The scripture tells us that the shepherds made haste to see the Christ child. In other words, they ran. I love that image. I can just imagine grown men running through the fields to Bethlehem. With the departure of the angels, they drop everything, leave their work, and take off pell-mell through the dark of night oblivious to unseen rocks and holes. The news is too important. The promise is too great. This is not a time for caution. This is a time to make haste.
In our day and age, we know how to make haste. For most of us, haste is how we live our lives. It seems we are always on the run. Our jobs keep us running. Our families keep us running. Our responsibilities keep us running. Christmas invites into a very different kind of haste. It is not the haste that wears us down and burns us out. It is not the haste that is forced or demanded. It is the haste that comes from great joy, like the birth of a grandchild. Good news that is so wonderful that it cannot be contained. News so important that it leaves our jobs and business of our lives in the dust.
On Christmas Eve, Christ was born. God so loved the world, so loved you and me, that God sent his son. God reached out to claim us all even though we were lost and broken. This is the goods news proclaimed that night. This is the good news that has the power to change the hearts and lives of people. This is the good news that is so wondrous that we cannot help but make haste. May we join the shepherds running in the field this Christmas season. Merry Christmas to you all and may you have a joyous New Year.
Sunday School News
Children’s Christmas Program
Please join us on Sunday, December 15 at 9:45 am in the CEB for our annual Sunday School Christmas Program. This year the children will be sharing The Christmas Story Jesus Christ is the Same-Yesterday, Today, and Forever!
On Sunday, December 22 at 9:45 am all Sunday School students and their families are welcome to enjoy a Christmas Party in the Great Room in the CEB. There will be lots of fun games, crafts, and delicious holiday treats.
Other Sunday School News
Apples – Thanks go out to the Melick family for hosting our 5th and 6th grade students on a wonderful apple picking adventure in October. All the apples picked were donated to a local food pantry.
Thanksgiving Blessings – Our Sunday School families demonstrated both their caring and generosity by donating almost 300 food items to those in need. All items were delivered to the Flemington Food Pantry and the Open Food Pantry in Clinton.
Please join us on Sunday, December 15 at 9:45 am in the CEB for our annual Sunday School Christmas Program. This year the children will be sharing The Christmas Story Jesus Christ is the Same-Yesterday, Today, and Forever!
On Sunday, December 22 at 9:45 am all Sunday School students and their families are welcome to enjoy a Christmas Party in the Great Room in the CEB. There will be lots of fun games, crafts, and delicious holiday treats.
Other Sunday School News
Apples – Thanks go out to the Melick family for hosting our 5th and 6th grade students on a wonderful apple picking adventure in October. All the apples picked were donated to a local food pantry.
Thanksgiving Blessings – Our Sunday School families demonstrated both their caring and generosity by donating almost 300 food items to those in need. All items were delivered to the Flemington Food Pantry and the Open Food Pantry in Clinton.
Worship & Music
Advent is the season of preparation and waiting for the coming of Christ. Each week, visual elements will be added to the sanctuary to build anticipation and remind us that we must wait for Jesus’ birth.
On Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 am, we invite everyone to help decorate the Christmas tree. Please mark your calendars and come join the festivities!
As part of the season’s preparations are the lovely poinsettias that adorn the church on Christmas Eve. Please be sure to order your poinsettias by placing your completed form and check in Sunday’s offering plate. You may also mail it or drop it off at the church office. Orders must be in by December 5.
The Worship & Music team wishes you and your families a very blessed Christmas season!
On Saturday, December 14 at 10:00 am, we invite everyone to help decorate the Christmas tree. Please mark your calendars and come join the festivities!
As part of the season’s preparations are the lovely poinsettias that adorn the church on Christmas Eve. Please be sure to order your poinsettias by placing your completed form and check in Sunday’s offering plate. You may also mail it or drop it off at the church office. Orders must be in by December 5.
The Worship & Music team wishes you and your families a very blessed Christmas season!
Shepherding
Stephen Ministry and Visitation Program
The Stephen Ministry Program has been a part of Zion for the past 13 years. The Stephen Ministers have supported and cared for 35 people who have needed a faithful Christian friend to walk with them through crisis situations and trying times. Our 15 Stephen Ministers and 4 Stephen Leaders have faithfully committed their time, love, and prayers to those in need. We want to acknowledge and give our heartfelt thanks to these people:
Greg Barabas, Elizabeth Blackwood, Becky Donahue, Lee Campos, Debbie Close, Peggy Eppley, Judy Formalarie, Margaret Griggs, Sue Hutchins, Karl Kamp, Robbin Lamo, Sandy Matsen, Bonnie Michael, Nancy Neuweiler, John Nicodemus, Kathy Rustwick, Jackie Snyder, Angela Sztuk and John Swanson.
The Stephen Ministry Program is now evolving into our Visitation Program, offering different types of visits to Zion members. This past month we have begun these visits with the delivery of flowering plants and caring visits. We will continue to explore ways to utilize this program to care for our members. Additional volunteer visitors are most welcome. Also, if you visit a member of Zion regularly, let Rosi Delia know.
The Stephen Ministry Program has been a part of Zion for the past 13 years. The Stephen Ministers have supported and cared for 35 people who have needed a faithful Christian friend to walk with them through crisis situations and trying times. Our 15 Stephen Ministers and 4 Stephen Leaders have faithfully committed their time, love, and prayers to those in need. We want to acknowledge and give our heartfelt thanks to these people:
Greg Barabas, Elizabeth Blackwood, Becky Donahue, Lee Campos, Debbie Close, Peggy Eppley, Judy Formalarie, Margaret Griggs, Sue Hutchins, Karl Kamp, Robbin Lamo, Sandy Matsen, Bonnie Michael, Nancy Neuweiler, John Nicodemus, Kathy Rustwick, Jackie Snyder, Angela Sztuk and John Swanson.
The Stephen Ministry Program is now evolving into our Visitation Program, offering different types of visits to Zion members. This past month we have begun these visits with the delivery of flowering plants and caring visits. We will continue to explore ways to utilize this program to care for our members. Additional volunteer visitors are most welcome. Also, if you visit a member of Zion regularly, let Rosi Delia know.
Stewardship
It has been five weeks since Commitment Sunday. We have now received 70 pledges and 40 of those pledges met the "300 Challenge" by increasing the pledge by at least $300. We are happy to report that nine giving units who had previously not committed to a pledge took the leap this year and pledged their financial support for Zion. We are sad to report that one family will be moving and will not be part of the Zion family next year.
If you are one of the twenty-seven 2013 pledgers who have not yet pledged for 2014, please consider letting us know your intent. The 2014 budget is being prepared and as we all know it is never good to “assume.” It is hard to create a responsible budget when we assume. We will be voting on the 2014 budget at the Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 8.
Pledge cards can be found in the narthex of the church. Completed cards can be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church office.
If you are one of the twenty-seven 2013 pledgers who have not yet pledged for 2014, please consider letting us know your intent. The 2014 budget is being prepared and as we all know it is never good to “assume.” It is hard to create a responsible budget when we assume. We will be voting on the 2014 budget at the Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 8.
Pledge cards can be found in the narthex of the church. Completed cards can be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church office.
Youth of Zion
Important decisions about Youth Ministry in 2014 were made at an October 27 meeting of all YOZ members and their parents.
· There will be two YOZ meetings a month to be held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month unless a congregational event is being held such as Advent Parish Night.
· The meetings will be held at the CEB from 5:30 until 7:30.
· Only be one event will be held during the summer.
· This summer’s event will be the week at Rehoboth Beach.
· There will be a “give back” component built into the Rehoboth experience such as Habitat for Humanity or clean-up at the nature reserve.
· An invitation will be extended to the youth of Living Waters to join us in Rehoboth.
· A survey will be sent out to pick the best dates for Rehoboth Beach.
· The summer event for 2015 will be the National Youth Gathering in Detroit.
· There will continue to be special service opportunities i.e. CROP Walk
We appreciated everyone who attended this meeting and were part of the conversation.
YOZ Calendar
December 8 Advent Parish Night
December 10 Matheny Chapel – 6:30-8:00
December 22 Christmas Party
January 12, 2014 YOZ Meeting – CEB – 5:30-7:30
January 26, 2014 YOZ Meeting – CEB – 5:30-7:30
· There will be two YOZ meetings a month to be held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month unless a congregational event is being held such as Advent Parish Night.
· The meetings will be held at the CEB from 5:30 until 7:30.
· Only be one event will be held during the summer.
· This summer’s event will be the week at Rehoboth Beach.
· There will be a “give back” component built into the Rehoboth experience such as Habitat for Humanity or clean-up at the nature reserve.
· An invitation will be extended to the youth of Living Waters to join us in Rehoboth.
· A survey will be sent out to pick the best dates for Rehoboth Beach.
· The summer event for 2015 will be the National Youth Gathering in Detroit.
· There will continue to be special service opportunities i.e. CROP Walk
We appreciated everyone who attended this meeting and were part of the conversation.
YOZ Calendar
December 8 Advent Parish Night
December 10 Matheny Chapel – 6:30-8:00
December 22 Christmas Party
January 12, 2014 YOZ Meeting – CEB – 5:30-7:30
January 26, 2014 YOZ Meeting – CEB – 5:30-7:30
Advent Parish Night
Advent Parish Night will take place on Sunday, December 8, 4:00 to 7:00 at the CEB. It is a fun evening of crafts, carols, and a pot luck soup dinner. If you haven't had a chance to sign up and would like to attend please call Wendy Minerowicz.
Property
On Saturday, November 23, Zion held its Fall clean-up/work day at the CEB and church. Quite a lot of work was accomplished: cleaning CEB air conditioner vents, replacing Great Room stained tiles, repairing table leg for large square table (in progress), trimming bushes by sidewalk, cleaning out entrance gutter, gluing loose stage floor tiles, trimming low branches in parking lot, replacing elevator sump pump battery, replacing inside light bulbs as necessary, raking/blowing off CEB parking lot/grass, moving furniture out of shed, putting up Advent tree and wreath, cleaning up flower pots outside church. We had a great day weather- wise and we had an opportunity to socialize with each other. Twenty people came out and volunteered their time and made the work go quickly. Zion and I are grateful to the following for helping out – Linda H, Linda L, Joe L, Justin C, Patricia C, Pastor Summer, Dave W, Frank S, Greg C, Larry C, Bob D, Donna H, Harold W, Ted J, Wendy M, Ron R, Ken H, Randal M and Sophia M.
Women of Zion
Christmas Cookie Exchange
Thursday, December 19, at 7:00 pm at the CEB
It’s time again for our annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Not only can we eat wonderful cookies, but we can fill cookie tins and donate them to various charities. Ideally, you should bring three dozen cookies, but even if you can’t, come anyway! Being together is what’s most important. And feel free to bring a friend.
This is also the time to give a small gift to your secret prayer pal (someone who prays for you all year) and pick a new one for 2014.
Look for the sign-up sheet at the church and at the CEB.
Women’ Retreat led by Pastor Dale Selover
Hold Saturday, April 5, 2014, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for our upcoming retreat. Details will be forthcoming.
Thursday, December 19, at 7:00 pm at the CEB
It’s time again for our annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Not only can we eat wonderful cookies, but we can fill cookie tins and donate them to various charities. Ideally, you should bring three dozen cookies, but even if you can’t, come anyway! Being together is what’s most important. And feel free to bring a friend.
This is also the time to give a small gift to your secret prayer pal (someone who prays for you all year) and pick a new one for 2014.
Look for the sign-up sheet at the church and at the CEB.
Women’ Retreat led by Pastor Dale Selover
Hold Saturday, April 5, 2014, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for our upcoming retreat. Details will be forthcoming.
Invitation to Sing
Rod Briscoe and the Parish Choir are inviting anyone who would like to sing with the choir on Christmas Eve (7pm service) to join them for rehearsals on Wednesday nights at 7:30. This is a short-term commitment. Of course, if you realize how much fun you’re having, you are welcome to continue singing with the choir in 2014!
Discipleship
Discipleship will not meet until January, 2014. We will be learning about the history of early Lutherans in America.
Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch will be returning to another favorite spot, La Casa Bianca in Whitehouse Station. We were planning to go there last December, but the restaurant was already booked. We are placing our reservation early this year. Join us at noon on December 12.
Lunch Bunch 2012(!) Report
At long last, the 2012 results of monthly restaurant visits are as follows:
Service #1 Bensi
#2 Gladstone Tavern
Ambience # 1 Gladstone Tavern
#2 Casa Bianca
Cost #1 Bensi
#2 Casa Bianca
Food #1 Casa Bianca
#2 Gladstone Tavern
Look for the 2013 ratings in the January Newsletter (with any luck at all!)
Service #1 Bensi
#2 Gladstone Tavern
Ambience # 1 Gladstone Tavern
#2 Casa Bianca
Cost #1 Bensi
#2 Casa Bianca
Food #1 Casa Bianca
#2 Gladstone Tavern
Look for the 2013 ratings in the January Newsletter (with any luck at all!)
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