The Book of Faith is continuing to explore the Gospel of Matthew. We are finishing Chapter 14. 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 Nov. 16.
Discipleship -- November 17
Discipleship will be meeting again on November 17 at the CEB. It will begin with supper at 6:30 followed by discussion at 7:30. All are invited. We would love to see you there!
Vespers -- November 10
Vespers meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the CEB. There is a Soup Supper at 6:00 followed by Vespers at 7:00. This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people. Please join us on November 10! There will be no Vespers on Nov. 24 because of Thanksgiving.
A Message from Pastor Summer -- October 2016
Reflections on 30 Years
September 11 was a wonderful day as we celebrated God’s Work/Our Hands and my 30 years of ministry at Zion. I’m deeply grateful to the entire congregation. We packed 302 school kits for children around the world, enjoyed a delicious potluck, and sent $1,800 to Philadelphia Seminary. You couldn’t have found a better way to celebrate my anniversary.
In many ways, it’s hard to believe that I have been here for 30 years. Of course, the pictures posted on the internet from back in 1986 make it clear that it has been 30 years. My mind swirls with memories. I remember the renovations to the parsonage when Bonnie, Scott, and I first arrived. Who can forget “my blue heaven” as the theme for the second floor? I remember the congregation getting use to a pastor that didn’t preach from the pulpit. At that time, I was taken by the deep commitment of the congregation to ministry, in particular, a commitment to reaching beyond the walls of Zion. I’ve watched the list of ministries grow from Family Promise, to Oasis Village, to Faith Kitchen, to HCMAP, to Edna’s Haven, and now to Feed My Staving Children. And to think, this is only the short list.
In thirty years, I’ve baptized, confirmed, and married many young people in the life of our congregation and had the joy of watching them grow up and launch out into the world. They will always have a special place in my heart. I remember every Vacation Bible School, Youth Gathering, trip to Rehoboth Beach, and even Sunday evening pizza. The children of this congregation have been a source of joy.
I have loved every moment of worship in our congregation. There has been a richness to our worship life that has fed me as I have tried to feed others. The music has been an added blessing. I close my eyes and I can hear the voices of the choir and the ringing of the bells. Every time we have gathered, it has been a time of grace.
Yes, I remember and celebrate the ministry we have done together, the young people we have raised, and the worship we hold dear, but most of all I remember the faces of the people I have known and served. I cannot list them all, because the list would be too long. I can truthfully say that I have known saints, and have blessed by each of them. My life is richer because they became a part of my life. I am grateful every day for them.
Yes, it’s hard to believe it has been 30 years. I am thankful beyond words for the years we have been together and the ministry we have done. I am also looking forward to the years to come and what God has in store for us. God has certainly blessed us. I am forever grateful for those blessings and people I serve.
With a Thankful Heart,
Pastor Summer
September Council Highlights
· The next Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event will be held at the CEB on March 31 and April 1, 2017.
· The search for Zion’s new Director of Youth and Family Ministries has begun. The job description has been posted on a number of online job search sites, as well as emailed to the NJ Synod, local seminaries, etc. An announcement has also been placed in Zion’s weekly bulletin. A number of resumes have been received, and the committee will be reviewing them in the coming weeks.
· A new Communications Team has been formed and is open to additional participants. Anyone who has an interest should contact Pastor Summer.
· This month’s thanks go to:
* Linda Held for masterfully receiving the banquet tables that arrived at the CEB in August.
* Ron & Joanne Rupp for hosting the Steak & Lobster Party.
* Joanne Rupp, Ron Rupp, Sandy Matsen, Stacey Rothermel, and Linda Lovas for cleaning out the CEB Great Room prior to the floor being waxed, and reassembling the room post-waxing.
* Joanne Rupp for spearheading the School Kits project for God’s Work, Our Hands.
* Judy Formalarie to obtaining the two $250 Thrivent gift cards that were used for the School Kits project and for Shepherding Committee needs.
The next meeting of the Church Council will be on October 20th.
God's Work. Our Hands.
On Sunday, September 11th the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church participated in the church wide day of service by packing school kits that will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief. It was quite clear that we are a congregation of self-starters. The instructions on how to pack the bags hadn’t even been completed when people started the process. Our goal was to pack 302 school kits (Zion is 302 years old). After purchasing three additional notebooks and five pairs of scissors we had 302 completed kits. And because of our super industrious members, we packed those kits in under 45 minutes. We packed over 1,200 notebooks, 1,500 pens, 1,500 pencils, 300 rulers, erasers, crayons, scissors and pencil sharpeners. What a perfect example of many hands make light work.
Thanks to all who contributed supplies and cash towards funding this project. Donations of $1,152 plus a $250 gift card from Thrivent Financial were very much appreciated. The fact that Staples and Walmart were selling notebooks for 17 cents and crayons for 50 cents was also very appreciated. Zion’s Endowment Fund will cover the remaining cost of $390.
Looking ahead to next year and thinking of our goal, there is the possibility of assembling 303 school kits or 500 (in 2017 we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation). That would be 2,000 notebooks …hmmm.
Reflections ... by Joanne Rupp
“God’s Work. Our Hands.” is now a completed project and it’s time to thank the people behind the scenes. Judy and David Formalarie made numerous trips to Staples buying 30 notebooks and 30 packs of crayons (the maximum you could buy at one time). Buying 1,200 notebooks takes an effort. Judy also took the time to apply to Thrivent for the $250 gift card. On October 3rd, Dan Neuweiler loaded the 25 boxes into a borrowed vehicle and drove 1 1/2 hours to deliver them to a drop off point at a church in Pennsylvania.
And then there was Jenny Gelson. Jenny who helped with all the online ordering. Jenny who was repeatedly asked to order 20 packs of scissors (max allowed) from Staples. Jenny who ordered all the bulk items (pencils, rulers, pencil sharpeners and bags). Jenny who used her computer smarts to create the banners that we hung. Jenny who did it all with a smile.
Stewardship News
October is once again upon us. Historically at Zion it is also Stewardship month. Throughout the five Sundays of this month, we will be looking through the lens of our new mission statement "Connecting People through God's Grace". We will explore how we are connected in Worship, in Witness, in Service, and of course, connected in Giving. Through sermons, temple talks, informational meetings, and open discussion we will express to each other our "connectedness". How are you connected to God? To Zion? To Community? How are your connections a blessing to others?
Come, worship at Zion this month of October and experience God's Grace working through your "connections".
As a historical practice at Zion for many years, the Stewardship Committee will be promoting the practice of pledging — your opportunity to connect through Giving. Sunday October 30th will be Commitment Sunday, providing a worship experience where we may personally offer our anticipated 2017 financial giving pledge. This pledging practice not only helps the Finance Committee budget for the mission of the church next year, but offers each of us the chance to "connect" through the many missions of Zion. There are many connection opportunities in store for Zion next year, and they require the commitment of each and every member to make them a reality. Please consider filling out a pledge card (see below) and dropping it in the offering plate at any of the October worship services, or in the church office.
Here is the Stewardship calendar for this month.
October 2
Temple Talk — "Connecting People with God's Grace through Worship" - Barb & Steve Surhoff
October 9
Temple Talk — "Connecting People with God's Grace through Witness" - Colin Brokaw
October 16
Temple Talk — "Connecting People with God’s Grace through Service" - Lou DiCriscio
Informational Meetings at 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the sanctuary
October 23
Informational Meeting at 9:45 a.m. at the CEB — “Connecting People with God’s Grace through Giving”
October 30
Commitment Sunday — Pledge cards will be collected and dedicated.
From the Endowment Committee
Creative Ways to Support the Endowment Fund
Over the next several issues of the newsletter, the Endowment Committee will be submitting brief articles on ways that you can support the Endowment fund without actually writing a check. Some of these strategies may entail tax and legal consideration. Zion Lutheran Church does not dispense tax or legal advice, and suggests seeking qualified tax or legal advice prior to implementing any strategies described in this or the following newsletters.
THE CHARITABLE IRA
Congress has recently approved the Charitable IRA for people over 70 ½ years old, subject to the RMD, Required Minimum Distribution requirements in their IRA. If you are subject to RMD, you can ask your IRA Custodian to direct a Distribution to a charitable entity, such as Zion, up to a maximum of $100,000. If the distribution is sent directly from your custodian to Zion, the distribution will be nontaxable to you and can meet your RMD Requirement. While the distribution will be non-taxable to you, you are not allowed to take it as a charitable contribution for tax deduction purposes. If you would like to potentially take a “Charitable IRA” Distribution, please contact the church office or a member of the Endowment Committee.
LAST ENDOWMENT SUNDAY — NOVEMBER 6, 2016
The Endowment Committee will be having our last Endowment Sunday for 2016 on Sunday November 6th. Please consider giving to the Zion Lutheran Church Endowment Fund to commemorate and celebrate a significant milestone in your family’s church life such as a baptism, confirmation or wedding. Envelopes marked “Endowment Fund” will be placed in all the pews. 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…
Please contact any member of the Endowment Committee (Geof Close, Ted Jermansen and Rick Schroeder) if you have any questions!
Sunday School News
After conversations last spring about how to make Sunday School accessible for busy families, the Christian Education committee is trying some new things this year. Grades 1-6 are all studying the same Bible stories, Creation to Moses, for fall 2016. Pastor Summer does a children’s sermon during the Sunday School opening each Sunday on the story of the week, and in the classroom we explore that story and what it means in our lives. The children’s sermon is recorded each week and the video is put up on Zion’s Facebook page. The Preschool – Kindergarten class is continuing to use the Gospel Light curriculum.
The other new thing this year is that grades 1-6 will have class projects. The grade 1-2 project is working with Seeing Eye Dogs; grade 3-4 is with Pedals for Progress and grade 5-6 is with Feed My Starving Children. Each class will have a spring event related to their organization/project, with their Sunday School offerings also going toward their class’s chosen organization.
Sandy Matsen
Sunday School Superintendent
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)