For All the Saints. Vol. 15 November 2015 No 9

Transcription

1 Vol. 15 November 2015 No 9 For All the Saints You take the good, you take the bad, you put them together and here you have the facts of life, the facts of life Do you remember this phrase? It is from an old TV comedy show The Facts of Life. This song is a true reminder of what surprises life has in store for us. I remember the first time I filed my income tax. When I got the mail and found a refund check from the IRS for more than a $1000, I couldn t believe it. I wondered if IRS had made a mistake. But later I discovered that the reason I got that much back was because of my low income and the birth of my first child. What a nice surprise that was. I remember running home and saying to my wife with joy, Let us have more children! There was also another time that life surprised me but in a different way. I was in the office working, my pastor came and said to me, I am sorry Ale, we just received bad news from your family that your younger brother passed away. I just froze where I was. My brother was healthy and only in his early 20 s. He had his whole life ahead of him. Why did he kill himself? What a sad surprise that was. Yes, we all know what kind of surprises life has in store for us. It is a mix of good and bad, sweet and sorrow. Well, God has a surprise for us too. The apostle Paul said in his 1 st letters to the Corinthians in Chapter 2:9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. I wonder what that would be. Yet even though I can t explain, I believe that all is good. Because God is good. So this coming All Saints Day as we ponder on our gains and our losses, our laughter and our tears, our fortunes and misfortunes, let us also remember what God has in store for us. It is all good, and we will never get disappointed in life again. Thanks be to God for his love and wonderful promises of life after life. Pastor Ale President s Message Millie Reierson God s blessings to each and every member of our congregation! November already! Where has the time gone? Al of our programs are up and running full speed ahead. This month we have All Saints Sunday (after we change our clocks back), 70+ dinner, pie auction, Jr. High Youth Gathering and new member Sunday. Check your bulletins for more info. Our search continues for a Youth Director and another organist. Someone filling both shoes at once would be ideal. Keep the Personnel Committee in your prayers as we ask God to put it in someone s heart to serve Zion. God bless each and every one of you as we continue Christ s mission to spread the Gospel to our community and our world. See you in church! Millie Reierson

2 Thanksgiving Worship Service Wednesday, November 25 7:00 PM Trinity Lutheran Church, Thief River Falls ZLCW NEWS November is Thank offering month. The women of Zion will meet November 10, at 12:00 Noon. Executive Board meets at 11:00AM, and the Bible Study Leaders meet at 1:00. Program: Lydia Hostess: Sarah Hospitality: Dorcas Visitation: Rebekah at TR Care Center December is the Christmas Tea and installation of officers. The meeting is December 8, at 2:00PM. The executive board meeting will be at 1:00PM. Program: Executive Board Hostess: All Circles (Six goodies from each member to share and two kitchen workers per circle.) Hospitality: Lydia Visitation: Send Christmas cards The Christmas Holiday Train will be here Sunday December 13, Cell Phone Numbers Please Zion is publishing a church directory in early If you have only a cell phone and have not given the number or your address to Linda in the church office, please do so. When we did the last directory, we could not reach everyone because so many no longer have landlines. Please spread the word!!

3 The Public Relations Board is in the process of updating Zion s history. Included in the book will be the church history published in 1990 for Zion s centennial. The board will be contacting you for information to be used in the history. Because it is impossible to determine how many pages the new history will be, we cannot set a definite price for the books, but it is estimated they will be between $15 and $20. The book will be published by Life Touch, the same company that prints the church directory and hopefully ready for delivery by September of If you have information you think should be included in the book, please contact Deb Howe, chairman of the Public Relations Board. ************************************************************** New Member Sunday New Member Sunday is November 15th with recognition at the 10:30 service followed by a potluck dinner in honor of the new members. Anyone interested should contact the church office or one of the pastors. ( ) Eighth Annual Spirit of Giving Saturday, December 5, :00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. (Please use the North door) The Spirit of Giving is an annual holiday event intended to assist families in need and brighten their Christmas. Items include clothing, toys and household items. Volunteers are needed to help set up and pack up what is left. Contact the church office or Bonnie Yost to volunteer your help. Donations for slightly used winter clothing, boots, gloves, household items and holiday items may be dropped in the church basement Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4.

4 Zion Lutheran Church Parish Planning Council Minutes October 20, 2015 The Parish Planning Council was called to order by President Millie Reierson at 5:30PM. In attendance: President Reierson, Pastor John Golv, Pastor Ale Tulu, Deb Holtan, Connie Hamre, Tim Numedahl, Kristi Numedahl, Ken Kalsnes, Joel Rude, Penni Nelson, Bob Nelson, Amber Holtan and Barbara Overbye. Pastor John gave devotions. The minutes from the previous month were read and approved by a motion from Connie and seconded by Ken. The treasurer's report was filed for audit. Barb also gave an update on the safety deposit box at Northern State Bank. The signature card has been updated for the box. November 15th will be New Member Sunday at the 10:30 service followed by potluck. Sunday, October 25th will see the third graders receiving Bibles at the 8:30 service and 14 youth getting confirmed at the 10:30 service. Operation Christmas Child boxes were ordered and should be in shortly. Tim Numedahl said he worked KTRF Radio to get a sign off played after our broadcast on Sunday mornings. Personnel Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 21st. Saturday, December 5th will be Spirit of Giving. Sunday, December 6th will be the next Kid's Sabbath. The next Parish Planning Council will meet November 17 at 5:30PM. The meeting adjourned at 6:45PM after the Lord's Prayer. Millie Reierson, President

5 Church Directory Darlene Hulteen or Zion is publishing a 2016 church directory. Lifetouch representatives will again be taking family portraits at Zion. Three weeks of pictures have been scheduled, one in January, one in February, and one in April for those who will be gone over the winter. Members will be able to sign up for photo dates in the church narthex before the 8:30 and 10:30 services on November 29 and December 6, and online following those dates. Silver Creek Thank you to all our members for another successful fundraiser with our quilt raffle. The total dollar amount will be announced at a later date. It is nice to see our congregation working together to meet our budget. A special thanks goes out to the men who completed work on the driveway. The new tar looks great. Another project that will start in November is a raffle on a "Deer In the Woods" quilt/wall hanging. This is only for Silver Creek members, and the funds raised will be used to purchase new Christian and American Flags for our sanctuary. Our goal is to raise $500. The tickets will be sold for $5.00 each or 5 for $ Members only can purchase as many as they wish. The drawing will be held on December 13th at our Christmas potluck. Tickets will be available from Kathy Nelson , Sharon Russell or Bev Rupprecht Church council will meet after services on November 22nd WELCA will meet on November 11 at 7 PM. Remember your thank offering boxes. Zion is publishing a church directory and has offered that we are invited to have photos taken and will be included in Zion's book but will be noted that we belong to Silver Creek. You will receive a free directory and a free 8 X 10 portrait. If you are interested in having your photo taken in January or February during scheduled times, please call Darlene Hulteen ( ) Bev Rupprecht

6 Operation Christmas Child Youth News It s that time of year again! Operation Christmas Child is in full swing! I would like to encourage everyone to help fill at least one box, or if you would like to donate items, you can do that also. There are drop off boxes throughout the church for your items. Money donations are also welcomed to help with shipping cost, or we can use the money to buy items to fill more boxes. A small shoebox can have a big impact. What goes into the box I fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing lives through the power of a simple gift. Please have boxes or donated items to the church no later than November 9. We will be having a packing party November 11 during Jr. High Youth Group. Gift Suggestions TOYS: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc. SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils, and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc. NON-LIQUID HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc. ACCESSORIES: t-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), etc. A PERSONAL NOTE: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back. DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans. Jesus is Born The Sunday school Christmas program for Kid s Sabbath, Jesus is Born will be Sunday, December 6, at the 10:30 service wall and pocket calendars are available to purchase. Please see Amber if you would like to purchase one. Please see Amber if you would like to signup to sell calendars before the 8:30 service; this is a great start for IFA accounts. Youth Group Jr. High 6 th 8 th grade: 3:00 5:00 Sr. High 9 th 12 th grade: 7:30 9:30 Church van will pick you up at FMS Come and meet Janae. K 5 Event: Monday, November 30, from 3:00 5:00 More details to come Confirmation: We will continue to have a light supper at 5:30. No confirmation on November 25.

7 70+ Dinner - Sunday, November 22 This is a 9th Grade service event. That means that the 9th graders are in charge of setting up, cooking, and cleaning for this event. We ask that the parents of the 9 th graders also help out during this time. It is a very big event for the church. The people at Zion donate a lot of money to the youth, and this is a way that the youth can give back to the people 70 years in age and older. Sign up is outside the youth director's office. Also we ask that other youth and adults sign up to help either bake a pie or donate a turkey. The church gets all the supplies we need for this event. All you have to do is show up, make the food, set up tables, and clean up. Event starts at 5:00 pm on November 22. Remind App: This app is a great tool! I m sure that most of you are signed up through school and get reminders from your child s schoolteacher. We would love to have you hop on board with the church too. I know how busy life can be, and we will be using this to help remind you of upcoming events. Subscribe to Remind: To subscribe via SMS (text message) Test With the Confirmation High School Middle School K-5 Sunday School To subscribe via Send to: zlconfirm@mail.remind101.com - Confirmation Class ziontrfhs@mail.remind101.com - High School Activities ziontrfms@mail.remind101.com - Middle School Activities ziontrfk5@mail.remind101.com - K-5 Activities ziontrf22@mail.remind101.com - Sunday School Join all the groups you desire. This is the main mode of communication from me to you. Facebook Group: Zion Lutheran Youth Amber Holtan Chairman of the Youth and Young Adults Board