Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Worship Services will be held at Zion at the following times:

Christmas Eve
4 p.m. -- Children's Service at the Christian Education Building
7 p.m. and 9 p.m. -- Candlelight Communion Service of Lessons and Carols

Christmas Day
11 a.m. -- Communion Worship

A message from Pastor Summer -- December 2016

“Be the change.”  This phase keeps coming back to me, particularly with what is going on in the world.   “Be the change” was the theme of the past youth gathering and was really taken to heart by our young people.  They found the words empowering.  Of course, “Be the change” has a direct connection with the season of Advent, the season in which we find ourselves.  In Advent, we await the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus, but more significantly, we await the coming of the Kingdom of God.  Our waiting, as the scripture makes clear, is not to be passive.  It is active.  We are to be ready.  We are not to be caught sleeping.  In other words, we are to be about the Kingdom’s business as we await the coming of Christ.  What’s the Kingdom’s business?  We are to be about the business of hope, peace, justice, reconciliation, and love.

Of course, the temptation in this world is to wait for someone else to do the work that needs to be done.  We wonder why the world is the way it is.  We wonder about the division, hatred, and violence.  We wonder who will step up and step into the brokenness.  Who will be that person?  The Gospel invites us to answer that call.  “Be the change.”  Don’t wait for someone.  The truth is that the same Spirit that was poured into Peter, Paul, Martin Luther, Mother Theresa, and every other person who has made a difference in this world has been poured into you and me through the water of our baptism.  By God’s grace, we are children of the Kingdom. 

Over the past weeks, in the midst of all the news that breaks our hearts, I have witnessed the children of the Kingdom go to work.  I have marveled at the individual acts of kindness and grace.  I have seen people reach out to others and stand with them.  I have heard people raise their voice and speak out against words that would seek to divide.  Indeed, I have witnessed people doing the Kingdom’s business.  And the good news is that every one of those acts is a light of hope.  Every one of those acts is a sign of God at work.  Every one of those acts makes a difference.  “Be the change.”  That is the call of Advent.  As we await the coming Kingdom of God, let us be about the Kingdom’s business.  We will not sleep.  We will not be caught unawares.  We will live out the Gospel.  We will be ready.  We will “be the change.” 

Peace,

Pastor Summer

November Council highlights ... by Bob Durham

· A revised draft of the 2017 budget was presented to the Council for review.  For the coming year, more people have pledged, but there is less in dollar amounts.  A motion was made by Todd Rothermel and seconded by Ron Rupp that Mosaic’s long-term use donation by applied to the General Fund. The motion carried.

· Jeff Livingston reported that the Confirmation projects have been discussed early this year to give students more time to plan.

· There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 11th at 9:30 a.m. at the church.  The purpose of the meeting is to present the proposed 2017 budget and to elect new members to the Church Council.

· This month’s thanks go to:

* Kay Beagle and Sue Swanson for all of their efforts in hosting Family Promise.

* Peter Melick for cleaning up the cemetery.

* Harold and Martha Wrede for hosting the Restaurant Rovers dessert at their home.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on December 8th.

From the Worship & Music Committee

The Christmas tree is going up on Saturday, December 17th.  The wreaths will be hung, the windowsills will be decorated and the poinsettias will be put in place at that time.  This doesn’t happen magically.  The Zion elves do the decorating.  And a few strong elves are needed to help get the 15 foot Christmas tree in place.  And an elf who likes to climb ladders is needed to get the ornaments and lights on the top of the tree.  Be an elf and join us at 9:00 am on Saturday, December 17th.

The Christmas tree will come down on Sunday, January 8th (Epiphany) immediately following the 11:00 am service.  This is not the time for the Zion elves to take a break!  You can relax later on Sunday afternoon.  Thanks for your help.

Social Ministry Update

Giving Tree

Located in the rear of the church, tags are still available for gifts and clothing requested for children associated with the Family Promise program. Please return all items by December 11th.

Senior "Baskets"

Now cards decorated by the Sunday School children with $10 gift cards, these cards will be distributed to needy seniors through the Clinton and Flemington food pantries.  Any donations of $10 gift cards can be given in the offering plate by December 11th.   

Reminder from the Stewardship Committee

If you are planning to make a 2016 year end contribution to Zion, it must be in the church office by Tuesday, January 3, 2017.   Thank you!

REFLECTIONS ... by Linda Lovas

I volunteer for Family Promise on a regular basis.  It's such a simple thing to do that it's hard to ignore the requests for assistance that arrive in my email on a regular basis.  This past time, I volunteered to "eat with guests from 5PM-6PM."  See what I mean by easy.  I'm not a great cook but I am a very good eater!  Halloween night is probably a tough night to fill slots.  I'm not a fan of the holiday and my kids are long gone so being available was also easy for me.  To my surprise this particular assignment turned out to be one of the best ever!

First of all (and this does not happen on every occasion) we had seven absolutely lovely guests:   Husband and wife with two children around 9 and 11 years old, one single older woman, and one single mother with a 15-year-old son.

I arrived at about 10 minutes to five and was greeted by Kay Beagle  (Zion's Family Promise angel) who has been our leader from the program's inception.  She gave me an update on all our guests and then headed home.  As I started to set the dinner table Frank Sztuk arrived carrying shopping bags filled with the Halloween dinner his wife Angela  had prepared.  Here's where the fun starts.  Her dinner was not only delicious but lots of fun.  It consisted of the following items:

Bleeding spider meatloaf, mashed potatoes with eyes, deviled eggs decorated with black olives to look like spiders, carrot stick fingers with almond slices that looked like fingernails with green dip, and better still … Devil Dogs for dessert.

It was so heartwarming to see the three children light up when they saw the meal all laid out as a buffet.  Beyond that, they ate everything.  The 15 year old boy had three servings of meatloaf!!!  There was plenty of food for all and we all appreciated the time and effort Angela took to make it so special.

I felt so good about our hosting this particular group.  They were all such lovely people.  The conversation during dinner flowed effortlessly. They expressed numerous times how much they appreciated the assistance they received from Family Promise.  They all had stories of hard times but still had optimism about how things would get better in time. The family with two children just found out that day they were approved for a rental in High Bridge.  They were overjoyed.  After dinner the 3 young people left to trick or treat for about an hour.  They were so excited to actually have a neighborhood to walk through.  They returned with stories of how Oldwick was such an amazing, fun place.  They said all the houses were "a buzz" with lots of treats and scary decorations.

Oh, I don't want to leave out two other important parts of my evening: all of the guests volunteered to clean up after dinner and Robbin Lamo arrived for her shift at 8PM and I stayed an extra hour just to chat with her about life in general and how she and her family were doing.  Easy....

What can I say?  As I drove home that evening I thought about our Family Promise commitment. It's a good thing and it 's easy.  Give it a try.

Youth of Zion Christmas Party

All 7th-12th graders are invited to the YOZ Christmas Party!

Where: CEB

When: Sunday, December 18^th, 6 p.m.—8 p.m.

We’ll enjoy music, hear stories, exchange gifts ($10 or less), play games, and eat pizza (please bring $5)!  Our college students will be joining us!

Please bring something for the food bank and a gift to exchange.

Women of Zion Christmas Cookie Exchange -- December 14

Please join the Women of Zion on Wednesday, December 14th, at the CEB, at 7:00 p.m.  It's time again for our annual cookie exchange and prayer pal recognition/selection.  Come for the  good company, good cookies to eat and the opportunity to do good deeds by packaging and delivering cookies to those who are ill and/or home bound.  All you need to do is sign up in the Narthex and bring yourself and three dozen cookies to the CEB on December 14th at 7:00 p.m.  As always, friends are welcome. 

Lunch Bunch -- December 8

The Lunch Bunch will be meeting on December 8 at noon.  We will be going to Spain 92, 1116 Rt. 202 South, in Raritan.  The phone number is 908-704-9292.  Join the fun.  We’re looking for you!

Advent Vespers -- Thursday evenings

During Advent, there will be a Soup Supper at the CEB at 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays, followed by Vespers at 7:00 p.m.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us!  There will be no Vespers on December 22.

Book of Faith -- Noon on Wednesdays

The Book of Faith will be having an Advent Study on November 30, December 7, and December 21.  We will not be meeting on December 14.

Discipleship

Discipleship will be meeting again on December 15 at the CEB.  We will begin with supper at 6:00 p.m. followed by Vespers at 7:00 p.m. and discussion at 7:30 p.m.  The theme will be “Christmas”.  All are invited.  We would love to see you there!

A Message from Pastor Summer -- November 2016

I have written a song to capture our mission statement, Connecting People with God's Grace.

Connecting People

1.  God made us one from the start

But then through sin we broke apart

We went our separate ways

The price we soon would pay

So in love, God sent his son

To bring us home, when we had run

The walls, he would tear down

The lost, they would be found

Refrain

Connecting people, with his father’s grace

Connecting people, all boundaries to erase

Connecting people, broken in this world

Connecting people, with God’s grace

2. He blessed the children brought to him

Forgave the woman caught in sin

The blind and deaf he healed

With outcasts, shared his meal

But when in fear, we turned away

He gave his life for us to save

He bore our sins and lies

And on the cross he died

3.  Down through the years that grace’s been poured

Through the mercies of our Lord

The church has been the clay

God’s hands have shaped the way

As Jesus lived, embracing all

Lifting others when they fall

The stranger to let in

The broken heart to mend.

4.  I’ve known that grace in my life

In times of trouble and of strife

God’s been there in my need

Heard my every plea

So with others I will share

This gift of love beyond compare.

The will be my call

Serving one and all

Peace,

Pastor Summer

October Council highlights ... by Bob Durham, Council President

· A draft of the 2017 budget was presented to the Council for discussion.  The Finance     Committee will review and will bring another draft to the November 10 Council meeting.

· Bob Durham asked Council members to brainstorm some names of potential new Council members and new committee chairs.  There are at least two seats that need to be filled on Council for 2017 – possibly three or four. 

· The Worship & Music committee has completed their quest for banner donors – all red, blue and purple banners are being donated by church members.  The red banners will be dedicated on October 30, Reformation Sunday.

· Resumes (18) for the Director of Youth and Family Ministries position are being reviewed to determine who will be given interviews.  Bob Durham shared that he hopes to do the interviews in November and present a candidate to the Council in December.

· This month’s thanks go to:

* Dan Neuweiler for delivering the Lutheran World Relief school kits.

* Joanne Rupp and Harold Wrede for cleaning up the cemetery and Memorial Garden at the church.

* Steve & Barb Surhoff, Lou DiCriscio, and Colin Brokaw for delivering Temple Talks.

* Anita Zarate for her leadership of the Women of Zion, and for coordinating the NJ Women of the ELCA convention that was held at Zion in September.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on November 10th.

All Saints Sunday

November 6th is All Saints Sunday.  On that day we will be remembering all those who have died in the past twelve months.  A bell will toll for each member we lost and one bell will toll for Zion’s friends and family members.

We will also continue our tradition of hanging an ornament with the names of loved ones who have died.  Ornaments will be available for you to fill out when you enter the church and you will be invited to hang the ornament during the worship service.  Your ornament will be available for you to take home as a remembrance beginning November 13.

Simply Giving – a convenient, consistent way to help Zion grow

Simply Giving offers Zion members a convenient, safe and simple way to provide regular offerings without the need to write checks, carry cash, or prepare envelopes. Simply Giving provides you convenience, keeps you on track with your planned stewardship, guarantees your uninterrupted support to Zion's mission, and provides you with today's most popular electronic payment method.

By using Simply Giving at Zion, it provides much needed donation consistency throughout the year, saves church staff time, increases security in the church office, and has a positive impact on the environment.

Sign up today at www.zionoldwick.com by clicking the Stewardship menu, and then Simply Giving Online. You will be directed to Zion's page at eservicepayments.com (secure website) where you can create a profile and begin Simply Giving.

"Simply Giving is our preferred method of regular giving to Zion's mission. It allows us to provide first fruits giving each month. We can adjust our offering at any time as our ability to give changes." - Todd and Stacey Rothermel

REFLECTIONS ... by Joanne Rupp

I wish I could sing so I could join the choir.  I wish I was OK with being in front of people so I could be an Assisting Minister.  I wish I could look into a crystal ball and see what Zion’s income will be in 2017.  And I bet the members of the Stewardship and Finance Committees wish the same thing.

Imagine trying to plan your family’s budget without having a fairly firm idea of what your income was going to be.  When we make a pledge to Zion, to commit to what we plan to give in the coming year we give the Finance Committee some hard numbers to work with.  When the Stewardship Committee has to gaze into the crystal ball to try and figure out what Zion’s non-pledged income will be, things become fuzzy. 

Pledging… It’s good thing.

Social Ministry update

Senior "Baskets" - Our gift bags given to needy area seniors have evolved from bags to cards decorated by the Sunday School children and will contain a $10 gift card from Walmart or Shoprite.   Anyone wishing to contribute can place a donation marked "senior baskets" or actual $10 gift cards (Walmart or Shoprite) in the offering plate.

Giving Tree - Once again Zion will be requesting names for 20 children associated with Family Promise and will be placing the tree with tags for gifts and clothing requests.  Watch for the tree to go up on November 20th.

Alternative Giving - The organizations selected for Alternative Giving this year are: Market Street Mission, Give Kids the World, Puppies Behind Bars and ELCA Honey Bee project.  Kay Beagle will be giving her famous and always amusing talk with a rundown of how she will be using these alternative gifts for her family on Sunday November 13th.  Gifts will then be available for purchase through Sunday December 4th.

Advent Parish Night - Save the date for Sunday December 4th!  This is a fun filled night for the whole congregation with crafts, potluck and caroling. Stay tuned for samples of the crafts and electronic sign up. 

Coming in 2017...

Feed My Starving Children - March 31/ April 1st
Oldwick Town Wide Tag Sale - April 29th

Do You Like to Sing?

Do You Like to Sing?  Once again the Parish Choir is inviting anyone who likes to sing to join them for the Christmas season.  This is a perfect way to “try out” the choir for two months.  Choir practice is Wednesday evening from 7:30 - 9:00 pm.   The choir will be singing on Christmas Eve at the 9:00 pm service.   As heard from one of the choir members after Reformation Sunday, “There is nothing like it, when the music you have been practicing comes together in the moment.  You can feel it”.  If you are lucky enough to be able to carry a tune you should come and share your gift. 

From the Shepherding Committee

There are meals and prayer shawls available for anyone to pick up in the large closet in the Great Room of the CEB.  Any questions?  Please contact Judy Formalarie or Jackie Snyder.

Women of Zion Thanksgiving Dinner -- November 16

Wednesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the CEB.

We're going back to making our own dinner.  So join us as we give thanks for our blessings, including the good food and good company that are always part of this holiday event.  As always, invitees are welcome; they just need to bring food, too!

There's a sign-up sheet in the church narthex, with suggested foods so we have a balance of items.  Please bring enough to serve 12.  It would be helpful to know how many are coming by NOVEMBER 13TH, to be sure of enough turkey!

Please call Anita Zarate at 534-2994 with any questions.

Lunch Bunch -- November 10

The Lunch Bunch will be meeting on November 10 at noon.  We will be going to King Tut, 1271 Rt. 22, in Lebanon.  Join the fun.  We’re looking for you!

Book of Faith -- Wednesdays at noon

The Book of Faith is continuing to explore the Gospel of Matthew.  We are finishing Chapter 14.  We are discovering how Matthew tells the story of Jesus.  How is the same as the other gospel writers?  How is it different?  What is Matthew’s witness?  Come join the conversation.  You won’t be disappointed.  The adventure continues!  We will not be meeting on Nov. 16.

Discipleship -- November 17

Discipleship will be meeting again on November 17 at the CEB.  It will begin with supper at 6:30 followed by discussion at 7:30.  All are invited.  We would love to see you there!

Vespers -- November 10

Vespers meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the CEB.  There is a Soup Supper at 6:00 followed by Vespers at 7:00.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us on November 10!  There will be no Vespers on Nov. 24 because of Thanksgiving.

A Message from Pastor Summer -- October 2016

Reflections on 30 Years

September 11 was a wonderful day as we celebrated God’s Work/Our Hands and my 30 years of ministry at Zion.  I’m deeply grateful to the entire congregation. We packed 302 school kits for children around the world, enjoyed a delicious potluck, and sent $1,800 to Philadelphia Seminary.  You couldn’t have found a better way to celebrate my anniversary. 

In many ways, it’s hard to believe that I have been here for 30 years.  Of course, the pictures posted on the internet from back in 1986 make it clear that it has been 30 years.  My mind swirls with memories.  I remember the renovations to the parsonage when Bonnie, Scott, and I first arrived.  Who can forget “my blue heaven” as the theme for the second floor?  I remember the congregation getting use to a pastor that didn’t preach from the pulpit.  At that time, I was taken by the deep commitment of the congregation to ministry, in particular, a commitment to reaching beyond the walls of Zion.  I’ve watched the list of ministries grow from Family Promise, to Oasis Village, to Faith Kitchen, to HCMAP, to Edna’s Haven, and now to Feed My Staving Children.  And to think, this is only the short list.

In thirty years, I’ve baptized, confirmed, and married many young people in the life of our congregation and had the joy of watching them grow up and launch out into the world.  They will always have a special place in my heart.  I remember every Vacation Bible School, Youth Gathering, trip to Rehoboth Beach, and even Sunday evening pizza.  The children of this congregation have been a source of joy. 

I have loved every moment of worship in our congregation.  There has been a richness to our worship life that has fed me as I have tried to feed others.  The music has been an added blessing.  I close my eyes and I can hear the voices of the choir and the ringing of the bells.  Every time we have gathered, it has been a time of grace.

Yes, I remember and celebrate the ministry we have done together, the young people we have raised, and the worship we hold dear, but most of all I remember the faces of the people I have known and served.  I cannot list them all, because the list would be too long.  I can truthfully say that I have known saints, and have blessed by each of them.  My life is richer because they became a part of my life.  I am grateful every day for them. 

Yes, it’s hard to believe it has been 30 years.  I am thankful beyond words for the years we have been together and the ministry we have done.  I am also looking forward to the years to come and what God has in store for us.  God has certainly blessed us.  I am forever grateful for those blessings and people I serve.

With a Thankful Heart,

Pastor Summer

September Council Highlights

· The next Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event will be held at the CEB on March 31 and April 1, 2017.

· The search for Zion’s new Director of Youth and Family Ministries has begun.  The job description has been posted on a number of online job search sites, as well as emailed to the NJ Synod, local seminaries, etc.  An announcement has also been placed in Zion’s weekly bulletin.  A number of resumes have been received, and the committee will be reviewing them in the coming weeks.

· A new Communications Team has been formed and is open to additional participants.  Anyone who has an interest should contact Pastor Summer.

· This month’s thanks go to:

* Linda Held for masterfully receiving the banquet tables that arrived at the CEB in August.

* Ron & Joanne Rupp for hosting the Steak & Lobster Party.

* Joanne Rupp, Ron Rupp, Sandy Matsen, Stacey Rothermel, and Linda Lovas for cleaning out the CEB Great Room prior to the floor being waxed, and reassembling the room post-waxing.

* Joanne Rupp for spearheading the School Kits project for God’s Work, Our Hands.

* Judy Formalarie to obtaining the two $250 Thrivent gift cards that were used for the School Kits project and for Shepherding Committee needs.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on October 20th.

God's Work. Our Hands.

On Sunday, September 11th the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church participated in the church wide day of service by packing school kits that will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief.  It was quite clear that we are a congregation of self-starters.  The instructions on how to pack the bags hadn’t even been completed when people started the process.  Our goal was to pack 302 school kits (Zion is 302 years old).  After purchasing three additional notebooks and five pairs of scissors we had 302 completed kits.  And because of our super industrious members, we packed those kits in under 45 minutes.  We packed over 1,200 notebooks, 1,500 pens, 1,500 pencils, 300 rulers, erasers, crayons, scissors and pencil sharpeners.  What a perfect example of many hands make light work. 

Thanks to all who contributed supplies and cash towards funding this project.  Donations of $1,152 plus a $250 gift card from Thrivent Financial were very much appreciated.  The fact that Staples and Walmart were selling notebooks for 17 cents and  crayons for 50 cents was also very appreciated.  Zion’s Endowment Fund will cover the remaining cost of $390.

Looking ahead to next year and thinking of our goal, there is the possibility of assembling 303 school kits or 500 (in 2017 we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation).  That would be 2,000 notebooks …hmmm.

Reflections ... by Joanne Rupp

“God’s Work.  Our Hands.” is now a completed project and it’s time to thank the people behind the scenes.  Judy and David Formalarie made numerous trips to Staples buying 30 notebooks and 30 packs of crayons (the maximum you could buy at one time).  Buying 1,200 notebooks takes an effort.  Judy also took the time to apply to Thrivent for the $250 gift card.  On October 3rd, Dan Neuweiler loaded the 25 boxes into a borrowed vehicle and drove 1 1/2 hours to deliver them to a drop off point at a church in Pennsylvania.

And then there was Jenny Gelson.  Jenny who helped with all the online ordering.  Jenny who was repeatedly asked to order 20 packs of scissors (max allowed) from Staples.  Jenny who ordered all the bulk items (pencils, rulers, pencil sharpeners and bags).  Jenny who used her computer smarts to create the banners that we hung.  Jenny who did it all with a smile.