A Message from Pastor Summer -- September 2016

Connecting People with God’s Grace

At our last council meeting, “Connecting People with God’s Grace” was adopted as our mission statement.  We will be using this statement to guide our efforts and ministry at Zion.  This statement reflects the work of the Mission Task Force, the Church Council, and, most importantly, what we have said as a congregation through our surveys and conversation.  We want to be about the business of connecting and feel God has called us to do so.   Connecting is certainly at the heart of the gospel.  I understand sin as anything and everything that pulls us apart, disconnects us.  The work of God’s grace is to bring us together, connect us.  As a congregation, we already have avenues open to us that we want to strengthen i.e. worship, music, Christian education, social outreach, and fellowship.  However, we also want to push the boundaries of those ministries.  What would that look like?

Here are some of the ideas we are considering.  Communication is the key component and a steering group will be established to specifically address this issue.  At the present, we are using social media to post sermons and other occasional items of interest, but that’s only the beginning.  What if we include Vespers and the music of our choirs?  What if we post, every week, a children’s sermon based on the scripture from Sunday School for those who are unable to attend?  What is we post a summary of the conversation we have on Sunday morning or Book of Faith?  What is we post videos of our social ministry efforts?  The possibilities are endless.

Of course, one of the most exciting changes will be the addition of a Director of Youth and Family Ministry.  The job description has been reworked and we are actively looking for someone.  The major responsibility for this individual will be to help facilitate connections, particularly with young families and children.  Building relationships will be the primary focus rather than programs.

Beyond the work of the leadership and the addition of staff, this mission statement is a call to every one of us.  How can each of us be a “connector”?  How do we reach out to people both within our congregation and outside?   Who is someone we haven’t seen for a while and can call?  Who is a neighbor or friend we can invite?  Who is someone we can share a post with?  Making, sustaining, and building connections is gospel work.  Let us make it our work.

Peace,

Pastor Summer

August Council Highlights

August Council Highlights  by Bob Durham, Council President

· Judy Formalarie reported that an application has been made to Thrivent Financial for a $250 Visa gift card to be used by the Shepherding Committee for freezer containers and prayer shawl yarn.

· Pastor Summer’s report included his introduction of Zion’s new mission statement — “Connecting People with God’s Grace”.  The Council discussed the need to renew effort on connecting, and committed to focusing on several areas including developing the mission statement and new logo, creating a standing Communications Team, and filling the Youth & Family Ministries position.

· The CEB building use request by the Mosaic Freeschool has been approved.  Classes will be on Mondays, and will start this month.

· “God’s Work. Our Hands.” will take place on September 11th.  There will be a project for participants of all ages (School Kits for Lutheran World Relief) followed by a potluck luncheon celebrating Pastor Summer’s 30th anniversary at Zion.

· This month’s thanks go to:

* All those who have worked on the Youth & Family Ministries job description in preparation for the new search.

* All those who have helped with Summer Coffee Hour.

* Tom Gravel and Sue Schermerhorn for participating in the Youth of Zion trip to Rehoboth in July.

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

Sunday, September 11th -- Save the Date

Sunday, September 11th is going to be a big day at Zion.  We will celebrate the 30 years that Pastor Summer has been here with a potluck luncheon in his honor.  And we will be participating in the dedicated church-wide day of service, “God’s Work. Our Hands”.

The day will begin with worship at 9:30am at the church and then we will ALL move to the CEB where we will be packing up School Supply Kits for Lutheran World Relief.  They will be distributed to children in need throughout the world.  Our goal is to fill 302 bags (in honor of Zion’s 302nd Anniversary).  The cost of a string bag plus the supplies is about $6.25.  Donations toward this project are still being accepted.  To date, we have received $867.

The sign up list for the potluck luncheon is in the narthex (or call the office).  We all know that two of Pastor Summer’s favorite things are kids and potlucks.  Bring your kids and bring a dish to share and be prepared to celebrate Pastor Summer.

We are going to need strong, sturdy shipping boxes to pack up the school kits.  The filled boxes can’t weigh more than 40 pounds so we are guessing each box will hold about 15 bags.  That means we will need about 20 boxes.  If you are a fan of Amazon, please save your larger boxes and drop them at the CEB.  Thank you!

Sunday School Update

A new traditional first day of Sunday School.  Please join the congregation at 9:30 worship, then we will be at the CEB at 10:30 packing 302 Lutheran World Relief school kits as part of “God’s Work, Our Hands.”  This date also marks the 15-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.  Sunday Schoolers will remember the first responders in our communities who keep us safe by making thank you cards to be mailed to police, fire and rescue squads in our local communities.  This is also Pastor Summer’s 30^th anniversary at Zion.  A pot luck lunch rounds out the morning.  Come for all or part of the morning!

September 18^th individual classes begin at 9:45 a.m.  This year we are making some changes.  Grades 1-6 will have the same “Bible story” each week.  The pre-school and kindergarten class will continue to use the current curriculum.  We will all gather for an opening at 9:45 when Pastor will incorporate that story in a children’s sermon.  We will video that sermon and put it on social media for those who were not able to attend.  Exploring the Bible story and what it means in our lives will occur in the individual classrooms.

Our greatest need right now is additional teachers.  Several individuals who taught for many years are not coming back.  I would like to have team teachers, so that it is easier with our busy schedules.  How a teaching team divides up their responsibility is their choice.  Curriculum material is provided for each Sunday.  At this point my goal is to fill those positions for the fall quarter September 18 – December 11.  That is 11 teaching Sundays. Will you help?

Sandy Matsen

Sunday School Superintendent

Update from the Endowment Committee

Our final Endowment Sunday for 2016 will be All Saints Sunday, November 6^th.  

Thank you to everyone that donated on our first two Endowment Sundays of 2016 on       Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

There is a balance of $1,752 for Endowment Funds available in 2016 from the original $18,020 set aside for ministry opportunities.  Monies have been dedicated by the Church Council this year for supporting:

· $10,000 – Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for scholarships.

· $6,000 – Feed My Starving Children.

· $268 – Camper Scholarships for Crossroads

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….

Envelopes marked “Endowment Fund” are always in the back of the church each Sunday for anyone wishing to contribute.

Please contact any member of the Endowment Committee (Geof Close, Ted Jermansen and Rick Schroeder) if you have any questions!

Shepherding Committee News

The Shepherding Committee is looking for ways that we can help serve and take care of our fellow parishioners. One idea that we had was an expansion of our provision of meals for people in need, such as those who are sick or homebound. Instead of reaching out to folks to provide meals on the spur of the moment, we now have a standing freezer located in the large storage closet in the CEB Great Room.  Thanks to Thrivent Financial, we were given $250 in seed money to purchase foil containers and lids so that anyone who would like to make a meal can put it in a container and place it in the freezer. In doing this, meals will be readily available for anyone who would like to take one to someone. We are in the process of buying the containers but hope to have them in the CEB near the freezer for all to utilize.  We will have some different sizes for larger and smaller meals, and also some that can contain soup.  We ask that anyone who cooks a meal please write out the following information on the lid of the container: the name of the meal, the ingredients, heating instructions, and the date.  We will keep meals for six months.  After that, meals will be used by some of our partners in ministry such as the Good News Home for Women or Family Promise.

Along with meals, we are also making prayer shawls available and easier to pick up anytime. We are putting the ones we currently have in a giant plastic tub next to the freezer.  This way, you can pick up a meal and a prayer shawl at the same time!  Right now, we have several prayer shawls available.  However, we hope more people will begin to give these away (it doesn’t have to be a congregation member) so, we do foresee a need for more volunteers to knit or crochet the prayer shawls.  There are written instructions that we can give you so you know how to make them. We will use some of the Thrivent Financial seed money to purchase yarn for that purpose, as well. 

If you are interested or have any questions on the meals or prayer shawls, please contact Judy Formalarie or Jackie Snyder.  In addition, we are always looking for other ways to connect and assist each other and we urge you to call us with any new ideas!

Thank You to Thrivent Financial!

Thrivent Financial has a program through which anyone who is a Thrivent Financial member is eligible to apply to the Thrivent Action Team for a Visa gift card in the amount of $250 to use as seed money for a project they would like to do.  Each member can receive two each year.  This month, a Zion member applied for and received two $250 Visa gift cards.  One is being used by the Shepherding Committee to purchase foil food containers and yarn (see article above), while the second one will help fund the Lutheran World Relief School Kits project that we will be completing on September 11^th.  

It is easy to apply for these funds at the Thrivent.com homepage under “MyThrivent”.  Just click on the Thrivent Action Team button and it will direct you through the process.  There is even a video to help you learn how to apply.  Along with the gift card, Thrivent will gladly send you invitations, nametags, thank you notes, stickers, a banner and T-shirts!  After a project is completed, the member reports back to Thrivent to share the story of success.  It’s that simple!  The project does not have to be tied to Zion either.  All the guidelines can be found at www.Thrivent.com.  Thrivent believes we are blessed to be a blessing and encourages its members to live generously.  If you have any questions about starting a project, contact Judy Formalarie or Scott Curtis, one of our local Thrivent Representatives. 

REFLECTIONS ... by Joanne Rupp

I first met Melanie Hodges in 2002, right after the twins, Kristen and Jennifer, were born.  I brought a dinner over to the family.  I couldn’t imagine that I would walk into a house with four kids, two infants and a husband who was traveling and find total order.  It seemed so extraordinary that this memory has stayed with me for 14 years.  Melanie was organized, she had expectations and she knew how to delegate (gently).

This fall when Sunday School begins there will be someone missing.  Melanie was dedicated to all things Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  She served on Council for a term or two, but that was not her cup of tea.  Melanie liked to work quietly behind the scenes, never drawing attention to herself.  She put the super in Sunday School Superintendent.  And then the Hodges moved to Dallas this summer.  We will miss Melanie and Steve and all of the kids.

Women of Zion -- September event

The Women of Zion have been invited to attend the New Jersey Women of the ELCA 29th Annual Convention Saturday, September 24, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Christian Education Building.  The event includes a keynote speaker, a choice of workshops and continental breakfast, plus lunch.  It's a wonderful opportunity to learn about the NJ Women of the ELCA.

To attend, please complete the registration form that can be found in the narthex and return it with a $15 check, payable to NJ Women of the ELCA, in an envelope with Anita Zarate’s name written on it, to the office by September 8th.  

Lunch Bunch -- September 8

The Lunch Bunch will be meeting on September 8 at noon.  We will be going to Dora Restaurant in Clinton, 17 Main St.  The phone number is 735-4171.  Join the fun.  We’re looking for you!

Vespers -- September 8

Vespers will be starting September 8.  There is a Soup Supper  at the CEB at 6:00 p.m. followed by Vespers at 7:00 p.m.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us!

Book of Faith -- September 14

Noon on Wednesdays at the CEB starting Sept. 14

The Book of Faith is continuing to explore the Gospel of Matthew.  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!

Discipleship -- September 22

Discipleship will be on September 22 at 7:30 following Vespers at the Christian Education Building.  People will gather for a soup supper at 6:00.  Vespers will be at 7:00.   The subject will be “What’s Happening in the ELCA”.  You don’t want to miss it.  Everyone is invited to come.  We always enjoy new people.  Remember, you do not have to commit to the whole year.  You can drop in any time and find a warm welcome, delicious food, and great discussion.  We hope to see you the next time we meet,  September 22.