Our anniversary year is drawing to an end. The final celebration will be on October 26, Reformation Sunday, with the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, worshiping with us and preaching and a closing banquet that evening. The year has been full, beginning with the renovations to the church including a sound system. As we appreciated the refurbished altar furniture, new communion rail, and restored pews, we also enjoyed the new banners that welcomed the year on the outside wall and the sanctuary. We celebrated a new ministry, Edna’s Haven, launched with our financial support and participation in conjunction with Faith Kitchen in Dover. We would venture as a congregation to Germany to walk the streets of Luther in Wittenberg and meet our ancestors who came from the Palatine area so long ago to begin Zion. The church was filled with the sound of music from the Wagner College Choir, and a three-volume set of books was created to tell the story of Zion. The story would also unfold in our newsletter and a logo was created to celebrate our anniversary year.
In May, we would welcome the Bishop of the New Jersey Synod, Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, and all of our mission partners to a day of celebration and worship. A video would be created to share the story for all to enjoy, beginning with the New Jersey Synod in assembly. A music competition was established at Westminster Choir College to create a choral piece to capture in new ways “Rise, Oh Children of Salvation” by Rev. Justus Falckner. A bronze plaque was commissioned by the Society of Colonial Wars to commemorate the beginnings of Zion and would be dedicated at our anniversary celebration in August. A CD is being created by Rod Briscoe and me in this anniversary year. Hand-painted Christmas ornaments are being made to remember this special time in our life. A tree has been planted at the CEB and in Wittenberg, Germany. The parsonage has been renovated and trees have been planted to replace the ones that fell during Super Storm Sandy. This fall, the Sunday school is focusing on our history and the history of the church. And finally, we gathered on August 3, the present day members of Zion along with the descendents of the original members at that first service in 1714, to give God thanks and praise.
Of course, giving God thanks and praise is at the heart of this year of celebration. The story of Zion is a wonderful story, but we know God is the author of that story. I marvel at the blessings we have received time and again through the years. For 300 years, God has been faithful to us. And I find great hope in that faithfulness of God as we look into the future. May He continue to bless our ministry together!
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Endowment Sunday - November 2
The Endowment Committee will be having our last Endowment Sunday for 2014 on November 2.
Please consider giving to the Zion Lutheran Church Endowment Fund 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.
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….
Please contact any member of the Endowment Committee (Mike Donnelly, Geof Close, Ted Jermansen and Rick Schroeder) if you have any questions.
Please consider giving to the Zion Lutheran Church Endowment Fund 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.
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….
Please contact any member of the Endowment Committee (Mike Donnelly, Geof Close, Ted Jermansen and Rick Schroeder) if you have any questions.
300th Anniversary Banquet
Sunday, October 12, the deadline to RSVP to the 300th Anniversary Dinner, is fast approaching. If you would like to attend and your invitation has been misplaced, please call Jenny in the church office (908-439-2040). RSVP’s (with a check payable to Zion) can be mailed or placed in the offering plate.
There has been one change in the plan for the evening. Due to a conflict in a very busy schedule, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, will not be able to attend the dinner. She will be returning to Chicago after the church service on Sunday. On Sunday evening we will be joined by Tracie Bartholomew, Bishop of the New Jersey Synod.
Update on the menu choices - There will be three choices for the main course, which you will choose once seated. Selections are Pan Seared Salmon Fillet with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce, Parmesan Crusted Breast of Chicken with a Marsala Demi Glace and Roasted Loin of Pork with Granny Smith Apples, Vidalia Onions & Savoy Cabbage with Calvados Sauce. There will also be a Vegetarian and a Vegan option.
There will be a cash bar available throughout the evening. Please be aware this is a CASH bar (no credit cards).
We are looking forward to a great celebration as we conclude Zion’s 300th Anniversary year. See you on October 26 at the Grand Colonial.
Living Stewardship - Stepping out in Faith
Recently I saw the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” In this episode of the adventure series, the search is on for the Holy Grail and one of the tasks to reach the Grail involves stepping out in faith. In the dramatic scene, it appears that Indy must step into an abyss. His faith in his father and his faith in the quest propels him to take that step; and, of course, he is rewarded with the prize.
Our fall stewardship campaign has taken the theme “Generously Stepping out in Faith.” We know that in the past, Zion has accomplished many wonderful projects. Although no single large mission is planned for 2015, we have faith that God’s will will be done in our faith community. The more generous we are in our financial gifts, the more possibilities open up to us.
Won’t you join me in taking the step of faith to support whatever God has in store for Zion this next year?
Our fall stewardship campaign has taken the theme “Generously Stepping out in Faith.” We know that in the past, Zion has accomplished many wonderful projects. Although no single large mission is planned for 2015, we have faith that God’s will will be done in our faith community. The more generous we are in our financial gifts, the more possibilities open up to us.
Won’t you join me in taking the step of faith to support whatever God has in store for Zion this next year?
Dinner Groups
Do you like to eat good food? Would you like to meet new people from the congregation and get to know others better in a relaxed setting? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then consider signing up for Dinner Groups. Participants will be grouped with two other couples who then rotate homes and meal contributions (appetizers, main course, dessert). The hosting family invites a fourth member or couple from the congregation to the dinner. Dinners have ranged from elegant, sit down meals to casual Sunday afternoon get-togethers. It is a great way to share fellowship and to make new friends. Look for the sign up sheet in the narthex. If you have any questions, email Wendy Minerowicz.
Pictorial Directory
There is still time to have your picture included in the new Zion directory. Please email your picture to Angela Stzuk or Linda Held. Also if a beloved member of Zion passed away in the past 3 years and you would like to include them on the memorial page, please send in a photo. We would like to have all submissions in by the end of October.
Women of Zion Events
Soup Swap Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 pm at the CEB.
We have a new social event which enables us to share our favorite soup recipes and do good deeds too!
Bring four pints of your favorite soup recipe in plastic containers to give away. On each container, write the name of the soup and all ingredients (in case of allergies). Also bring a copy of your recipe and the name, address and telephone number of anyone who’s homebound and/or sick who would benefit from receiving soup. We’ll set aside soup for them and divide the rest among ourselves. Non-soup refreshments will be provided.
Friends are welcome without soup! A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex.
Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday, November 20 at 6:30 pm at the CEB
Details forthcoming.
Cookie Exchange/Prayer Pal Selection Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 pm at the CEB
Details forthcoming.
Memories of the Parsonage 1966 by Betty Lanka
Zion’s parsonage has had many changes over the years. The last major interior renovations were done in 1965-1966 just prior to Pastor Russell Gromest coming as Zion’s pastor.
As you entered the parsonage front door in 1965, you could go directly through a hallway to the kitchen. A wall was built to close up the hall, making a front room vestibule with the staircase and a laundry area off the kitchen. The kitchen and bathroom were modernized.
Before this time there were no offices in the parsonage. As church secretary, I had to print the Sunday bulletins in the parsonage basement on an old mimeograph machine onto which I had to literally “paint” the ink. In previous years the Ladies Missionary Society used to whitewash the basement to keep it looking good. Doris Craig remembers her mother describing this yearly project to her.
The two rooms in the back of the parsonage both downstairs and upstairs had not been used for many years. The downstairs room had once been the cook kitchen. The old brick fireplace was still on the back wall. Upstairs was an attic room with a small servant’s room. The small window for this little room can still be seen from the driveway. A small spiral stairway connected the two floors. The men of the church changed both rooms into offices. The downstairs room became a pine-paneled office with a powder room for the pastor. Upstairs was transformed into the church secretary’s office with storage closets under the sloped roof sections, and a new mimeograph machine was moved into the office. When the Christian Education Building was completed in 1972, the secretary’s office and the pastor’s office were both moved there and the offices in the parsonage became family living spaces.
As you entered the parsonage front door in 1965, you could go directly through a hallway to the kitchen. A wall was built to close up the hall, making a front room vestibule with the staircase and a laundry area off the kitchen. The kitchen and bathroom were modernized.
Before this time there were no offices in the parsonage. As church secretary, I had to print the Sunday bulletins in the parsonage basement on an old mimeograph machine onto which I had to literally “paint” the ink. In previous years the Ladies Missionary Society used to whitewash the basement to keep it looking good. Doris Craig remembers her mother describing this yearly project to her.
The two rooms in the back of the parsonage both downstairs and upstairs had not been used for many years. The downstairs room had once been the cook kitchen. The old brick fireplace was still on the back wall. Upstairs was an attic room with a small servant’s room. The small window for this little room can still be seen from the driveway. A small spiral stairway connected the two floors. The men of the church changed both rooms into offices. The downstairs room became a pine-paneled office with a powder room for the pastor. Upstairs was transformed into the church secretary’s office with storage closets under the sloped roof sections, and a new mimeograph machine was moved into the office. When the Christian Education Building was completed in 1972, the secretary’s office and the pastor’s office were both moved there and the offices in the parsonage became family living spaces.
The Parsonage is Done! Let's Celebrate!
That’s right, the work on the outside of the parsonage is done. Pastor and Bonnie are very happy and look forward to insulation this winter. To celebrate this good news, everyone is welcomed to the parsonage between services (9:30-11:00) on October 5. Coffee hour will be held in the parsonage and at 10:00 there will be a dedication of the trees that were planted to replace the old oaks that fell. A special thanks to Jay Weider, Harold Wrede, and Joanne Rupp (landscaping) for seeing this project through to the end.
Welcome Bishop Eaton
On Reformation Sunday, October 26, we have the great honor of Bishop Eaton, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, worshiping with us and helping to celebrate our 300th anniversary. The day will begin at 9:30 at the Christian Education Building with the Bishop spending time with our young people and then providing an opportunity for conversation with the rest of the congregation. A procession will leave from the CEB and make its way up to the church for worship at 11:00. Bishop Eaton will be preaching. Mark your calendar for this very special day.
Kindergarteners Receive Bibles
At Family Worship on September 14, 7 children received their Children’s Bibles. The bibles were blessed and given to the parents who placed them into their children’s hands as they had promised to do at their baptisms.
Thank You...
To all who came out to work on September 7 at the “God’s Work, Our Hands” clean up day at CrossRoads.
Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch will be on October 9 at noon. We will be eating at Janina Bistro on Rt. 22 West-bound in Lebanon. (840-4107)
Discipleship Class
Discipleship will be meeting on October 30 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 have started with the Apostles’ Creed. Join us for this adventure!
We meet Wednesdays at noon in the CEB conference room.
We meet Wednesdays at noon in the CEB conference room.
New People around the Church by Pastor Summer
In the months ahead, you will be meeting some new people in our life and ministry at Zion. The first person is Eric Johnson, who has graduated from Philadelphia seminary and is doing some extended Field Education at Zion. He will be with us at least through December and hopefully longer. Don’t be surprised to see him leading Adult Forum, Vespers, Book of Faith, Sunday worship, etc.
The second person is Kurt Houwen, who has recently graduated from college. He is presently working at Cross Roads, but is also participating in Project Connect. Project Connect is a program that allows college graduates to explore ordained ministry before going to seminary. Kurt will also be with us through December. Don’t be surprised to see Kurt shadowing me at youth group, worship, church council, and visitations. I know you will enjoy both of them.
The second person is Kurt Houwen, who has recently graduated from college. He is presently working at Cross Roads, but is also participating in Project Connect. Project Connect is a program that allows college graduates to explore ordained ministry before going to seminary. Kurt will also be with us through December. Don’t be surprised to see Kurt shadowing me at youth group, worship, church council, and visitations. I know you will enjoy both of them.
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