A funeral service for Byron Stromer will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with Rev. Brian Lund officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Byron Stromer, 89, of Garner, passed away Monday, January 27, 2025, at Concord Care Center. You can view his obituary here.
We will be using the following songs and passages from the Word of God in our corporate gathering this Lord’s Day. Please prayerfully use these resources to prepare your hearts to “come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
The Word of the Lord:
Hebrews 12:18, 22, 28–29,
Romans 10:5
Galatians 2:16, 19–20
James 4:13–17
Psalms 119:25–32
Numbers 6:24–26
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs:
Ps 136: O Thank the Lord of Love
By Faith
Doxology
O Word of God Incarnate
Gloria Patri
Means of Grace:
Congregational Prayer
Sermon: Psalms 119:29–32
“Craving His Word”
Lord’s Day Activities
Men’s Ministry Breakfast at 8am
Sunday School at 9:15 am
Divine Worship at 10:30 am
Mom/Daughter Bible Study at 12:15 pm
Concord Care Worship Service at 2:30 pm
Evensong Service at 5:00 pm
The Joe Rogan podcast has a very large following, especially among young men. Recently, Rogan invited Wesley Huff to come be a guest, and Huff is a Christian apologist.
(WARNING: explicit language. The host of this show often uses R-rated profanity in regular conversation.)
Whether or not you choose to listen to certain podcasts, or if you are interested in Christian apologetics, will be different for different Christians. However, all of us can commit to please pray for Joe Rogan to become a Christian, and for many in his audience to be transformed by the Gospel as clearly articulated by Wesley Huff.
Here are some podcasts that require no warning – the following are wonderful for growing your faith in Christ!
The Zion Chronicles for January 2025 is now available for download. You can view the document or download it here. Also, we have updated the church calendar for the month. You can view that by month, week, daily, or agenda style, by clicking here.
We will be using the following songs and passages from the Word of God in our corporate gathering this Lord’s Day. Please prayerfully use these resources to prepare your hearts to “come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
The Word of the Lord:
Psalm 90:1–2
Exodus 20
John 1:14–18
Proverbs 21:27–31
I John 3:11–24
Numbers 6:24–26
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs:
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
All Glory Be to Christ
Doxology
Ps 136: O Thank the Lord of Love
Gloria Patri
Means of Grace:
Congregational Prayer
Sermon: I John 3:11–24
“What the World Needs Makes It Go ‘Round”
Lord’s Day Activities
Sunday School at 9:15 am
Divine Worship at 10:30 am
As you begin the new year, what is going to help you go where God is calling you? So many resources, prayers, and more are available through your church!
Many people make resolutions at the start of a year: lose weight, drop a bad habit, improve oneself, etc. But resolutions have been around for a long time, and depending who made them – like committed Reformed Christian Jonathan Edwards or avowed deist Benjamin Franklin – it definitely changed the resolution.
Dr. Gene Edward Veith writes, “Whereas Edwards’ resolutions were focused on God’s glory, Scripture, heaven and hell, and Jesus Christ, Franklin’s were secular, pragmatic, and this-worldly, focused on becoming a good citizen and a successful businessman. Though Franklin does mention prayer, Christ is reduced to being a good example for him to follow, mentioned in the same breath as Socrates.”
But this emphasis on our improving ourselves has a hidden danger. Veith notes, “But even conservative Christians can sometimes fall into the trap of paying too much attention to themselves. ‘Am I really saved?’ we can sometimes wonder, looking at our inner lives and hidden sins and finding all too little evidence of our holiness.” Too much time focused inward takes our attention off of Jesus, and just like Peter’s gaze that faltered, we find ourselves sinking.
Veith encourages us that, “when we look outside ourselves to the promises in God’s Word, we can find joy, confidence, and assurance.” Read the entire essay here at Ligonier.
Once you do read the above encouragement, make sure you find the Bible reading plans, prayers, and articles for beginning a new calendar.
We will be using the following songs and passages from the Word of God in our corporate gathering this Lord’s Day. Please prayerfully use these resources to prepare your hearts to “come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
The Word of the Lord:
Advent Readings
Psalm 51
Matthew 13:44–52
Daniel 7:9–14
Numbers 6:24–26
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs:
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
How Deep the Father’s Love
Doxology
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
Gloria Patri
Means of Grace:
Congregational Prayer
Sermon: Daniel 7:13–14
“Kingdom of the Son of Man”
Lord’s Day Activities
No Sunday School
Worship at 10:30 am
Storing Advent Decorations/Cleaning Sanctuary at 11:40 am
The Zion Chronicles for December 2024 is now available for download. You can view the document or download it here. Also, we have updated the church calendar for the month. You can view that by month, week, daily, or agenda style, by clicking here.
Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics to “Joy to the World” nearly 300 years ago, striking the page with his marks: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come / Let earth receive her King!” Taking his cue from Psalm 98, Watts wrote to show the coming of Christ brings joy:
Psalm 98:2–4
The LORD has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Each Lord’s Day in Advent we will consider the first and second comings of Christ, how the babe Jesus of Nazareth is King over all, and what that means for you and me today. Our worship service has a slightly different order and feel during Advent as well. Read about the liturgy here.
Here are some of the events that our Advent season brings. Please be sure to get these on the calendar!
| Date | Event |
| December 1st | Advent Party Meet at the church at 3 PM for caroling, decorating, Christmas carols, and a light supper. Fun for the whole family! |
| December 7th | Women’s Fellowship Christmas Brunch Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., for a hosted brunch and program. Invite your friends and get your tickets! |
| December 8th | Zion Christmas Cantata Join us Sunday evening for a special Zion tradition, and stay after the beautiful music for refreshments and fellowship. Begins at 7p.m. |
| December 24th | Christmas Eve Service The prelude begins at 5:30 p.m., and you won’t want to miss hearing our youth recount the meaning of the Christmas story! |
| December 25th | Christmas Day Service Festival of Lessons & Carols service begins at 9a.m. with Holy Communion. |
Other events, like the College Parsonage Party, Youth Sledding, Jr. & Sr. High Christmas party, etc., will be announced as weather permits.
Find all the other details on the Advent page.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Do you ever struggle with interpreting the Bible? Do you wonder if you are understanding God’s Word the right way, or if a different denomination or philosophy gets it right and you are wrong? How can we interpret the Bible the right way?
We regularly promote Ligonier Ministries, from the late R.C. Sproul. Several of Pastor Brian’s former professors teach there also. Pastor Derek Thomas gives us a terrific introduction in knowing the interpretation of God’s Word. This begins us in the study of hermeneutics, the science of interpretation.
Listen and follow along as Dr. Thomas explains God’s Word, which itself explains how to explain God’s Word!
Latest From Zion’s Blog
Zion Evangelical & Reformed Church 