This past Sunday, we celebrated the Reformation and our 300th anniversary with Bishop Eaton of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, our national bishop. Having her with us was both an honor and joy. Bishop Eaton was gracious, committed, genuine, honest, and humorous. She was engaging in her conversation with Bonnie and me at the parsonage, with our leaders both Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, with members on Sunday morning, and with our young people at the Sunday School service as she discussed the church with Murray, our resident moose. I will treasure Bishop Eaton’s visit with us, but I believe I will remember most deeply her sermon. I was moved by her understanding of the faith that we are so deeply loved by God through Christ that we are set free to be God’s people in the world, even when we fail.
For me, the last part of that proclamation “even when we fail” impacted me the most. Failure is not a word we like using. The word scares most of us. However, stepping out in faith takes on a whole new dimension when we can only step out when success seems to be guaranteed. The gospel, as Bishop Eaton reminded us, invites us to be bolder. The fear of failure should not stop us as God’s people. The love of God through Christ emboldens us to be fearless.
I deeply appreciated those words of Bishop Eaton, particularly as we get ready to step out in faith as a congregation again. As we enter our 301st year, we will be adding a part-time person to our staff in the area of youth and families. This step is bold enough, but we are also partnering with Cross Roads, our outdoor ministry site for the New Jersey Synod outside of Califon, in creating a shared full-time position. This step is filled with opportunities, but will also present challenges financially and structurally. As with all steps of faith, it comes with no guarantees; but, as we were reminded, that’s the beauty of the gospel. We are so loved by God through Christ that we are set free to step out boldly in faith, even if when we fail. As we enter our 301st year, I’m going to lean on that promise. May we as a congregation continue to be bold as we have in the past.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Stewardship Review
Third Quarter General Fund-2014
Our Operating Budget is based on a projected income of $479,000. This is comprised of pledges from 76 families of $339,000 and an estimate from non pledging families of $140,000. For the 76 pledging families, their giving was:
21 gave over the pledged amount by $19,895
16 met their pledge
39 were below the pledged amount by $32,698
After 9 months the expected amount from pledges is $254,700. The amount received was $241,900 or 95%.
The 2014 income projection included an estimate of giving from non-pledging families of about $97,200. By the end of September, we actually received $83,200 from 128 giving units or 86%. Our historic trend is to have 69% of our total year income at the end of third quarter (not 75%). The total member giving was 98% of this trending estimate.
Mission 300- Summary Update
Nine families continued to give to M300 in 3Q14. The total received this year is $46,300. Participation in M300 has been:
· Total pledging families: 91
o 79 families completed their pledge
§ Total pledged: $432,300
§ Total received: $449,400 (104%)
o 12 families pledged, but have not yet completed their pledge
§ Total pledged: $25,200
§ Total received: $13,600 (54%)
· In addition, 36 families gave to M300, but did not pledge
o Total received: $41,600
· Total families participating in M300: 127
o Total received: $504,600
These funds were allocated into these areas as follows:
· Yesterday/Restoration: $298,000
· Today/Special functions and debt retirement: $98,000
· Tomorrow/Edna’s Haven: $100,000
· Campaign Costs: $9,000
· Total: $505,000
The success of our ministries at Zion relies on the generosity of the giving of our members. Please keep that prayerfully in your heart as we continue to celebrate our milestone 300th anniversary.
Our Operating Budget is based on a projected income of $479,000. This is comprised of pledges from 76 families of $339,000 and an estimate from non pledging families of $140,000. For the 76 pledging families, their giving was:
21 gave over the pledged amount by $19,895
16 met their pledge
39 were below the pledged amount by $32,698
After 9 months the expected amount from pledges is $254,700. The amount received was $241,900 or 95%.
The 2014 income projection included an estimate of giving from non-pledging families of about $97,200. By the end of September, we actually received $83,200 from 128 giving units or 86%. Our historic trend is to have 69% of our total year income at the end of third quarter (not 75%). The total member giving was 98% of this trending estimate.
Mission 300- Summary Update
Nine families continued to give to M300 in 3Q14. The total received this year is $46,300. Participation in M300 has been:
· Total pledging families: 91
o 79 families completed their pledge
§ Total pledged: $432,300
§ Total received: $449,400 (104%)
o 12 families pledged, but have not yet completed their pledge
§ Total pledged: $25,200
§ Total received: $13,600 (54%)
· In addition, 36 families gave to M300, but did not pledge
o Total received: $41,600
· Total families participating in M300: 127
o Total received: $504,600
These funds were allocated into these areas as follows:
· Yesterday/Restoration: $298,000
· Today/Special functions and debt retirement: $98,000
· Tomorrow/Edna’s Haven: $100,000
· Campaign Costs: $9,000
· Total: $505,000
The success of our ministries at Zion relies on the generosity of the giving of our members. Please keep that prayerfully in your heart as we continue to celebrate our milestone 300th anniversary.
Social Ministry
Alternative Giving
Yikes! It is that time of year again, and the Holidays will be upon us faster than we realize. Before you get all frazzled thinking about that special person on your shopping list who needs and wants nothing, let Social Ministry give you some ideas of the perfect gift. Social Ministry will be at the CEB between services starting November 9 until December 7.
$5 – Popcorn Zoo www.ahscares.org
For the animal lover a donation to the Popcorn Zoo in Southern New Jersey will provide a safe sanctuary for abandoned, injured, sick, elderly, and abused animals and birds. Popcorn Zoo rescues and cares for nearly 15,000 animals every year.
$10 – Edna’s Haven Bus Passes www.mhamorris.org
Edna’s Haven in Dover provides not only a safe daytime shelter, but also assists in offering case management services, job search and interview skills. Your donation to Edna’s Haven will also provide bus tickets to help clients get to interviews and ultimately to their work place.
$15 – Blink Now – Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School in Nepal www.blinknow.org
In 2008 Mendam, New Jersey native Maggie Doyne opened the doors to the Kopila Valley Children’s Home and in 2010 she completed the school. The donation made to this charity will help create a safe and nurturing environment in which orphaned and impoverished children will learn and develop skills to become empowered adults and future leaders of the community.
$20 - ELCA Good Gifts/Survival Kits www.elca.org/goodgifts
Imagine having to flee your home at a moment’s notice. A disaster, war, or conflict can force a family from their home with just the clothes on their backs. This donation to ELCA Good Gifts will provide a survival kit to help get families through the crisis. Each kit contains a tarp, tent, water jug, clothes, food, cooking utensils, and hygiene necessities.
Senior Baskets – New and Improved for 2014
Senior Baskets will now look more like a gift bag that you would bring to a friend. Social Ministry would like to bring a little Christmas joy to the seniors who rely on the services of the local food pantries. We need your help to fill the baskets/bags with special treats that most seniors would not get at the pantries. The list includes:
Hot Chocolate/Cocoa
Specialty teas
Snack Packs
Small packaged cookies and treats
Hard candies
Stamps!!!!
Men and women’s hats
Men’s scarves
Men and women’s gloves
Lip balm
Hand cream
Men and women’s slipper socks (with non- slip grippers on soles)
*Please leave all donations at the CEB or the Narthex of the Church. December 7 is the last Sunday for Donations. Thank You!
Yikes! It is that time of year again, and the Holidays will be upon us faster than we realize. Before you get all frazzled thinking about that special person on your shopping list who needs and wants nothing, let Social Ministry give you some ideas of the perfect gift. Social Ministry will be at the CEB between services starting November 9 until December 7.
$5 – Popcorn Zoo www.ahscares.org
For the animal lover a donation to the Popcorn Zoo in Southern New Jersey will provide a safe sanctuary for abandoned, injured, sick, elderly, and abused animals and birds. Popcorn Zoo rescues and cares for nearly 15,000 animals every year.
$10 – Edna’s Haven Bus Passes www.mhamorris.org
Edna’s Haven in Dover provides not only a safe daytime shelter, but also assists in offering case management services, job search and interview skills. Your donation to Edna’s Haven will also provide bus tickets to help clients get to interviews and ultimately to their work place.
$15 – Blink Now – Kopila Valley Children’s Home and School in Nepal www.blinknow.org
In 2008 Mendam, New Jersey native Maggie Doyne opened the doors to the Kopila Valley Children’s Home and in 2010 she completed the school. The donation made to this charity will help create a safe and nurturing environment in which orphaned and impoverished children will learn and develop skills to become empowered adults and future leaders of the community.
$20 - ELCA Good Gifts/Survival Kits www.elca.org/goodgifts
Imagine having to flee your home at a moment’s notice. A disaster, war, or conflict can force a family from their home with just the clothes on their backs. This donation to ELCA Good Gifts will provide a survival kit to help get families through the crisis. Each kit contains a tarp, tent, water jug, clothes, food, cooking utensils, and hygiene necessities.
Senior Baskets – New and Improved for 2014
Senior Baskets will now look more like a gift bag that you would bring to a friend. Social Ministry would like to bring a little Christmas joy to the seniors who rely on the services of the local food pantries. We need your help to fill the baskets/bags with special treats that most seniors would not get at the pantries. The list includes:
Hot Chocolate/Cocoa
Specialty teas
Snack Packs
Small packaged cookies and treats
Hard candies
Stamps!!!!
Men and women’s hats
Men’s scarves
Men and women’s gloves
Lip balm
Hand cream
Men and women’s slipper socks (with non- slip grippers on soles)
*Please leave all donations at the CEB or the Narthex of the Church. December 7 is the last Sunday for Donations. Thank You!
Sunday School News
It has been a wonderfully busy fall this year. In addition to classes, we have explored the themes of grace, Martin Luther, Reformation and the church. There were gifts to remind of God’s gift of love for us, a Martin Luther booklet of stories and games, and our conversation with Murray (the moose) and Bishop Eaton. All the kids marched up to the church led by Bishop Eaton with our red balloons on Reformation Sunday. The balloons tied to the fence were a wonderful sight!
We voted on a verse for our celebration tree planted behind the Christian Education Building last spring. Psalms 1:3 was the winner. The same verse will be on the tree planted in Luther’s Garden in Wittenberg Germany in 2015. Both trees were purchased with our Sunday School offerings from last year. At family worship in September, the Kindergarteners received their beginners Bible. October found us opening the time capsule from the 275th Anniversary.
November will find us planning a time capsule for Zion’s 325th anniversary, helping with Senior baskets and of course going to class.
If you have been busy this fall and unable to attend Sunday School, we have missed you. Join in the learning, fun and friendships.
275th Anniversary Time Capsule
In the fall of 1989 the Sunday School buried a time capsule which we dug up and opened at family worship this October. It had news articles from 1989, our 275th celebration service bulletin, and a Sunday School teacher guide—and we were using the same curriculum until two years ago! Pictures of favorite toys, a Pete Rose baseball card and lots of dinosaur-themed items found their way into the capsule. The Sunday School made a Zion Yearbook with class pictures AND what everyone thought they would be doing in 2014 for the capsule.
A display is in the narthex. Check it out!
We voted on a verse for our celebration tree planted behind the Christian Education Building last spring. Psalms 1:3 was the winner. The same verse will be on the tree planted in Luther’s Garden in Wittenberg Germany in 2015. Both trees were purchased with our Sunday School offerings from last year. At family worship in September, the Kindergarteners received their beginners Bible. October found us opening the time capsule from the 275th Anniversary.
November will find us planning a time capsule for Zion’s 325th anniversary, helping with Senior baskets and of course going to class.
If you have been busy this fall and unable to attend Sunday School, we have missed you. Join in the learning, fun and friendships.
275th Anniversary Time Capsule
In the fall of 1989 the Sunday School buried a time capsule which we dug up and opened at family worship this October. It had news articles from 1989, our 275th celebration service bulletin, and a Sunday School teacher guide—and we were using the same curriculum until two years ago! Pictures of favorite toys, a Pete Rose baseball card and lots of dinosaur-themed items found their way into the capsule. The Sunday School made a Zion Yearbook with class pictures AND what everyone thought they would be doing in 2014 for the capsule.
A display is in the narthex. Check it out!
Parish Life
Dinner Groups
Look for the sign up sheet in the narthex for the 2015 Dinner Groups. It is a great way to share fellowship and good food!
Advent Parish Night
Zion's annual Advent Parish Night will be held on Sunday, December 7, from 4:00 till 7:00 at the CEB. The evening begins when everyone breaks into small groups to create a fabulous Christmas ornament or decoration. For those that aren't feeling crafty, you can spend that time helping to decorate the Christmas tree. Afterwards, we'll gather together for a pot luck soup dinner and carol singing. The evening ends with Pastor Summer leading us in his crowd-pleasing version of “The Twelve Days Of Christmas.” It is a night not to be missed! Look in the narthex or the CEB for the dinner sign up sheet and indicate if you will be bringing soup, salad, or dessert. Also, coming soon will be examples of the night's crafts displayed in the narthex .
Look for the sign up sheet in the narthex for the 2015 Dinner Groups. It is a great way to share fellowship and good food!
Advent Parish Night
Zion's annual Advent Parish Night will be held on Sunday, December 7, from 4:00 till 7:00 at the CEB. The evening begins when everyone breaks into small groups to create a fabulous Christmas ornament or decoration. For those that aren't feeling crafty, you can spend that time helping to decorate the Christmas tree. Afterwards, we'll gather together for a pot luck soup dinner and carol singing. The evening ends with Pastor Summer leading us in his crowd-pleasing version of “The Twelve Days Of Christmas.” It is a night not to be missed! Look in the narthex or the CEB for the dinner sign up sheet and indicate if you will be bringing soup, salad, or dessert. Also, coming soon will be examples of the night's crafts displayed in the narthex .
Women of Zion
Following are our remaining events for the year. We hope you'll take the opportunity to come and enjoy the fellowship and good will the holiday season engenders. And bring a friend!
Thanksgiving Dinner: Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 pm at the CEB
The dinner will again be catered by the General Store, but we'll serve ourselves on real plates!
You can expect turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, mashed potato purée, sweet potatoes, green beans amandine, rolls and apple and pumpkin pie, cider and coffee or tea. The total cost is $30.00 per person, payable to Zion and due to the office no later than November 15. Contact Anita Zarate with any questions.
Christmas Cookie Exchange/Prayer Pal Selection
Thursday, December 18, at 7:00 pm at the CEB.
Thanksgiving Dinner: Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 pm at the CEB
The dinner will again be catered by the General Store, but we'll serve ourselves on real plates!
You can expect turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, mashed potato purée, sweet potatoes, green beans amandine, rolls and apple and pumpkin pie, cider and coffee or tea. The total cost is $30.00 per person, payable to Zion and due to the office no later than November 15. Contact Anita Zarate with any questions.
Christmas Cookie Exchange/Prayer Pal Selection
Thursday, December 18, at 7:00 pm at the CEB.
Property
Cleaning for Company
Everyone knows the effort that is made to clean the house before guests arrive. In anticipation of the visit from Bishop Eaton an effort was made to rid the front of the CEB of its many, many spider webs. For whatever reason, spiders find the front of the CEB to be a most hospitable environment and they can build webs faster than we can knock them down.
The front of the building was power-washed by Joe Lovas and Ted Jermansen. The windows were washed by Linda Lovas, Cynthia Keller and Joanne Rupp. The windows were sparkling.
“But no good deed goes unpunished,” said the dead bird to the clean window. If we continue to have a problem with birds not seeing the glass we will be forced to allow the spiders to return.
Furniture Wanted
Zion is in the process of rehabbing a cabin at Crossroads Camp where our new employee will be living. The cabin will be painted, but there is also a need for some furniture. At this point we know that we need a dresser, a full bed and mattress, and a nightstand for the bedroom. We think we have a couch, but may need a bookcase, coffee table and chairs. If you think you have anything that might work, please send a picture and measurements to Joanne Rupp. If you like to paint and have spare time, contact Joanne.
Everyone knows the effort that is made to clean the house before guests arrive. In anticipation of the visit from Bishop Eaton an effort was made to rid the front of the CEB of its many, many spider webs. For whatever reason, spiders find the front of the CEB to be a most hospitable environment and they can build webs faster than we can knock them down.
The front of the building was power-washed by Joe Lovas and Ted Jermansen. The windows were washed by Linda Lovas, Cynthia Keller and Joanne Rupp. The windows were sparkling.
“But no good deed goes unpunished,” said the dead bird to the clean window. If we continue to have a problem with birds not seeing the glass we will be forced to allow the spiders to return.
Furniture Wanted
Zion is in the process of rehabbing a cabin at Crossroads Camp where our new employee will be living. The cabin will be painted, but there is also a need for some furniture. At this point we know that we need a dresser, a full bed and mattress, and a nightstand for the bedroom. We think we have a couch, but may need a bookcase, coffee table and chairs. If you think you have anything that might work, please send a picture and measurements to Joanne Rupp. If you like to paint and have spare time, contact Joanne.
Discipleship
Discipleship will be meeting on December 4 at the CEB with dinner at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30. Our focus will be the catechism starting with the Apostles’ Creed.
Thank You!
The Historical Committee would like to extend its thanks to Lotte Renz and her cousins in Germany, Gisela Krause and Lia Hubner, for a masterful job of translating German sections of the original Vestry Book for our archives. This extraordinary effort involved translating the "ancient" German into modern German, and then into English. Much time and effort went into this task and we are eternally grateful!!
Christmas Ornament
To commemorate Zion’s 300th Anniversary, hand-painted Christmas ornaments have been created by artist Margaret Higgins. They have a lovely picture of the church on the front and our name and dates on the back. For $15.00, this keepsake can be purchased through the office Tuesday through Friday or call Jenny at 439-2040.
Youth of Zion - Crop Walk
On Sunday October 19 members of Zion Lutheran
Church participated in the annual Hunterdon County
Crop Walk to fight hunger. This year we again joined
forces with Living Waters and walked in Flemington.
Over $900 was raised to fight Local and World Hun-
ger. Thanks again to the congregation and our Youth
for supporting this worthy cause.
Church participated in the annual Hunterdon County
Crop Walk to fight hunger. This year we again joined
forces with Living Waters and walked in Flemington.
Over $900 was raised to fight Local and World Hun-
ger. Thanks again to the congregation and our Youth
for supporting this worthy cause.
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