July 2016 Monthly Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church. The Chimes

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1 July 2016 Monthly Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church The Chimes R&R As you read this, Pam and I will be into our 2nd week of vacation. We are grateful for the time given to us in our call to Zion; I have come to appreciate taking it all at once, as it really is good for the soul and spirit! Yes, 4 weeks is a nice vacation. It has often been said that "People don't want to trade jobs with their pastors, but they would trade vacation time with them!" We are blessed to have this benefit. Thank you! Update on our Capital Improvements: We have been able to do the primary things we hoped to do, and came in enough under budget on the projects so that we were able to do some extra work on the old school house. If projections are correct, there will be about 4,000 left in Capital Improvement monies by the end of June. Therefore, we have had to put the Hearing Loop, sliding doors at the hall and sanctuary, and automation of the bells on hold. If you have not had an opportunity to share a gift for these improvements, your support will be appreciated. From where I sit and walk, we are the "talk of the town" with the improvements we have made. Thanks for your support! Thank you for your support of all of our Special Concerns, and for the extra mile you went to support Kayla Reitenga. Your generosity toward others is exceptional, and I am honored to be among such gracious people. You can find a "thank you" from the Reitengas elsewhere in this newsletter. While we try to reach out to you if you have a birthday or anniversary, that will not happen while we are on the road. So to all of you who have birthdays and anniversaries while we are gone, we hope they are fun and memorable! Thanks for all you do for Jesus and his church. It is much appreciated by him and me! Faithfully yours,

2 Day Camp (VBS) will be held at Zion the week of July 4-8 from 8:30-3pm. (The youth will be riding on a float in the parade on July 4.) It s hosted by Camp Chrysalis. Registration forms are available in the Atrium, Narthex, office or online at zion-lutheran.com. Zion WELCA News Special Summer Event A Special summer event has been planned by our local WELCA Unit. All are welcome to come join us on Thursday, July 14th for a hearty salad luncheon. Gathering time is 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is asked to bring a salad of your choice (including meat salads). Please bring your husbands or guest. Come, get out of the heat and summer doldrums, and enjoy the good food and fellowship. Please RSVP to Dorcella at or Carolyn at Our regular Bible study and business meeting will take place following the meal. This is a great opportunity to come visit and see if you would like to join us on a regular basis. CPR Training & Availability Zion is calling on those interested in learning CPR to share their desire with us so we can have a class for you! The cost is 50, scholarships could be available. Please call the church office or Audrey Mayer (830) for more details. In addition, we are asking you to let us know who is already certified (up to date) in CPR. If you are, we would like to talk to you! Again, please contact the church office. Thank you! Page 2

3 65 years of marriage on 7/22 Little Lambs Update June 10 was the Little Lambs Garage Sale at the Zion Fellowship Hall. The parents organized and ran the event as a fund-raiser for their playground modifications and equipment. C4NC encourages parent groups at the schools to participate with projects to help with their children s schools. It was a great success, the garage sale raised approximately 700! The Little Lambs Advisory Board would like to thank all those who helped, the school parents, school staff members, and church members. Zion members donated items for sale, helped clean-up afterwards, and even shopped at the sale! THANK YOU ALL. Congratulations Carl & Julia Weden Special Concern Lutheran World Relief Zion s special emphasis for the month of July is the Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief is a non-profit organization that works with local partners to provide lasting solutions to poverty, injustice and human suffering. In 2015, your support of Lutheran World Relief reached: 4,057,849 people, 36 countries, 126 projects. LWR supports farmers & agriculture, responds to emergencies, enhances water access & quality, reduces risks of disaster & climate, improves health & livelihoods, expands civic participation, and longterm solutions to poverty. Page 3

4 Council Highlights 1) Agreed to offer CPR training to the congregation, especially people who usher regularly. 2) Agreed to remove the Elm tree in the parking lot, as it has become dangerous. A piece of the tree will be kept for posterity. 3) Consideration of a Child Protection Policy has begun, Council will meet June 29, 2016 to discuss and approve. 4) Reviewed the finances of the congregation and going into the summer, we are better situated than last year at this time. Just Checking More often these days, people are choosing cremation over internment. It has been suggested that we consider a columbarium, similar to the one pictured, that has 28 niches for inurnment of cremains. Niches in a columbarium like the one pictured above with a brass surround, are 500 each. A small brass plaque is attached to the niche cover with the name, birth and death year engraved. This discussion is in the beginning stages, and so if you have interest in having a niche, a place of rest at your church, or any other comments, please contact Pastor Hartmann or Ernestine Grunau. Page 4 Congrats Nesbitt Bennett on turning 96 on 7/11. She is the 3 rd most senior member of Zion.

5 Ever Consider Quilting? Have you ever thought about wanting to be a part of the group of ladies (Laborers of Love) who make those beautiful LWR quilts? We are all familiar with the two Bible verses (one in Matthew and one in Luke) talking about the harvest being plentiful, but the workers being few. That is exactly how we are feeling right now. Please come to the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, July 13 at 8:30am and see how you can help in this very important ministry. Absolutely no experience necessary, only a willing heart to do God's work. In fact, some of this work can be done in your own home. Please come, we have a place for you. See Mary Wilson, Julia Hahn or Dorcella Sunday if you have questions. Congrats Arthur Reeh, Jr. on turning 90 on 7/26. Pastoral Acts Logan Xavier Stepler was baptized in Zion on May 29, 2016 by Pastor Hartmann. He is the son of Jennifer Hartmann, grandson of Rick and Pam Hartmann. His sponsors were Rick and Pam Hartmann and Jeff, Ann, Emma and Lily Hartmann. Rosalee Moore passed away on May 29, 2016 at the age of 88 years. Her funeral was held in Zion on June 1, 2016 with Pastor Hartmann officiating. Internment was held at Greenwood Cemetery. Irene Spenrath passed away on June 11, 2016 at the age of 92. Her funeral service was held in the chapel of Schaetter s Funeral Home, Comfort on June 14, 2016 with Pastor Hartmann officiating. Internment was held at Der Stadt Friedhof. Page 5

6 Thank You Notes Thank you so much for your generous donation to Wounded Warriors at Nebo. Our ministry is blessed and honored to be one of your annual endowment fund recipients. Thank you for your kind donation of 1,300 to the Hill Country Community Needs Council. Thank you so much for your Water to Thrive donation of 800. We are grateful for your prayers and support. Thank you for your recent gift to We Can Ministry of 500. To all members of Zion, thank you for your prayers, cards, calls, memorials and concerns for Jerry during his illness and death. Pastor Hartmann, I ll never be able to thank you enough!!! You were there daily the last two weeks. What a blessing to us. Thank you for the beautiful service. Special thanks to Pam and Sheri for their outstanding music. Thanks to the ladies who prepared and served the meal. A special thanks to Perry and Cris Strackbein, words can t express my gratitude for all you did for us. Continue to pray for me. ~Love in Christ, Montynne Brown Dear friends in Christ, thank you for the donations of 12 green hymnals. They will be used as we use the hymnals for liturgy and hymns. ~Jane Convery, St. Paul Lutheran Church The Reitenga Familly would like to thank the congregation of Zion for all of the love, friendship and support you have shown us over these last four months. We appreciate the financial gifts and all of your prayers. The fundraiser in San Antonio as the California Pizza Kitchen raised just over 1,300. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love by everyone who comes and talks with us. Please know how thankful we are. If you have given a gift and we know who you are you will be getting a personal thank you. If you chose to give anonymously, please accept this as our thanks as we are most thankful. Kayla is back in the hospital right now and her transplant has been rescheduled for around July 1. Dear Friends in Christ, words seem so inadequate in expressing our heartfelt thanks for all the prayers, phone calls, cards and thoughts, before and following the birth of my dear Patience Faith. Born with a 50/50 chance of survival on April 3, our faith and the support around us always kept us positive. The journey was hard but God is good. She is now off all meds and doing well at 9 lbs. On behalf of my son & family, Paul & Betty Seidensticker Philip & Janet Seidensticker (baby s parents). In Christian Love, Julia Seidensticker Hahn Page 6

7 Statistics Attendance: May 29 June 5 June 12 June 19 Early Late General Fund Offerings: May 29 June 5 June 12 June 19 Total 2, , , , , Building Fund Offerings: May 29 June 5 June 12 June 19 Total , June s Totals Der Stadt Friedhof Literacy Council World Hunger Zion WELCA Gen Fund Rev & Exp for MAY: Gen Fund Revenue Total 26, Gen Fund Expense Total 27, Year-to-Date thru MAY: Revenue/Expense (1,474.28) From Reserve/Conting Remaining Rev/Deficit (1,474.28) Monthly Special Concern Updates Zion WELCA 245 Literacy Council 370 Capital Improvements 21,910 (goal is 90,000) Our Shut-Ins Home: DORTHY HANNEMANN, 118 Clyde Run, Fredericksburg Knopp Healthcare & Rehab 1208 N. Llano: NESBITT BENNETT, MARLENE ERNST, LUCYLLE KUNZE, JESSIE MITCHELL, MARGARET WILKE Windcrest 210 W. Windcrest: DAVE MAYER FBG Nursing 1117 S. Adams: HARRIET SCHLAUDT Page 7

8 Zion Lutheran Church (830) W. Main Street (church location) 415 W. AUSTIN ST (OFFICE) Fredericksburg, TX Bulk Rate US Postage Non-Profit Organization Fredericksburg, TX Permit #103 SUNDAY WORSHIP 8AM & 10:30AM Worship Service with Communion 9:15am Sunday School 9:15am Adult Bible Study (No 9:15 classes Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends) Office Hours Monday Friday, 8am 3pm PASTOR RICK HARTMANN (day off is Friday) Dan McGookey, Pastoral Asst Christi Fowler, Administrator Council Members Cong President, Brett Beyer Cong Vice President, John Weaver Cong Treasurer, Wilfred Crenwelge Cong Secretary, Jodi Kasper Mark Becker Randy McBride