Social Ministry Update

Family Promise

Guests from Family Promise will be staying with us again from October 23rd through     November 6th.  Zion has been a part of this important effort for 20 some years, assisting the only organization serving families with children in Hunterdon.  During our two week slot, volunteers are needed to prepare meals, eat dinner with and visit with guests during the evenings and weekends.  This has been a truly rewarding experience particularly spending time with the children. If you have never volunteered before, sign up with a friend or ask any member of the Social Ministry committee what expect. Please also reach out to Rebecca Melick 908-229-3744 with any questions.  Look for the emails with the link to the online sign up tool.

Senior Baskets

This year Senior Baskets will be somewhat different, based on feedback from volunteers at the food pantries.  Rather than creating an actual bag, Zion will be donating handmade Christmas cards with gift cards to Shoprite and Walmart in $10 increments.  These cards will be disbursed as usual through the Flemington and Clinton food pantries to be given to the neediest seniors.  If anyone would like to donate to the Senior Basket project, please clearly mark checks for "Senior Baskets".  Opportunities will follow to donate actual gift cards.

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.

Feed My Starving Children

Planning ahead for next year, Zion will once again be hosting Feed My Starving Children on Friday March 31st and Saturday April 1st. 

Oldwick Town-Wide Tag Sale

Just in time for spring cleaning, the Tag Sale will be held next year on  Saturday April 29th, with a rain date of Saturday May  6th.

Worship Banners

When we first hung the green banners in the church over a year ago the congregation loved them and some people said they would like to contribute toward the purchase of additional banners for the other liturgical seasons.  White banners have been purchased with Ray Kunkel’s Memorial Funds and they will be dedicated on All Saints Day, November 6th. 

Since the announcement in the bulletin on October 2nd, members have offered to cover the cost for the Red (Reformation/Pentecost) and the Blue (Advent).  We would also like to purchase Purple banners for Lent. The cost of each banner is approximately $200 depending on coupons and sales.  If you are interested in contributing to the banners for Lent please contact the church office or Joanne Rupp (jzrupp51@gmail.com).

All Saints Day -- November 6th

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.

Remember to wear RED -- October 30th

PLEASE WEAR RED!

Please remember to wear RED on October 30:  This year begins the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.  Reformation Sunday has been a day when Lutherans have traditionally worn RED and sung “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”.  Let’s fill the church with RED.

Women of Zion -- October 19th

Join us for our latest creative and fun event!

What:    Christmas Wreath Class

When:    Wed., October 19th, at 7:00 p.m.

Where:   CEB Great Room

Cost:      $35.00 (check made payable to Kathy Barre)

Due:      To the church office NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 12

Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex.

Kathy Barre from Studio 6 in Long Valley, will provide all the materials and teach us to make artificial Christmas wreaths we'll be able to use for years to come.   And we'll have fun besides! Please contact Anita Zarate with any questions.

Note:  if you have a glue gun, please bring it to the class.

Restaurant Rovers -- November 5th

Are you looking for an evening out with friends from Zion?  Mark your calendar for Saturday,   November 5th.  The details have not been worked out, but the plans are to meet for dinner at the General Store (it transforms to a BYOB restaurant in the evening) and then move on to Martha & Harold Wrede’s for dessert. Watch for more information and a sign up sheet in the narthex. 

Vespers -- 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Vespers meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the CEB.  There is a Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m. followed by Vespers at 7:00.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us!

Lunch Bunch - October 20

The Lunch Bunch will be meeting on October 20th at noon.  We will be going to Milano’s (formerly La Casa Bianca) in Whitehouse Station.  Join the fun.  We’re looking for you!

Discipleship postponed until November

Discipleship is being postponed until November.  There will be a meeting with the Bishop at 7 p.m. on October 27.

Book of Faith

Noon on Wednesdays at the CEB

The Book of Faith is continuing to explore the Gospel of Matthew.  We are on Chapter 13.  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 Oct. 5 and 12.