Horizon. May you experience exceedingly Great Joy this Christmas season, in the New Year and always! December 2015

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1 December 2015 Z I O N L U T H E R A N C H U R C H Horizon May you experience exceedingly Great Joy this Christmas season, in the New Year and always! ~ Merry Christmas from the staff of Zion Lutheran Church: Pastor Dennis Reich, Devin Wolters, Chrissy Stern, Danielle Acay and Joann Kildow Special Holiday Worship Opportunities Lessons & Carols led by Adult choir - Sunday December 6, 11am Sunday December 13, 8:30am Christmas Worship Service led by Zion s Youth - Sunday December 13, 11am Christmas Eve Services Thursday December 24 at 5, 7:30 & 10pm Sun Dec 13 Thurs Dec 24 Sun Dec 6 Lessons and Carols, 11am Lessons and Carols, 8:30am Youth led Christmas Program/Worship, 11am Christmas Eve Worship - 5:00pm, 7:30pm, 10pm Fri Dec 25 Christmas Day - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Thurs Dec 31 New Years Eve - Happy New Year, 2016!!! OFFICE CLOSED: H I G H L I G H T S Thursdays - December 24th and 31st Fridays - December 25th and January 1st In this issue Staff Message Faith at Home Ministries Bible Studies Events & Happenings Thank Yous & Letters Council Meeting Minutes Birthdays

2 FAITH AT HOME MINISTRIES Sunday School for Faith: SPECIAL EVENT on Sunday December 13th for ALL (Preschool - Adult): Away in a Manger Zion s Faith at Home Youth will be presenting a Christmas Worship service on December 13, 2015 at 11:00am We invite the congregation to join preschool through 12 th grade students in this faith building worship service where the story of Christ s birth and the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation that were given to us through His birth and the cross will be shared. Rehearsals will be held during the education hour on December 6 th and 13 th. For more information please contact Danielle Acay at Devotional booklets & children s books that align with the service are available from Concordia Publishing House. Visit and search for Away in a Manger. ADULT EDUCATION: contact Devin Wolters December 6: The Birth of a Christ, Pt. 1 Narthex MPR December 13: The Birth of a Christ, Pt. 2 Narthex MPR COLLEGE: contact Devin Wolters G.P.S - HIGH SCHOOL: contact Devin Wolters High school students will be joining the adults in December to have an intergenerational study on "The Birth of a Christ." LIVING WORD (MIDDLE SCHOOL): contact Chrissy Stern Living Word is Zion s confirmation program for 6th, 7th, & 8th graders. This group meets during the Sunday School hour in both large group & small group classes. If you have any questions about this program please contact Chrissy, This month we will begin our study of the Apostles Creed looking at the 1st and 2nd Articles. Here are some questions to talk about as a family: A friend at school tells you - There is no God. We re all alone here. And if there is a God, he, she, or it certainly doesn t care for puny humans! How do you answer? Why did Jesus have to die? How would you respond to someone who said, Jesus was just like every other religious leader who ever walked on the earth? GODLY PLAY (PRESCHOOL-5TH GRADE): contact Danielle Acay In Godly Play, we tell stories with multisensory materials to appeal to a broad range of earning styles: auditory, visual, kinesthetic. We then have a response time where children can work alone or in groups to create a response to the story they have just learned. DECEMBER OFFERING FOCUS is canned food. Your generous donation will help to feed families in Kent this holiday season. Thank you for your generous support! 2 Adult Small Group Options Small groups are a great way for people to connect with one another in Zion s church family. Call the church office if you would like to learn more about any of the following small groups. Hardanger Stitchers every Monday, 12pm Come to Zion s Library & learn to do this beautiful embroidery or bring your own project and join us for fellowship & fun. We will take December off. Next Hardanger: See you in January, 2016 Stitcher s Group every Wednesday evening, 6:30pm Come, bring a project to work on and join in on great fellowship in Zion s Library. Contact Sonya or the church office. Next Stitcher s: Dec 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th, 6:30pm Zion Book Club 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7pm to 8:30 We will not meet in December. Come 2016 we will discuss our January book - Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. Contact Laurie or the church office Next Book Club: January 19th 2016, 7pm Pinochle and Potluck 3rd Saturday, every other month, 6:00 pm Good conversation, Christian fellowship, food and cards! Contact Bob & Barbara or the church office. Next Pinochle: January 16th 2016, 6pm Mid-week Bunko Last Tuesday of each month, 6:30 pm Christian fellowship, a fun dice game, and a light appetizer-type dinner. We are always looking for substitutes. We will not meet in December, but will resume in Contact Jenise or the church office Next Bunko: January 26th 2016, 6:30pm Ruth Rachel Circle 2nd Monday of each month (Sept - May), 7pm to 9 Join us for an evening of women gathering for Christian fellowship, Bible Study (Book of John) and Service (LWR Health Kits). Contact Pat or the church office Next Ruth Rachel Circle: December 14th, 7pm Naomi Circle 2nd Tuesday of each month (Sept - May), 12pm Looking for a great group of ladies to share friendship & the Bible with? Give us a try & see if we fit! Please come join us for a light lunch and fellowship in Zion s Fellowship Hall. Contact Elaine or the church office Next Naomi Circle: **NOTE** For December we will meet offsite on 3rd Tuesday - December 15th, 12pm

3 + RENEW THROUGH GOD S WORD... EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS 3 Interested in helping start up or attending a BIBLE STUDY? Please contact the church office. Two Weekday Morning Bible Studies are offered on Wednesday or Thursday mornings, 9:30am in Zion s Library from September - May. This is a great opportunity to study God s Word and to make new friends. Please consider joining us! WEDNESDAY: 1st and 3rd - in Zion s Library, 9:30am Join us as we begin a study of II Samuel. For information call Joanne or Karen or the church office Next meetings: December 2nd & 16th, 9:30am THURSDAY: 1st and 3rd - in Zion s Library, 9:30am Join us as we explore the book of Proverbs. For information call Carol or the church office. Next meetings: December 3rd, 9:30am Wednesday Lectionary Studies Join in this weekly study examining the Lectionary texts for the next Sunday. The morning study meets at IHOP in Covington, 7:30am. All are welcome to drop in. There is an equal balance of fellowship and study as we seek to understand what God s word has for the community of Zion. For more info contact Bob or Pastor Dennis or Devin Next meetings: Dec. 2nd, 9th, 16th 23rd & 30th 7:30am Men s Saturday Morning Bible Study :: 3RD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH :: Come get connected with the men of Zion and share life with one another through conversation. Next meeting: December 19th, 9am Fed by God s Word we Grow as Disciples to Share Christ s Message with the World! Discipleship Small Groups continue to meet throughout the week. Go to orgdiscipleship.html for all of the options. High School Youth Event group December 5th, 6pm-7:30pm come to the Faith Cafe and join in for some tacos, games and the Word. Choir led Worship: December 6, 11am Service December 13, 8:30am Service Sunday December 13 - Children s Christmas Worship service, 11am Middle School Christmas Party December 13, 12pm Join us for lunch, games, laughter & decorating gingerbread houses. Please sign up on bulletin board outside of Fellowship Hall. Contact Chrissy Stern with questions. Committee reports to be published in Zion s Annual Report due to Zion s office no later than Friday, December 18th. If you are responsible for submitting information to be included in Zion s 2015 Annual Report, please make sure to meet this deadline. The lights of Christmas - Senior High Service Trip to Warm Beach Camp, December With The lights of Christmas has over 2 million lights set up to share the Christmas joy and the heart of Christmas, Jesus birth. This is the camp s largest fundraiser to help kids go to summer camp. This will be Zions third time sending teenagers to help run this program. For more information go to and to sign up. Let Devin know you will be attending. The only cost is lunch on Saturday, everything else the camp provides. New Year Master Flower Chart for 2016 will soon be up on the bulletin board and ready for sign-ups. Please remember to complete a card in the flower box in the office after you sign-up to provide flowers for the Altar. Save These Dates: >>Mission Quilting begins Mondays January 4, 2016, 9:30am Clip art from Christ6Art.com

4 EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS (CONTINUED) >>Hardanger resumes on Monday afternoons at 12pm beginning January 4, 2016 >> **NEW** LUTHERWOOD Lock-Out! January 15-16, 2016, 7pm-8am Cost: $25 Join us for an all-nighter of fun with movies and popcorn in the Chapel, night games, faith formation, more games, and finish up with breakfast and a sunrise service on the waterfront. Please contact Chrissy Stern if you would like your child to attend OR if you are interested in chaperoning!! cstern@zionkent.org 4 >>Epiphany Speaker Series January Pastor Dan Shaw will speak on Being Christian Among the Unchurched: Lutherans and the Future of Christianity in America Mark your Calendars: Annual Meeting Sunday Jan 31st, 2016 Dessert Potluck, 6:30pm. Meeting begins at 7pm Join us February 7 th for a Super Bowl Extravaganza! Bring your friends & an appetizer! We will watch the Super Bowl & have lots of fun for all ages! C A D V E N T A L E N D A R... prepare the way for the Lord Isaiah 40:3

5 + REACH OUT TO SERVE OTHERS... 5 Welcome, KentHOPE Zion is honored to be able to provide overnight shelter for approximately 15 women from KentHOPE for the month of December. Each night they will arrive at 8:45 and use the parish house to sleep. In the morning they will clean up the bathrooms and sleeping area and leave by 7:00 am. A trailer for their cots and bedding will be parked at the back of our property and a KentHOPE staff member will be present each night. Zion is not being asked to provide anything for the women other than a warm place to sleep, but if we could provide breakfast breads or muffins, cookies, juice, or warm drinks, what an additional blessing it would be for them! If you are able to donate any of these items, contact Laurie or the church office. More details will be announced as we find out how we can serve them in more specific ways. Share with the Lord s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 The Zion Giving Tree Zion s Giving Tree supports children, vamilies, men and women served by Vine maple Place and Lutheran Compass Center by providing Christmas gifts for those less fortunate. The Giving Tree is up in the Narthex and decorated with wish list tags. Please choose some of the tags for you and your family to shop for. Then, have fun shopping, knowing that what you purchase will bless someone less fortunate with a Christmas gift or two. Should you rather have someone do the shopping for you, a cash donation can be made (checks made to Zion with Giving Tree on the Memo. This year there is NO WRAPPING necessary. That is because at Vine Maple Place they open an afternoon Christmas Store where all the kids can come and select gifts for their family and then wrap the gifts themselves (with assistance, if needed!). You may return your gifts back under the Giving Tree at Zion as soon as you purchase them. The gifts will be delivered to VMP as they come in. Final deadline for the gifts to be returned to Zion will be Sunday December 13. It is more blessed to give, than receive Acts 20:35 Questions? Contact Cheryl or the church office OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP AND SERVE Shopping Cart Sundays are on the Second Sunday of every month. Please bring, when you come to worship, a food donation to add to the shopping cart. This food goes to the Kent Food Bank and is greatly appreciated. This month Shopping Cart Sunday will be on December 13th. Sign up for escript & Fred Meyer Community Rewards & help Bartell s B card, and many local restaurants. Visit click on Sign Up It s Free! & follow instructions. For Fred Meyer Community Rewards, simply go to and click on the button to link your Rewards card, then follow the instructions. Need more help? Pick up a flyer in the narthex for more information, or contact council representative - Don or the church office

6 6 WITH JOY AND THANKSGIVING WE OFFER OUR TIME AND OUR TREASURES... 1-Nov-15 8-Nov Nov Nov-15 Year to Date Worship Income $11, $8, $16, $6, $ 466, Required for Budget $11, $11, $11, $11, $ 542, Excess/(Shortfall) ($525.79) ($3,379.77) $4, ($4,856.72) ($76,284.65) Other Income (Designated) Reimbursements $ $ $ 8, Misc Designated Gifts $ $ $ $ $ 18, Rent $ 5, Special Offerings $ Building Fund $ $ 1, $ $ $ 18, Thanksgiving Offering $ - Christmas Offering $ - Total Other Income $ 1, $ 2, $ $ $ 50, Total General Fund $12, $10, $16, $ 7, $ 516, Trust Fund Income Memorials $ 2, $ $ $ $ 6, Endowment Loan interest $ 1, $ 11, Good Samaritan Fund $ 1, Other Trust $ 5, Total Trust Income: $ 2, $ $ 1, $ $ 24, Total Funds $14, $11, $17, $ 7, $ 540, Thank you, Fellowship Committee for the great time at the November Mix and Mingle! Attention Zion : We want YOUR 2015 Christmas Card! Christmas is coming. What a great time to share news and Christmas greetings with friends and family. Send or bring into Zion s office your household s Christmas card sometime during December - whenever they are ready. This card will become part of the Education Bulletin Board in the main building for all to enjoy and see. What a great way to spread Christmas cheer this year!!!! Thanks to Theresa for getting us started.

7 Thank you Zion Lutheran Church for your donations & gifts: From: Trinity Lutheran College... $ From: Compass Housing Alliance... $ From: World Mission Prayer League... $ From: Lutheran World Relief... $ From: The Voice of the Martyrs... $ Thank you, good people of Zion. Consider for a moment that through your partnership in ministry with us you are blessed hundreds more through the service of our students! In Christ, Lance Georgeson - Associate Director of Development, Trinity Lutheran College Julefest Thank You Report! A special thank you to everyone who helped in any way to make our Julefest the success that it was this year. We grossed a little over $9,850 WOW! This money will be spent as donations to the Food Banks, and the Zion Giving Tree. Some other ideas are in the works also. The workshops which began in June every Monday morning kept Pat, Evelyn, Linda and Sonya busy keeping willing hands busy making lovely sewing projects, needle work and crafts, -thank you. For the beautiful raffle items that were donated and to the people who donated to the bake sale -thank you. To Carrie, for a great job of planning the menu for Julefest and her work in the kitchen -thank you. To Bev, Mary and Pat for organizing the kitchen and dining area crew and the meatballs and potatoes -thank you. For the Scandinavian Demos with samples to taste -thank you. To Karen and Cheryl for making the Soup and running the Bake Sale thank you. To those who set up, cleaned up, and put everything back in order -thank you. As you can see it takes many hands working together to make Julefest a success. Your help was greatly appreciated -thank you all! In Christ, ~ZLCW-Board A bouquet of thanks to all those who sent cards, phone calls, visits and most of all your prayers for my recent back surgery. I am doing very well surgery was a success. I am so blessed and thankful for my wonderful church family God is Good. In His Love, ~Evelyn 7 + REJOICE IN GOD S GRACE... HOME thanks you!!! "I tell you the truth, whatever you Thank you, November Horizon Helpers! Kris, Nancy, Sonya and Karen did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40 I would like to thank all of you that helped make our month at Kent United Methodist, supporting the HOME Project, another successful service to our community! The men continually voiced their appreciation for not only the food provided, but the open and accepting attitude our congregation shows them as well. We had many volunteers cooking, serving, and providing delicious food. We also went above and beyond in donating funds to help with extra supplies, and meals. We were able to buy several pairs of socks, a much needed item among the men we serve! Thanks again for all your support, and we will see you next year. Sincerely, ~Jill A Big THANK YOU to Will for the of the end-of-theseason Sprinkler system care and shut off. We appreciate what you do for Zion! Thank you to the ZLCW for your efforts for the Kent Ministerial Association lunch. It was delicious and looked great. Thank YOU!! My family and I want to express our sincere Thank You to all who were so much help during Bill's illness. The many visitors who helped him pass the time, made phone calls to cheer him and who prayed for him are so much appreciated. We also were thankful for the meals that many of you brought to us. Especially, we thank you for the many prayers on his behalf. I think at times he felt wrapped in prayer and our Savior's love. And lastly, the support we felt at the Memorial Service for Bill was truly a tangible thing. So many of you were there, as well as the impressive display of the Patriot Guard Riders who were there to mourn one of their own. I am sure that while Bill would be touched by all of it, he would also be humbled by the attention. Thank you & God bless you, ~Carol & Family ***What do your kids want for Christmas? Check out our Parenting Christian Kids Newsletter for ways to help tame the materialism monster in our children. Who knows, these may even help you maintain balance over the holidays, too! Remember... Faith At Home is for everyone!

8 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - OCTOBER 13, 2015 Council Members for 2015 Roger President Eric Faith at Home/Audit Laurie Secretary Katie Evangelism Leo Treasurer/Property Mark Gazdik Property Don VPres./Personnel Sally Fellowship Mary Jo Evangelism Rob Property/Personnel Craig Stewardship/Nominating George Faith at Home/Fellowship Patti Worship & Music/Personnel Meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M. by Vice- President Don Devotions were provided by Devin Wolters Present: Don, Leo, Laurie, Devin Wolters, Danielle Acay; Mary Jo, Katie, George, Patti, Mark, Eric, Craig Absent: Pastor Dennis Reich, Sally, Rob, Roger October Council Minutes (regular meeting) Motion to accept the minutes MSP Treasurer s report For the month of: October 2015 Year-to-date Operating Income $43, $424, Operating Expenses $40, $457, Excess (shortfall) $ ($ 25,365.54) Old Business: 1. Great discussion around the feedback given by congregation members who indicated they wanted to be contacted by the Council. Suggestions will be passed onto committees. 2. Discussed hosting a community Health Fair as we had described in our Thrivent grant proposal. Since we did not get the grant, we determined that unless a committee or group wants to take this on, we would table it for now 3. The Budget Committee work is progressing. Their recommendations will go back to committees by Nov Joint Committee Chair and Council meeting, December 8 at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall New Business & Action Items: 1. Election of new congregational leadership on Nov 22 at 9:30 (or following 1st service). Ballots in Narthex. 2. Motion to approve the allocation of $1575 from Major Expense Contingency in order to complete technology upgrade in accordance with the proposal by CompuPane. MSP 3. Motion to update the church records to move Adam and Cathy, Hunter and Emily to inactive member per their request. MSP 4. Motion to approve the designation of loose offering donated at the Thanksgiving Eve 8 service to the Kent Food Bank. MSP via vote on November 14 Staff Report: Pastor None submitted Staff Report: AIM Ministry Items/Events/Activities of Interest: 1. I had a great time at Fox this past month working on my Preaching skills and how to better present the Gospel. 2. Trying to support Evangelism s "Fresh Start" group. 3. Prayer room each day for 30 minutes (Mon- Thurs). 4. Helped with Chapel on 10/8 5. Took communion to a member s home on 10/8 6. Preached on 10/11 7. Senior Sunday cards went out (name on Bibles, service on June 5th, and quilt designs). 8. College Cards (updating address) sent on Nov 4th. Getting updates from parents. 74 Starbucks cards donated! 9. Completed the Facilitator training hand out; trained a facilitator 10. Attended the Reformation Series 11.Continued working on a set-up to track attendance. 12. Working on Mission Trip for Skits to invite youth to work on 14. Nov 2nd facilitator gathering (Prayer, stories, and tips). Upcoming Events: H.S. missionaries leading something at ZLC (Once a month youth group, movie night, study room) 2. Continue generating a great presence on Facebook for teens & parents & communicate in their preferred method. Weekly to Bi-weekly s with encouragement to get involved in service, choir & missions. 3. Working with Trust to potentially bring out Pastor Moe Redding to teach on Discipleship Groups. 4. Lights of Christmas Dec 18th-20th at Warmbeach Camp. Staff Report: Faith at Home Ministries Ministry Items/Events/Activities of Interest: 1. Nov 10- Middle School serves at HOMEproject 2. Nov19 Advent Devotions will be available 3. Elementary Students will be reading and lighting Advent wreath Nov 29 Dec Christmas program planning and preparations underway

9 Committee Reports: Property Cm: (Leo, Mark*, Rob) Date of meeting: November 5 Interest items: 1. Proposed to Boy Scouts the use of the half the parish house garage for storage of items that were in the Ark 2. Identifying contractors to look at the leaks in the church, and will ask for proposals to fix it 3. KentHOPE is asking Zion to consider offering Parish House for a shelter for 15 women during the month of December. Committee has approved. Further discussion may need to take place to firm things up. 4. Doors will be re-keyed this week. This means that all existing keys to exterior doors will no longer work. Access into the buildings during off hours is only available through the keyless entry doors. 5. The grease trap in the kitchen has been professionally cleaned & a preventative maintenance program will be adopted to keep it operating properly and eliminating any bad odors. Worship/Music Cm: (Patti*) Date of meeting: none Interest items: Next meeting November 14 Faith at Home Ministry Cm: (Eric, George*) Date of meeting: November 3 Interest items: 1. Youth Christmas Program Dec 13 at the 11AM Service 2. Devin planning to take Sr High to Lights of Christmas Festival at Warm Beach camp Dec. 18th - 20th 3. F@H is planning a Multigenerational Super Bowl Party 4. Investigating several choices for Youth Mission Trip 2016 Evangelism Cm: (Katie*, Mary Jo) Date of meeting: October 29 Interest items: 1. Greeter scheduling continues using multiple options to sign up 2. Investigation of data collection for newcomers continues 3. Promotional advertising for Christmas program considered 4. Budget for 2016 submitted 5. Fresh Start continues until November 18 Stewardship Cm: (Craig*) Date of meeting: none Interest Items: 9 Vine Maple Place and Compass Center were selected as Giving Tree recipients. The tree is up and the deadline to bring in gifts is December 6. Fellowship Cm: (Sally*, George) Date of meeting: none Interest items: Next meeting in January Personnel Committee: (Don*, Patti, Rob) Interest items: 1. Reviewed salary recommendations and sent to Budget committee. 2. Middle School Position to be posted when done with evaluations and budget Technology and Website Team: (Don*) Date of meeting: October 28 Interest items: 1. Discussed proposals from Geek Squad and CompuPane for IT service for our Office computers and server. Decided to recommend the CompuPane proposal to Council 2. Discussed progress on Wi-Fi network. Still some work to do to get signal out to the Parish house. Office Management: (Joann Kildow*) Interest Items: November 22 Christ the King Sunday & Congregational Election Meeting November 25 Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie Social November 26 & 27 Office Closed for Thanksgiving holiday November 29 First Sunday in Advent December 6 Lessons and Carols at 11:00am worship December 13 Lessons and Carols at 8:30am worship; Christmas Program at 11:00am worship December 24 Christmas Eve Worship at 5:00pm; 7:30pm & 10:00pm December 31 & January 1 Office Closed January Epiphany Speaker Series January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Office Closed January 31 Congregational Annual Meeting; 6:30-dessert potluck; 7:00-meeting The meeting was closed at 8:25 pm with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully Submitted, Laurie, Council Secretary *Person responsible for submitting council report.

10 Zion Lutheran Church nd Ave SE Kent, WA Return Service Requested 10 Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage P A I D PERMIT No. 96 Kent WA KENT, WASHINGTON Sunday Worship Services Special Worship Services 8:30 am Worship Christmas Eve 9:45 am School for Faith Thursday December 24th 11:00 am Worship 5:00pm; 7:30pm & 10:00pm Pastor Dennis Reich dreich@zionkent.org (ext 112) Associate in Ministry, Devin Wolters dwolters@zionkent.org (ext 114) Faith at Home Ministries Coordinators: Adult & High School: Devin Wolters Middle School (Interim): Chrissy Stern (Tues & Thurs) cstern@zionkent.org (ext 116) Elementary: Danielle Acay (Tues, Wed, Thurs) dacay@zionkent.org (ext 115) Office Manager: Joann Kildow jkildow@zionkent.org (ext 110) In Jesus Christ we REJOICE in God's Grace, RENEW through God's Word and REACH OUT to serve others,.all to the Glory of God! Office phone: Web site: Office fax: Office hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm January Horizon Deadline: Tuesday, December 15th To submit articles for the Horizon: jkildow@zionkent.org or drop off at the church office