Zion Messenger. Pastor Lois Van Orden. October 2018

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1 Zion Messenger Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 West Main Street Hummelstown, PA website: October 2018 On September 16, 2018, we gathered to dedicate and celebrate the new elevator and upgraded restrooms. It was a wonderful day to give thanks to God, to celebrate and to join in fellowship. Representatives from Keystruck Construction came to worship and stayed through lunch. A big thank you to everyone who contributed in some way to make this day memorable. Zion is richly blessed with many servants who give their time and talents especially for special occasions such as this one. If you missed this special day, please take a bulletin from the narthex or office to read the letters and to see the worship service. Zion s choir led us in song and with Kaitlyn Rager, offered beautiful music. Joyce Miller cut the ribbon with a huge pair of scissors provided by Keystruck. Then she, Jean Shepler (who turned 90 the next week), and Council President Peggy Wilson took the first ride to Leatherman Hall. Many, many others joined in the fun of riding the elevator. Finally, Council President Peggy Wilson led us in a champagne toast, adding to the festive day. We enjoyed lunch, fellowship, and a slide show of the construction phases. Volunteers remained at the church for an open house, greeting a few people who came to see and experience the new elevator. We are filled with gratitude that God has brought us this far to complete a longawaited construction project. The elevator and accessible restrooms open our facility in new and inviting ways for our faith community and for the wider community. Celebrations such as this leave a lasting impression on a faith community. In a unique way, we experience a sense of new life. And yes, we have been renewed spiritually, emotionally and physically with reconciliation and healing, with the completion of this project, and by practicing healthy behaviors, paying attention to healthy boundaries. Let us continue to be ever mindful of our behavior, the ways that we nurture relationships, and the approach that we take to creative and new ideas prayer, discernment, and remaining open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because then, and only then, can we accomplish all that the Lord sets before us for the good of God s children. With thanksgiving, Pastor Lois Van Orden 1

2 Worship News Worship Services of Holy Communion All services are in the main worship area. 8:00 am Music Liturgy 9:00 am Sunday School 10:15 am Music Liturgy October 7, 2018 Pentecost 20 (Lectionary 27) Global Mission Sunday Blessing of School Kits for LWR Kick off for the Blanket Drive October 14, 2018 Pentecost 21 (Lectionary 28) Teaching on Wealth & Reward Mark 10:17-31 October 21, 2018 Pentecost 22 (Lectionary 29) Zion Puppeteers I m Number One! October 28, 2018 Reformation Sunday Continue in My Word John 8:

3 Council News The Congregation Council met on Thursday, September 20, Bonnie Rudi offered devotions. The Call Committee attended the meeting to review the Mission Site Profile (MSP) for council approval. Comments were offered to clarify certain sections, but overall, council agreed that the MSP was well written and expressed deep appreciation for the Call Committee s time and skills that have gone into the call process thus far. Council approved the MSP with revisions to be submitted to our synod office for review and approval. (Note: the MSP was submitted to our synod office on Sunday, September 23, 2018.) A discussion of Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach, with Chapter 7, The Higher Medicines, was postponed until next month given the full agenda for this meeting. Chapter 8, The Immune Congregation, will be discussed as well. Lynn Knepp provided the financial report through August, He informed Council of a bequest from the estate of Elizabeth Claiborne Motley Lentz. Zion is to receive a 3 percent share of the estate. In regard to the ongoing issue with Howard Hanna, Council authorized John Kiessling to be the representative for Zion in the suit to be filed in small claims court. Pastor Van Orden provided a written report. She shared the news that Zion is to host the community Thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 18, 7:00 pm. Council reviewed the revisions to the constitution to add a youth member. Council moved that the revisions be presented to the congregation for approval at the Annual meeting. President Peggy Wilson addressed the timeline for preparations for the Annual Meeting on November 18, Rich Weiss agreed to organize the Nominating Committee for nominees to begin terms in January 2020 (committee will become active in the fall of 2019). After much discussion, Council approved moving to two worship services at 8:00 and 10:15 am with Sunday School from 9:00 to 10:00 am. Written reports were submitted by the Social Ministry, Christian Education and Evangelism Committees. Fran Gruber offered an update on the Zion Rising Capital Campaign. He and Lynn Knepp continue conversations with John Long, Financial Secretary, to verify pledges and giving to date as reported in the weekly bulletin announcements. The meeting adjourned with the Council praying The Lord s Prayer. Reports Due October 22, 2018 for the Annual Report. All committee and other reports that are to be included in the Annual Report are due by Monday, October 22, Please submit your report to the church office: zluthoffice@gmail.com Thank you! 3

4 Christian Education Rooted and Renewed Adult Sunday School Classes Bring your IQ - that is your insights and questions, your coffee and a friend, as we continue to engage scripture in new and challenging ways. Join us in the Demey Library at 9:00 as we view the video "Making Sense of Scripture" by Pastor/Professor David Lose, followed by open and honest discussion. The upcoming sessions: October 7 - Is the Bible the Word of God, led by Diane Schubert October 14 - Where Did the Bible Come From, led by Nancy Weikel October 21 - How can I read the Bible With Greater Understanding, led by John Kiessling October 28 - Is There a "Center" to Scripture, led by Rich Weiss November 4 - What Kind of Authority Does the Bible Hold, led by John Kiessling Rally Day God s Work. Our Hands Service Project School Kits The school kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) were assembled on September 9 as part of Zion s Rally Day celebration. Thank you, ZION, for generously donating school supplies for 127 school kits. We exceeded our goal! God s Work. Our Hands Service Project Seafarer s Christmas at Sea shoeboxes Our commitment to serve continues as we assist in the collection of toiletries for the Seafarer s Christmas-at-Sea boxes. The boxes will be assembled during the Sunday School hour on October 28, Reformation Sunday and later delivered to the Baltimore International Seafarers Center which is an inter-faith ministry that demonstrates their love through serving the Seafarers personal and spiritual needs in the Port of Baltimore. Thank you for the contributions you made in the spring. We are close to meeting the goal of assembling 40 boxes. The size of each donation matters as the box may not weigh more than 3.5 pounds. A Thrivent Grant provides work gloves for each box and our Prayer Shawl Ministry knits a wonderfully warm hat. A bible will also be added to each box. Our Goal So Far Quan tity Need ed Bar Soap (2.5-3 ounces) Combs 6 34 Deodorant (2.5-3 ounces) Dry Skin Lotion (3-5 ounces) Lip Balm Single Decks of new Play 7 33 Cards Shampoo (2-3 ounce) Shave cream/gel ( ounces) Men s Calf/Boot Length WARM Socks Toothpaste (.85-1 ounce) 40 0 SINGLE, UNWRAPPED Toothbrush

5 Outreach Ministries Wonderful Women of God We began our fall season with another fascinating study by author Liz Curtis Higgs. Learn a great deal about the Queen of Sheba from her book, It s Good to be Queen. After we spend a few weeks on this book, we ll move to a study about Ruth, The Girl s Still Got It. Join us for engaging discussion Wednesdays at 11:00 am in the Parlor. Grateful Ladies of Zion Join The Grateful Ladies of Zion for an evening of fun, food and fellowship. A Progressive Dinner is planned for Monday, October 8, 2018, 6:00 pm. We are asking everyone to bring one photo from some time in their lives that they would like to share! It could be from anytime, infancy to the present! Women of all ages are welcome. If you haven t attended before this is the perfect time to join us! The evening begins with appetizers at Diane Schubert s home at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at Deb Kepner s home and finishing with dessert at Nancy Weikel s home. We simply ask that you RSVP to Jill McGrorty at or j.mcgrorty@me.com by October 1, If you would like to help with appetizers contact Diane Schubert or with the main course contact Deb Kepner at CROP WALK Sunday, October 28, 2018, 12:30 pm Donations are being accepted now through October 28 for all walkers. Please make your check payable to "Zion Lutheran Church" and write, "Crop Walk" on the memo line, or note on the envelope. All donations are for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Help us beat last year s goal of $2,000. Participation as a walker is also encouraged. Please plan to join the crowd of walkers from Zion on October 28 at 12:30 at Milton Hershey High School parking lot. Medical Outreach Service Wish List for Christ Lutheran The health clinic at Christ Lutheran Church needs the following items: Claritin allergy medicine (generic is okay), lice shampoo, muscle pain relief cream, Clorox wipes, sugar free cough drops, hygiene items (toothpaste, tooth brush, hand sanitizers, shampoo, deodorant, bar of soap), men s large/extralarge white t-shirts, tissue boxes, ground coffee and honey. Please place your donations in the Christ Cares closet. It s not too soon to begin purchasing blankets for Zion s Blanket Drive, October November. Blankets will be given to Christ Lutheran Church and the Bethesda Mission. Donations may be placed outside the door of the church office. Help keep someone warm his year. Needs: canned sweet potatoes (15 & 40 oz), box of mashed potatoes (9 oz oz), canned fruit (15 oz), canned chicken noodle soup (10 oz), canned tomato soup (10 oz), apple juice (64 oz), brownie mix and turkey gravy (canned, jars of box). 5

6 Outreach Ministries Membership Zion's "Closely Knit" Shawl Ministry We ve picked up our knitting needles and crochet hooks again this Fall. The Ministry makes prayer shawls, lap coverlets, baby blankets, winter hats and scarves. We donate our finished gifts to those in need of comfort due to health, grief and consolation, military separation, celebrating a new baby,... - all to express our Christian extension of friendship and love. If you know of anyone in need of comfort or encouragement, please don't hesitate to share one of our gifts found on the rack in the church foyer. If you would like to share your talents and join our ministry, learn to knit or crochet, or just come chat for an hour or so, please join us at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Tuesday evening every month in the Parlor. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call Ginny Chittister, (717) Hope to see you on Tuesday, October 9. Membership News Commended to God s eternal care......on September 7, 2018, Marilyn Dibeler (member), who died on August 20, Marilyn was the sister of Doris Hooven, one of our homebound members. Pastor Van Orden officiated at the memorial service at Zion. Hunger is a major public health threat for many of our youth. School districts around us are working hard to provide supplemental nutritional resources to food insecure families. Falcon Packs (Lower Dauphin) and NutriPacks (Central Dauphin) are direct food distribution programs for school students located within their districts. The programs provide weekend food to families who are food insecure. Join Thrivent to help build food donation boxes, which will be stationed within local businesses in the central PA area. Bring some goodies with you to the event to jump-start the box contents! Requested items are: soup (12 oz), tuna (5.5 oz) and peanut butter (less than 16 oz). Sunday, October Lower Dauphin High School (Rear) 201 S. Hanover St. 2:00 3:00 pm Sunday, October 4600 Locust Lane (in the rear by garages), Harrisburg :00 3:00 pm. Please RSVP by 10/07/2018. Call Gretchen Smith at or gretchen.smith@thrivent.com Sponsored by: Brownstone Station Associates Natalie Kratzer / Ron Louder / Chris Grant 6

7 Youth Ministry Website for Harrisburg Area Youth Initiative HAYI HARRISBURG AREA YOUTH INITIATIVE GRADES 6-12 You are welcome to join Deacon David Hope- Tringali, the new youth director for HAYI as follows: 2nd Sunday of the month: guest speaker at different churches. 3rd Sunday of the month: assist with Helping Hands at St. Michael s Lutheran Church, 118 State Street, Harrisburg to serve dinner to the homeless. 4th Sunday of the month: worship at Little Amps Coffee Shop. Every Monday evening at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steelton (221 South 2nd Street), assemble craft kits for Caitlin s Smiles. These gatherings are for all youth in grades Connect with your friends at Zion and in your neighborhood to car pool to the activities. Please don t be shy about this adventure in youth ministry. If you need a ride, please contact the church office at: zluthoffice@gmail.com Let s enjoy youth ministry together! SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 6:00 8:00 PM ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH HUMMELSTOWN Come to the second official gathering of the HAYI under the leadership of Deacon David Hope-Tringali. Deacon David will lead the youth in discussion and games. MONDAYS THROUGHOUT OCTOBER (1, 8, 15, 22 AND 29) 6:00 7:00 PM Gather at Trinity Lutheran Church in Steelton (221 South 2 nd Street) to assemble craft kits for Caitlin s Smiles. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 4:00 6:00 PM HELPING HANDS MINISTRIES HAYI is partnering with Helping Hands Ministries at St. Michael s Lutheran Church (118 State Street, Harrisburg) to serve food to the homeless. To participate, please RSVP to Deacon Dave (dtringali52@gmail.com) by September 10. ZYG & ZYG Minis Halloween Parade Fundraiser Monday, October 29, 2018 Come out to the ZYG booth (to be set up outside the church) on Monday, October 29 to help with the Halloween Parade. ZYG sell kettle corn at the booth. ZYG Minis hand out bags of candy to parade fans. Show up by 5:30 pm! Don t miss this fun event for everyone! SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 6:00 8:00 PM LITTLE AMPS COFFEE SHOP Come together for worship in a coffee shop setting (1836 Green Street, Harrisburg). All youth are welcome so feel free to bring a friend! Worship to the beautiful music of Holden Evening Prayer and share a potluck meal together. 7

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10 Zion Messenger Worship Services of Holy Communion 8:00 am Music Liturgy 10:15 am Music Liturgy 9:00 am Sunday School for all ages The Rev. Lois K. Van Orden, Interim Pastor Church Office: (717) Office Hours Monday Thursday 8:00 am 3:30 pm Website: Facebook: November Newsletter Deadline is: Monday October 22, 2018 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 W. Main Street Hummelstown, PA October 2018 If you would like to receive the newsletter by , please call the church office at (717)