A Message from Pastor Summer -- January 2019

New Year’s is always a time of new beginnings.  We all make our New Year’s resolutions.  The Wellness Center is filled on January 1 with people intending to live healthier lives.  A fresh attempt on a new diet begins.  People pull back on their spending.  We make a thousand different promises that are all aimed at improving our lives and having a better year.  Of course, by February, most of these promises have been abandoned or, at least, reduced in scope.  Ah, such is human nature.  Our best intentions fall short.

Our faith understands this dynamic.   As people of faith, we speak of new beginnings.  The language of baptism clearly captures this sense of a new start.  By the grace of God, through the water and the word, our failings are forgiven, and we are made new.  However, this is not a one-time event.  What we say is that this “being made new” in an ongoing process.  Luther talked about our needing to be baptized every day.  Not literally, but with the clear understanding that every day we fall short of what God intends for us in the living of our lives and that every day we need the grace of God to forgive, heal, and strengthen us to go out into the world again.  We need to be made new every day.  And the good news is that God gives us that grace each and every day.  Faith is not a destination, but a journey.  We are all on the way to becoming the people God would have us be.  Our journey of faith is not based on our best intentions.  Our intentions alone will not get us there.  Our journey of faith is based on a loving God who understands our shortcomings and failures and, again and again, makes us new in love so that we might continue the journey.  My resolution this year is to hold on to that good news of God’s grace.

Peace,

Pastor Summer

December Council Highlights

The December meeting of the Church Council was a budget / finance meeting, where the Council continued their work on the proposed 2019 budget. 

The Council was scheduled to have a regular meeting on November 15, which was cancelled due to a snowstorm.  That meeting was rescheduled for November 29, which fell after the deadline for highlights to be included in the December newsletter.  Please see the November 29 highlights below. 

· The Finance Committee presented the Council with a preliminary draft of the 2019 budget, to be reviewed at the December 16 Special Meeting of the Congregation.  The committee is looking for feedback and input from the Council and congregation regarding the budget prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting in February.

· The Reverend Scott Schantzenbach, Assistant to the Bishop of the NJ Synod, led a conversation about the upcoming time of transition between Pastor Summer’s retirement and the selection of a new pastor.  As soon as possible after Pastor Summer’s departure, there will be an Interim Pastor in place who will work with the Council and a Transition Team of Zion members to guide the congregation in readying itself for its next called pastor.  

· Courtney Rzeplinski continues to work on implementing Zion’s new Child Safety Policy, and leaders are being trained.

· The middle school retreat, Among the Wolves, was a big success.  Zion brought 12 students to the retreat.

· Family Promise will return to Zion on December 30 through January 6.

· The new church website is scheduled to go live in January.

· Thank you to:

* Shellie Evers for spearheading the Military Recognition project.

* Barbara Surhoff for chairing the musical instrument drive.

* Robbin Lamo and Meghan Stanski for coordinating this year’s Giving Tree.

* Linda Held and Angela Sztuk for creating the Alternative Giving crafts.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on Thursday, January 17.  Meetings are open for all to attend.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation -- February 10

The 2019 Annual Meeting of the Congregation will take place on Sunday, February 10, immediately following the 10 a.m. Second Sunday Single Service.  The congregation will receive the 2018 Annual Report, and vote to approve the 2019 budget.  The meeting will be held at the CEB and will be followed by a Potluck Luncheon.  Please stay tuned for more details.

Social Ministry update

The Social Ministry committee will sponsor a Coffee Drive for Faith Kitchen during the months of January and February.  Once again, Zion is collecting coffee to supplement the meals provided by Faith Kitchen in Dover.  Last year we collected nearly 200 pounds.  Let's beat that goal in 2019!  Faith Kitchen serves hot meals every Monday through Friday feeding approximately 80 individuals per day.  

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Alternative Giving program a success.  We collected nearly $1300 for four deserving organizations.

$175 - Tabby's Place, a cat sanctuary in Flemington

$275 - Riding with Heart, an organization providing equestrian programs to persons with disabilities

$425 - Caring for Cambodia, a group that utilizes Feed My Starving Children manna packs in their school programs

$420- ELCA backpack program.  This ELCA program distributes backpacks with food on Fridays for children receiving food assistance in schools

A special thanks to Linda Held and Angela Sztuk for creating this year’s Alternative Giving gifts.

Music for Recovery

The Social Ministry committee would like to thank everyone who donated instruments to Daytop Rehabilitation! The instruments were delivered in December and the program’s director was very appreciative, noting that “music makes such a difference for our residents. “

Daytop provides residential treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders for youth and young adults. Music has been proven to help 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.

Many thanks to all who supported the Musical Instrument Drive.

Meet Our Members

Ted & Elaine Jermansen

Ted and Elaine are first-generation Americans raised in a Norwegian home in Brooklyn, NY.  Raised Lutherans and active members of each of the congregations we were members of, we both attended city schools.  Ted attended CUNY and graduated with a degree in Chemical Technology.  Elaine went to Alfred University in Alfred, NY, and graduated with a BA in Music Education and later got a Master’s Degree from Queens College in Special Education.  Ted and Elaine married in 1972 and moved to Staten Island.  Ted worked for Exxon for 35 years as an Associate Research Chemist and worked in their Linden, NJ, labs.  When Exxon opened their new labs in Clinton, Ted & Elaine moved to Bernardsville.  Ted loves to garden and follow the financials.  Elaine loves to cook and is an avid Bridge player.  They have two daughters.  Randi, who is married, has two daughters — Joy, 8, and Eve, 6.  They live in Morristown and Randi is a CPA for Avis Budget.  Kari is married, has two children, Astri, 9, and Dery, 7.  Kari is an Environmentalist and is on the board of Clean Ocean Action on Sandy Hook.  Ted & Elaine have a second home in Seaside Park, where they spend their summers and the family comes to enjoy the beach.  Their grandchildren love the beach, boogie boarding, and body-surfing.  They love to have company, so come on down!

Vespers -- January 3 and 17

Vespers will meet on January 3 and 17 at 7:00 p.m.  There will be NO Soup Supper.  This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people.  Please join us!

Lunch Bunch -- January 10

The Lunch Bunch will be going to Kirsten’s Italian Grill, 1386 US-22 in Lebanon, on January 10.   The phone number is 236-6022.  Join the fun.  We’ll be looking for you!

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!

Women of Zion

Winter Weather Vacation!

No WOZ activities in January and February.  Stayed tuned for another Bollywood Dance Class in March!