THE VISITOR Zion United Church of Christ *A Just Peace and Open & Affirming Church*

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1 Sunday Worship 9:30 am Fellowship Time 10:30 am Sunday School 10:45 am Church Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Rev. Peg M. Faulmann, Pastor Contact information: Office: zionsb@zionsb.org website: Like us on Facebook! ZION UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 211 S. ST. PETER STREET SOUTH BEND, IN Our Church Community: Ministers Pastor Music Director Accompanist Office Manager Bookkeeper Custodian Board of Elders Tom Whipkey-President Matt Reese -Vice President Sue Taylor-Secretary -Treasurer RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Connecting People With God Every Member of the Congregation Peg Faulmann Gail Bannister Kyle Walterhouse Roy Raymond Michelle Cain John Bair Susan Goldstein Linda Kowatch Rick Meece Nancy Philabaum Rich Schroeder Abbie Wozniak Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID South Bend, IN Permit No. 202 Lenten Greetings to all! The Peg Board Vol. XXVIII Issue 3 March 2018 A lot has happened in my life since the last Visitor. I did something to my back and after much therapy, it is pretty much back to normal. And my mother made her final transition into the eternal loving arms of God. A lot of struggle, as well as healing love happened in these past few weeks. As I prepare to take up my role at St. Peter s tonight for the Ash Wednesday Service, carrying with me the ashes that were loving burned from last years palms, I am especially drawn to the ashes to ashes, dust to dust aspect of our lives on this earth. Mom is being cremated, and when Dad passes, he will be, as well. Both will be buried together after 71 years of journeying as one. Some have long, full, and content lives, and others do not. I am listening to the news as I write this, for 17 lives were prematurely taken at a school shooting in Florida, and we still are not of the political will to end this type of violence. And yet, whether we have full and whole lives and are aware of Love, or short-lived lives that are taken by violence, or lives that struggle constantly, we have a Source of Love that continually strives to draw us in. The Source of Love is readily available to us, if we are ready and willing to recognize and tap into it. We are on A Journey of Love during this Lenten Season. I pray that we intentionally become aware in as many moments of life that we experience, that our God is loving us, cherishing us, and by our side, until we return to the dust of the earth beyond into whatever eternal life may be. As we closed our Ash Wednesday Service, we were left with this blessing: After the fire has raged and the flames have died away and grown cold, nothing remains but ashes. After the hot passion of sin, after the cool calculation of evil, all that remains is brokenness and ashes. After the zeal for living has ebbed away and life has run its course, there is nothing left but ashes. We are dust, and to dust we shall return. But my friends, ashes are not the end. This Lenten season begins in ashes, but it will not end in ashes. We begin in dust, but we shall end in resurrection glory. Enter this season, then, with confidence and with hope: ashes are not the end. Blessings from Pastor Peg THE VISITOR Zion United Church of Christ *A Just Peace and Open & Affirming Church*

2 MARCH MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS Deacons John Bair & Mike McGowan Liturgist 4 Tami Stayton 11 Fred Goldstein 18 Linda Kowatch 25 Cathy Bair Communion Hosts Janelle & Tami Stayton Audio Rick Muhlbeier Visual Julie Niedbalski Altar Paraments Donna Wagoner Coffee Hosts 4 11 Sunday Brunch COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED If you are unable to host a coffee hour, with your donations, Fellowship Ministry will sponsor a Coffee Hour for you. Contact Cherie: , Michelle: , or Sandy: MARCH BIRTHDAYS 5 Rick Muhlbeier 6 Mercedes depoy 7 Scott Wagoner 8 Phyllis Nielsen 8 Christian Yoder 9 Hilda Bare 10 Wendy Bruner 13 Lynn Kucela 13 Dale Holderbaum 13 Sharon Kereszturi 16 Andrew Lang 19 Hal Brueseke 20 Emmarie Ballard 22 Laura Navarro 22 Christopher Lang 24 Lieren Lorenc 26 Kathy Effrain 30 Cathy Lenoir 31 Bob Nielsen FLOWERS FOR EASTER On Easter morning we will enhance our sanctuary with potted plants. The DEADLINE for your order is Sunday, March 18, Payment must accompany your order. Please make your check payable to Zion UCC and designate as Easter Flowers. You may pick up your plant/s following the Easter Worship Service on April 1, Any plants that are not picked up will be donated. Thank you. # Easter $7.00 each # $7.00 each # $7.00 each # 7.00 each # each Given in HONOR of: (Please print clearly) March s Newsletter Deadline Deadline for articles for the April issue of The Visitor is Thursday, March 15th. January s Worship Attendance January 7 34 January January January Autumn Arndt, Hilda Bare, Alma Bolen, Mary Ann Cox, Betty Green, Brian Hedman, Rene Hernandez, Roger Hintz, Paul Koepke, Cathy Lenoir s Mother, Bob Nielsen Jan Schalliol, Rob, Susie & Abbie, Geneva Sweet, Alice Trubey and the family of Arthur Newcomer. Given in MEMORY of: (Please print clearly) Donor Name: Phone Number:

3 COOKIES NEEDED FOR THE PARADE! We are asking for cookie donations. Please drop them off at anytime during the week before the parade OR bring some in on the day of the parade and stay around to help! 2018 ST. PATRICK S DAY PARADE Saturday, March 17, 2018 Steps off at 11:00 Whatever the weather, members of Zion will be setting up a tent near the Jefferson Street sign offering coffee, hot chocolate, water and/or lemonade and cookies to parade goers to promote Zion and collect donations for the Zion Scholarship Fund. The Evangelism Ministry is heading up this event and would welcome any and all participants to assist in the work of the day. On the day of the parade, come and spend some time inside with fellowship with our members helping ready the refreshments and/or outside with fellowship with folks we meet along the parade route. We would love for this to be an all church event so no matter what you can give any and all of your offerings (cookies, time in the kitchen or outside) will be much appreciated. Contact Rick Muhlbeier or the Church Office for more details. NOTES FROM THE ELDERS As a church we do what we can to support one another and show God s love to our community. When we do this it is easy to see how much our success and quality of life can be influenced by other people around us. While our actions (what we do) are important, my life experiences have taught me that the words we use carry just as much (and sometimes more) weight as our actions. In my daily work people often talk with me about traumatic experiences that happened to them long ago. Many of these people have lived through a variety of remarkable abuse. When people come to see me after having lived through these difficult circumstances, I have found that many of them identify hurtful words and verbal abuse as having the most disastrous impact on their lives over the course of time. Several years ago I read a book called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. In humility I must admit that I cannot even remember what all of the four agreements were. However, there is one that really struck a chord with me: Be Impeccable with Your Word. The author goes on to point out how people, marriages, businesses, churches, and even entire countries can quickly meet their demise as the result of people (often just one person) being careless with their words. As we begin lent, it is helpful to remember that speaking in truth and love is just as important as actions and personal sacrifices that benefit others. The other day I was sorting through some clutter in my house and I found an Easter card that a family member sent me last year. The front of the card says His destiny was the cross... His purpose was love His reason was you. I find that to be a simple truth that can give us the strength to act in love when we feel burdened (or find ourselves on the receiving end of careless words). God bless, Matt Reese SPRING SALAD BAR LUNCHEON Thursday, April 19, :00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. TICKETS - $8.00 PLEASE see Karen Hintz if you can help with any of the following: Items needed: Salads, Breads Deviled Eggs Help needed: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, :00 a.m. - 12:00 noon THURSDAY, APRIL 19, PodcastForaJustWorld/

4 MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. ALL ARE WELCOME ASH WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE Wednesday, February 14, :00 p.m. St. Peter s UCC, 915 N. Ironwood Dr., South Bend Begin Daily Lenten Devotions from FINDING PEACE in LENT Reflections on the Saint Francis Peace Prayer. WEDNESDAY SOUP SUPPER & STUDY Begins Wednesday, February 21 - Continues: Wednesdays February 28 & March 7, 14, 21 at Bring your FINDING PEACE in LENT booklet. GOOD FRIDAY INTERDENOMINATIONAL COMMUNITY WORSHIP SERVICE Friday, March 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Grace United Methodist Church 3012 Twyckenham Dr., South Bend, IN This worship service includes several congregations and will be a diverse ecumenical experience for those attending. Come to remember the love and sacrifice of Jesus, and to contemplate what it means to have faith. PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE March 25, :30 a.m. ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING OFFERING MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE Thursday, March 29, :00 p.m. GOOD FRIDAY ECUMENICAL WORSHIP SERVICE Friday, March 30, :00 p.m. Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 S. Twyckenham Dr., South Bend EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE April 1, :30 a.m. Breakfast - 8:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion - 9:30 a.m. Zion United Church of Christ 211 S. St. Peter Street South Bend, IN zionsb@zionsb.org Easter morning begins with a breakfast hosted by The Elders of Zion beginning at 8:30 a.m. Our Easter Worship Service with Communion begins at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

5 PFLAG Meeting Thursday, March 15, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. PFLAG is the extended family of the LGBTQ community. We're made up of LGBTQ individuals, family members and allies. Because together, we're stronger. PFLAG meets every other month on the third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Zion UCC. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN: Sundays during worship SISTERS OF FAITH Monday, March 19, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. DISMAS HOUSE DINNER Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. If you like to eat and love to converse around a table, then join us at Dismas! Dismas House provides transitional housing and support services to men and women who have been recently released from prison or jail. Dismas emphasizes the importance of family. Join in the meal with Zion and Dismas. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS will be held at 10:45 on every Sunday unless there is a special occasion. Monday Evening Study 6:45-8:00 p.m. We will have our last session of Christian Ed on Monday, March 5 from 6:45-8:00 p.m.. ALL CHURCH WORK DAY Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Come out & help make our buildings and grounds sparkle! PROPERTY MINISTRY MEETING Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at One of the responsibilities of the Property Ministry is maintaining, repairing, and improving all church properties. THE VISITOR MAILING TEAM Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. Unity Gardens at Farmers Market Our Honey From The Hood is very local and very tasty. Tim Ives owner of Ives Hives is a world class beekeeper. He keeps his bees a little different then most beekeepers. This natural method that makes his bees strong which means great flavored honey. The honey flavors change with the seasons and you can always sample before you buy. Honey From The Hood is raw which means it retains all of its healthy properties. Will You Give To: ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018 The One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special mission offering of the United Church of Christ involves you in disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and of the long-term recovery. Through OGHS you engage in holistic development programs including health care, education, agriculture, food sustainability, micro-financing and women s empowerment. Because the UCC relates in mutual partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response & recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place. Thank you for your generous contribution.

6 WORSHIP MINISTRY MEETING Monday, March 5, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. One of the responsibilities of the Worship Ministry is to assist the Pastor and music staff in planning and executing worship services. COMMON GROUND COFFEEHOUSE CHOIR REHEARSAL Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. during Soup Suppers SOUP SUPPER & STUDY Wednesdays March 7, 14, 21 at FINDING PEACE in LENT Reflections on the Saint Francis Peace Prayer Enliven your personal prayer life this Lent by reflecting upon, and praying with, the St. Francis Peace Prayer, a prayer that calls us to transformation and to living a more gentle, self-giving life. In these pages, you will have the opportunity to pray the Peace Prayer with your whole heart, united in the spirit of the gospel and prepared to put your prayer into action each day of Lent, bringing yourself and others closer to the Peace of Christ. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master; grant that I may not so much seek, to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. THE WHITLOCK BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. The Mission of The Whitlock is to offer persons 55 and older the opportunity for independent living in a faith-affirming community. Saturday, March 10, 2018 Sign up starts at 6:45 p.m Open Mic 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. MUSIC, POETRY, COMEDY & DANCE ALL ARE INVITED & ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE! Free admission, Fair Trade coffee & snacks THE WHITLOCK ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Zion is a member of The Michiana Benevolent Society, Inc. which supports The Whitlock, an Independent Living Community for persons 55 and older in Bremen, IN. This meeting is open to all interested parties. EVANGELISM MINISTRY MEETING Monday, March 12, 2018 at One of the responsibilities of the Evangelism Ministry is to develop ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Congregation and within the community, nation, and world. THE ELDERS MEETING Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The Board of Elders has the power and responsibility to monitor the activities and actions of all Ministry Areas and Committees and serve as the forum for study and conversation with regard to policy decisions.

7 ZION United Church of Christ 211 S. St. Peter St., South Bend, IN Church Office (574) Office Hours: M-F 9:00AM - 1:00PM ZIONSB@ZIONSB.ORG March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat. 1 Women s AA-10:30 a.m rd Sunday of Lent Worship 9:30 a.m. Fellowship10:30a.m. 10:45am 5 Worship Min. Mtg. 4:00 p.m. Study Group 6:45-8:00 p.m. 6 7 Soup Supper & Study Choir 6:30 p.m. 8 Women s AA-10:30 a.m. The Whitlock Mtg. 4:30 p.m Common Ground Coffee House 7:00 p.m. 11 4th Sunday of Lent Worship 9:30 am Fellowship-10:30am 10:45am The Whitlock Annual Mtg. 2:00 p.m. 12 Evangelism Min. Mtg. 13 The Elders 6:00 p.m. 14 Soup Supper & Study Choir 6:30 p.m. 15 Women s AA-10:30 am PFLAG-Michiana 6:30-8:00 pm Articles for APRIL Newsletter DUE St. Patrick s Day Parade 9:30 Set Up 11:00 a.m. Parade 18 5th Sunday of Lent Worship 9:30 am Fellowship-10:30am 10:45 am 19 Sisters of Faith 6:00 p.m Soup Supper & Study Choir 6:30 p.m. 22 Women s AA-10:30 am Dismas House- 6:00 p.m Work Day 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m. 25PALM SUNDAY OGHS Offering Worship 9:30 am Fellowship-10:30am 10:45 am Property Ministry Mtg.- 28 The Visitor Mailing Team 9:00 a.m. Choir 6:00 p.m. 29 Women s AA-10:30 am Maundy Thursday Service - 6:00 p.m. 30 Interdenominational Worship Service UMC 3012 S. Twyckenham 31 Easter Flowers Delivered