I’m still reflecting on our anniversary celebration on August 3. The day was truly amazing. The church was packed and the energy was palpable. Gathered for worship were not only members of our congregation, but also descendants from the original families who had gathered 300 years ago. I felt a profound sense of history and a greater awareness of the significance of Zion and her story. I preached on the five loaves and the two fish. I preached that, by the grace of God, those five loaves and two fish fed 5,000+. I preached that we at Zion embody that story and promise. Consider our beginning. 300 years ago a handful of people (five loaves and two fish) came together in the home of a freed slave with a vision of a church on the American frontier (5,000+ fed). Who could have envisioned such a hope? Our forbearers did. By faith, those first members of Zion embraced that vision and, by the grace of God, that vision became a reality. As I looked around the congregation on August 3, I was in awe of that reality, but most of all, I was in awe of God at work. We are living proof of God’s labor and God’s promise. And the good news is that the story has not ended. The vision is alive and the promise continues. God is still at work. We are writing the new chapters of the story of Zion.
I continue to be humbled by that realization which leads me to a deeper appreciation of the challenges and possibilities that face us in the future. Where will God lead us in our 301st year and beyond? What will be our legacy? How will we, like our forbearers, continue to be bold in faith? These are the questions that excite me and also keep me up at night. These questions have been a part of the conversation we have had as a congregation for the past couple of years. That conversation continues. The church council spent the last meeting in discussion about the future of Zion. Out of that conversation, we talked about wanting to be more “hands on,” living the faith. We talked about our new staff position focused on youth and families. We talked about social media. We talked about being the church in changing times. I want to invite other people to join this conversation. We need to hear all the voices. How do you see us continuing the work of Zion? We are part of a great story. We can feel the weight of the witness and faithfulness of those who have gone before us. That weight, that legacy, came into sharper focus on August 3. May we use that energy and excitement of that day to move us into our 301st year and beyond. God is leading the way. Let us follow.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Anniversary Banquet
The 300th Anniversary Dinner is being held on Sunday, October 26 at The Grand Colonial in Hampton. Invitations were mailed to all members in early July. We have had an excellent response with over 100 RSVPs.
Invitations to friends of Zion and our cluster churches will be sent out shortly. If you are interested in attending the dinner and your invitation got buried during the summer this is the time to bring it to the surface. Send your RSVP with a check to the church office or place it in the offering plate.
The cost of the dinner is $60 per person. There is a one hour cocktail hour with hot and cold passed hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The dinner will include a mixed green salad, a choice of three entrees and a celebration cake. A meal for children under 12 is available for $40 (no salad is included) or chicken fingers and fries for $20.
Invitations to friends of Zion and our cluster churches will be sent out shortly. If you are interested in attending the dinner and your invitation got buried during the summer this is the time to bring it to the surface. Send your RSVP with a check to the church office or place it in the offering plate.
The cost of the dinner is $60 per person. There is a one hour cocktail hour with hot and cold passed hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The dinner will include a mixed green salad, a choice of three entrees and a celebration cake. A meal for children under 12 is available for $40 (no salad is included) or chicken fingers and fries for $20.
Parish Life
I would like to thank everyone who provided snacks and beverages up for Summer Coffee Hour: Betty Lanka, Angela Sztuk, Patricia Craig, Nikki Moser, Nancy Neuweiler, Kathy Rustwick, Joanne Rupp, Eleanor Kover, Ken Holman, Elizabeth Blackwood, Margaret Griggs, Arlene Martin, Sue Swanson, Barbara Polhemus, Jenny Heeman, Donna Hunter, Linda Lovas, Sandy Matsen. Your contributions added to the summer worship experience.
Dinner Groups- If you haven't finished cycling through your dinner groups, there still is time left. Look for the new list to go out in October. At that time, you'll be able to sign up to be part of a group or a guest.
Dinner Groups- If you haven't finished cycling through your dinner groups, there still is time left. Look for the new list to go out in October. At that time, you'll be able to sign up to be part of a group or a guest.
Property News
We are very close to reporting that the renovation work at the parsonage is complete. The remaining “to do” list is very short. The landscaping will begin in early September.
Tree work was done at the CEB last week. You probably never noticed all the broken branches that were hanging from the trees on Miller Avenue or the large weed tree that was growing out of the privet shrub that protects us from walking into a guy wire. We have two spruce trees that were in desperate need of cleaning up and the Bradford pear trees in the parking lot were raised and trimmed. We would like to thank Goggin and Assoc. for a job well done at a very reasonable price.
Tree work was done at the CEB last week. You probably never noticed all the broken branches that were hanging from the trees on Miller Avenue or the large weed tree that was growing out of the privet shrub that protects us from walking into a guy wire. We have two spruce trees that were in desperate need of cleaning up and the Bradford pear trees in the parking lot were raised and trimmed. We would like to thank Goggin and Assoc. for a job well done at a very reasonable price.
Back to Sunday School
When: Sunday, September 7, 9:45 am
Who: Parents, Teachers, Kids
Where: Great Room, Christian Education Building
We will gather for a time of welcome and song at 9:45 am Sunday, September 7. Parents will meet their children’s Sunday School teachers and learn about the curriculum and the many special plans for the first quarter. Kids will go to class after the opening gathering.
Leading up to Zion’s final 300th Anniversary celebration on October 26, there will be special openings (Preschool-Grade 2) and closings (grade 3-6) based on the word of the day. Those words are Grace, Martin Luther, Reformation and the Church. A special opening and lessons are planned for Reformation Sunday, October 26.
Kindergarteners will receive their Beginners Bible at Family Worship, September 14. October will find us voting on the scripture for the celebration tree in our backyard at the CEB as well as the one being planted in Luther’s Garden, Wittenberg, Germany. The time capsule buried on our 275th anniversary will be opened and a new one buried.
There is a lot going on this fall! Come learn about Jesus and have fun with us!
Sunday School Teachers still needed!
Please consider giving some time to our Sunday School as a teacher in 2014-15. We still need 2 lead teachers at this writing. Zion has shared teaching responsibilities, with most classes having two lead teachers who alternate teaching each month. The schedule is flexible to be mutually agreeable to the teachers. I will consider using three lead teachers, if that will allow you to pick 2-3 months during the year (September 7-June 7) that fit your family’s Sunday morning activities. So if your family’s activities slow down in the winter, volunteer to teach January and February. There are a total of 29 Sundays that need teachers this coming year.
Please call me (Sandy Matsen) to discuss possibilities. The children of Zion need you.
Who: Parents, Teachers, Kids
Where: Great Room, Christian Education Building
We will gather for a time of welcome and song at 9:45 am Sunday, September 7. Parents will meet their children’s Sunday School teachers and learn about the curriculum and the many special plans for the first quarter. Kids will go to class after the opening gathering.
Leading up to Zion’s final 300th Anniversary celebration on October 26, there will be special openings (Preschool-Grade 2) and closings (grade 3-6) based on the word of the day. Those words are Grace, Martin Luther, Reformation and the Church. A special opening and lessons are planned for Reformation Sunday, October 26.
Kindergarteners will receive their Beginners Bible at Family Worship, September 14. October will find us voting on the scripture for the celebration tree in our backyard at the CEB as well as the one being planted in Luther’s Garden, Wittenberg, Germany. The time capsule buried on our 275th anniversary will be opened and a new one buried.
There is a lot going on this fall! Come learn about Jesus and have fun with us!
Sunday School Teachers still needed!
Please consider giving some time to our Sunday School as a teacher in 2014-15. We still need 2 lead teachers at this writing. Zion has shared teaching responsibilities, with most classes having two lead teachers who alternate teaching each month. The schedule is flexible to be mutually agreeable to the teachers. I will consider using three lead teachers, if that will allow you to pick 2-3 months during the year (September 7-June 7) that fit your family’s Sunday morning activities. So if your family’s activities slow down in the winter, volunteer to teach January and February. There are a total of 29 Sundays that need teachers this coming year.
Please call me (Sandy Matsen) to discuss possibilities. The children of Zion need you.
Social Ministry
Family Promise
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help make our guests’ time at Zion comfortable! It was nice to see some new names on the sign up board.
Update: Nichole and her adorable son Nyziah, from our last Family Promise hosting period, have moved into their own place! Nyziah has made some new friends and will be attending Kindergarten. This family was a pleasure to have with us and we wish them all the best.
Fall Food Harvest
Zion will be collecting non-perishable food items for Open Cupboard and Flemington Food Pantries. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of families who require help from the pantries to put food on their table. Children who go hungry are at risk for physical and mental developmental delays.
Current needs for Flemington and Open Cupboard are:
Flavored Oatmeal
Canned fruits
Chicken broth
Soup: Vegetable, Beef, Lentil
Canned pasta sauce
Canned tuna
Sugar
Coffee
Laundry Detergent
Toilet tissue
Adult diapers
Feminine Hygiene products
Shaving cream
Razors
Please remember to check dates on canned food items; the pantry cannot accept items beyond the expiration date.
Pictorial Directory
Thank you to everyone who had his or her picture taken for the new Zion directory. For those of you who missed the professional photography sessions it is not too late to be included in the 300th Anniversary directory. You can email a picture to Linda Held at heldover4@comcast.net. Please make sure that the pictures are high resolution so they can be transferred easily. Also note how you want the names to appear in the directory: for example if you want Tom or Thomas. We will be accepting pictures until the October 1.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help make our guests’ time at Zion comfortable! It was nice to see some new names on the sign up board.
Update: Nichole and her adorable son Nyziah, from our last Family Promise hosting period, have moved into their own place! Nyziah has made some new friends and will be attending Kindergarten. This family was a pleasure to have with us and we wish them all the best.
Fall Food Harvest
Zion will be collecting non-perishable food items for Open Cupboard and Flemington Food Pantries. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of families who require help from the pantries to put food on their table. Children who go hungry are at risk for physical and mental developmental delays.
Current needs for Flemington and Open Cupboard are:
Flavored Oatmeal
Canned fruits
Chicken broth
Soup: Vegetable, Beef, Lentil
Canned pasta sauce
Canned tuna
Sugar
Coffee
Laundry Detergent
Toilet tissue
Adult diapers
Feminine Hygiene products
Shaving cream
Razors
Please remember to check dates on canned food items; the pantry cannot accept items beyond the expiration date.
Pictorial Directory
Thank you to everyone who had his or her picture taken for the new Zion directory. For those of you who missed the professional photography sessions it is not too late to be included in the 300th Anniversary directory. You can email a picture to Linda Held at heldover4@comcast.net. Please make sure that the pictures are high resolution so they can be transferred easily. Also note how you want the names to appear in the directory: for example if you want Tom or Thomas. We will be accepting pictures until the October 1.
Endowment Fund
Our final Endowment Sunday for 2014 will be All Saints Sunday November 2. Always keep in mind that the Endowment Fund only grows with contributions from members and friends of Zion. Those who share the vision of not only a living memorial for loved ones, but also recognize that upon maturity, the fund will provide significant monetary grants for many new mission-oriented programs–forever….
Vespers
Vespers (Evening Worship) will be held every Wednesday at the CEB starting September 10. A soup supper will be held at 6:00 pm (please sign up to bring food) followed by worship at 7:00. Join us in this special time of fellowship and worship.
Empty Nesters
So your son or daughter has headed off to college and you’re finding the nest a little empty. A number of people have talked about coming together (probably over dinner) to talk about the joys and challenges of this new time in life. If you have young people just starting college or are already veterans, we are exploring how much interest there is to form such a group. A sign-up sheet can be found at the church and the CEB. Sign-up now with your name(s) and preferred times to meet and let’s see if we can gather a group of “they’re off to college” folk.
Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch will be on September 18 at noon. We will be returning to King Tut on Rt. 22 in Lebanon.
Discipleship Class
Discipleship will be meeting on September 18 at the CEB with dinner at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30. Our focus will be the catechism starting with the Apostles’ Creed.
Book of Faith
This year, Book of Faith will have a different focus. As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we thought it would be appropriate to study the Small Catechism as our Book of Faith. We will start with the Apostles’ Creed. The first meeting will be on September 10 at noon at the CEB. Join us for this adventure!
2015 ELCA Youth Gathering
What is the ELCA Youth Gathering?
The ELCA Youth Gathering is a ministry of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to, with and for high school-aged youth and their adult leaders. The Gathering, as it is known, is a triennial event that takes place over five days – Wednesday to Sunday – and includes opportunities for worship, service, fellowship, study and holy play.
When is the next Gathering?
The next ELCA Youth Gathering is July 15-19, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan.
Who can attend the Gathering?
The Gathering welcomes youth entering the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the fall of 2015, and 2015 high school graduates.
How do we register?
Congregations register and attend the ELCA Youth Gathering as a group. There will be a “soft opening” on Sept. 15, 2014. This means that you will be able to set up your congregational account by entering your congregation’s information into the Gathering database. Beginning Oct. 15, 2014, you may go back into your congregational account and click the submit button to register!
How much does it cost?
If you register before Jan. 15, 2015, the early-bird, discounted registration rate is $325 per person. After Jan. 15, 2015, the Gathering registration fee is $375 per person. Congregations are assigned to hotels and should budget for housing costs of $150 per night per room. Food is also on your own, so depending on your group, this could be an additional $40 per person per day expense.
Is Detroit safe?
While its population has declined dramatically over the last few years, Detroit is still considered a major city, not unlike Chicago, Philadelphia or Los Angeles. Visitors to any large city need to make wise choices. The ELCA Youth Gathering’s Safety and Security planning team will help participants make wise choices by providing safe walking routes and by arranging for private and public security personnel at all venues utilized by Gathering participants.
The Safety and Security planning team is already working with local, state and federal officials to prepare for our visit. Every precaution will be taken to ensure your safety in the city and surrounding suburbs. Gathering participants will again receive T-shirts that will make them easily identifiable to local law enforcement officials, especially when participating in a visible service experience.
The ELCA Youth Gathering is a ministry of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to, with and for high school-aged youth and their adult leaders. The Gathering, as it is known, is a triennial event that takes place over five days – Wednesday to Sunday – and includes opportunities for worship, service, fellowship, study and holy play.
When is the next Gathering?
The next ELCA Youth Gathering is July 15-19, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan.
Who can attend the Gathering?
The Gathering welcomes youth entering the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the fall of 2015, and 2015 high school graduates.
How do we register?
Congregations register and attend the ELCA Youth Gathering as a group. There will be a “soft opening” on Sept. 15, 2014. This means that you will be able to set up your congregational account by entering your congregation’s information into the Gathering database. Beginning Oct. 15, 2014, you may go back into your congregational account and click the submit button to register!
How much does it cost?
If you register before Jan. 15, 2015, the early-bird, discounted registration rate is $325 per person. After Jan. 15, 2015, the Gathering registration fee is $375 per person. Congregations are assigned to hotels and should budget for housing costs of $150 per night per room. Food is also on your own, so depending on your group, this could be an additional $40 per person per day expense.
Is Detroit safe?
While its population has declined dramatically over the last few years, Detroit is still considered a major city, not unlike Chicago, Philadelphia or Los Angeles. Visitors to any large city need to make wise choices. The ELCA Youth Gathering’s Safety and Security planning team will help participants make wise choices by providing safe walking routes and by arranging for private and public security personnel at all venues utilized by Gathering participants.
The Safety and Security planning team is already working with local, state and federal officials to prepare for our visit. Every precaution will be taken to ensure your safety in the city and surrounding suburbs. Gathering participants will again receive T-shirts that will make them easily identifiable to local law enforcement officials, especially when participating in a visible service experience.
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