“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2.19 When Mary, the mother of our Lord heard the news of an angel band announcing the birth of her son, I wonder if she had questions in her heart. The angel Gabriel had already visited her to tell her that she would have a son, but hearing confirmation from an outside source is something altogether different. Did you ever hear news from someone that you had a hard time believing? Did you ever ask God to answer a prayer and when God answered you ques- tioned whether it was God? That’s what discernment is all about. Every day our moments are filled with questions: was that God? Where is God? Why not God? Helena Morris, consecrated Deaconess who was trained here at Zion’s and serves Zion in Montpelier reminds us that questions never end – but neither does God’s redeeming grace! Peace, Pr Tim This story is a little more than 6 years old, mid-November or early December 2006. Sitting on the bench in the rotunda I stared quietly at the pattern of the tiles on the floor. What was I doing here? Was I doing the right thing? A few familiar faces walked past and we exchanged pleasantries. Was it really what God wanted for me? I sat and waited and counted the tiles on the floor. For as long as I could remember I had three goals in life. One of them was to be a teacher. For the past three or four months, I’d been working three days a week at a part-time job and available three days a week to substitute teach (mostly only being able to fill two of those days at best). Savings were beyond gone and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. So as I sat in the rotunda and waited, I prayed. Was I do- ing the right thing? Was I in line with God’s will for my life? Taking this job would take me out of the school system; when teaching positions would become available again in the next year or two I would not even be able to consider them, much less be considered for them. This job was not being offered as a temporary job; I had been asked to make a long term commitment. Was I really able to make that commitment? Soon after I finished praying and returned to observing the tiles, Connie walked out of her office. She shared that she had given my name to Deb to call about the position. As Connie and I talked for a few minutes, she said she just knew it was God who put my name in her head. Our conversation had just proven it. That statement was God’s answer to my prayer. Connie went back to her office after our conversation and I sat in the rotunda for several more minutes before being called back to confirm that I had a new job. I don’t believe in coincidence and I hadn’t believed in coincidence since years before that conversa- tion. This was not the first or the last time God revealed Himself in such a way, but it’s an easier one to ar- ticulate and most likely the first time I specifically recognized it. God is always an active presence in our lives. We get to choose whether or not to look to Him, but that doesn’t change His presence. God has been present during my greatest joys. That is the presence I want to experience 24/7. Yet, as important as that is, more significant has been His presence when darkness threatens to suffocate the life out of me. Helena M. ZION’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 1801 East Second Street Defiance, OH 43512 Rev. Timothy Reynolds, Pastor 419-782-8781 Fax: 419-782-6719 February 2013 PAGE 1 www.zionslutheranchurch.com Visit our website at: Church Office Email: [email protected]Continued on next page
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Transcript
“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
Luke 2.19 When Mary, the mother of our Lord heard the news of an angel band announcing the birth of her son, I wonder if she had questions in her heart. The angel Gabriel had already visited her to tell her that she would have a son, but hearing confirmation from an outside source is something altogether different. Did you ever hear news from someone that you had a hard time believing? Did you ever ask God to answer a prayer and when God answered you ques-tioned whether it was God? That’s what discernment is all about. Every day our moments are filled with questions: was that God? Where is God? Why not God? Helena Morris, consecrated Deaconess who was trained here at Zion’s and serves Zion in Montpelier reminds us that questions never end – but neither does God’s redeeming grace! Peace, Pr Tim
This story is a little more than 6 years old, mid-November or early December 2006. Sitting on the bench in the rotunda I stared quietly at the pattern of the tiles on the floor. What was I doing here? Was I doing the right thing? A few familiar faces walked past and we exchanged pleasantries. Was it really what God wanted for me? I sat and waited and counted the tiles on the floor. For as long as I could remember I had three goals in life. One of them was to be a teacher. For the past three or four months, I’d been working three days a week at a part-time job and available three days a week to substitute teach (mostly only being able to fill two of those days at best). Savings were beyond gone and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. So as I sat in the rotunda and waited, I prayed. Was I do-ing the right thing? Was I in line with God’s will for my life? Taking this job would take me out of the school system; when teaching positions would become available again in the next year or two I would not even be able to consider them, much less be considered for them. This job was not being offered as a temporary job; I had been asked to make a long term commitment. Was I really able to make that commitment? Soon after I finished praying and returned to observing the tiles, Connie walked out of her office. She shared that she had given my name to Deb to call about the position. As Connie and I talked for a few minutes, she said she just knew it was God who put my name in her head. Our conversation had just proven it. That statement was God’s answer to my prayer. Connie went back to her office after our conversation and I sat in the rotunda for several more minutes before being called back to confirm that I had a new job. I don’t believe in coincidence and I hadn’t believed in coincidence since years before that conversa-tion. This was not the first or the last time God revealed Himself in such a way, but it’s an easier one to ar-ticulate and most likely the first time I specifically recognized it. God is always an active presence in our lives. We get to choose whether or not to look to Him, but that doesn’t change His presence. God has been present during my greatest joys. That is the presence I want to experience 24/7. Yet, as important as that is, more significant has been His presence when darkness threatens to suffocate the life out of me.
Youth RetreatYouth RetreatYouth Retreat———For more information, please see the bulletin board in the For more information, please see the bulletin board in the For more information, please see the bulletin board in the
Narthex. See Deb Shockey or Mark Stephens for more information.Narthex. See Deb Shockey or Mark Stephens for more information.Narthex. See Deb Shockey or Mark Stephens for more information.
Continued on next page
WEATHER
DELAYS & CLOSINGS
For any cancellations due to bad weather you may
tune into: Channel 11 (website: www.wtol.com)
OR WDFM 98.1 (website www.981mix.com)
SKATING TRIP
Sunday, February 17, at 12 noon We will be taking the church bus to Canlan Ice Sports-Lutheran Health, 3869 Ice Way, in Ft. Wayne. There
will be skating, bouncy houses, and pizza. We will leave the church at noon, skate and play from 1-4, and eat pizza afterwards. Cost is $6.00 per person for skating, skate rental, and bouncy houses. Bring extra money for pizza. Please sign up on the sheet in the nar-thex if you are planning to go. Children must be accompanied by an adult. See Kelly Worline if you have questions. Dress warm!
Balance Adjusts / Disburse- Balance
12/1/2012 Receipts Transfers ments 12/31/2012
Ministry Operating Fund -$10,422.37 26833.50 0.00 -12553.72 $3,857.41
2 Corinthians 9:8,11 - God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all
that you need, you will abound in every good work… You will be made rich in every way so that you can be
generous on everyoccasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Steven Graf
Treasurer
PAGE 4
Treasurer’s Report - December 2012
November Church Council Highlights November 15, 2012
Operational Guidelines for 2013 were approved to be presented to the congregation. The nominations for the 2013 ballot were approved to be presented to the congregation.. Help Me Grow will again use our facilities for screenings on March 4, 2013. Weight Watchers will be meeting at Zion's on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Congregation will be asked to support the youth who will be attending Youth Quake, with pray-
er and finances. Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. A new Scrapbooking group will start meeting at Zion's on Dec. 1, led by Roxanne Maxson.
December Church Council Highlights December 20, 2012
A Lock-in is planned for Dec. 28th (Friday) at 7pm through Dec. 29th (Saturday) at 9am for
youth ages 2nd grade to 12th grade. Still time for registrations to be submitted for Youth Quake. See Deb Shockey if have questions.
Worship services are being tested to “stream live” on-line.
Repairs have been made to the thermostats by Fitzenriders.
The sidewalk on the west side of the building has been replaced.
The financial audit will be performed by John Leiswyn this year.
The Deacons will be taking responsibility for the worship services when Pastor is absent, in lieu
of hiring a sub-pastor. Welcomed newly elected Council member, Roxanne Maxson.
Approved the transfer of membership to Zion’s for Bill & Jean Boyd.
Appointed Ministry Team Liaisons for the upcoming year.
January Church Council Highlights January 17, 2013
Approved Zions’ new website: www.zionslutheranchurch.com. Decided to have the Annual Reports sent out via e-mail, with copies made available at the
church for those without email. Zions will be participating in a Community VBS, July 9-12, to be held at Defiance College. Neal Deniston is shopping for a new keyboard for the church. Old one is no longer operable. NWO Synod Assembly will be held May 17 & 18, 2013, with the theme “One in Christ.” A committee was formed to proceed with establishing guidelines and procedures for Cherish
our Children. One of the 3 rooftop heating/ ACV units is disabled and needs replaced or repaired and a quote
was presented. Property Committee will seek bids on replacing all three, before Council pro-ceeds with a decision.
If you are calling for someone other than yourself, please be sure that you have
that person’s permission to give out their information.
Continued on next page
Lenten Meal Schedule Soup and Sandwiches will be served by the following Ministry Teams on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Date Ministry Team
February 13 Deacons
February 20 Youth
February 27 AVAILABLE
March 6 Chancel Choir
March 13 AVAILABLE
March 20 AVAILABLE
March 27 Council
Ash Wednesday Service
February 13, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Imposition of Ashes Holy Communion
____________________________
Lenten Worship
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Lent 1 Feb 20 Pastor Tim “One in Christ”
Lent 2 Feb 27 Karen Graf “Growing as Disciples”
Lent 3 March 6 Jane Meyers “Sent with the Spirit”
Lent 4 March 13 Helena Morris “Valuing Young People”
Lent 5 March 20 Audrey Eis “Expecting to be Surprised”
CHANCEL CHOIR
Will practice on
Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
during Lent.
Bible Study Sundays
During Lent
Feb. 17, 24
March 3, 10, 17
5:00 p.m. Bring your Bible—we will be
studying the Song of Solomon.
PAGE 7
Lois Finkenbiner
The Laurels of Defiance
Room 308
1701 S. Jefferson Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Isabella Beindorf
The Laurels of Defiance
1701 S. Jefferson Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Elizabeth Mumy
Kingsbury House
245 W. Rosewood Ave. Apt. 144
Defiance, OH 43512
Loann Peters
Kingsbury House
245 W. Rosewood Ave. Apt. 136
Defiance, OH 43512
Helen Rosebrock
Glenn Park
2429 William A. Diehl Ct.
Apt. 155
Defiance, OH 43512
Mary Zirkle
Glenn Park
2429 William A. Diehl Ct.
Apt. 112
Defiance, OH 43512
Joyce Lichty
Vancrest of Holgate
600 Joe E. Brown
Holgate, OH 43527
Norma Mansfield
Kingsbury House
245 W. Rosewood Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Waunita Badenhop
The Laurels of Defiance
1701 S. Jefferson Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Area Members in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
***IMPORTANT REMINDER***
If you are the last person to leave a room or the building, please check to make sure that all lights, especially those in the bathrooms, are turned off. Please check that all of the doors are completely closed and locked before you leave for the night. Thank you for helping to conserve energy and for keeping the building safe.
NEW WEBSITE
Change your bookmarks!
Our new web address is:
www.zionslutheranchurch.com
ANNUAL REPORTS 2012 Annual Reports will be
emailed to each household this
year per Council decision. For
those persons who do not have
email, copies of the report will be
made available in the Narthex.
Updated Church Directories will
also be included with the annual
reports.
DEADLINES
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT
Every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (unless otherwise noted)
March
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
February 15, 2013
ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS
ATTENDANCE MINISTRY CAP IMP
DATE 5:00pm/9:45am FUND $ FUND $
Jan 5/6 15/82 $ 7,586.72 $ 505.00
Jan 12/13 10/96 $ 3,395.41 $ 81.00
Jan 19/20 24/86 $ 2,951.35 $ 128.00
Jan 26/27 20/85 $ 1,458.92 $ 34.00
WORSHIP
SCHEDULE Saturday 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:45 am
DCTV 5
You may watch Zion’s Lutheran
Worship services on Wednesdays
@ 6:00 pm and on Sundays at
9:00 am on DCTV 5 Defiance, OH.
PAGE 8
LLS Lutherans of
Long Standing
FEBRUARY 5, 2013
2:00 p.m. in the Hofer
Room
Men’s Fellowship
meets every Tuesday
at 9:00 a.m. in the Library
ORGANIC COFFEE & TEA PRICES
Breakfast Blend $ 8.00
Decaf Breakfast Blend $ 9.00
English Breakfast Tea $ 3.00
Equal
Exchange
Coffee
On sale throughout the year!!!!
The Book Group
meets on
Monday
February 11 at 7:00 pm
in the Shepfer Room
Young at Heart
meets on WEDNESDAY,
February 13 , 2013
at 11:30 am, at Lefty’s Pizza
The next meeting will be February 17th after the Worship Service. Cards will be placed in the
Narthex to be signed dur-ing Fellowship Hour on February 24th.
Sisters in Christ
Scrapbook
Club
Meets Saturday, February 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Hofer Room. Bring your own drink and a
FEBRUARY 23 & 24 2 LENT Saturday: Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Sunday: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35
PAGE 9
Please help keep our records accurate! If your birthday is not here or is incorrect, please call the church office at 419-782-8781 or email the church secre-tary at [email protected]
Thanks!
Continued on next page
Happy BirthdayHappy BirthdayHappy Birthday February 2013February 2013February 2013
Steven VanDemark 2/2
Anita Schnegg 2/3
Campbell Starner 2/4
Lowell Bailey 2/5
Juanita Rosebrock 2/5
Alexander Fields 2/10
Lindsay Prozy 2/10
Mila Stowe 2/10
Nicholas Lamb 2/13
Vicki Stephens 2/13
Susan McNeely 2/14
Bert Shiarla 2/14
Diane Clark 2/17
Alyssa DeTray 2/17
Skyler Grosenbacher 2/20
Oakely Demar 2/21
Michael Shockey 2/21
Sandra Davis 2/23
Shaun Holley 2/23
Gaylon Davis 2/24
Payten Hageman 2/24
Jason Marckel 2/25
Joyce Keeterle 2/26
Sadie Worline 2/26
Daniel Williams 2/28
PAGE 10
Our Innkeeper guests are continually thankful for the food and supplies given by our members and others throughout the community. In order to continue to serve their needs, we ask that you consider giving the following items: chicken noodle soup, hot & cold cereal, toothpaste, shaving gel, canned fruit, pudding, paper towels, toilet paper, detergent, boxed skillet meals, box potatoes, spa-
ghetti and dry pasta noodles, bottled water, canned meat – tuna, sausage, chicken, Ramen noodles – beef, chicken & shrimp, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, bottled fruit juices, micro-wave popcorn, salad dressing and cooking oil. On behalf of Diana Groll and myself, we thank you for your ongoing generosity.
Dick Anderson
Continued on next page
Altar Flowers Altar Flowers can be ordered from Fancy Petals Florist at 301 Hopkins Street.
Persons signed up for altar flowers are requested to stop by the flower shop to
order and pay for a set of flowers. Prices are listed below:
Basic Arrangements are $30 for the set.
Custom orders are not available on Basic Arrangements, the
florists will choose the flowers and colors.
Deluxe Arrangements are $45 for the set.
Premium Arrangements are $60 for the set.
COMING SOON!! “Coffee Break”
While your kids are in Sunday School or if you arrive
early for Church, you are invited to come and connect with fellow Zion’s members. We’ll talk about the week and maybe share how your faith helped you get through it. On Sundays at 9:00 a.m. we will meet in the Church Library. This is a casual event—come and go with your cup of Jo! Coffee will be provided or bring your favor-ite drink.
ENDOWMENT FUND GRANTS
If you are involved in an organization or group and have a need for funding to accomplish one of the below three purposes, please submit a written request to: Chairman of Zion’s Luther-an Church Endowment Fund , by April 1, 2013. For outreach into the community or synod
as grants to seminaries, colleges or stu-dents attending such schools.
For Missions of the ELCA or to programs for persons in our parish area who are in spir-itual or economic need.
For capital improvements, debt reduction, or a building program of Zion’s Lutheran Church, Defiance, Ohio.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Northwestern Ohio Synod,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we live and move and have our being.
As we begin this new year, I am filled with deep gratitude. I want to share something of that with you. At the heart of this gratitude is the recent remembrance of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany and the very good news of God’s grace and mercy that have come to us through the in-breaking reign of God in Christ Jesus. That good news shapes everything else we may see and experience. I thank God for all of you who have reminded me and the synod staff of that good news through your cards, e-mails, and per-sonal words in the past weeks. I am deeply grateful. I am deeply grateful for the gift of a sabbatical that the Northwestern Ohio Synod provided me during the summer. Frankly, the past several years have been a great challenge. At times it has been dif-ficult for me to see a hope-filled future. Given the recent stresses in the life of the synod and changes in synodical structure, I was not sure that it was the right time for a sabbatical. Nevertheless, synod leader-ship and staff encouraged me to take it. After one week, the synod staff no longer returned my emails and I “got the message.” It proved to be an important time for rest, prayer, reading, and for reconnecting with my family and a significant mentor. In short, it was a time of renewal. I am grateful for the staff whose good work enabled me to “check out” while knowing that the synod was in good hands. During the time of the sabbatical, I received an invitation from the Dodoma Diocese to attend the consecration of Amon Kinyunyu as bishop of the Dodoma Diocese. Again, given the recent sabbatical and what appeared to be insufficient preparation time as well as the upcoming retirements of Assistants to the Bishop, Dennis Maurer and Tom Schutt, I was not inclined to accept the invitation. Synod leadership and staff again encouraged me to attend. The result was an incredible trip to our Companion Churches in Ser-bia and Tanzania. During the course of that trip, I learned more about what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ across the globe. The relationships with these churches have matured throughout the years. Many of the individuals and congregations of this synod can testify concerning the gift of these con-nections. I will share more of that story in the coming months. Once again I found myself deeply grateful for these relationships and for all those, including staff, whose good work made this trip a possibility. As I write this, I have just returned from the Bishops’ Academy, an ongoing education event that was hosted in Puerto Rico by the Caribbean Synod and Bishop Felipe Lozada-Montanez. For years the bishop has urged us to come, indicating that it would mean a great deal to the Latino people of his synod if we were to walk with them, to learn about the people and church of that place and to join with them in celebrating the major “Festival of Three Kings.” During this trip I learned more about another culture and another part of the Body of Christ as I experienced what it means to worship in something other than in one’s own language. I found myself wondering about what it might mean for this synod to reach out to the growing Latino community in Northwestern Ohio in an intentional manner. Some of our congregations are beginning to lead us in that direction. For this too I am most grateful. As this new year begins, I find myself renewed and filled with hope for our life together in this syn-od. During the past months I have learned that the church in every place and time has its unique gifts and challenges. Sin is always a present reality. Yet in the midst of it all, we celebrate God’s faithfulness in Christ and the manner in which the Holy Spirit is continually sustaining and breathing new life in the church-even and particularly in the midst of pain, struggle, and dying. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.” That also is true for the Northwestern Ohio Synod. Even as we bid farewell to one synodical structure, we welcome the increased role of deans, call process facilitators, and those pastors and other everyday Christians who have gifts at helping us move through situations of conflict to mission. I look forward to congregations and leaders in this synod in-creasingly sharing “best practices” with respect to how we might more strongly embrace the mission and ministry to which we are called. I am grateful for those congregations who are embracing the synodical mission initiative, “Good News-Amen!” I am convinced by the grace of God that this will prove an excel-lent resource with respect to helping us again know the Gospel, trust the Gospel, and respond to the Gos-
PAGE 14
(Letter continued on page 15)
Get your copy in the church narthex!
Partners Mission in
Email Addresses Needed !!!!!!
We will need to have an updated email address from everyone in the congrega-tion. Those who do not have computers or do not provide an email address will be able to pick up a copy of this newsletter in the church narthex. Please be sure to add the church email address ([email protected]) to your “safe send-ers” list, so that the newsletter will not be blocked or mistaken for junk mail or spam.
DEACON SUPPORT TEAM
Included in the last few months’ Trumpets were articles about your deacons. If you were not aware of your deacon, do you now know her or him? We hope you have a sincere interest in getting to know your deacon as a present and future friend and confidant. Our Pastor is the best resource with whom to discuss questions and con-
cerns, but your deacon can also serve you in a similar way. Deacons are not exempt from having a deacon of their own. At times we need someone will-ing to listen and we turn to our deacon. As mentioned the last several months, deacons meet bi-monthly to discuss a variety of topics, but more importantly we are available for you when your needs might require someone to talk with other than Pastor Tim occasionally. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the members of Zion’s Lutheran Church and we encourage you to reach out to your deacon whenever the need arises. If you are unsure about your deacon, please call the church office for assistance. Dick Anderson
pel in ways that re-shape our lives, the ministries offered through our congregations, this synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Might this be just the time for us to own in a new way what it means to be “one in Christ”, walking together as synod? For this possibility, I am grateful and hopeful. As I begin this new year with you, it is not hard to echo Paul’s words, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will car-ry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3-6) As we enter a new year, please know my gratitude for you and for the One who has called us to-gether in this time and place.
Living together with you in the light of Christ, Bishop Marcus C. Lohrmann