To learn more about who we are and what we believe, visit our website at: ELCA.org
September 1, 2024
15th SUNDAY
after Pentecost
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Zion Lutheran Church
Sunday Worship
9:00 a.m.
Mailing Address
38011 Morrisonville Road
Lovettsville, Va. 2018
Bethel Lutheran Church
Sunday Worship
11:15 a.m.
40588 Tankerville Road
Lovettsville, Va. 20180
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 307
Lovettsville, Va.
Join us for Our Online
In-Home-Church-Worship
WORSHIP SERVICE
Zion & Bethel Churches
click below.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Online Services for September 8th and 15th
(the Next Two Sundays with Vicar Joshua Wilson)
will be uploaded sometime after September 19th.
Leading us in Worship
Minister - Rev. G. Andreas Armstrong
Pianist - Virtual Music
Thought for Your Day
Who's Preaching Now?
Since this is Labor Day Weekend and we are supposed to be laboring less, I thought to myself, why am I working? So, I thought I'd give ChatGPT a chance to come up with a sermon today. Focusing in on Mark 7:23 I asked it to create a sermon with some humor and personal illustrations. It churned and churned and churned with no results. Then I thought to myself, hmmmm, since ChatGPT & AI are forms of Artificial Intelligence it was unlikely to have any PERSONAL ILLUSTRATIONS. So, I took out "PERSONAL ILLUSTRATIONS" and replaced it with the word "EXAMPLES." Voila ... it took off and delivered. So, here's the first of two sermons for this week (the second was a sermon from a real live preacher ... open up the Online Home Worship Service and hear the rest).
Compliments from ChatGBT.
In Mark 7:23, we find a profound truth that resonates through the ages: "All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." It's a reminder that our actions and words are a reflection of our inner state. Imagine if our thoughts were like emails, visible to everyone. We'd probably hit the 'delete' button more often than 'send'! But seriously, this verse calls us to introspection and transformation. For instance, when we find ourselves gossiping, it's not the juicy story that's the issue, but the bitterness within that seeks expression. Or consider envy, which is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to get sick. It's not the success of others that defiles us, but the discontent in our hearts. So, let's do some internal housekeeping. Let's replace the 'spam' of negative thoughts with the 'inbox' of virtues like kindness, patience, and love. By doing so, we not only cleanse our hearts but also bring a bit of heaven down to earth. And who knows, we might just find that the best 'virus protection' for our souls comes from the wisdom of scriptures like Mark 7:23.
Happy 7th Day of Creation ... the Day God Rested from all His Labors ...
"Happy Labor-Less Day" to You as well!!!
COMING THIS WEEK
September 8th
16th Sunday after Pentecost
9 a.m. Zion Church Worship
Guest Preacher - Vicar Joshua Wilson
11:15 a.m. Bethel Church Worship
Steeple2people - On the Road this Sunday
Bethel Church Ministry
"Steeple2people"
We come to you!
If You Would Like an In-Person
Home Worship Service
just let us know.
Email your request to:
May God bless and remind you
once again, this week
that you are His!
And He truly Loves YOU!!!
Visit us at:
Facebook and YouTube
"Zion & Bethel Lutheran Churches, Lovettsville VA"
In Christ's Love,
Pastor Andreas Armstrong
Going <'////><'ing with Jesus!
Serving Zion & Bethel Lutheran Churches
Lovettsville, Virginia
Home/Office 703-938-9444
Visit us at BZChurches.org
About our Pastor
Welcome from Pastor G. Andreas Armstrong
I am presently serving the people of Zion and Bethel Churches and what a blessing it has been! God has also blessed me with a wonderful wife and two grown children, our daughter who lives and teaches school with her husband in Costa Rica and who have brought into our lives two wonderful grandchildren, and a son who works as a bartender in California (serving others like his dad?). I have had the pleasure of serving churches in Texas, North Carolina and Virginia since 1982 as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America before coming here. God is indeed good.
There is so much more we can do when we serve together. That blessing becomes a reality when I, the only one at Church who is designated in writing as a part-time minister, am joined by everyone else here as full-time ministers. We take that calling seriously. I pray you will too if you consider joining this wonderfully blessed team of ministers to live out your faith, hope and love through Zion and Bethel Lutheran Churches. We are called in Christ Jesus our Lord to share the love of Christ from one generation to the next. Let’s do it!
God loves you and so do I!
Email: Coolrev4jc@aol.com
Home/Office: 703-938-9444