THE BELL RINGER. February February Birthdays. Baptismal Anniversaries 5 Jesse Rod

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1 THE BELL RINGER February 2015 Greetings Zion/Clarion Family, Many of you already know we had a funeral service for Sarah s mom, Mabel Hoefer, on Sat. Jan 17, As with most times of mourning, we shed many tears and more than a few chuckles. The funeral was a bit different than most that I have seen, in that during the sharing time from family members, and the sermon, we did not cover up the dysfunction and addictions of our clan. We know we are messed up. We know alcoholism and other addictions are horrible. We know that our personal actions of giving into temptation allows Satan a toe-hold in our lives. We admitted it publically. That is different from most funerals where we forget about all the evil and just remember the good in people. We admitted the sins that nearly tore the family apart, multiple times. But we also shared that we worship a God who forgives us and gives us the power to overcome ANY- THING Satan throws at us. It was ONLY through the grace of God that we survive as a family. We admit our dysfunction, and we admit our NEED for the suffering and death of Jesus to make things right. We admit that we NEED the power of the Holy Spirit and the hope of Resurrected Life to keep us growing in grace because we cannot do it on our own. So many people want to keep their sins secret or pretend they are better than others. Some people enjoy sharing the sins of others through gossip. Some people pretend everything is all right, while others continue clinging to anger. Lent is a time to come clean with ourselves, with others and also with God. How much healthier would we be if we as individuals, as families, and as communities, admitted that we are messed up? We would begin a new road to spiritual health if we confessed our sin and our sins and ask forgiveness, trusting that our God is bigger than our messed up lives and has plans to grow us into holy people. That is what Lent is all about. Please join us as we begin our Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday, Feb 18, Shalom, Pastor Kevin Weeks <>< Our Church Website Can be found on the internet by typing: index.html (no spaces) Or type in search box Zion Lutheran Church LaMoille Or Zion Lutheran Clarion To reach Pastor Kevin please call: -the parsonage 815/ the church 815/ or -his cell phone 815/ All PRAISE and PRAYER concerns are welcome. February Birthdays 4 Lauren Motter 15 Pastor Kevin Weeks 16 Susan Newt Lundquist Janelle Ultch Mark Rod 22 Hanna Goetz 26 Kyle Goetz Baptismal Anniversaries 5 Jesse Rod Wedding Anniversaries 2 Calvin and Beverly Faber Jim and Janet Hamacher 26 Earl and Tammy Stuepfert If you wish to no longer to receive Bell Ringer please contact Missy Silfies or Angie Hewitt. As a way of Being Green we offer an online version.

2 Treasurer s Report December Beginning Balance 12/01/14 $ 4, December Offerings 10, Daily Texts Poinsettias Subtotal $ 15, December Expenses 14, Ending Balance 12/31/14 $ 1, MAF Mission Aviation Fellowship maf.org In places like Haiti, MAF airplanes provide safe and reliable access to the outside world. This means much more than just getting from point A to point B it means access to medical care, education, food, and most importantly, the hope of Jesus Christ. Brad & Susan Rhoads maf.org/rhoads Brad will likely take on new responsibilities as Database Administrator for MAF. Pray for him as discussions continue on this tentative position. Brad and Susan are still short about $25,000 that they need to raise to make their ministry with Mission Aviation Fellowship possible. You can send financial support through the web address listed above. Benevolence Report December Beginning Balance 12/01/14 $ 1, Offerings - December Subtotal $ 1, Expenses: Lutheran World Relief $ Lutheran Disaster Assistance Mendota Food Pantry New Life Africa, Inter.-School Mendota Lutheran Home IL. Valley P.A.D.S Transport for Christ Total Expenses $ 1, Ending Balance 12/31/14 $ 0.00 Please remember our military members in your prayers. They are: Josh Morehead, Army Angela Silfies, Navy Airman Josh Wolf, Marines We are so proud of you! If you know of others in our military family, please be sure to let us know so we may send our prayers & thanks to them also. Barb Donahue, Treasurer Deepest Sympathy to the family of In Memorial to Mabel Hoefer, Mother of Sarah Weeks Mabel is a beloved daughter of Christ and she followed Jesus with great obedience. In Sarah s words, Mom met Jesus face to face this morning in my sister s home as we prayed and sang her into heaven. The funeral was January 17, 2015 Iowa City. Please keep the family and friends in your prayer Gary Herbert Koch October 29, 1948 January 14, 2015 Gary was a long standing member of the Clarion church and is a great loss to our family. He is dearly missed but forever in our prayers. Please his family and friends in your prayers.

3 2015 Date Greeter Reader Piano/ Organ Special Music Acolytes Communion Sun., Feb., 1 9:00 a.m. Gloria Cogdal & Carolyn Motter Jayson & Andrew Myron Goetz Mady H. Katie K. Sun., Feb., 8 9:00 a.m. Holy Communion Kneel at Alter if able Leslie & Cara Motter Thomas Kristi Koch Thomas S. Brooke L. Brent or Cari Becker (intinction) Sun., Feb., 15 9:00 a.m. Elwin Goetz & Ray Motter Mason Koch Annette Brady B. Brooke M. Wed., Feb., 18 9:00 Worship With Holy Communion ASH WEDNESDAY Kneel at Alter if able Don & Christine Liesse Tim Myron Goetz Holden Evening Prayer/ Hymn Sing Brooke M. Colette M. Chris & Wilbur Sun., Feb., 22 9:00 Worship With Holy Communion Kneel at Alter if able Marilyn Goetz & Annette Christy Liesse Kristi Koch Colette M. Mady H. Kim Lauer & Larry Forristall Wed., Feb., 25 Howard & Marion Schammel Sarah Weeks Annette Holden Evening Prayer/ Hymn Sing Katie K. Colette M. Special Music Many members of Zion are blessed with musical talents!! We are asking you to share them during worship services. Please check the sign up chart in the Narthex and choose a date when you would be willing to do this. We want to encourage many of ALL ages to give glory to God in this way. Weather Cancellations If there is any possibility of worship being cancelled due to weather, please listen to the following radio stations: WZOE FM 98.1 WGLC FM WZOE AM 1490 WLPO AM 1220 Or the TV Station WQAD TV Channel 8

4 Update from Annette : Bryan Cook has appreciated your prayers and also the cards and notes that he has received! This past week he had radiation treatments with the goal of shrinking a malignant growth that is putting pressure on the optic nerve. He will have more treatments throughout several weeks. Please continue to pray him and for the entire family and for the medical staff. Thank you! Also- a Praise Prayer, and Thank You Prayer, for Don Kyle who lead the service today and gave an excellent message. Thanks for a great job leading us while Pastor is gone. True Love If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with. If it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money, and never behaves as if you actually set it free in the first place, you either married it or gave birth to it! A little girl went up to her mother one day while holding her stomach saying, "Mommy, my stomach hurts." Her mother replied, "That's because it's empty, you have to put something into it!" Later that day when the Evangelist and her husband were over for dinner. The Evangelist began to feel bad. Holding her head she said, "I have such a terrible headache!" The little girl looked up at her giving her the sweetest smile that any little child could give. Then she said, "That's because it's empty, you have to put something into it!" Feb 27 March 1 UPCOMING EVENTS 2015 LCMC Regional Youth Gathering in WI for ZEBRAS Apr 25, Sat., LCMC Council Training Event w/ Mark Vander Living Waters, Lutheran Church in Peoria --- Council expected to attend but whole congregation is invited to attend!!!!!!! April 26, 2015 Sun 9:00 Affirmation of Baptism/Confirmation Deadlines: Please get bulletin information to Angie Hewitt before Wednesday at 8:00pm. You may put info in her box at church or via at: clarionbulletin@yahoo.com. Material for the Bell Ringer should be at the church or ed to Missy Silfies by the 20th of each month address: clarionbellringer@yahoo.com (phone: ) Evangelism Anyone who needs a ride or is willing to offer rides to church should contact Carolyn Motter. She will be coordinating transportation for members who need a ride to church. She can be reached at

5 February 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 8 Holy Communion Holy Communion 29 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:00 Adult Sunday School 10:00 Worship Service Hannah Circle 7 p.m. Church Council 7p.m Worship 7p.m. Ash Wednesday Worship 7p.m. 5 Sewing Day 8:30 a.m Sewing Day 8:30 a.m Happy Valentine s Day!

6 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church East Street La Moille, Illinois Address Service Requested February 2015