and other decorations on display at the stores. Every store tries to outdo the next in pushing merchandise related to the feast at the very end of October. And if you walk into a store and ask about the feast, you won’t get the answer that I prefer. Almost everything that is sold, one way or another, is related to death, while our heritage encourages us to concentrate on life.      

Dr. Martin Luther was thinking about the lives of his parishioners when he nailed the invitation for a discussion of his 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door. He knew that the church would be full that night, for the people used to come for the All the Saint’s Day Eve service. The posting of the 95 theses was not an exhibition of his pride – he was already a doctor of the Church, and his income did not depend on it. Also, it was not an attempt to present something controversial for the sake of intellectual discussion – some kind of brain teaser. It was genuine care for the lives on earth, and most importantly for the eternal destiny of his flock. Men and Women, families with and without children, rich and poor, German and non-German alike, clergy, monks, laity, etc.

Eternal lives were at stake – for the TRUTH will make you free, the truth which is found in the Word of God (John 8:32). “God’s Word forever shall abide,” a line in his most favorite hymn (LSB 657:4). For what will set your mind at ease? Government? Rulers come and go – good ones and the bad ones. The beloved Saxony of little Martin no longer exists, it’s Germany now. There used to be 13 original colonies of the British Empire, and now we live in the United States of America. There is no earthly power or authority – government, money, or army – that can survive the ultimate test of time. Yet, the Word of the LORD endures forever (1 Pet. 2:24-25).

This Word purifies the hearts, pointing to the remnant of sin in our lives, leading to confession, comforting with Words of forgiveness for Christ’s sake, and leading us to the path of maturation (2 Tim. 3:16). This purification of hearts combined leads to the purification of the Church. The Church of Luther’s times needed to be purged, the churches of the West need cleansing now. That is why every year on October 31, celebrating the Reformation Day, we gladly remember a humble attempt to turn people’s attention to the promises of the Gospel. The Gospel that soothes the soul, the Gospel that helps to fight overwhelming anxiety, the Gospel that shuts down any accusation toward the ones who want to live in peace with God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

LABORING for CHRIST!

Laboring for Christ!                 Newsletter - September 2024 

The month of September begins with Labor Day weekend. The very first Monday of the month is a national holiday. It has an interesting history in its separation from the old May 1^st  celebration. While May Day had more of a political flavor (honoring socialist and anarchist roots on the regulation of work hours and such), Labor Day was designed to honor and celebrate laborers by giving  an additional opportunity for family time to those working hard to provide for their loved ones.      

This is exactly the position Dr. Martin Luther holds in his discussion “Work as a vocation.” He divided the Table of Duties in his Small Catechism into four main sections: Church (Bishops/pastors and hearers); Civil realm (governments and citizens); Family (Husband and Wives; Parents and Children); and last but not least a vocation (workers and employers/supervisors) (SC, section 3).

For Martin Luther, a godly baker was as important a part of the Kingdom of God as a faithful pastor. Unlike the teaching that dominated the church of his day which elevated the priesthood and monastic lifestyle over the people with their regular lives, Dr. Luther had a great respect for the laborers of his congregation; perhaps because he came from the family of a hardworking and successful man, Hans Luder, and he knew firsthand the value of earned coins. Or maybe because he had studied the Scripture so earnestly and learned that work is not a part of the curse of the Garden, but a blessing that God provided for Adam even before the Fall (Gen. 2:15). After the Fall, the work was not as joyful and productive (Gen. 3:17-19).  

Till the Day of His glorious return, we are occupied by work activities. The world makes a huge difference between owning a successful company and the simple routine of a housewife. Yet, the Biblical view of each of them is measured by the condition of the hear. Giving your all to a vocation might be a way of bringing glory to God. Even the sobering words of Ecclesiastes teaches us that though life can seem meaningless, there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot (Eccl. 3:22).   

It is also worth noting that the root of the word for “work” and “labor” in the Bible is the same as “worship.” Don’t get me wrong, by no means am I going to teach that we are working out our salvation, or a time of worship is heavy labor or a burden. None of that.  Yet, the Bible teaches a parallel between our devout life of prayer and thanksgiving to God with the dutiful fulfillment of our labor responsibilities. St. Paul teaches us in the Letter to Colossians (3:23): Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. May He be glorified through the toils of our daily life!

LIFE of DISCIPLESHIP

Life of discipleship

We are at a regular time of the Church year. Regular time might sound like a boring idea – non-eventful, every Sunday our beautiful Zion altar is covered with green, many familiar faces left for their vacation places… On the other hand, it is a good time to think about the walk in Christ or life of the discipleship (Col. 2:6-7). When you read the Bible, you do not find a verse about napping in Christ or – take an another extreme – running in Christ. The discipleship is a walk in Christ – steady, sometimes non-eventful, sometimes with no familiar face around or even alone…

When you come to our Fellowship Hall, you’ll find a passage from the Book of Acts 2:42 on the back wall of the stage: and they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the praying. “They” to be the members of the First Messianic congregation in Jerusalem – Jewish believers who recognized Jesus as the promised Christ, the foretold Messiah. They formed the community being moved by the Holy Spirit, for their hearts were pierced when St. Peter told them that the Messiah was killed because of their sins. Actually, he was more poignant: Let the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified (Acts 2:36). First congregation was built on this very message: every one of them and every one of us was a reason for the crucifixion, but God in Him won the battle with the death and devil, resurrecting Jesus, and reconciling the whole world to Himself. Whole world! Every one of us!   

This happened about 2000 years ago miles and miles away from our beloved Zion Lutheran church. How the Good News of Jesus was able to make it to the Central Coast? The answer is both simple and difficult. The difficult part is discussed in the books on the Church History – thousands upon thousands of names, places, and dates can and should be remembered, faith heroes honored (not worshiped), and great ideas that shaped our theology and practice commemorated. The simple option sounds like this: daily, weekly, monthly, every year in every century the Church of Christ continued in the same manner. They were studying the Holy Scriptures, meeting with one another, partaking in the sacrament at the Table of the LORD, and spending time in prayer (both communal and private).

The thing is – the reach of Good News to the Central Coast is not a matter of milage only, it is a generational challenge – I’ll repeat myself, 2000 years. So, the life of the discipleship is a life of acquiring deep Biblical convictions, practicing them in daily life, teaching them to your children and to your children’s children or – as psalmist put it – “from generation to generation” (Ps. 78:6), and also sharing these convictions with others.

Therefore, there are three basic challenges to godly discipleship. First, a church can stop sharing the Good News with others, living comfortably as a good family of believers. The second one, is stopping to teach our children. And the third one, going through gestures and motions with no reflection on what the deep conviction of forgiveness is about.

Life at Zion IS a life of overcoming these challenges – we share the love of Jesus distributing the gifts provided via Harvest Bag, Zion Preschool should become a center of godliness. LWML is reaching out to organizations like Fort Hope that look for the lost and/or abandoned. Our Sunday School is full of laughing, singing, and studying children of our families. And we have many opportunities for adults to dive into the Word, enjoy the Fellowship and Communion of the Saints. Recently, the Bord of Elders decided to begin a prayer service – every Wednesday at 11:30. We will hold them in the sanctuary, but if you are unable to attend – join us wherever you are, praying to the needs of the church, giving thanks for the outpouring of His love in our lives, and praising His holy name, giving glory to God, creator, redeemer, and provider. 

Thoughts on July 4th

BOTH PIERCED HANDS of JESUS

Every July I try to write an article for Zion’s newsletter related to our country in connection to July 4^th. I think that’s what makes an American – celebration of July 4^th, Thanksgiving Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day etc. Days when we remember what it took to create the United States.

One can’t be a global Christian. God gave us a country to take care of and beautify. Going from the very beginning the New World was populated by people who wanted to enjoy the freedom of confession of Christ. We are citizens of the Church – one, holy, Christian (or lit. world-wide), and Apostolic church. At the same time, we are the citizens of the United States of America. That’s why the Lutheran doctrine differentiates between the kingdom of the right hand and the kingdom of the left hand. Kingdom of the right is the kingdom of grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God for the sake of Jesus. His sacrifice brought us back into the family and the kingdom of God. Kingdom of the left hand represents the earthly authorities and provisions – parents for raising children, different vocations (bakers, doctors, technicians) for our needs, instructors for students, government for peace and quietness of our lives (1 Tim. 2:2).

I often talk about the vertical pole and the horizontal beam of the Calvary cross. Today I want to direct your attention to the hands or arms of Jesus on the cross. Thinking about the Two Kingdoms we can’t but notice that both hands were pierced. Romans knew how to torture people. They nailed Jesus to the cross making sure to inflict the maximum pain. They couldn’t care less for the Biblical or doctrinal convictions of the Christian theologians. Yet, sometimes it is the most profound statement of faith made by the adversaries of the community of believers. My favorite one is “it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” What a beautiful confession of substitutionary atonement! Made by… Caiaphas (John 11:49-50) – the High priest who secured the sentence of Jesus to the cross.

Both hands of Jesus were pierced symbolically reminding us of the brokenness of this world, in all its aspects – relationship with the Creator in kingdom of the right hand should be paid for and relationship in the kingdom of the left hand with the earthly should be restored too. The rebellion in the Garden impacted everything – Adam disobeyed God, but he also threw his wife under the bus of God’s wrath…

Both hands of Jesus were pierced that we can live in His kingdom. As a children’s song states it: this is my Father’s world. God through the sacrifice of Jesus reconciled us to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). And now we can use this power of forgiveness to advance the Gospel that the petition of the Lord’s prayer “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” will come true. As Dr. Luther put it in the Small Catechism “we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.” This “among us” is not advanced by a rebellion against the earthly authorities because our heritage is the Reformation not a revolution. As the citizens of both kingdoms, we act lawfully, we pray for the government and the authorities, and we present the reasons for the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15).

picture: fragment of the altar stain glass from Lutheran church of St. George, Koltushi (Russia). 

FOOD and FAITH

Food and Faith - June 2024 Newsletter

20 years ago, a very small production company released a movie that changed the food industry. Written, produced, and directed by Morgan Spurlock, “Super-Size Me” featured him as the main character. Morgan undertook an attempt to stick to a 30-days McDonald’s diet. If you’ve seen the movie – you are familiar with the story. If you have NOT seen the movie – I would recommend reading Wikipedia page, takes less time with the same result.

I watched the movie about 15 years ago back in Russia. A friend of mine brought a DVD with him from his trip to the US. My point is not to fight with fast food industry. I can enjoy a fast-food meal from time to time. I would not bring it up, but something happened recently – Morgan Spurlock died being 53 years old. I am not sure that his death is related to his dietary experiments during the filming (it should be noted that on day 21 his doctor advised him to stop the experiment due to possible unreversible health/body changes). The news about Morgan’s death recovered some memories about the movie and got me thinking about the food.

One particular story that we find in the Bible in relationship of food and faith is found in the Book of Daniel in chapter 5. That’s where “king” Belshazzar has a great feast (literally – Bread, it is important). The reason for the gathering was an attempt to perform some kind of religious ceremony to appeal to any deity that would listen to be rescued from the Persians. Since there is only one God who listens, speaks, and acts this Babylonian gathering would’ve been a failure, but Belshazzar ordered to bring furniture from the Temple of Jerusalem that his grandfather – Nebuchadnezzar – brought together with the exiled Israelites. Now think about it: they had the furniture from the Temple, they had a special dedicated bread, they appeal to God. To their surprise, He answered… We know the answer: you are weighted and found light (without glory), and your kingdom will be given to the Persians. So, was Belshazzar doomed?

As a ruler – yes (the Persians took over the very same night), as a human on the brink of death whose eternal fate will be decided soon – I am not sure… for the very subtle reason – at the end of the story godly prophet Daniel (who did not authorize that “feast”) decided to receive the gifts of the ruler. This might indicate that God at the last moment saw he contrite heart, similar to the thief of the cross who died next to Jesus the Savior of all people, including Belshazzar, criminals, and us.

As we enter the second part of the Church year, we will more and more talk about God’s work in our hearts – this work will continue till the very last day on earth from all of us (everyone who has at least a little garden knows that the weeds should be pulled regularly, never ending process). As we come to the Lord’s table to partake consecrated bread and wine, let us think of a great sacrifice of the Lord for our freedom, which gives us ability to be consecrated too. Partaking this blessed feast leaves us with Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20). God who listens, speaks, and acts now works through us. May the food of Christ transform and empower us for listening to the troubled heart, sharing the wisdom of the Word with a lost one, and helping the trapped to overcome the obstacles in their life.