Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau + Circumcision of Our Lord + January 1, 2017

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1 For You Zion Lutheran Church, Wausau + Circumcision of Our Lord + January 1, 2017 PRAYING In Our Prayers This Week Persecuted Christians in: Maldives Saudi Arabia Uzbekistan Sister Congregation Lehurutshe Parish, South Africa Studying at Seminary ~ Vicar Joe Pinzl Those who need our on-going prayers ~ Les Brolliar ~ Bill Deneen ~ Ruth Draeger ~ Hazel Eckel ~ Maggie Gengler ~ Barry Gilbert ~ LouAnn Gille, sister of Linda Nest ~ Anna Gulhaugen on the death of her mother, Janet ~ Theresa Habeck ~ Chris Hilber ~ Lynell Huber ~ Jane Janz ~ Rick Jones ~ Dan Kasten ~ Avery Kluck ~ Delores and Orlin Kottke ~ Inez Lensch ~ Sally Lewitzke ~ Alan Lippert ~ Betty Machel ~ Deb Mertes ~ Grace Mueller ~ Don O Malley ~ Mary Plautz, sister of Cheryl Plautz ~ Barb Ramker ~ Mike Renken ~ Junior Ricci ~ Johanna Schultz ~ Tom, brother-in-law of Marilyn and Larry Schubring ~ Evelyn Werth ~ Marion Wollenziehn ~ Wilton Zahrt ~ Jayne Zilisch WEDDING Christina Zeinemann and Kyle Lang were married at Zion s altar on Saturday, December 31. May God grant them rich blessings in their married life. Please submit your prayer requests to the church office ( ). We can print prayer requests that you make for yourself or immediate family members.

2 WORSHIPING The Liturgy This Week Matins + Wednesday, 10 AM A liturgy of morning prayer to praise God for the day. (Chapel) Vespers + Wednesday, 6:30 PM A liturgy of evening prayer to praise God for the light of Christ. (Chapel) THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD Friday, January 6 Holy Communion + 10 AM At Home Christmas lasts for 12 days (December 25 January 5). Tend the spirit of Christ s birth in your home each of these days. Remember to thank God daily for His Son s birth, sing Christmas carols into the new year, and continue sharing Christmas greetings. Worship Notes Today s Old Testament lesson is the Biblical source for the Benediction. In the liturgy, after giving His Church His Word of Law and Gospel and His Holy Sacraments, the Lord adds a final blessing, showing His gracious favor toward His people. The three-fold repetition of the divine name anticipates the threefold name Jesus uses in Matthew 28:19, the basis for the doctrine of the Trinity Next Sunday: Baptism of Our Lord: Isaiah 42:1-9; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 3:13-17; Psalm 29 LEARNING Nourished by God s Word Sundays, 10:15 AM: Lord, Teach Us to Pray : Home and Personal Devotion Drawing from Scripture, historical examples, and contemporary study, Pr. Gjerde will present an overview of his recent work in home and personal devotion. How have Christians prayed? What unique spiritual resources has God entrusted to the Lutheran church? How may it all strengthen us as we take up our cross and follow after Jesus? Tuesdays at 9 AM: Why the Law? Why did God give His law to the people of Israel? Does it still have a role in the life of the Church today? Come and discover the strange liveliness of the law, which St. Paul called a shadow of the good things now given in Jesus Christ. (Church Hall). Continuing at Leviticus 5:1. Thursday Men s Breakfast at 7 AM: The Book of Daniel Visions, prophecy, a fiery furnace, lions, the archangel Michael, resurrection it all shows up in this prophetic book about a time when God s people lived as exiles in Babylon. Begin Advent and a new church year by starting a new Bible study and learning about God s dazzling works for a people dwelling in darkness and sorrow. Continuing at Daniel 5:1.

3 REMEMBERING Heroes of the Faith in January Circumcision and Name of Jesus January 1 Eight days after He was born, our Lord was named and circumcised in accordance with the law given to Moses. Thus the Church celebrates this day eight days after Christmas, remembering it as the first occasion that our Lord shed His blood, and as a sign of His submission to the law. That submission and bloodshed would be completed upon the cross, where He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) Saint Charles Porterfield Krauth January 2 Born in Virginia, the son of a pastor, St. Charles played a key role in maintaining the Scriptural faithfulness of Lutherans in America. In addition to serving as a pastor, he led the foundation of the Philadelphia Seminary and edited The Lutheran, a magazine dedicated to upholding such articles of faith as the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion and the saving effect of Holy Baptism. He was opposed in these efforts by one of his former professors (Samuel Schmucker), but Charles remained steadfast to the end. Free cards commemorating these holy brethren and others are available in the narthex. REACHING Zion s Monthly Mission Emphases Greater Wausau Christian Services Goal $3,750 Since 1981, GWCS (Greater Wausau Christian Services) has provided a pastoral presence and various programs of support to residents of our community s institutions. There are 13 churches who are members and who support GWCS. Specifically, the efforts of GWCS has centered on local nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and the county jail. In addition to the jail support and nursing homes, GWCS recently has put a greater emphasis on juvenile facilities and refurbishing the jail library. The GWCS worship program has local pastors who are scheduled to lead worship services for the nursing homes on a weekly basis. Pastors Gjerde and Gulhaugen take their turn in the rotation. Residents have come to appreciate the variety of pastoral leadership types, as each week a different pastor shows up. In addition, church services are held each Sunday evening at the county jail. Twelve different pastors lead these services on a rotation basis. The service consists of singing, bible reading, a message and prayer, concluding by saying together The Lord s Prayer. Zion has been a part of GWCS since its inception. Your special gift of support is greatly appreciated.

4 SERVING Embodying the Love and Life of Christ THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD Celebrate the visit of the Wise Men on Friday, January 6, with Holy Communion at 10 AM (in the Chapel). The Way Class. Learn the Lutheran way of faith and how it shapes the life of home, work, everything else! Originally planned to start in December, this class will begin in January and run through Lent (March). If interested, please call the church office to be contacted with further details. Annual Meeting Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall. Picture Directory Update Zion s picture directory is being proofed by the photographer and will be ready in the new year. Each household with a picture in the directory will receive a free copy. Additional copies of the directory cost $15 a piece and must be ordered now so that enough are available both for extras and for future new members. If you want an extra copy, please contact the church office with your payment soon. Keep Watch for the Winter Tea! What better way to keep warm in midwinter than with good fellowship and food? The Women of Zion will hold a Winter Tea on Sunday, February 26, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the church hall. Please mark your calendars! 2017 Wall Calendars We have received several copies of 2017 wall calendars from Helke Funeral Home. You may take a calendar from the reception area, or from the narthex. Keep Watch for Kantor Beethe s Organ Concert at Zion! A new year is upon us, and on Sunday, January 29 at 3:00 pm, a special musical treat is being prepared for YOU! Kantor Beethe will share a variety of organ music, much of it based on hymnody of the last century! Of course, a few older compositions will be played as examples of composers who influenced modernday compositional style. Come and join us in the nave to hear some new songs played on our Kegg organ. Portals of Prayer for January through March 2017 are available in the narthex and by the church office reception area. Large print copies are also available on the table by the church office reception area. Christmas Decorating Fund These donations were received after the bulletin insert was printed: Thank Offering given by Ruth Draeger In loving memory of departed loved ones given by Carl and Mavis Boettcher

5 Please Note Articles for the weekly bulletin are due at the church office on Wednesdays each week. The bulletins are then printed on Thursdays to ensure that Zion s homebound members may receive the bulletins in the mail by Saturday. Also, articles for the Newsletter are due to the church office by the third Friday of each month. Thinking Ahead to Strassenfest, October 14, 2017 At the wrap-up meeting on November 10, many ideas were discussed for next year s event. Here are ways that you could help out: from thrift stores: buy and donate wool sweaters (at least 80% wool content), which are used to cut out mitten shapes to sew mittens bring sweaters to the church office you could make high-demand items: baby quilts, handmade from fabric, and/ or knitted or crocheted; also, handembroidered dishtowels in the spring and summer, yard sales have vintage or antique items, such as jewelry, glassware, or furniture If you need to have large items hauled away, call Dave and Lori Torkko, a stitch-in gathering could be held during the long winter months after the holidays if interested, call the church office. Zion on Wausau Area Access Channel 980 Zion has several programs that are being aired on Wausau Area Access Channel 980. The schedule now includes the Reformation Service on October 30. The broadcast schedule for a few more weeks is: 10:30 a.m., 4:31 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 12 noon. You may access the program guide online at: Departments/PublicAccess/ Documents/ WeeklyProgramGuideCH98.pdf You may also view programs in high definition by searching: youtube Zion Wausau. This will give you the option to view several different programs. We hope you enjoy watching these presentations. A Volunteer Coordinator of Music is needed at Kennedy Park on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. If interested, call Cheryl at Calling All Lay Ministers: Past, Present, and Future! Or Anyone Interested in Volunteering! Greater Wausau Christian Services is in need of Lay Ministers or those that have recently graduated from Lay School Ministry, OR anyone interested in volunteering, to help with our Nursing and Elder Care Service Rotation. Days, facilities, and times that we need volunteers are: Tuesdays Mount View at 2 p.m.; Atrium (formerly Kennedy Park) at 3 p.m.; Wednesdays Benedictine Manor at 9:45 a.m.; Colonial Manor at 10:45 a.m.; Wausau Manor at 2 p.m. If you are able, or know someone that is able, please contact GWCS at

6 Burden Bears A new project of the Women of Zion is Burden Bears. These small, stuffed toy bears are decorated with each bear holding a quilt and an attached poem with comforting words. These are to be given to someone who is in need of comfort. Call the church office, or stop in if you or someone you know, would like a Burden Bear. Lutheran Public Radio If you have access to the internet, you can listen to Lutheran radio everyday at It plays Lutheran music appropriate to the season 24/7. It also links to Lutheran Talk Radio at Check it out! IN THE COMMUNITY Events around Central Wisconsin Wisconsin Right to Life Signature Ad You are invited to participate in the Prolife Signature Ad, which will appear in the Wausau Daily Herald on Sunday, January 22, Your signature helps let our community know that you believe all human life is precious and should be protected. Thank you for speaking out for the unborn. The signature form is in the church office. Open Door Annual Dinner You are invited to attend the Annual Dinner of Open Door on Thursday, January 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul s United Church of Christ, 426 Washington St., Wausau. RSVP by calling by January 5. Keynote speaker is Wausau Mayor Robert Mielke. Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation now through January 15, 2017 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota. $20 admission to view this artwork and historical objects. Call to reserve your tickets, as they may sell out at peak times and weekends. Volunteer Drivers Needed for Wausau Area Mobile Meals AND Meals on Wheels Both of these meal delivery services need volunteers. Call Curtis Barthel, , OR contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center at ; or Faith in Action Are you age 60 or older? Do you need a little extra help with groceries? Friendly volunteers from Faith in Action of Marathon County are ready to deliver food from the Community Center of Hope food pantry or from The Neighbors Place to your doorstep. To request assistance, please contact Kelly at Ideas to Spark Community Action Refer to the bulletin board posting at the northwest entrance of Zion for the

7 many ideas from Thrivent Financial s action teams across the country that have accomplished service projects. You can strengthen Zion by organizing a team. You will receive up to $250 in seed money. If interested, Thrivent members may call the church office if they are not sure how to get started. Reading Buddy Program Needs Volunteers Help a child become a leader. United Way of Marathon County is looking for energetic book lovers to visit with, and read to Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders at Marathon Area Elementary Schools. Book lovers meet with students at least once a week Tuesdays or Thursdays. Background checks are required (fee to be sponsored by United Way). For more information, contact United Way at , ask for Volunteer Connection. DATES TO REMEMBER Upcoming events at Zion Tuesday, January 24, 2017: 7:00 pm: Voters Annual Meeting in church hall Sunday, January 29, 2017: 3:00 pm: Kantor Beethe organ recital: All the Earth with Joy is Sounding Sunday, February 26, 2017: 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm: Winter Tea in church hall Attendance: Dec. 24, 25, & 28: Christmas Eve: 5:00 pm: 395 8:00 pm: 159 Christmas Day, Sunday: 9:00 am: 133 Wednesday, Holy Innocents: 10:00 am 8 Total: 695 Zion s Financial News Income last week: $ 24,938 Year-to-date income: $585,104 Year-to-date expenses: $572,624

8 CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK Sunday January 1, :00 am Holy Communion; WSAU Radio NO 11:00 am Service Monday January 2 Church Office Closed Tuesday January 3 9:00 am Bible Study 10:30 am Staff Meeting Sunday January 8 9:00 am Holy Communion; WSAU Radio 9:15 am Sunday School 10:15 am Bible Study 10:15 am Pre-Confirmation Class 11:00 am Holy Communion Next Sunday: Baptism of Our Lord: Isaiah 42:1-9; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 3:13-17; Psalm 29 Wednesday January 4 10:00 am Matins 6:30 pm Vespers 6:30 pm Confirmation Thursday January 5 7:00 am Men s Bible Class 1:30 pm Women of Zion 6:30 pm Kantorei Epiphany Party Friday January 6 THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD 10:00 am Holy Communion Saturday January 7 9:00 am 12:00 noon: Removal of Sanctuary Decorations 5:15 pm Holy Communion