1216 West 8th St - Davenport IA (563) ziondavenport.org. ZION News February

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1 1216 West 8th St - Davenport IA (563) ziondavenport.org ZION News February A, Vol Issue 2 February 4, 2014 Zion continues to Reach out in Love with a valentine Special worshipservice: Neighborhood & Community Dinner Wednesday, Feb. 19th at 6:00pm (crafts for kids beginning at 5:30) This month it s a delicious, heart-warming meal of Lasagna, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread, and (of course!) lots of SWEET desserts along with plenty of great conversation & fellowship with our Zion family, neighbors & friends Sign up is posted on the bulletin board across from the office. Pencil yourself in for what you can contribute and/or do, and come be blessed in sharing our abounding blessings! Welcome, Thanks, and Well done! to our Zion Council At our Annual Meeting, Zion elected the following to serve terms on Council: Roxeann Ford, Kathy Morris, and Mark Meyer Welcome aboard you three as you join our Council members still serving terms: Jon Flynn, Carole Feeney, Steve Howland, and Carrie Trenkamp We also extend a deep thanks to outgoing Council members who finished their terms at the end of 2013: Libbie Babka, Jenny Winn, and Dave Wright LENT Begins March 5th with Ash Wednesday Worship at 7:00pm and continue each week through April 9th, with Evening Vespers at 7:00pm. Please plan to make this mid-week time/opportunity to pause and reflect more deeply on the compassion and unconditional, complete love of God through the selflessness of Christ that is ever-present in our lives. Pastor s Peace Sunday School, Confirmation, & Adult Learning Neighborhood & Global news Just for Seniors 5 Small Groups and Such 6 Worship Helpers for February 7

2 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 2 From our Pastor Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices; who, from our mothers' arms, has blest us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. (ELW #840) These words were written by Martin Rinkhart, who lived in the 16th century, during the tumultuous time of the 30 years war. What I find amazing about these words is that he wrote this hymn after a year of presiding at 4000 funerals. This was a man who was able to name God's wondrous deeds in the midst of enormous tragedy and death. From the moment we are born, Rinkhart says, we are blessed with countless gifts. And those blessings remain with us throughout our life. What a joy to hear you all express thanks for your blessings at our congregational meeting/brunch. We are blessed with God's grace and forgiveness, love and compassion, abundance and generosity- made known through this community in Christ. We are blessed, "on our way," in our calling to proclaim the wondrous things God has done. Some days it is easier than others to feel God's call as blessing. We don't understand what, where, or who we should be. We don't feel worthy, we don't have time, we don't have the desire to hear God call. The blessing of being gathered into community is that we can share the joys and difficulties of our call with one another. We affirm one another's calling to proclaim God's countless gifts of love, knowing that each call will be different according to our gifts. The richness of God is made known through our diversity. As St. Paul told the Corinthians, there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit... to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. The blessing of being gathered into community is that we can share the joys and difficulties of our call with one another. Paul affirms our individual calling, but in the context of the community. I invite you to notice the blessings of your calling as a proclaim-er of God's love. Naming our blessings helps us grow in them, share them, and helps others notice theirs. Affirm how God has gifted you for the sake of the common good. Once you have noticed, come back Sunday morning, and, together with all the other Baptized into... followers of Jesus, let's thank God with our hearts, hands and voices. See you in worship! Welcome to the body of Christ! Pastor Karen Ullestad On the celebration of our Lord s baptism, January 12th, we celebrated the baptisms of Naomi Tihun Trenkamp and Kaylynn Nicole Miller We pray that they will know God s grace and love through their family at Zion. New Life!

3 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 3 February Christian Learning & Fellowship SUNDAY SCHOOL 'Scoop' For the month of February the students can look forward to hearing and learning about happenings in the New Testament: The Disciples, Wedding at Cana, and Four Friends. Looking ahead Ash Wednesday begins this Lenten season on March 5, and we are planning a special project during this Lenten season. The Sunday School will be participating with the congregation and proceeds will to go to world hunger. Watch for further details. We are always seeking leaders for our SPARK Sunday school lessons. Please consider signing up on the sheets that are on the bulletin board across from the office. We, the SPARK Team, are there to assist you! And for Adults FaithTalks Sunday mornings at 10:15 in the Chapel Matthew During the month of February Pastor Ullestad will lead a discussion on the gospel of Matthew. Bring your Bible and a cup of coffee/tea into the chapel as we explore the gospel our lectionary uses this year. We may even include the discussion of what is a lectionary! T.G.I.S. (Thank-God-It s-sunday!) Entryway & Lounge 9:45-10:45am The coffee pot & tea kettle are on, the treats are de-lish, and the conversation friendly and casual. Taste, see, and hear that the Lord is good! (or grab your goodies on your way to the Chapel for FaithTalk!) The SPARK Team: Anne Flynn and Ellen Heritage Confirmation News Called Together in Mission (CTIM) The synod's annual all- day- conference to equip leaders in the church will be held March 8th at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids This year's emphasis will be Evangelism: Deepen your faith. Share your story. The day starts with a guest speaker and continues with several small group workshops. Peggy Hahn, from the Gulf Coast Synod, will "inspire, share ideas and provide resources to expand our thinking and deepen our spiritual life." The cost is $20. If you need assistance with the cost, contact Pastor Karen. Car pooling will be available. We are asked to register together as a congregation. If you are interested, please contact the church office.

4 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 4 Reaching Out in Love... Neighborhood & Outreach News THANK YOU ZION FOR ALL YOU DO! Thank you to all who helped with the worshipservice dinner. We served about 70 Zion members and neighborhood friends. This is a great way to listen to the stories of our neighbors and friends and maybe even share our own stories with someone. Again thank you to all who participate in this time of food and fellowship. February's worshipservice Dinner will be held February 19th from 6:00-7:00pm. We will serve lasagna, tossed salad, garlic bread and desserts. All are invited!!! Come and see and participate as you are able. Check out the signup sheets across from the office. Hope to see you all there. Angel Tree Update: A big thank you from the staff and students of Jefferson Edison and Monroe Elementary Schools for the wonderful warm gift of hats, gloves, scarves and socks. This gift came just at the right time as supplies are low and the weather continues to be cold and snowy. Thank you! Food Pantry News: Food pantry 2013 wrap up: In 2013 approximately 1810 visits were made to the pantry and these visits served 6371 individuals. Food was picked up from the River Bend Food Bank roughly once every 3 weeks with an end of year cost of $25, Zion you have been and continue to be faithful compassionate servants to our community. BIG NEWS: Thrivent for Lutherans Foundation has awarded Zion a Challenge Grant. From December 1, 2013-March 31, 2014, for every $1 donated to the food pantry the Thrivent Foundation will award 50 cents up to a total grant of $5, so if we raise $10,000 the pantry would receive $5,000. Well, as of this writing ( ) $6, has already been donated to the food pantry since December 1, We are over half way to receiving the whole $5, grant!! We have about 10 more weeks to fund raise so let's keep the momentum going. Continued volunteer opportunities at the pantry: Volunteers assist at the pantry weekly Monday and Thursday 3:30-5:00 and the fourth Saturday of the month 9:30-11:00. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board across for the office. If you haven't volunteered at the pantry before there are always people ready and willing to train you. Come and join us. Zion s Neighborhood Ministry Team will meet Monday February 10th from 5:00-6:00. All are invited to join us as we explore ways we can continue to reach out in love and service to our neighbors and community. Habitat for Humanity Lunch: Saturday March 1 Zion has an opportunity to serve lunch to a Habitat for Humanity crew at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Rock Island. Set up and serving begins around 11:30 and is done by 1:00. This is a great service project for families and ministry teams. If you or your group is interested please contact Janine. Prayer Shawl Group (The W rappers) forming: February 15 from 9:30-11:30 in Dengler Lounge will be the first gathering of those interested in the ministry of creating prayer shawls. This will be a time of knitting/crocheting, praying and fellowship...so gather your yarn and needles and plan to share a couple hours with friends preparing these gifts of warmth and love. Hope to see all of you knitters and crocheters on February 15. I also have heard rumors that there may be some folks out there willing to teach non-knitters and crocheters. Thank you to all for sharing your time and talents with each other and the community. God's Peace. Janine Warmest THANKS! Monroe Elementary School responds to Zion s Angel-Tree gifts we delivered in early January Thank you so very much for the gift of socks, hats, gloves & scarves. As many of our children are truly needy, this has been an unexpected treat. And the gloves & hats are already gone! Thank you, Monroe School staff

5 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 5 Sweet, heartfelt Birthday Wishes to these Zion Seniors who will celebrate in February! 2/02 Charles Dau 2/03 Edward Molis 2/06 Dianne Guerrero 2/09 Walter Smith 2/15 Jean Shepherd 2/18 Carole Feeney 2/19 Lisa Zosulis 2/21 Barbara Tams (newest senior baby ) 2/22 Sharon Lorenzen 2/22 Ruth (92!) and Ray Sterner 2/25 Barbara Grady 2/28 Mike DeBruyn For Our Seniors... O.W.L. s (Older Wiser Lutherans) Although this seems like the winter that never ends and Mother Nature isn t promising any sweet reprieve this month, the Zion OWLs are tired of hibernating and will venture out on Wednesday, Feb. 26 th for our first get-together of We ll be doing our favorite - - LUNCH of course - - at the Village Inn restaurant, N.Brady St in Davenport at 11:30am. Bring your favorite valentine and come out for fun and a free slice of pie! Please let Grace Haller ( ) or Kathy Longlett ( ) to let us know you re coming so we can reserve enough tables. Words on Worshipping In our Prayers Every week, in the bulletin, we list the names of friends and family members who have asked for our prayers. As we begin a new year we are going to start over with a new list. If you would like someone to be on the list you are invited to write their name on the Prayer List in the church office. We will publish their names for a month. If a situation continues beyond one month, please ask the office to continue the prayer request. We will have one list that includes those who have been in the hospital, and on- going health concerns. We will list those in care centers and in the military separately. On the Global front A Potter Fights Malaria Not long ago, Juma Sumahil received a small grant from the church in Mozambique, supported by your gifts to the ELCA Malaria Campaign. He used it to start his malaria-fighting pottery business. With his new kickwheel and backyard kiln, he makes beautiful jugs and water filters, all with lids to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water within. Sustainable livelihoods are important to our goal of making malaria history. A family with a steady income can plan and save for durable, preventive tools like mosquito nets. The ELCA Malaria Campaign includes programs that equip our companion churches for malaria prevention and eradication. Your generous giving makes this work possible. Thank you. See a video of Juma making a pot at blogs.elca.org/malariablog. LifeLines, Vol. 14, No. 3 Winter

6 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 6 Small Groups and Such... Morning Book Review The date: Monday, Feb. 17th The time: 9:00am The place: Zion s Lounge The book: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein Described as a heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life as only a dog could tell it, this is the third novel by Stein, also documentary filmmaker and playwright. All are welcome to these monthly book discussions. Give Anita Hagen a call if you are interested in coming to the group and have any questions. Or simply join us on the 17th! Availability: There are some copies in the office that may be signed out and brought back to the Review. Otherwise check local libraries & book stores. Zion Men s Group The Zion Men s group (ALL welcome!) will meet on Saturday, Feb. 15 th at 8:00am at the Hickory Gardens restaurant in Davenport. ALL men are welcome to join in this monthly morning of breakfast, fellowship, and brief Bible study led by Tom Handlen or one of the regulars of the group. Join us - bring a friend! Feel free to call Tom if you have questions or are interested in coming for the first time. Have a heart for those who are homeless King's Harvest Shelter is hosting a Valentine's Luncheon at Zion, to support their work on Friday, February 14 at 12 noon for a donation of $25/person. Zion members 65 and older will receive a complimentary meal with a suggested free-will donation of $ Please RSVP by February 12 to Nancy, ATTENDANCE in JANUARY Jan. 5 Jan Jan Jan (snow!!!) Women s work Picture You Several of Zion s women have committed to attending the 9th Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering Of Many Generations, July 24-27th in Charlotte NC. And there s certainly room for more! We are real women talking about our faith. About our doubts and challenges. About joy and what inspires us. We ll experience simple conversations between friends old and new that will develop into a movement sweeping the church, inspired and infused with the Holy Spirit. ALL of Zion s women are invited to add to the conversation. We are raising funds to send as many of us as possible to the In This! Gathering by selling T-Shirts and Sweatshirts with the Zion Growing in Faith logo. Prices, colors, and style info available at the sale table on Sundays through Feb. 26th. If you are a woman interested in attending the Gathering, please speak with Judy Hardesty, ZLCW president. Figures & Financial Facts Regular & Loose offerings received JAN = $ 17, (JAN Expenses) = $ (20,897.14) Current month status +/- - $ (3,593.36) Year-to-date (cumul.) Financial status $(3,593.36) God s work, our hands. THANKS be to God!! Attn: THRIVENT Members! Remember you can make Zion your Choice. Just check to see if you have any Choice Points, convert them to Choice Dollars and designate that they go to Zion. You can call Thrivent at , or go online to Thrivent.com

7 Zion News monthly - February W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 7 ALTAR FLOWERS GIVING FEBRUARY Feb. 2 - Myrtle Engstrom Feb. 9 - OPEN Feb.16 - OPEN Feb.23 - Darrell & Kathy Longlett The new flower chart for 2014 is posted now. Please sign up for a Sunday or- an alternate offering, to the fund of your choice in lieu of flowers. Remember, you can give flowers for the altar or an alternative offering to one of Zion s special funds (ie: Brown Bag, Scholarship fund, etc.) in lieu of flowers. On such Sundays, we will have 2 green plants adorning the altar. USHERS February 2014 (One Svc - 9:00am) Greeters for February 2014 (One Service 9:00am) 2/02 Anita Hagen 2/09 Deb Hughes 2/16 Deb Hughes 2/23 Deb Hughes We NEED GREETERS! Call Grace Haller at if you can help out with this EASY and FUN ministry of hospitality! Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Lectors February 2014 (One Svc - 9:00am) Julie Kalkwarf Anita Hagen Cary Scott Neil Holmquist Glenn Kelley, Chuck Dau, Deb Hughes, Mike & Jacob Hamann Attn: Ushers... WE NEED MORE OF YOU!! Please ask someone you think might be interested in the easy job and let Bud Kelley know. so he can call them with details. Communion Assistants - FEB. (One svc 9:00am) Feb. 2 - at the Altar Feb. 9 - OPEN; Need 2 Feb OPEN; Need 2 Feb OPEN: Need 2 TELLERS February 2014 (One Service - 9:00am) 2/02 - Chuck Dau, Dave Wright, Lisa Zosulis, Birdine Tucker 2/09 - John & Roxeann Ford, Lisa Zosulis 2/16 - Stu Goldsmith, Deloris Smith, Doug Kline 2/23 - Mark & Beth Meyer, Mike Hamann, Gene Rome COMMUNION Set-Up/Clean-Up Feb. 2 Darrell & Kathy Longlett (glasses) Feb. 9 Winn family Feb.16 Kealey family Feb.23 Babka family (glasses) (intinction) (glasses) February LINENS Care: Anonymous THANKS! ACOLYTES FEBRUARY 2014 (One Svc at 9:00am) Feb. 2 Kate Kealey, Mateo Villagomez, Adam Good Feb. 9 Elizabeth Rome, Jessica Elliott, Nick Smith Feb.16 Courtney Hamann, Christian Elliott Feb.23 Hannah Teigtmeier, Anna Winn, Grace Babka Please try your best to show for your date. Our list of acolytes is dwindling. If any of these dates do not work please contact the folks below by phone as soon as possible or ask someone to trade with you. If you need contact numbers, call or text jody kealey OFF: Addison Flynn , Reed Duncan , Morgan Beatty