A Message from Pastor Summer -- December 2018

This Sunday, we enter into Advent, that wonderful season of expectation before the coming of Christmas.  However, the season of Advent has evolved through the years.  Our expectations have grown and often revolve around our family traditions.  We feel the excitement of these expectations, but also the weight of them.  There are the decorations to hang, the cards to send, the gifts to buy, the family to invite, and the cookies to make.  The coming month is filled with these expectations that we have created.

We feel the same excitement and weight about the expectations in the life of the church.  There is worship to plan, the church to decorate, Christmas Eve anthems to learn, Advent Parish Night to celebrate, Advent books to send, candles to buy, and children’s programs to hold.  This month is filled expectations. 

Yes, we’ve entered into Advent, but the concern is that amidst all the expectations we’ve created for the season, we miss the significance of Advent.  Our lists of expectations weigh heavily on us in terms of all the things we need to do, plan, and arrange to celebrate the coming of Christmas.  The concern is that the true expectation is missed.  It’s not surprising that we become tired rather than renewed.  We grow hectic rather than hopeful.  We long for the season to be done rather than for it to begin.  And so what is the central expectation of Advent?

Long ago, the people of Israel lived in expectation.  They longed for the coming of the Messiah, for God to act in this broken world and their broken lives.  Christmas is the fulfillment of that expectation, that longing.  God acted and in love, sent a Son, the Messiah, to be born in Bethlehem.  In our day, we have the same longing for God to act in our broken world and our broken lives.  We too live in expectation.  Christmas is the promise that our expectation has been met.  It is the promise that in love, God has acted for our sake by sending Jesus, that in love, God continues to care for us and the living of our lives, and that in love, Jesus will come again.  The central expectation of Advent has taken place.  We have already known the promise and we await it’s fulfillment in the coming Kingdom. This is the heart of Advent.  This is why we celebrate the season.  Amidst all the other expectations of this time of year, let us hold onto the center.  Jesus has come and Jesus is coming again.  That is the Good News. That is Advent. 

Peace,

Pastor Summer    

Special Meeting of the Congregation -- December 16

There will be a Special Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, December 16, at 9:45 a.m. at the church.  The agenda for the meeting is to hear a preliminary presentation (with discussion) of the 2019 budget, and to elect 2019 Council members.  No other business may properly come before the congregation at this meeting.  The 2019 Annual Meeting of the Congregation will take place in January, where the budget will be approved and the Annual Report received.  This will be an open meeting where additional items of business may be brought forward.

Youth and Family Ministries

Dear Members and Friends,

Why do we invest in small numbers?

I want to paint a picture for you.  Come with me back to one year ago, November of 2017, where I have been at Zion as your Director of Youth and Family Ministries for three short months. Coming up is the NJ Synod’s Among the Wolves middle school retreat. Zion has not participated in this retreat in a very long time. I have been told, repeatedly, that I do not have to go to the weekend retreat, since I am still new and only part-time. I send out the information and gather some advisors and surprisingly, we have 4 students sign up. Then, a week or so out, (due to very unfortunate circumstances) both of the advisors have to pull out. Less than a week away from the retreat, a student backs out. So, I find myself doing what God has always called me to do… GO! So I pack my bags, secure a few babysitters for the weekend, and am on my way up to Zion for the retreat. On my way, an hour before we are due to leave, another student calls out sick. I arrive at the CEB and get ready to go with only two students and myself. As we get ready to depart, one mom pulls me aside and says “You know Courtney, we wouldn’t have blamed you if you wanted to cancel. This is a lot of time and work for only two students.”

The thought hits me… yes, it has been a lot of work, and yes, I could have canceled, but I have two young girls who are packed and ready to go. So after a few long few sleepless nights, I am back at home hoping and praying that the weekend made an impact on the girls.

Fast forward to November 2018 at Among the Wolves. We have 12 students going and 4 advisors. Yes, I said TWELVE and FOUR! Talk about a return on investment! If last year’s retreat were to have been cancelled due to low attendance, this amazing weekend in 2018 wouldn’t have happened. I can say with confidence that because Zion invested in these two young ladies, they in return brought in a whole new group of students willing and able to be transformed at a youth retreat. The event went well, and we were able to introduce a whole new group of kids to God’s grace.

The question at hand was, why do we invest in small numbers? Any banker will tell you that even a small amount will grow larger and larger after years of investment. The trick is to have patience and not be discouraged when you are only able to invest a small amount. I urge you to continue to invest in Zion and our youth. You might be thinking that since our numbers are small, our programs must not be ‘working’. I urge you to remember the story I just told you. Those girls in 2017 are real members of our congregation, and this year, those 12 students are real kids in our church with real spiritual needs. We must continue to invest in our children and teach them in the ways in which we have been taught.

Peace,

Courtney Rzeplinski

Sunday School Christmas program -- December 9

The season of Advent is a time to prepare—and wait.  A time to count the days until Christmas, counting on the promise of a Savior. 

The Sunday School Christmas program will be presented during the 10 am worship service at the church on Sunday, December 9.

Christmas Church Decorating

It’s that time again…time to decorate the church for Christmas. Needless to say, many hands make for a quick hour or two to get the tree set up, decorated, and wreaths hung. 

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, December 15th at 9:00 am.  In the event of a potential weather event we will put out a call for any strong volunteers who can get the tree inside early. Thanks for your help.

And while you are marking your calendars, you can also mark Sunday, January 6, 2019, following the 11:00 am service for the un-decorating of the church.

Meet Our Members

Tim & Donna Hunter

Tim and Donna Hunter joined Zion in 2008 after Tim was transferred with Bayer Consumer Health to their headquarters in Whippany, NJ.  After searching for a church home for several months, they finally found Zion and felt an immediate connection. 

Tim and Donna have enjoyed serving on Zion’s Church Council. Tim served on the Finance Committee and was chair from 2012-2015.  Donna chaired the Evangelism Committee from 2014-2015 and served several years on the Social Ministry Committee.

Tim began his career with Bayer in 1982 as an accountant with a degree from Bloomsburg University.  After receiving a Masters degree from Lehigh University, he held various positions at the Bayer Myerstown, PA, site before being transferred to the NJ corporate offices as a Senior Supply Chain Manager.  Tim retired in 2016 after 35 years of service.  Donna was working for Tyco Electronics in Harrisburg at the time of Tim’s transfer and was able to retain service years by transferring to Tyco International as an Operations Coordinator at their    Simplex Grinnell division in Secaucus, NJ. 

Daughters Michelle and Kristen both live in NJ.  Michelle, husband Alan and children Bridget, Timothy and Daniel live in Scotch Plains, NJ.  Kristen and husband, Dave and their two rescue dogs live in Phillipsburg, NJ.  After both being born and raised in PA (Tim in Williamsport and Donna in the Reading area), they decided to return to their Pennsylvania roots and moved to Easton, PA upon retirement.  Easton fit their needs of living in PA but not too far from the kids and grandkids.  They had also purchased a condo in Naples, FL in 2011 with an eye on retirement.  This winter will be their first in Florida and they are looking forward to it as they both enjoy tennis, golf, biking, hiking and travelling.

Debra Kaufman

Debra, Rachael, and Allison joined Zion in 2006 upon moving to New Jersey from Virginia.  They still remember their first worship service when Kay and Glenn Beagle were the first to greet them. Little did they know that they were neighbors. They chatted many a time on Big Spring Road while walking their dogs.  Debra misses them both, Artie too, and will always be thankful for them and that first day at Zion and that last cup of tea with Kay.

Rachael is a graduate from the College of William and Mary and also earned her Master’s in Social Work at VCU in Richmond.  She now works at SCAN, Stop Child Abuse Now, Circle preschool for children impacted by trauma. She is    pursuing her LSW and is being the big hearted young lady she's always been. 

Allison graduated with a double major in Computer Science and Philosophy from Boston University. She lives and works in   Boston [figured she would love that town]. She has two pet rats, Wally and Barry; she says they are the best roommates ever.

Debra enjoyed a 32-year career at Verizon and is now travelling up and down the east coast to visit family and friends. She was on Church Council and assisted Pastor Summer with Confirmation Class for many a year. Shout out to Tom, Ginny, and Sue for supporting the young people throughout the years. Debra still loves seeing those Confirmands as young adults. She enjoys WOZ events thanks to Anita Zarate, and Social Ministry opportunities to serve, thanks to Rebecca Melick and Linda Held.

The Kaufmans’ favorite place to vacation is on Toddy Pond in Maine. A deck of cards and a few kayaks is all they need.

 Oh lest we forget, they adopted Kasey, their quirky beagle hound, two years ago. The Kaufman girls wish everyone a blessed Christmas.

Military Recognition -- THANK YOU!

The Military Recognition project began as a "thought" by an extremely dedicated and always smiling Rebecca Melick - chairperson of the Social Ministry committee at Zion.  Since her project list is much longer than the hours in any day, the project was given to another committee member, Shellie Evers – a “newbie” and a military mom, so it was a perfect match.

The project that began with brainstorming ideas in the summer, all set to culminate on November 11, Veteran’s Day, involved meetings for fleshing out ideas, approval of a budget from the Council, a Thrivent grant application (and subsequent shopping trip to Walmart once the grant was received), several emails to the congregation to gather names, addresses, and requests for the care package contents for those currently serving, and names and details for those who had previously served -- as well as a request for donations.  Next steps included "Trick or Treating for the Troops" and packing of the boxes by the Sunday School classes, and addressing and finishing of the boxes by other “recruits” before taking them to the church for the big day.  

On Sunday, November 11, the bulletin insert named each service member, those currently serving and those who had previously served, in detail.  The worship service was full of poignant references and recognitions with the highlight being the blessing of the boxes by the children, introduced by Courtney Rzeplinski and by led by Pastor Mark Summer.   

The individually and uniquely packaged boxes were sent to service members in the following places:

Alabama (1), Hawaii (1), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), North Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), Korea (2)

The boxes consisted of some or all of the following items paid for through the $250 Thrivent Grant:

·         Riesen candy (you’re the “Reisen” our country is free)

·         Lifesavers (thank you for being our heroes and “lifesavers”)

·         Dog toys

·         Protein bars

·         $25 Walmart gift cards (7)

The Thrivent grant was supplemented by the following donations for the care packages:

·         $25 iTunes gift cards (4) donated by Bill & Eleanor Kover

·         Photos, notes, and Halloween candy donated by the Sunday School classes

·         God’s Eyes crafts donated by Courtney Rzeplinski

·         Fresh produce donated by Rebecca Melick

·         Ear buds (4) and other miscellaneous items donated by the Evers family

Due to the success of the project, and requests by several congregants, we hope to make this an ongoing annual project.  Our sincere thanks to all involved!

SPECIAL THANKS:

Pastor Summer – For the beautiful way you always make the worship services feel special – but especially for the November 11 service.  It was perfect!

Courtney Rzeplinski – For your creativity, your work on this project personally, your leadership of the kids, and for your participation in the worship service – it was wonderful!

The Sunday School classes – For your sweet notes, your creativity, your time in putting the boxes together, and for your kind generosity in donating your “hard earned” Halloween candy!

Rebecca Melick – For the idea to formally recognize our active duty and veteran military members, for taking the budget request to the Council, for all your support throughout …and for helping finish assembling the boxes!

Todd & Stacey Rothermel – For applying for and helping us get the Thrivent grant to help fund the project.

Eric and Joshua Evers – For helping shop at Walmart, for your help in finishing the boxes, and for being the “muscle” needed to carry them to the various places they needed to go.

Jenny Gelson – For proofing and sending emails, collecting and formatting information for the November newsletter, printing pictures for the boxes, and for the November 11 insert.  You are so great, and your attention to detail is so very appreciated!

Cookie Exchange -- December 12

The Women of Zion Cookie Exchange will be on Wednesday, December 12th, at 7:00 p.m. at the CEB.  Please bring three dozen cookies and a gift for your prayer pal.  As usual, we’ll socialize as we eat cookies, and package the rest to give to those who are housebound or ill.  Then we’ll recognize those we’ve prayed for all year with a token gift, and draw a new prayer pal for 2019.  Guests are welcome!  Please sign up in the narthex.

Lunch Bunch -- December 13

The Lunch Bunch will be going to Spain 92, 1116 US-202 in Raritan on December 13, for our annual Christmas Lunch.   The phone number is 704-9292.  Join the fun.  We’ll be looking for you!

Book of Faith

The Book of Faith will continue to explore the Acts of the Apostles.  We still need to pick a day of the week and time.  Come join the conversation in January. You won’t be disappointed.  The adventure continues! 

Vespers -- January 3 and 17

Vespers will meet on January 3 and 17.  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!

Discipleship -- January 24

Discipleship will be meeting next on January 24.  It includes a potluck supper at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30.  All are invited.  We would love to see you there!