1216 West 8th St - Davenport IA (563) ziondavenport.org. ZION News - January. A monthly publication of Zion Lutheran Church

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1 1216 West 8th St - Davenport IA (563) ziondavenport.org ZION News - January A monthly publication of Zion Lutheran Church Vol Issue 1 January 3, 2017 The of the Zion Lutheran Church Congregation will be Sunday, January 29 th immediately following the 9:00am worship service in the Sanctuary Copies of the Annual Report for 2016 will be available in the Narthex as of January 15th ALL Members invited to be a part as we review Zion's ministry from the past year, approve a budget for 2017 and elect congregational leaders. Attn: Council Liaisons & Ministry Team Leaders - Annual reports are due NOW. Please get them to the office by 8 th. THANKS! Other January Jewels... Budget Forums For those who want a pre-view of the Finance Ministry Team s hard work on the 2017 budget to be submitted at the Annual meeting, there will be two Forums - 15th & 22nd at 10:15am in the Chapel ALL members are encouraged to attend one to get your questions answered ahead of the Annual Meeting. Zion s monthly Community Dinner will be Wed., January 18 th A New Year celebration Ham dinner, with good company and great fellowship at 6:00pm Sign up across from the office to bring what you can and Join us in being blessed to be a blessing!

2 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 2 From the Pastor... What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man I would do my part; yet what I can I give him- give my heart. (ELW #294) We have just gathered the wrapping paper together for our recycle bins (!) and may still be admiring our gifts from Christmas Eve. This last verse of Christina Rosetti s In the Bleak Midwinter recognizes that God has given us all gifts. For some it is giving life to notes on a music staff. For others it is the ability to look at a financial spread sheet and know which end is up. Many of you have the gift of shepherding others in our education ministry. And all of you have done your part in supporting God s work here at Zion. But what if we don t think we have anything to offer God, the world, our loved ones? These bleak winter months are a time of darkness for some members in our community. Grief or unemployment, sickness or doubt can obscure the marvel that God has created- our bodies, minds and spirits. Rosetti reminds all of us that the gift God desires the most is our heart- to put God first as the one we turn to in times of joy and celebration, as well as in times of need. To let God s power and love direct our thoughts and actions. When we give God our heart we speak to God, through prayer, singing, serving, and confessing. When we give God our heart, we also listen through prayer and through the words in Scripture. We are strengthened and nourished to give our heart to God through God s holy meal, bread and wine. We receive all these gifts in worship each week. I look forward to another year of glorifying and praising God for the gift of his Son here at Zion. On the days you feel as though you do not have anything to offer God, may you always know the gift of God s presence in your life, through Jesus Christ. Tell someone about God in your life. That s the greatest gift we can offer God. Pastor Karen Ullestad Advent Devotional One of our members commented that the Advent Devotional was such a gift this year. Thank you Carole and David Feeney, Kirby Winn, Dona Noble, Zion Youth, Kris Preston, Janine Johnson, Keith Haan, Tom Handlen, Char and Carl Engstrom, Cary Scott, Libbie Babka, Beth and Mark Meyer, the Petersen Family, Joe Obleton, Lisa Zosulis, Beth Longlett, Kathy Morris, Anita Hagen and Carol Schaefer, and Roxeann Ford for your reflections on our daily Advent texts. My love for this congregation grew even more through your willingness to offer yourselves in this new way. Pastor Karen Ullestad Baptized into Liam Roy Cherryholmes Dec. 11, 2016 Grazie Mahalo Asante sana Thank You! THANK YOU, Zion for your gifts, prayers, cards and greetings in this Christmas season. We rejoice in our ministry at Zion, and look forward to another year of sharing the Good News together! the Zion Staff New Life! Commended to God s eternal care Sara Kahler-Christner Johnson Dec. 8, 2016 Almighty God, source of all mercy and giver of comfort, graciously tend those who mourn that, casting all their sorrow on you, they may know the consolation of your love

3 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA Growing in Faith: page 3 Faith Formation ministries We want to say a big AWESOME! to the entire cast of the Sunday School progressive Christmas Program. You all did a terrific job all four Sundays of Advent and ALL the Zion family delighted in it! Also a big THANKS! to Rosie Bates, director extraordinaire :), to our helpers who made sure our cast was here and ready for rehearsals, again to Carole Feeney for the beautiful progressive banners, and to all the SPARK leaders & families who helped us make our message clear to Go and Tell! the good news of Jesus birth, and how blessed we are to be part of it! Now Looking Ahead Our 4th and 5th graders will be delving into the graphic novel, Papa Luther, during Wednesday 'Alleluia' time. Sunday mornings in January will include Now is the perfect time to jump in if your child has not been a part of it yet. Talk to Rosie Bates if you d like to check it out or find out more. Caring for Others In November and December, our Sunday School and Alleluia children collected winter wear to help keep our neighborhood children warm this winter! In January and February, we will take donations for a "secret special offering". Please stay tuned for more information! Martin Who? Beginning in January, on Sundays, intermediate & high school youth will be exploring Luther's life as written in When Lightning Struck. Also on Wednesdays Zion Wednesday evening activities with music, activities, treats, and FUN for all 3-yr olds thru 5th graders start up again on January 4th, with a family meal, followed by our rehearsals for Belles handbell choir and Alleluia! program including children s choir & activities & fun for age 3 5th grade. We begin at 5:30pm and finish by 7:00. Parents are also invited to hang out in Fellowship Hall or the Lounge upstairs while your children are singing, playing and learning. Calendar Notes Wed., 4: 'Alleluia' Family Dinner Sun., 8: Sunday School classes resume Sun., 29: Zion Annual Meeting No Sunday School New Year blessings to you! Your Zion Faith Formation team Adult Learning in January Sunday-morning Faith Talks On Sunday, January 8th, Faith Talks will begin again after our Christmas break. We will spend the next 3 weeks reflecting on weekly scripture lessons and how they encourage our discipleship practices. Grab a cup of coffee and a snack and join us in Room 8. Facilitated by Janine Johnson Sunday-Morning Fellowship T.G.I.S. (Thank-God-It s-sunday!) in the Lounge 10:15am The coffee and tea pots are on, the treats are de-lish, and the conversation around faith & daily life is friendly and casual. Taste, see, and hear that the Lord is good!

4 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 4 Reaching out in Love: Outreach Ministries Janine's jottings... THANK YOU ZION FOR ALL YOU DO! THANK YOU Zion for your ongoing commitment to the people of our neighborhood and community. During this Advent and Christmas season your generous gifts have helped to make the holidays special for many of our neighbors and friends. Working together we provided a simple dinner in December to about 35 people and were able to fill 50 Christmas Ham Hop food boxes. Your generosity and caring is deeply appreciated by our neighbors and friends. As I distributed the food boxes I was thanked over and over again for the generosity of Zion. You are a blessing. Also THANK YOU for the gifts of hats, mittens and scarves for the children of Monroe and Jefferson Elementary Schools. These will provide much needed warmth during these upcoming cold winter days. Also the boxes of Kleenex and hand sanitizer will be welcomed as the cold and runny nose season is upon us. The students and staff of both these neighborhood schools appreciate our remembering them throughout the year. Zion s Community Dinner this month will Celebrate the New Year on January 18 th from 6:00-7:00p. We will welcome the New Year with a dinner of ham, potatoes, veggies and desserts. Join with neighbors, friends and family as we share a meal together and greet the New Year. The more the merrier and what a great way to start the year! Food Pantry News: A new year begins and the pantry continues to serve our neighbors and community. Exciting news from the pantry in December a new refrigerator and freezer were purchased and delivered. These 2 new items will allow the pantry to purchase more frozen foods and will insure the safety of food needing refrigeration. So feel free to stop by and take a look! Remember pantry hours are Monday & Thursday 3:30-5:00pm, and we always welcome new volunteers. So please consider spending a couple hours with us and don t worry if you have never helped we would love to show you around! Join us as we reach out in love. A Happy and Blessed New Year to All. Janine Looking ahead toward Lent As part of our food ministry, we invite everyone to take part in another Pack the BackPack Volunteer Opportunity Saturday, March 4th at RiverBend Food Bank Log onto and sign up for this event. They will have a running number of participants for the two shifts (8:00-10:00am & 10:30a- 12:30p). We hope for 100 people per shift. Minimum age to participate is usually 12 years, but since it is a family event we suggest age 6 and above with guardian.

5 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 5 Seniors... Small Groups... and Such O.W.L. s (Older, Wiser Lutherans) Feels like ol man winter has finally hit us and we hope all are keeping warm during hibernation season. In February we ll heat things up a bit (weather permitting) with an outing for lunch, games and fun. Stay tuned for details... In the meantime, have a safe, happy, and blessed beginning to the new year! Grace & Kathy, OWL planners Happy New Year Birthdays to these Zion Seniors who will celebrate in January! 1/02 Nancy Bell 1/07 Audrey Ernst 1/20 Grace Haller 1/20 Mary Lou Vikdal 1/24 Shirley Bradley 1/29 Rodney Behr Morning Book Review On Monday, January 16 th at 9:00am, in Zion s Dengler Lounge, there will be a review of Just Mercy, by Bryan Stevenson A story of justice and redemption a memoir that aggregates and personalizes the struggle against injustice in the story of one activist lawyer. Says one reviewer, A searing, moving and infuriating memoir... Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America s Mandela. For decades he has fought judges, prosecutors and police on behalf of those who are impoverished, black or both.... Injustice is easy not to notice when it affects people different from ourselves; that helps explain the obliviousness of our own generation to inequity today. We need to wake up. And that is why we need a Mandela in this country. Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times Availability: Check libraries and bookstores. ALL are invited and welcome to join the group! Women s News Congratulations and welcome to our ZLCW Board for 2017! Gabrielle Machalek, president Ellen Heritage vice president Carol Witt, unit secretary Taina Machalek, treasurer Sue Cherryholmes, Discipleship secretary Barb Grady & Mary Lou Kelley, Stewardship secretaries Wanda McDonnell, Justice (community) secretary Ellen Housley, Sunshine Chair Thanks be to God for the mission we share as a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit! Attn: Zion Men ALL MEN OF ZION are invited to a monthly Breakfast, Bible study, and fellowship one Saturday each month, beginning this year on January 21 st, at 8:00am at the Hickory Gardens restaurant in Davenport (a week later this month than our usual day hope everyone s schedule will accommodate). Bring your Bible and a guest if you know someone who d like to come! Call Tom Handlen ( ) if you are interested but have not attended before. Figures & Financial Facts As of December 31st (100% through the budget year), Zion has received 96.4% toward Giving, and spent 95.1% of budget expenses, finishing the year with a modest surplus. God s work our hands. Thanks be to God!

6 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 6 MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO GAVE the Poinsettias, Wreaths, and Trees for Christmas services. Given by Kathy Anderson &Sharon Neilson Kathy Anderson & Sharon Neilson Libbie, Grace & Sarah Babka Cherryholmes Family Bill & Penny Dressler Matt, Molly, Grace, Carter & Sarah Engstrom Carl & Char Engstrom Audrey Ernst David & Carole Feeney Jon & Anne Flynn Mike Gohlmann & Joyce Jentz Larry & Kathy Goodknight Anita Hagen & Family Anita Hagen Steve & Nancy Howland Steve & Sue Keller Chris & Sharon Lorenzen Alice Lynch Al & Wanda McDonnell Mark & Beth Meyer Mark & Beth Meyer Morris Family Noble Family Kris Preston Chris & Sharon Lorenzen Gene & Donna Rome Gene & Donna Rome Cary Scott Pastor Karen Ullestad Mary Lou Vikdal Mary Lou Vikdal Judie Vollenweider Judie Vollenweider memory of parents: Laverne & Marianna Johnston memory of grandparents: Anna & Karlo Rindler and John & Jenny Johnston memory of Ralph, Lois & Jeff Kershaw honor of US Military & families serving overseas and honor of Family memory of Brian Clapp & Our Grandparents memory of Bud Hagen honor of Nicholas Justin Mannhardt honor of Family honor of Children & Grandchildren honor of Sunday School Teachers and honor of Family thanksgiving for Grandchildren honor & memory of Grandparents honor of Family memory of parents: Gene & Leona Rome and Bill & Doris Evans honor of Grandchildren memory of Mel Scott and honor of Family memory of family who have died memory of Allen Vikdal honor of children: Dianne, Karen, David, Yvonne & families memory of Opal Brickley memory/honor of parents, Helen & Chuck * * * * * * * * * * * * Augustana College Invites You to a CELEBRATION & MUSICAL TRIBUTE to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Saturday, January 14, 2017 Community Youth Forum 3:00pm Wallenberg Hall Community Celebration, Solidarity: Use Your Voice 6:00pm Centennial Hall An evening of inspirational words, awards, music and dance. Call for more information.

7 Zion News monthly - January W. 8th St - Davenport IA ALTAR FLOWERS GIVING JANUARY 1 - OPEN 8 OPEN 15 OPEN 22 OPEN 39 OPEN Thank you to all who gave Poinsettias & Wreaths for Christmas services! If you haven t yet picked up your plant, please do so as soon as possible. The new flower chart for 2016 is posted now. Please sign up for a Sunday or- an alternate offering, to the fund of your choice in lieu of flowers. USHERS January 2017 Steve & Sue Keller, Bill & Penny Dressler, Anthony Howland Attn: Ushers... WE NEED MORE OF YOU!! Please ask someone you think might be interested in the easy job and let Darrell Longlett or the Zion office know so we can call them with details. Assisting Ministers - January Dona Noble Doug Kalkwarf Anna Winn Kris Preston Julie Kalkwarf TELLERS JANUARY page 7 Greeters for January Cary Scott Gene & Donna Rome Chuck Dau Mary Lou Vikdal & Libbie Babka Jerry & Barb Grady We NEED GREETERS! Sign up across from the Zion office to help out with this EASY and FUN ministry of hospitality! Communion Set-up & Clean-up - JANUARY 1 - Altar Care 8 - Kealey family 15 - Winn family 22 - Flynn family 29 - Babka family LINENS Care: Altar Care THANKS! Lectors January Janine Johnson 8 - OPEN 15 - OPEN 22 - OPEN 29 - OPEN (sign up across from the Zion office) ACOLYTES JANUARY Chuck Dau, Carl Engstrom, Eva Hammond, Lisa Zosulis 1 OPEN any volunteers? 8 John & Roxeann Ford, Bill & Penny Dressler 8 Kate Kealey & Jessica Elliott 15 Stu Goldsmith, Delores Smith, Matt Engstrom 15 Grace Engstrom & Anna Winn 22 Mark & Beth Meyer, Sue Keller, Gene Rome 22 Addison & Peyton Flynn 29 Mark & Beth Meyer, Mike Detmer, Lisa Z. 29 Grace & Sarah Babka ATTENDANCE in DECEMBER Dec Dec Dec Christmas Eve 199 Christmas Day 45 THANKS BE TO GOD FOR EACH OF YOU!! Please contact one of your fellow Zion Acolytes if you need a sub or to switch for the date we are counting on you. Beth has names & numbers in the Zion office. ( ) PEACE! Jody Kealey