REMINDER — Summer worship schedule begins on June 11th at 9:30 a.m.
Beginning June 11th, our worship schedule will change to one 9:30 a.m. service for the summer. We will resume our regular schedule of 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship in September.
A Message from Pastor Summer -- June 2017
Acts 2:17 - “God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
Peter offered these words from Joel as he spoke on the day of Pentecost. He envisioned the power of the Spirit to create something new, exciting, and amazing in the world. On Pentecost, that Spirit had been poured into those early Christians huddled in fear and set them on fire. They were transformed and through them the world would never be the same. The unbelievable truth is that same Spirit has been poured into our lives through the water of our baptism. God makes it possible for us to dream dreams and live into them. God opens new possibilities. There are no limits. We need to hear that word of hope in own lives and time.
At the Synod Assembly, our Bishop spoke of her dark times. The troubled nights where she has feared she is overseeing the unraveling of the New Jersey Synod. The challenges facing the church are many and they are real. Our Bishop feels those challenges deeply. She shared her deep concern with her friend who promptly told her that this was an exciting moment in the life of the church. Her friend believed that the Spirit was blowing something new into the community of faith. For her, this was Pentecost happening again. Her friend used the image of unraveling in a very different way. She spoke of unraveling as being something affirming like the unraveling of an old knitted scarf. The yarn is still good, but the design doesn’t work so the scarf has sat on the shelf unused. The good news is that once the scarf is unraveled, the yarn can be knitted into something new. The Bishop’s friend talked about God reknitting the unraveled yarn of the church into something new and amazing. I like that image. It is both reassuring and true. The Spirit is still blowing in the life of the church. With that Spirit comes the power to see visions and dream dreams. My prayer is that God makes us bold enough to unravel the yarn, to dream dreams, and to live into them, trusting in the promise and power of the Spirit.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
May Council Highlights ... by Judy Formalarie
· A contractor has been hired to repair the gutters at the CEB.
· A suicide prevention event will be coming in September.
· The Second Sunday Single Service idea has had good response from the congregation.
· The Council voted to proceed with the crown and frieze molding project in the church. The choir loft panel is being evaluated for further recommendations.
· $4,000 has been earmarked from the Endowment Fund earnings for youth scholarships to attend events such as Cross Road Camp retreats and a confirmation weekend.
· Ideas are still being generated for the full disbursement of this year’s Endowment Fund earnings.
· The search for a Director of Youth and Family Ministries is continuing.
· The re-creation of a Mutual Ministry committee is being pursued.
· God’s Work/Our Hands event will be held in September.
· The Parish Life committee is looking into hosting something at Halloween for town-wide trick-or-treaters.
· This month’s thanks go to:
* Sue Swanson for all her work on Kay’s Closet (the closet for Family Promise supplies)
* Robbin Lamo and Sandy Matsen for spearheading a Pedals for Progress drive for donations of bicycles and sewing machines
* The Schumann family for hosting Café Zion
* All those who volunteered to help at the Tag Sale
The next meeting of the Church Council will be on June 15th. Meetings are open for all to attend.
Zion Congratulates This Year's Graduates!
Grade School
Caroline Stierle, Branchburg Central Middle School to Somerville High School
High School
Haley Conner, Hunterdon Central Regional High School to University of Scranton
Conor Dec, Voorhees High School to Drexel University
Ryan Dec, Voorhees High School to Denison University
Patrick Evers, Voorhees High School to Johnson & Wales University
Sarah Jennison, North Hunterdon High School to Ithaca College
Kirsten Maiwaldt, North Hunterdon High School to Rutgers University
Daniel Peters, Hunterdon Central Regional High School to University of Pittsburgh
Billy Wallace, Hunterdon Central Regional High School
College
Peter Dehkes, Carleton College — Bachelor of Science in Psychology, concentration in Biochemistry
Trevor Fuller, Rutgers University Business School — Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain Management and Finance
Nicole Gill, Salisbury University — Bachelor of Arts in Business
Kate Held, James Madison University — Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Katie Jennison, Lehigh University — Bachelor of Science in Bio-engineering with highest honors
Anna Nicholas, Radford University — Bachelor of Science in Physics
Gordon Nicholas, Raritan Valley Community College — Associate of Science in Web Development, Magna Cum Laude
Josh Peters, University of Pittsburgh — Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Audrey Snyder, University of Delaware — Bachelor of Science in Medical Diagnostics
Charlotte Talis, University of Delaware — Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications, minor in Spanish
Emma Talis, Marist College — Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, track in Biology (Valedictorian)
Pearson Treanor, Colby College — Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Classics, minor in Math
Graduate School
Jackie Baker, East Carolina University — Master of Science in Kinesiology
Corinne Gill, University of St. Augustine — Doctorate in Physical Therapy
Grace Snyder, University of Delaware — Master of Arts in Communications
Meet Our Members
The Council is asking members to give a short snapshot of themselves and their relationship with our congregation, as a way of helping us connect. This month, we’re presenting two members of our Church Council and their spouses.
Bob & Zaida Durham—Whitehouse Station, NJ
It is a pleasure to meet you! We are the Durhams … Bob and Zaida! We have resided in Whitehouse Station for the last 25 years. Our home is filled with animals! We have 3 Salukis … Jack, Ashe and Sydney … which are all AKC Grand Champions. In addition we have three cats … Martini, Rossi and Olive. Oh … cannot forget the fish!
We just celebrated our 33 Wedding Anniversary on May 26th. November 13, 1994 was the date that we joined Zion Lutheran Church. How fast time flies! We both have served in numerous positions on Council … Bob is currently the Chair of Parish Life and Zaida is the Chair of Evangelism. While we were guests at a Dinner Group when we first joined, a member said that their “best friends were fellow members of Zion.” How true that is! In addition to serving on Council, we are “charter” members of the Bell Choir, Ushers, Bob serves as Assistant Minister and Zaida serves on the Altar Guild.
Zaida is a Pathologist at Saint Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick. Bob has been a Home Loan Consultant for 33 years … and is currently with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Somerville.
Long Beach Island is our second home … where we love to kick back and relax. Zaida loves to paint watercolors. In addition, we love showing our three Salukis at local Dog Shows … and have shown twice at Westminster Kennel Club.
John & Jann McAleer — Pittstown, NJ
John and Jann McAleer became members of Zion in 2015 after moving from another Lutheran congregation in Flemington where they were active for 41 years. They reside in Alexandria Township. John and Jann first met in High School, were married at Somerset Hills Lutheran Church in 1967 and will celebrate their 50th anniversary this August. John served in the NJ National Guard for 6 years. He is retired from Lucent Technologies where he had a long career in various entities of what was then called the Bell System. They have 3 adult children, John, Kristina and Andrew and 4 Grandchildren – from 2 to 20 years old. John is currently serving on Zion’s Church Council and is Chair of the Property Committee, and Jann serves on the Altar Guild. John’s hobbies are golf, gardening, biking and reading. You may also hear him playing the trumpet on festival Sundays. Jann’s hobbies are sewing, quilting, cooking/baking and gardening.
REFLECTIONS ... by Joanne Rupp
The Reflections column began about 12 months ago. It was meant to be an opportunity for ANYONE to write about anything they have been thinking about. It doesn’t have to be a thesis. And there can be more than one Reflection in the newsletter.
This month I have to admit my head is empty. I keep waiting for something to pop up in my mind. Nothing. I’m already reflecting on the summer and September newsletters, but June…nothing. I’m thinking about weeds and rain. No one wants to read about that. Feel free to add to the conversation. Articles need to be sent to the church office by the last Monday of the month.
Seersucker Sunday -- June 18
Once again we are breaking from the liturgical seasons to celebrate summer with Seersucker Sunday. Sunday, June 18th is the day to don your seersucker and remember the late Ernie Stellke who always wore his seersucker suit and no socks when summer began. If you don’t have seersucker in you closet, stripes are a close second.
Social Ministry Update ... by Rebecca Melick
Family Promise: Aug 20th - September 3rd
Our guests from Family Promise will be with us again for the last two weeks in August. Many volunteers will be needed to visit, cook meals and stay overnight at the CEB to make this possible. Family Promise is the only organization in Hunterdon County to house families with children. If you are an experienced volunteer, invite a friend to introduce others to this worth while ministry. The electronic sign up will be send out at the beginning of July.
Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center
It’s not too late!! You can still sign up for summer camp!! The Youth Camp dates are:
Week 1- July 16-2
Week 2- July 23-29
Week 3- July 30- Aug 5
Week 4- Aug 6- Aug 12
Week 5- Aug 13-19
There is also a High School Week from July 9-15, Family Weekend on July 28-30, a Giant Church Picnic on Aug 20th, and Family Camp Aug 20-25. In the Fall, there is a Women’s Retreat Sept 29- Oct 1 and also on Oct 13-15 and Men’s Retreat Oct 20-22.
Cross Roads has lots to offer including a private lake, low and high ropes, 5 unique outdoor worship spaces, in-ground pool, indoor and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, soccer field, softball field, pavilion, archery range, gaga pit and so much more! Besides having a terrific camp experience, coming to Cross Roads offers much in the way of faith formation. There is a difference coming to a Christian camp. It is worth your consideration. For more information and to register, go to www.CrossRoadsRetreat.com.
Women of Zion - Evening Picnic
Annual Evening Picnic at Betty Lanka's Home on Tuesday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m.
Always a popular event, this time will be especially meaningful because we'll be having a belated birthday celebration with Peggy Eppley. So sign up in the narthex to indicate what type of salad or other food you'll be bringing. Since we have a birthday cake, no desserts are needed.
Please contact Anita Zarate at 908-534-2994 with any questions.
Second Sunday Single Service -- UPDATE
The proposal for a change in the worship schedule beginning in September has been very well received. The comments have been overwhelmingly positive. Two people had concerns about the confusion that could occur. We acknowledge that could be an issue, but the positives outweigh the negative. We have received good suggestions and comments. This is a work in progress.
Second Sunday Single Service Starts in September. Just remember “S”. We will all worship together at 10am at the church on the second Sunday of the month. The choir/organ and bells/piano will alternate months. The Children’s Choir will sing every month. We hope to have the Sunday School children involved in the service (greeters, ushers, readers, altar guild). We will have name tags to help us remember the names of the “other service” people. And…we are in the process of seeing how we can use a room at the General Store for post worship fellowship time.
We will address the confusion issue by placing a sign outside the church for the week prior to the second Sunday. An email will be sent with a Second Sunday Single Service 10:00 am subject line. The website will be updated. There will be announcements in the bulletin. And we will hope people remember.
Volunteer Needed
Are you a good writer? Can you help spread the word of what we do at Zion? We are looking for someone to become our Publicity Coordinator. This person would write articles and send them to all local newspapers to help publicize news and events of the church. He or she may also post pictures and updates from these events to our social media sites. Most of the work can be done online or by phone. Please contact Pastor Summer or Judy Formalarie if you can volunteer for this bite-size ministry!
Report from the New Jersey Synod Assembly ... by Judy Formalarie
Being at the Synod Assembly on May 12-13 with Pastor Summer and Rich Schumann was a fun, enlightening, and blessed event. I don’t know that there is another place where the music of the worship experiences is better than when 358 Lutheran voices all join together in the many hymns—strong, passionate, and many times, in multiple harmonies. What a witness to the staff and other guests at the Westin in the Forrestal Center!
While there were the usual acknowledgements of pastors who reached milestones in their careers, retired or died, there were also the recognitions of congregational anniversaries. It is a good thing to see other congregations still going strong! On Friday night, there was a presentation of the Lutheran Church throughout the years and I was pleased to do a reading that included the growth of the early church in this country, specifically mentioning the impact and influence of Zion’s beginning years.
Reverend Brenda Smith joined us as the ELCA Church-wide Representative and gave a meaningful sermon, but the most fun presentation of all had to be Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center—just ask Pastor how to sing and do the movements to “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”. However, besides the amusing song, they showed a video of the camp that really touched on the many ministries there as well as the faith formation that grows in the youth who attend summer camp. The testimonials given by the young campers themselves really explained the value of not only going to camp, but to a Christian camp. This is where many of our future church leaders are coming from! We truly have a gem in Cross Roads and it is right in our own backyard. We need to encourage our kids to go there for summer camp. I know that mine went and still have great memories about the time they spent there. I brought back lots of literature that you can find in the church and CEB. It’s not too late to sign up for this year!!
As usual, there were workshops to attend. One was on Martin Luther and the Reformation, but specifically regarding the impact of economic and social justice, was very unique. We got books if anyone is interested in learning more! There was also a workshop on Deeping Our Discipleship and one filled with data on Congregational Vitality. We made sure that, between us, we hit every workshop.
Of course, there was business to attend to and reports to hear. I would like to say it was all-uplifting, but there is a real concern on the sustainability of the Synod. It did make me very proud to be from Zion when I reviewed the synodical annual commitments of the 167 congregations. While we are not one of the largest in the number of members, we are #8 in giving. It is a real testament to the mission focus we hold. I was very sad to see that way too many congregations give very little and that there were 72 congregations that did not even pledge an amount to the Synod this year!
So, pray for our Bishop, our Leaders and our Synod as they continue on with our work and mission. Through our Synod, accomplishments in 2016 include:
* five new ministries
* donated $187,000 to Lutheran Disaster Relief
* donated $574,000 to Lutheran World Hunger
* donated $998,000 to the ELCA
* donated $2.5 million to scholarships for 250 seminarians
There is much to be proud of and much to be grateful for. We need to continue to do God’s work with our hands---and we, at Zion, are committed to doing just that.
Vespers -- June 1 and 15
This month, we gather on June 1 and 15. There is a Salad Supper at the CEB at 6 p.m. followed by Vespers at 7 p.m. This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people. Please join us!
Discipleship -- June 8
Discipleship will be meeting again on June 8 at the CEB. We will begin with a potluck supper at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30. The sign-up sheet is in the church and CEB. You can also call the office. This year, we are focusing on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. All are invited. We would love to see you there!
Lunch Bunch -- June 15
Lunch Bunch has been rescheduled for June 15 at noon. We will be going to the Sky Manor Cafe, 48 Sky Manor Rd., Pittstown, NJ. The phone number is 996-3442. Join the fun. We’re looking for you!
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