Zion Lutheran Church - Sunbury, Pa Called by faith to share Christ s Love with all people

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1 Sunbury, PA Address Service Requested ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 15 S. 5th St. P.O. Box 605 OFFICE HOURS- Mon- Fri. - 9am- 4pm. Phone (570) zionsunbury@ptd.net DECEMBER 2018 NON-PROFIT.ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Sunbury, PA. PERMIT No 167 Zion Lutheran Church - Sunbury, Pa Called by faith to share Christ s Love with all people Sunday Ministries 12 THE MESSENGER 8am- Worship in the Chapel 9:15am-School Age & Adult Sunday School 10:30am- Worship in the Nave w/preschool Sunday School Midweek Ministries 4:30pm Bible Study/ Supper 6:30pm Midweek Worship ansunbury.com Sunday, December 2nd 1st Sunday of Advent Unified Worship 10:30a Mission Mall 2018 Sunday, December 9th 2nd Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 16th 3rd Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 23rd 4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve FAMILY SERVICE 5:30 p.m. THE CHRIST-MASS 10:30 p.m. see page 5 Sunday, December 30th 1st Sunday of Christmas Unified Worship at 10:30a

2 Meaningful holiday gifting Sunday Dec. 2nd Mission Mall Shopping charities: a unique way to gift - Unified Worship will be held at 10:30am Lunch available Bake sale Craft sale all proceeds from sales divided among the represented charities. Charity gift list available at the back of the Nave and Chapel. Consider gifting others at Christmas in this benevolent way. Mission Mall - a meaningful way to get in the true spirit of Christmas and make a most impactful gift this year! Annual Decorating of the Nave The nave will be decorated December 2nd after the Mission Mall. We will begin soon after the meal. Climbers and decorators of all types are needed. This is a fun activity when many are involved. A lot of help is needed. See Dave Reier with questions. Look for the Giving Tree In the Narthex between the Nave and the Chapel with the names of local children in need, together with a suggested gift idea for Christmas. Take an ornament, sign the accompanying sheet and return the requested gift or gifts unwrapped to the church office by Monday, December 17th. Birthday Blessings to... December 2 Bunny Boyer December 3 Maryellen Engle December 4 Sharon Witmer December 7 Leta Jo Maue December 8 Karen Staffaroni December 9 Alex Mendler Marialice Orr December 11 Nancy Dailey December 12 Kristina Blessing Carol Rehrauer Samantha Wolfe December 15 David Dieck Kristin Hogan Stacie Mielke Nick Mendler Jennifer Sands December 16 Leslie Neitz Justin Sampsell December 17 Michael Phillips December 18 Joe Young December 19 Sherry Hunt December 21 Shirley Kratzer Gayle Gheen Raker December 22 Brandon Hunt Abagail Ranck December 23 Matt Geiser Susan Visnosky December 25 Richanna Dorman Carol Lenker December 28 William Greis, Sr. December 30 Jim Brosius Steve Engle Tessa Moore If you are a member of the congregation, have a birthday in this month, but are not listed, please or call the church office. The congregation is invited to go Christmas Caroling with our youth on Sunday, December 16th. Join us at 5:00 pm as we carol at many of our members residences. Hot chocolate and cookies await when we return! Gather your family and friends and join us. 2 11

3 Would you like to be an Assisting Minister, Lector, Communion Assistant, Communion Clean-up Person, Usher, or other scheduled volunteer? Please contact Dave Reier, or the church office. Save the date! Mark you calendar! Summer Day Camp 2019 July 22 to 26! Experience outdoor ministries close to home with staff from Camp Mount Luther and volunteers from Zion Please turn in your 2019 Pledge Reminder: All contributions must be in by January 6th to be credited to tax year Offering envelopes for 2019 will be available for pickup in the Nave starting December 9th. 10 given by the Sunbury City Band Monday, December 17th here at Zion. Concert Begins at 7pm. Annual Meeting of the Congregation Sunday, January 20th After the10:30 service Fellowship Lunch Election of Council Adoption of 2019 Budget Late Shoppers Night in Sunbury: December 6: 5-9pm Live Nativity in Zion s Garden Christmas Music & Treats Volunteers will staff the table and/or donate treats to hand out. (candy canes, cookies, etc. ) Sign up in the back of the Nave to volunteer. The yearly battle has begun! This time each year, there begins a struggle within the church on what to do with the Season of Advent. The temptation is to see Advent as a countdown to December 25th, and to use it as an opportunity to get into the mood as we prepare for celebrating Christmas. Yet the purpose of Advent is not to prepare for a celebration. Advent is about preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord: 2000 years ago in a manger, sometime in the future with Christ s second coming, and on this day through the breaking in of the kingdom of God. It s my being open to Christ s coming today that led me to the following meditation: The day after Thanksgiving the New York Times told of a 33- yearold local cab driver About five years ago, this cabby prayer to God for guidance on how to help the forgotten people of the streets who exist in life s shadows. As he recalls it, God replied: Make eight pounds of spaghetti, throw it in a pot, and give it out on 103rd Street and Broadway with no conditions, and people will come. He did, they came, and now he goes from door to door giving people food to eat. I am not asking you to stuff the Big Apple with spaghetti. But a New York cabby can bring light into your Advent night. He prayed to a God who was there; he listened; he gave the simple gift God asked of him; he gave with no conditions ; and people responded. Here is your Advent: Make the Christ who has come a reality, a living light, in your life and in some other life. Give of yourself to one dark soul with no conditions. By Walter J Burghardt in An Advent Sourcebook. For Walter Burghardt, Advent is about taking the incarnation of God seriously. To quiet our hearts of the busyness of the season, and consider what it means that Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8) To consider what will remain important and what will come to an end when Christ returns. But it is more than just remembering the past and looking forward to the future. Advent is also about praying, listening, and reaching out to someone in need, and in so doing, discovering Christ s presence here and now. This Advent Season, may our hearts be open to the presence of God in moments of quiet reflection and prayer, in time shared together, and in simple acts of unconditional love that lights up the darkness within the world! Peace and Hope, 3 -Pastor Rich

4 A CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS with THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CHORALE December 8 and 9 Zion Lutheran Church Candlelight Christmas, with special guests, the Susquehanna Valley Youth Chorale, follows the 100-year-old tradition of Nine Lessons and Carols, originated at Kings College, Cambridge. For tickets: or by calling nd Sunday Fellowship Group will meet up at the Welcome Area of the Nave on December 9 after the 10:30 AM service to go to Jay s Tiffany s Northside in Sunbury for lunch. Come join us for food and fellowship! Any questions? Please see Cindy Spang. 4 Anyone who would like to join the Choir for Christmas Eve as a temporary commitment is welcome at rehearsals Wednesday nights at 7:30 in the chapel. The Bell Choir could use a few ringers for Christmas Eve. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6:30 in room 109. Children are rehearsing music for Christmas Eve for the 5:30pm Service. Rehearsals are Sundays at 9:05 am in the Choir Room on the ground floor. How to Reduce Loneliness Around the Holidays - Adapted from Minding our Elders by Carol Bradley Bursack As Christmas and New Year s quickly approach, there can be a lot of pressure on people to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The reality, however, is that many people feel increasingly isolated and unhappy during this season of goodwill and can have an especially hard time. While aging can bring wisdom and experience, there are inevitable losses that even the healthiest seniors face. Loved ones and friends fall ill and pass away. Energy and mobility levels often decrease, resulting in feelings of lost independence and opportunities. Neighborhoods change over time, leaving even those well enough to remain in their own homes feeling lonely. The focus on family, friends and togetherness during this time of year can actually bring melancholy feelings to the forefront. If you believe that your parent, spouse, friend or neighbor may be depressed, there are steps that you can take to help lift their spirits. Use these ideas to brighten up a loved one s winter season. Tips to Enhance the Holiday Experience Make a point of actively listening when they want to talk, even if the discussion is negative. An honest and empathetic conversation can help them process what is bothering them, whether they are mourning a loss or coming to terms with new challenges in their life. It may also reveal why they are feeling down and help you devise other ways to lift their spirits. Remind them how important they are as a part of your life, your family members lives and these annual holiday celebrations. Encourage them to do what they are capable of, and be especially careful not to act like what you do for them is a duty. Show them they are loved. Zion s Stephen Ministry is a program that can help provide one-on-one support to those who are having difficulties in life. Just having someone to talk to can go a long way toward relieving depression. Cook traditional baked goods or treats with your loved one, if possible. If they reside in an assisted living facility or nursing home, bring treats on your visits for your elder to enjoy and share with their friends. Make their dinner table special. Whether your loved ones live at home or in a facility, try to make their dining table festive with some appropriate colors, themes and seasonal flavors. The most important thing you can do to make them feel loved and included this season is to spend time with them. Look at family photos, watch home videos or holiday movies, listen to seasonal music, or do crafts together. Regardless of what you decide to do together, any time you can spare is a precious gift. Do what you can to help your friends and loved ones feel involved and get into the holiday spirit without stressing yourself beyond your limits. If you put too much on your plate, it is likely that neither you nor your loved ones will enjoy the festivities nearly as much. Your best efforts are good enough. If you are interested in connecting with a Stephen Minister or just a simple visit with a congregational volunteer, please call the church office or contact Amy Minnich ( ) for more information. 9

5 Christmas Services SUNDAY DECEMBER 23RD The 4th Sunday of Advent May the Lord Bless You with His love this Christmas Season and in the new year! Pastor Rich, Donna Deppen, Amy Graham, Dave Reier, Keith Kurtz and Joe Smith Zion is now a licensed faith community with the Open Table ministry. What is Open Table? Over the next months, we explore the fundamentals of this ministry through its 5 core elements: Through shared purpose, a faith community builds a powerful understanding of the human potential in each and every individual, and seeks to actualize true love for each other through mutual and humble service. In this way, Table members and sisters/ brothers affirm and deepen their own sense of wholeness, and of their connected humanity and shared purpose of the Table. Are you a supportive, caring person with good listening skills; who wants to make a difference in the life of someone transitioning out of foster care? This ministry may be for you. Contact Pastor Rich or Pastor Pete Bergstresser if you would like to learn more. 8 Christmas Eve Services CHILDRENS/FAMILY SERVICE 5:30 p.m. features carols, lessons, a children s message, and celebration of Holy Communion in an atmosphere especially suited to families. THE CHRIST-MASS 10:30 p.m. festive choral and instrumental worship, that concludes with the lighting of the candles and singing of Silent Night. Holy Communion is celebrated. SUNDAY DECEMBER 3OTH The 1st Sunday of Christmas Unified Worship at 10:30am. Roslyn Emma Bidelspach,daughter of Brandon and Ann Bidlespach became a new member of Zion through the sacrament of Holy Baptism on Sunday, November 11th. Emilia Rose Heiss and Stella Mae Daubert were baptized as new members of Zion on Sunday, November 25th. Emilia is the daughter of Kristi (Barni) and Christopher Heiss. Stella is the daughter of Peter and Deanna Daubert 5 Welcome to our family of faith!

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