A Message from Pastor Summer -- October 2018

There’s a part of me that always enjoys when science is stumped.  I discovered that science doesn’t really understand why the colors of the leaves in fall are more vibrant some years than others.  There are theories about having enough rain, an early frost, and Indian summer.  The old-timers in Vermont are convinced it’s the early frost, and I tend to agree, but no one knows why that’s true.  As I said, science is just stumped. The vivid reds, yellows, and oranges of fall defy explanation.  We are simply left to enjoy the rainbow of colors and witness in awe God’s creation.  I like that feeling.  I like the thought of awe and wonder in the world.  I believe we too often become jaded, cynical, and complacent.  Our childhood sense of wonder is replaced with explanations and reasons.  We stop looking around us and focus on only what is directly in front of us. We are no longer surprised.  Somehow the world loses its magic.  

The eastern world has always left room for wonder.  It has always embraced mystery where we in the west have shied away.  We in the west like explanations.  We like reasons.  It’s why we like science.  But science doesn’t hold all the answers.  The world is more wondrous and mysterious than we can imagine and time and again we rediscover that truth.  Beyond the leaves of fall, the Gospel itself is a mystery.  Grace, God’s undeserved love, is beyond explanation.  It defies common sense.  It is not rational.  It is the stuff of wonder, mystery, and awe.  It is to be celebrated and enjoyed.  Grace is the color of leaves in the fall.  A gift given that is embraced and welcomed and whose truth is real and powerful though never completely explained.

This year, I will simply enjoy the colors of fall.  I will open myself to the wonder.  I will see in the leaves not only the hand of God but also God’s grace.

Peace,

Pastor Summer

September Council Highlights

The Church Council met on September 20.  Highlights include:

· Courtney Rzeplinski’s report included an update on Sunday School, which is off to a great start.    This year’s Sunday School offering will be going to ELCA Good Gifts.

· The Christian Education committee has begun planning for this year’s Christmas program, and is hard at work on many other pieces of Sunday School, First Communion, and Confirmation.

· God’s Work Our Hands was a big success.  130 Thanksgiving Bags were packed for the Flemington Area Food Pantry and over 200 Health Kits were prepared for Edna’s Haven.  See the article below.

· Family Promise guests will be returning to Zion on October 21 for one week.

· Restoration work on the front door of the church is complete.  Many thanks to Harold Wrede.

· Thank you to:

* Judy Formalarie and Courtney Rzeplinski, for their leadership with God’s Work Our Hands.

* Everyone who attended the Potluck Luncheon — there was plenty of food and wonderful fellowship.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on Thursday, October 18.  Meetings are open for all to attend.

Thanks to YOU, we did it!

This year’s God’s Work Our Hands was a big success!  On September 9th, you helped us achieve great results with our two projects:

The youth created over 200 health kits for Edna’s Haven in Dover.  This allows their homeless clients to take care of their personal needs with their own washcloth, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes/paste, combs, and more. They were so happy to receive these kits. 

The adults assembled 130 bags of ten different food items needed by the Flemington Area Food Pantry for their Thanksgiving Meal Bags. The Pantry was thrilled with receiving almost 1,900 pounds of food with these bags—over 25% of their total goal for the holiday was met by our donation.  

Special thanks for all of the donations made by our congregation, as well as donations from Thrivent Financial and ShopRite of Clinton.

We want to continue to participate in the ELCA’s annual God’s Work Our Hands program.  If you would be interested in planning a service project and coordinating the event for next year, please contact the office, Courtney Rzeplinski or Judy Formalarie. Your special interest could be the beneficiary next September!

Youth and Family Ministries Update

Dear Members and Friends,

Fall is always a busy season in the life of a Youth Director. Fall marks the kick-off for so many activities in the life of the church. I was excited to have joined with you in God's Work Our Hands this past month. It was a wonderful event that helped a lot of people in our local community. I am very proud of the time and effort everyone put into organizing, collecting, and assembling the bags. Thank you for a job well done!

Sunday School has begun again. This year, we are focusing on the Story of Moses - starting as a baby in the river all the way through the plagues and wandering in the wilderness. By the time we end our lessons, our students will have in-depth knowledge of this important bible story. Sunday School also introduced some new rooms! We now have a nursery room for our 2 and 3 year olds, being led by student leaders. We also are able to provide a new rotational room - DRAMA!  The kids can dress up and put on puppet shows. Perhaps this is your year to teach a 3-week rotation!

The Youth Ministry Study Team is still working hard to develop meaningful programming for our 5th-12th graders! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for future events!

Peace,

Miss Courtney

Summer Camp at Cross Roads ... by Reina Schumann

Crossroads Camp is super fun, rain or shine. You meet so many new people. You can swim, hike, arts and crafts, sports, and even more! I loved everything there. I adored the counselors and L.I.T.s. They always had a positive attitude. I loved that I knew some people from the Elementary School Retreat. There were five other girls and I already knew three out of five of the people in cabin two. Sleep-Away camp was amazing. I enjoyed it so much.

Reina Schumann and Rosa Spann, both incoming 6^th graders, attended sleep-away camp for one week this past summer.

Halloween Hospitality -- October 31

Do you love to talk about Zion Lutheran Church?  Do you love the Oldwick community?  Do you love Halloween?  We have the perfect opportunity for you to combine all three!

The Oldwick community … for years … hosts a large number of Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween in the evening.   Hundreds of people attend — parents, kids and pets!  Last year, we opened the Church and CEB, allowing folks to tour the facilities, get warm, drink cider, and use the bathrooms.  We gave out Halloween bags with Zion informational material and treats (no tricks!).  It was a screaming success!  We are going to add a few more ‘meet and greet’ locations and could use some volunteers.  Job description is easy … just welcome folks to Zion!   If you are interested, please call Bob Durham at 908-255-6201 or email him at tcsaluki@aol.com.

Music for Recovery -- Perfect Together

Zion’s Social Ministry committee will be collecting musical instruments in good condition and working order, this September and October. We are excited to be able to help with the Daytop rehabilitation program in Mendham and Pittsgrove, NJ.  Instruments can be brought to the CEB foyer or left with the Parish Administrator during office hours.

If you have a used iPad, computer, microphone, or audio equipment you are no longer using,  these items are also needed for the recording program and can be dropped off as above.

Daytop provides residential treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders for youth and young adults. As the first recovery high school in New Jersey, teens in residential treatment at Daytop New Jersey have the unique opportunity to remain engaged in a full-day school experience addressing academic and school-related challenges while in treatment.

Daytop New Jersey's recently expanded music program gives teens the opportunity to learn to play instruments, write songs, perform, and learn to record and shoot videos.  "Being able to record their music and have a finished product to share with family and friends gives these students the opportunity to be successful," said Jimmy Curtin, Daytop President/CEO.

"Music has been proven to help all students academically, but for students at Daytop New Jersey there may be an even bigger benefit – the opportunity to express emotion and create a sense of accomplishment", said Kathy Moser, music teacher.  As the students work to improve their life-skills and heal from trauma and addiction, the music studio provides a safe space for healing, learning and fun.

To learn more about Daytop, please visit their website at www.daytopnj.org.

News from the Endowment Committee

Our final Endowment Sunday for 2018 will be All Saints Sunday, November 4^th.  

Thank you to everyone who has donated to Zion’s Endowment Fund throughout the year.

The year started with $20,317 from the Endowment Fund earnings available for new ministry opportunities in 2018.  $5,000 was committed to support Youth and Family Ministry programs from the approved 2018 budget.  Council has since voted to commit to the following ministries with the remaining funds:

· $3,000 – Flemington Area Food Pantry

· $5,000 – New Web Site Development and Management

· $5,000 - Crossroads Camp and Retreat Center — cabin refurbishment

So, there is a balance of approximately $2,317 from Endowment Funds available in 2018 for additional ministry opportunities. 

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 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!

Let Me Tell You a Story...

In a series of stories throughout 2018, we have told the larger Stewardship story of Zion.  We have remembered how often Zion has said “Yes” to supporting the ministries of God’s work that have come before us.  A significant number of these Outreach Ministries have been accomplished outside of the General Fund process.  Many, like Feed My Starving Children and God’s Work Our Hands, have become part of Zion’s DNA. 

In 2017, we supported ministries outside the annual budget with donations totaling over $53,000.  Through mid-September of 2018, our support exceeds $40,000.  All of these stories of generosity bring us to the central story of our church, that is at the heart of who we are.  That story is the story of Jesus Christ.  In the life of our church, we proclaim that story every week in word, sacrament, and music.  We share that story every week with young and old through study, classes, and song. We give expression to that story through witness, media, and relationships.  This is the heart of Zion.  Everything flows from that center. 

The often unrecognized part of Stewardship is the telling and living of that central story through the work of our General Fund.  The General Fund supports our heart.  This year, we are asking people to continue to support the ministry at the heart of our church and to prayerfully consider increasing their pledge to continue growing Zion’s story.

Before and on October 29^th, you will be asked to submit your intention of giving via a pledge card.  A sample is shown below.

 Blessed by God, we at Zion continue to grow our ministry!

Please consider making a pledge this year, even if you have not in the past. 

We ask you to increase your pledge for 2019:

If giving is weekly, add $10 per week ($20 if you are able)

If giving is monthly, add $50 per month ($100 if you are able)

Other __________________________

      This amount will be $_______________ per week/month/year (circle one)

Peace,

John Rustwick

Stewardship Committee

Women of Zion Thanksgiving Dinner -- November 8

Please hold Thursday, November 8th,  for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner.  We’ll be making our own food this year (potluck), and you have plenty of time to plan your dish!

Military Appreciation -- November 11

Please help us honor and show appreciation to Zion's current and former military service members!  Between now and November 11, the Social Ministry committee, the Youth of Zion, and members of the congregation will be planning several activities that will culminate on Sunday, November 11. 

More details will follow soon, but in the meantime, please send in the following information (by October 3 for inclusion in the recognition, please):

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING in any active duty branch of the military: Please provide their name, current address, branch, rank, job, and how they are related to you or how you know them. 

IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED in the military:  Please provide your name, contact information, the dates you served and where you were stationed, your branch, and your rank.

Thanks so much!!

- The Social Ministry Committee 

Concert: Pastor Summer and Rod Briscoe -- "Side B"

On Sunday, October 28, at 3:00 p.m., Pastor Summer and Rod Briscoe are giving another concert at the church.  Many people have asked them to perform the music they have written over the years.  While humbled by this request, they are happy to provide this opportunity.  All are invited to attend.

Rally for Cross Roads -- Volleyball Marathon

Join us on October 5-6, 2018 for an all night VOLLEYBALL MARATHON fundraiser! Recruit a team or conquer the court by yourself! Either way, come for this fun-filled night of volleyball, music, games, movies, and even a campfire!

You can come for just the volleyball marathon, or for the whole weekend as our way of saying thank you for all your fundraising! This free intergenerational retreat will be filled with fun, fellowship, and faith in support of Cross Roads ministry.

For more information and to register visit www.CrossRoadsRetreat.com

Book of Faith

The Book of Faith is looking for a new day of the week to gather.  We will continue to explore the Acts of the Apostles, but we need to make an adjustment to our meeting time.  A sign-up sheet can be found at the church and at the CEB.  Please weigh in on the change.  The adventure continues!

Vespers -- October 4 and 18

Vespers will meet on October 4 and 18.  There is a soup    supper at the CEB at 6:00 followed by Vespers at 7:00.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us!

Lunch Bunch - October 11

The Lunch Bunch will be going to Bensi (new management) at 531 US-22, Whitehouse Station, on October 11.   The phone number is 534-8899.  Join the fun.  We’ll be looking for you!

Discipleship -- October 25

Discipleship will be meeting on October 25.  It begins with a potluck supper at 6:30 followed by discussion at 7:30.  The theme will be interpreting scripture.  All are invited.  We would love to see you there!