Social Ministry by Linda Held

Easter Eggs for Sandy Relief

Social Ministry would like to thank everyone who participated in the Easter Eggs for Sandy Relief.  Zion raised $1,450.   All donations went to Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey where they will be used to purchase construction supplies to aid families with the re-building of their homes that were destroyed or damaged during Super Storm Sandy. 

Heart for Africa

Most of Africa is in crisis due to poverty, war, lack of education, and diseases such as the HIV/Aids pandemic.  It is estimated that every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS leaving 11 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.   Zion has been committed to projects that offer safe and secure environments for orphaned children, while providing a means for future self-sufficiency through employment opportunities. 

This commitment has guided us to “Heart for Africa”.  Heart for Africa is a Christian charity in the small African nation of Swaziland.  Swaziland is about the size of New Jersey with a population of about one million people.  The AIDS rate is 56%.  As parents die of HIV/AIDS the orphans become head of the households and some children as young as 10 years old become the caregivers for younger children.  Heart for Africa is developing a place of hope in Swaziland called Project Canaan.  Project Canaan is a 2,500-acre land development project that will provide training and employment, grow food to feed orphans, and stimulate the local economy.  There are two sides to this development project the first is the farm side and the second is the children side.

Project Canaan Farm will have fish and dairy farming, raise chickens and goats, and grow coffee and fruit trees.  The proceeds from farming will be used to help Project Canaan be a sustainable community as well as help feed and support existing children’s homes.

Project Canaan Children will provide a safe place for orphans.  Children’s homes and schools will be built to provide a chance for children to live and grow as well as be educated to help break the cycle of poverty.

Zion has committed to helping Heart for Africa by donating funds to start a chicken farm for eggs and meat  which provide a great source of protein.  It also makes available employment and training opportunities for local workers.

If you want to find out more about Heart for Africa check out their web site at www.heartforafrica.org

IHN

Just a reminder that our IHN guests will be arriving on Sunday May 5 and we will be hosting for two weeks.  As we walk on the “Road to Discipleship” think about this important ministry and volunteer to help make our guests’ stay at Zion a comfortable one. 

500,000 Quilts this Year! by Kay Beagle

That's how many quilts Lutheran World Relief hopes to distribute this year.  Kathy Rustwick read about this and e-mailed a few people she thought might be interested.  A few of us met and we were off and running.  How many quilts could we make in a year?  Ten?  Twenty?  If you quilt or are interested in this project, please join us Saturday, May 25, at the CEB from 10:00 - 2:00.  We can find a job for anyone.  Tie, sew, cut, or design. Do you have any fabric we could use? Or, you may wish to donate money for supplies and shipping.  Wouldn't it be great to make thirty in honor of our 300th anniversary?

You may wish to visit the Lutheran World Relief/Quilts website.  If you would like more information about our effort, call or e-mail Kay Beagle. 

A Message from Pastor Summer

This month at Discipleship and the Book of Faith, the discussion was around the meaning of the cross.  The cross stands at the very center of our faith and its meaning has been explored down through the centuries.  The truth is that our explanations, while interesting and helpful, always seem to fall short.  C. S. Lewis put it well when he wrote in Do Souls Go to Heaven,

We are told that Christ was killed for us, that His death has washed out our sins, and that by dying He disabled death itself.  That is the formula.  That is Christianity.  That is what has to be believed.  And theories we build up as to how Christ’s death did all this are, in my view, quite secondary: mere plans or diagrams to be left alone if they do not help us, and, even if they do help us, not to be confused with the thing itself.

For myself, the cross overwhelms me.  The image is so powerful that I do not preach on Good Friday, but simply retell the story.  What can I add?  The cross is the ultimate statement of our denial of God.  We literally “cross” God out.  We say “No” in the most brutal and direct means possible.  We nail God’s son to a cross, raise him from the ground, and let him die amidst ridicule and threats.  We say “No,” but God in the most extraordinary and gracious way says “Yes” to us.  Jesus offers words of forgiveness from the cross itself.  “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  Easter and the Resurrection are God’s confirmation of that grace poured out upon us.  The cross is the sign of God’s suffering love that will not let us go even though holding on to us costs Jesus his life.

In the living of my life, the image stands before me.  No matter what I do that rejects and/or turns away from God, the cross is a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness and love of me.  God will not turn away from me no matter how I say “No,” no matter what the cost.  I am overwhelmed and humbled by such love.  My life has been shaped and changed by that love and continues to be impacted.  I have been marked with the cross of Christ forever.

In writing this article, we stand on the other side of Easter.  On Sunday, we gathered again in worship to remember the events of Holy Week.  We retold the story. We celebrated the power of the cross and victory of the empty tomb.  Now, we go out into the world as witnesses to that cross and to the wonder of God’s grace.

Peace,

Pastor Summer

Church Council Highlights: March, 2013

Pastor’s Reports:  Pastor Summer highlighted the April 20 Conference on Congregational Ministries and indicated that we need church members to attend. He also talked about the June 6-8 Synod Assembly where the new bishop will be elected.  We need two to three representatives to attend.  If you wish to volunteer to attend these important meetings, please see Pastor Summer or Ron Rupp.

Committee Updates: 

Joanne Rupp (Stewardship) – In response to the letter sent to all Mission 300 pledgers, an additional $34,570 was received in the first two weeks of March.  These contributions were in fulfillment of previously committed pledges.    

John Minerowicz (Property) – The committee brought the following motion regarding the replacement of the parsonage roof to the council and it was approved. Funds are not currently available for the entire project that includes replacement of the roof, siding and windows. Replacement of the siding and windows will be considered in the future as more Mission 300 funds become available. 

“Whereas the Parsonage Roof was damaged during the recent Sandy hurricane and overall it requires replacement, be it resolved that the Zion Church Council approves the replacement of the main roof of the Parsonage as soon as it is feasible.  Further, it is understood that the previously designated and approved Mission 300 funds would be used to underwrite the costs associated with the replacement for an amount not to exceed $20,000.”

Tim Hunter (Finance) – Finance informed the council that the overall General Fund giving is below the anticipated income while the day to day expenses remain as expected and therefore, Zion is operating at a deficit.  As reported by the Property Committee, the decision to replace the roof now and hold off on the siding and windows has been agreed to by both committees.

The Finance Committee brought the following Continuing Resolution to the Council related to the Endowment Committee and it was approved.

“An Endowment Committee of three to five voting members shall be elected at a legally called meeting of the congregation prior to the annual meeting.  Term of office shall be three years, with one or more members elected each year.  Members shall be eligible for reelection.”

Linda Held (Social Ministry).  As Zion continues to host IHN and in response to the apparent need, 12 new beds were purchased for IHN – seven of them with General Memorial funds and five with a gift from an anonymous donor.  Lastly, a group of Zion members has been volunteering at Faith Kitchen in Dover and have gotten off to a great start. 

Wendy Minerowicz (Parish Life) – Two events are being planned by the Parish Life Committee: the Kentucky Derby Party on May 4, and the Music Sunday “After Hours” event on June 9.

Janet Hornich (Worship and Music) – It was reported that the design for the new communion rail has been approved and that the altar furniture restoration is continuing as planned.

Property

 The replacement roof for the parsonage partially damaged by Hurricane Sandy will be starting shortly. The old slate roof will be replaced with an asphalt type shingle similar to the one on the library next door. Included with this project will be gutter replacement and soffit repairs as needed. Funding for this work will be through our insurance claim settlement (from Hurricane Sandy) and Mission 300 funds. With regard to the replacement of the parsonage siding and windows, the property and finance committees will reconsider this additional work in the fall when the Mission 300 revenues and available resources are re-evaluated.  

Parish Life

Come to the Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 4.  Root for your favorite horse, enjoy a mint julep, and wear your most impressive racing hat.  There will be prizes awarded for best hat for both the women and the men! The party starts at 4:30.   Please bring your favorite Derby Day appetizer and $10 to cover the cost of beverages.  Look for the sign up list in the narthex.  Hope to see you there.

Also, mark your calendars for Sunday, June 9 for the After Hours Family Worship and Sing a Long.  We'll gather for family worship behind the CEB at 5:30 pm.  Worship will be followed by a potluck picnic, bonfire and sing-a-long.  Please bring your own picnic foods;  we will supply the hot dogs.

evAngelism by Donna Hunter

 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.  (Hebrews 13:2)

    

As most of you know, the Spring New Member classes began March 3.  When asked to introduce themselves at the first meeting, they were also asked to tell us how they came to Zion.  I’m happy to report that several told us they have a friend who attends and recommended Zion to them.  Did you know it’s a fact that of all the ways people come to a church, the #1 reason is because someone invited them?  It’s certainly exciting to know that you’re out there connecting with friends and neighbors, extending invitations and spreading the word about all the good things that happen here.  Your “evangelizing” is far more valuable than any money spent on advertising. Keep up the good  work!

Endowment Fund News

The Endowment Committee will be having our first Endowment Sunday for 2013 on Mother’s Day, May 12! 

 The other Endowment Sundays for 2013 will be:

                                Father’s Day                                June 16

                                All Saints Sunday                          November 3

Please consider giving to the Zion Lutheran Church Endowment Fund on May 12 as a tribute to all mothers or to commemorate and celebrate a significant milestone in your family’s church life such as a baptism, confirmation, or wedding.  Envelopes marked “Endowment Fund” will be placed in all the pews.  Earnings from the Endowment Fund have been used in the past to support the following ministries:

· Funding the first year of Pastor Selover’s salary.

· Paying for Pastor Summer’s sabbatical.

· Funding the training of Stephen Ministers.

· Child in Our Hands workshop

· Matheny School ministry

· The first year annual maintenance in launching Zion’s new web site.

· The “seed” money to start up the church vegetable garden championed by Intern Janis Mays-Holder.

· Helping establish the new day shelter for the homeless at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dover, NJ.

· Purchasing a defibrillator for the Church

 There is $1,900 from the Endowment Fund earnings available for new ministry opportunities in 2013 after purchasing the defibrillator. 

The Endowment Committee would like to thank those who contributed to the Endowment fund in the past year.  Please contact any member of the Endowment Committee (Mike Donnelly, Connie King, Geof Close and Rick Schroeder) if you have any questions!

Post Card from the Road

After  attending the Wednesday Noon Prayer and Meditation for the Lenten season for the past six weeks,  Pastor Selover ask me to share what this season meant to me.  I was out of full-time work for 2 1/2 years.  Then when I did get a job, a month later my hours were cut and now I am part-time.  This Prayer and Meditation is something I wanted to do for years but "Life" seem to get in the way.  This year, I made a commitment to myself to attend the Prayer and Meditation and I did it.   The time exceeded my expectations and the time helped me spiritually.  So what does the Lenten season mean to me?  Like life, it is a journey filled with love, hope, faith, joy, sorrow and many lessons to learn.  It also represents new beginnings, the sun after the storm.  More than ever, this Lenten season coincides with my new journey.  I am forty-seven, our children are grown and moved on, our sick loved ones we cared for have gone home, and it is time to live and invest in myself.  I am back in school; I am working; I am attempting to deal with the food allergies and intolerance that have developed; and I'll see what tomorrow brings.  Whatever it brings, I'm grateful for all of my blessings; and as hard as things can get, I do believe God will not give me anymore then what I can handle.

Women of Zion Spring Dinner

Please join us to celebrate Spring with good company and good food!

Date:   Thursday, April 18                                            

 Time:   6:30 pm

Location:   Stony Brook Grill, 1285 Route 28, North Branch

Book of Faith

The Gospel of John

Starting Wednesday, April 17, at noon at the Christian Education Building, we will be exploring the Gospel of John as part of the Book of Faith.  John was Luther’s favorite gospel.  What do you know about the Gospel of John?  How is it different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke?  What does John want to tell us about Jesus?  How do the words of John speak to us today?  Bring your Bible.  Bring your questions.  Let’s explore together.  If you cannot come on Wednesday, follow along on the Book of Faith blog at our website, www.zionoldwick.com.  One way or another, join the conversation.  You’ll be glad you did.        

Discipleship

Discipleship will be meeting on April 25 at 6:30 for dinner and 7:30 for discussion at the CEB.  The topic is the Emerging Church.  We would love to have you join us.

Lunch Bunch

The next Lunch Bunch will meet on April 11 at Spain 92, 1116 Rt. 202 south of the Somerville Circle at noon.  Please sign up in the narthex and let us know whether you can come.