ZION NEWS - April. the Habitat House Dedication on. Zion Taco Supper & Trivia Night! Sat., April 20th at 10:00am

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1 ZION NEWS - April Zion Taco Supper & Trivia Night! Friday, April 19th Supper 5:00 6:30p Trivia begins at 7:00p Get your Trivia team together and help raise funds for our Zion Women candidates trip to the ELCA Women s Triennial Gathering The West High School Engineering Club will also hold a Bake Sale that night. Zion youth, Meghan Essary, is a member of the club. Questions? Give Judy Hardesty or the Zion office a call. and don t forget the Habitat House Dedication on Sat., April 20th at 10:00am followed by the HABITAT for Humanity 20th Anniversary Party In Zion s Fellowship Hall with food, fellowship and a brief program sharing the accomplishments made through Habitat and all of the dedicated volunteers for 20 years now and counting! Alleluia! Sunday - April 21st Let the children come and LEAD us in worship! On Good Shepherd Sunday Zion s Wednesday evening actives from age 3 5th grade will be worship leaders in word, sacrament, and lots of music!. Our Cherub & Chapel choirs & Alleluia worship-education students will serve as Ushers, Acolytes, Lectors, communion assistants and more, bearing wonderful witness to the partnership between home and faith community. Be sure to come and be blessed by it! WorshipService COMMUNITY MEAL Wed., April 17th, 6:00pm Zion will serve up a spring-fling meal of Sloppy Joes, Hot Dogs, Veggies & Fruits, and Desserts to our friends, neighbors, and our Zion family. Sign up on the Office widow-wall (or call Beth in the office) to sign up to provide what you can and/or help with set-up, serving, or clean-up. And remember, EVERYONE is invited to come eat & have fellowship!

2 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 2 Pastor s Peace... By Your Example When I was young I made many plastic models of planes, cars and other things. My favorite was a submarine, complete with tiny Polaris missiles launched by small rubber-bands. It was probably the only model which I ever inished - paint, decals and everything! Models serve a useful purpose in our lives. They shape our imaginations, and allow us to see things in the world we otherwise might not see. Have you ever realized that you are called to be a model in life? It is now your duty as parents, godparents, and congregation, by your example and your prayers, to lead them in the path of faith, in fellowship with God s people. These words, spoken at a baptism, challenge all of us to accept the responsibility of leading others in the path of faith by our example and our prayers. The entire community of faith provides many examples of baptismal living. I have been blessed by the witness of countless people in the congregations I have been a part of. And thanks be to God for you, the people of Zion, models of the godly life for me! We all join with parents, godparents and extended families to be God s chosen models of the Christian life for young children. Now there s a sobering thought - young children modeling their lives after us! Let us pray every day that we will be able to cooperate with God in this venture of faithful living. People look for role models in our society, with celebrities and athletes high on the list. But what ever happened to Mom and Dad as role models? Parents are the primary mentors and models of faithful living. The task of passing on faith in Jesus Christ falls irst of all to parents. Godparents, other friends and family members, and a congregation join together to form a holy alliance to help parents ful ill their responsibility. May God give us courage and wisdom to be models of grace- illed, baptismal living. Of course, Jesus is the best model of the godly life, which is a life lived in obedience to God s will and fully enjoying the gifts which God promises to us. As I have become more aware of how I am called to model the Christian life for my children and others, I have realized how imperfect my example is. Thank God that I can also pray for help: help from others in my family, help from the members of a congregation, and most importantly help from the Holy Spirit. Together, with God s help, we really can guide and support one another in our journey of faith through life. A 50-year old man, born blind, received the gift of sight through a new surgical technique. For the irst time he could see the faces of his wife and child, the green grass, the stars in the nighttime sky (my, how many there were!), and birds lying through the blue sky. He felt overpowering joy in seeing the light for the irst time. We, too, walk through life blinded - by human sin. We cannot see the glory of God in the lives we live, and neither can anyone else. But now we have seen Jesus, the risen Lord and Savior. In him we see a model of the godly life. Yes, that is how I am meant to live! Now I see! And look at the love others have shown to me. I can do that, too. And remember how Mom and Dad loved me and cared for me. I have seen the glory of God in my life, and I want to do whatever I can to help others experience the same forgiveness, acceptance, joy and hope. By our example and our prayers we can lead each other in the path of faith. I pray that this is happening in your home, and I pray that the ministries of Zion will help us all be better examples and models of the godly life. Let us pray for one another in this God-given ministry. Commended to God s eternal care Terry Tank Feb. 27, 2013 Marie Schaefer March 7, 2013 Pastor Mark Phyllis Jones March 24, 2013

3 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 3 SUNDAY SCHOOL Scoop We hope everyone had a blessed Easter! During Lent the children worked on the second annual read-a-thon with contributions to go to Meno School in Haiti. The teachers of Meno School will use this money to obtain what students there might need in order to learn to read. As of March 24, 2013, the amount contributed for Meno School is at $228.50! The Sunday School students, as well as others in our Zion family, have helped us surpass our goal! If there are outstanding packets, please return the contributions/ pledges within the next couple of weeks. During April students will be learning about Doubting Thomas and Mary and Martha through the forms of art, music, games and cooking. THANK YOU to everyone who has shared time and talents with the children! Workshop needs for the rest of the year are posted across from the office. Please check the schedule and pick a time you could serve! The SPARK Team: Anne Flynn and Ellen Heritage Confirmation News We re back in the Chapel and in the home stretch with large-group & small-group sessions on April 10th, the Community Meal on April 17th, and wrapping up the year on April 24th. For april 10th, if you weren t here to watch Martin Luther: Heretic with us last week, check with Pr. Mark pronto to get a copy we will be discussing it on the 10th. Then we re done! Except for the May Community Meal more on that in the next Zion News. Sunday-Morning Adult Christian Ed Faith Talks Sunday mornings 10:15 in the Chapel April 7 Exodus from Hunger session 1 with Janine Johnson April 14 Emotional Wellness with Trinity Chaplain (and former Zion Care Associate) Lynn Batcher. April 21 Physical Wellness with Zion member & R.N., Beth Meyer April 28 Exodus from Hunger session 2 Looking ahead we will welcome the Rev. Dr. Thomas Hanson from Augustana College who will speak to us on vocational wellness. May 5: Building a Theology of Vocation May 12: Doing Vocational Reflection And don t forget T.G.I.S. [Thank God It s Sunday!] Fellowship & Hospitality The coffee pot s on (and hot water), the treats are dee-lish, and the conversation friendly and casual. Taste, see, and hear that the Lord is good! And now for something we haven t done in awhile Membership Inquiry/Info Sessions will be offered on Sundays, April 21 & 28, during the Sunday School hour (10:15-11:15a) in the Library with Pastor Mark. If you are interested in joining Zion, or you just want to know more about the Lutheran Church, come to these two informational sessions. Bring your questions and concerns...

4 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 4 What do OWL s do in the daytime? Sometimes they do come out When the food is good and the company can t be beat! Calling all 60+ folks to join the Zion OWLs (Older Wiser Lutherans) for lunch and visiting on Thursday, April 25th, 11:30am at the (new) Pepperjack s (the old Cheddars on E. Kimberly Rd Davpt) for our Spring fling! We ll meet there, order from the lunch menu, and enjoy some round table-talk on a (hopefully) sunny, less-soggy day! Join us, and bring a friend we d love to grow our group. Blessings to these Zion Seniors springing into April Birthdays! 4/05 Mary Lou Agan 4/06 Ruth Knott (91!) 4/09 Rosetta Atwater 4/13 Irene Huncke (94!!) 4/21 Eva Hammond (91!) still can t believe it! 4/25 Lloyd Bartling 4/29 Darlene Moore Call Grace Haller ( ) or Kathy Longlett ( ) if you plan to attend. The Call Committee is ready to enter the next phase of the call process! We hope to soon be receiving names of candidates from our SE Iowa Synod contact, and will then set up times for interviews. Now that the hectic Lenten & Easter schedules are past, we are eager to move forward. The Call Committee invites the congregation to pray for discernment in the call process so that boht the committee and the candidate best suited for Zion hear God's call. Your Call Committee: Libbie Babka, Gina Geering, Mara Kealey, Mark Meyer, Cary Scott, Kirby Winn, and Tom Handlen, chair Mare See Bow Coupe THANK YOU very much! To all my friends at Zion Lutheran Church, Since my riding accident on December 11th, I have been blessed by your prayers, friendship, and kindness. Thank you for everything, especially your concern and assistance to Judy. I am now home, receiving excellent therapy, and semimobile. Hope to see you soon, although I have a lot of rehab ahead of me. God s Blessings to All, Bob Lehms Dear Zion family, I want to thank you for the past 4 years of working with the wonderful congregation that you are - keep up the good works! Thanks for your kindness and generosity, it is greatly appreciated. I will miss you all. God bless, Betty Rock THANK you to all the Zion family who supported us with your prayers, cards, and donations in memory of Mom. We were blessed to have all these years. There will be a memorial service at Ridgecrest on April 20th, 1:00pm, in her honor. Blessings, the Marie Schaefer family Dear friends in Christ, We thank you for the generous donation to Contemplative Outreach (through Dick Jensen, Centering Prayer presenter). We have no paid staff, so donations from churches cover the costs of the printing and the resources we offer such as books/dvd s. Thanks again, Lolita Dierckx, Coordinator

5 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 5 Janine s jottings Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Thank you to all who helped to make the Easter Ham Hop such a success! Ham Hop Food Boxes were provided to 52 grateful families. This gift of food you provide during the Holiday truly helps to make it more festive and less stressful to many families. What a blessing all of you are to the community. Zion s Brown Bag Fund: This is the next in a series of articles about the different Neighborhood ministries of Zion. Zion s Brown Bag Fund provides assistance to households that are experiencing a financial emergency. Requests range from needing help with rent and utilities to requesting assistance for gas to doctors appointments or to work, bus tickets or help paying for medications. The Brown Bag Fund serves those within our neighborhood and community. People served may have experienced a loss of income as the result of lay off, reduced work hours or a family medical crisis which has caused an inability to take care of an immediate expense. The office receives approximately 4-5 inquiries for help per week either by phone or people walking into the church. Assistance from this fund is accessed when an individual contacts the church office where basic information is gathered and follow up calls are made by the Neighborhood Outreach Director. After follow-up assessments have been completed referrals are made to community agencies or if it is determined Zion is able to help then assistance is provided. On many occasions both a referral to a community organization is made as well as Zion providing some aid. Responding to a request for assistance from a community member is a team effort with all office staff having a role and you Zion also playing a role by providing the financial resources that are utilized to alleviate the family s crisis. The Brown Bag Fund also is used for the purchase of supplies for the Sharing Kitchen. The Sharing Kitchen volunteers prepare and serve a Saturday supper at the Salvation Army every other month. The Fund is financed solely by donations from the Zion congregation. It is not an annually budgeted for line item. One Sunday of every month is designated as Brown Bag Sunday. It s very simple to make a donation; all you have to do is take an envelope from the pew Neighborhood Outreach rack marked Brown Bag Fund, place a check or cash in it and then put the envelope in the offering plate. This is just another way Zion reaches out in love to those within our neighborhood and community in need. Food Pantry: The pantry continues to be busy. In February and March the pantry served 227 households which benefitted 816 individuals. This is a vital ministry to our neighborhood and community and to be open Monday and Thursday there MUST be at least 3 volunteers. If the signup sheet is blank on Monday or Thursday morning the pantry will not be open. This guideline is in place to ensure that the pantry will operate in a safe and efficient way for both its volunteers and the people it serves. Again, in order to be open the pantry must have at least 3 volunteers! You will be blessed in being a blessing guaranteed!! Zion worshipservice Dinner: April 17 the Community Meal moves back to its regular time of 6:00. This month we will be serving Sloppy Joes, chips, fresh veggies and fruit and of course dessert. Please sign up on the sheets posted on the window wall. Come join friends and family for good food and great fellowship. The more the merrier!! Habitat for Humanity: April 20 th Dedication and Celebration of 20 years in the Quad Cities. Beginning at 10:00 join the Quad City community for the Dedication of Habitat House 79 (right across the street from the church) followed at 10:45 by the 20 th Anniversary Celebration of Habitat for Humanity-Quad Cities. These two most exciting events will be taking place right here at Zion. We will begin the day by gathering at 10:00 at Koffi and Essie Tete s new home, House 79, for the dedication and welcoming of this family to our neighborhood. Then everyone will move to the fellowship hall for the anniversary program and lunch. Please come and join in the celebration of Habitat s 20 years of service to the Quad City community and the addition of a new home and family to our neighborhood!! Peace to All, Janine Johnson Neighborhood Outreach Director Special BROWN BAG Sunday at Zion - April 14th Zion s Brown Bag Fund is running quite low and our Council would like to place a special emphasis on this particular fund, making the Zion congregation aware of the Brown Bag special fund and its purpose. The BROWN BAG Fund serves to assist people of the community in times of special need (ie: housing, utilities, medical expenses ) and provides the money to purchase the ingredients for our bi-monthly Sharing Kitchen meal for the Salvation Army Family Shelter. The BROWN BAG Fund is not a regular Budget line item it is replenished soley by special offerings designated to the fund, over and above our regular offerings. Special BROWN BAG envelopes are in our church pews grab one on April 14th and help out with any amount you are able to give!

6 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 6 Morning Book Review NOW HEAR THIS... AND THAT! Property committee extends a special thanks to Mulchscapers Inc of Davenport for the generous donation of a truckload of mulch for our Property Clean-up yesterday. And as always, many, many thanks to our great crew of 15 hard workers. Enjoy the fruits of your labors as you look at our beautiful building & grounds! Steve Howland, Property Trustee Join a group of folks on Monday, April 15th at 9:00am to discuss Mr. Penumbra s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. The story is a mystery/adventure set in San Francisco, revolving around an out-of-work marketer and web designer who takes a job as a clerk in an odd li le bookshop and discovers the mysteries within its walls....or is it a love story for books? Read it, decide for yourself, and join us as we each share our reflec ons. For those who read the books, but for some reason can t make it to the Review regularly, remember you can just pop in if you find you have me and want to sit in on occasion. ALL are welcome - ALL or ANY me! Check with Anita Hagen if you have any ques ons about the Morning Book Review. Sharing Kitchen You Give them Something to Eat. (Mathew14, Mark 6, Luke 9) Profound words for a very doable task from our Lord, and we have many opportunities to follow and do. The Sharing Kitchen meal for Sat., April 13th, needs Cooks here in the kitchen at 3:30pm to prepare a spaghetti supper, and Servers here by 5:15pm to transport it to the Salvation Army Family Shelter and serve it. Please talk to Mary Lou Kelley if you can help out. Figures & Financial Facts: Regular & Loose Offerings Mar.2013 $22, Expenses paid out Mar.2013 $24, Year-to-date Cash-flow 3/31/13 $ (453.93) God s work, our hands. At the end of the 1st Quarter, Zion is within $450 of its budget! And...due to the carryover from the 2012 budget, we have not borrowed from the Legacy Fund to cover our general expenses! Thanks to all who have prayerfully given, to those who have honored their pledges, and to God for His blessings! Zion MEN S Group will meet the second Saturday in April instead of the third for breakfast, fellowship, and a brief Biblestudy session. Any questions, give Tom Handlen a call. ALL men welcome! 7800 Iltis Dr #F57 Urbandale IA Moved no forward address Moved no forward address Just one more tiny, beautiful little thing welcome to the world Melena Avery Scott born April 2, 2013 to Michael & Katie Scott (and precious grandbaby to grammy Cary Scott)

7 Zion News monthly - April W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 7 ALTAR FLOWERS GIVING APRIL April 7- OPEN April 14 - Gene & Donna Rome April 21 - OPEN April 28 - Lydia Circle 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. Greeters for April 2013 (One Svc - 9:00am) 4/07 - Judy Hardesty & friend 4/14 - Linda Bohlander & Deb Hughes 4/21 - Bonnie Miller 4/28 - Linda Bohlander & Deb Hughes April COMMUNION Set-Up/Clean-Up (Sundays 9:00am) April 7 Darrell & Kathy Longlett (glasses) USHERS April 2013 (One Svc - 9:00am) John & Roxeann Ford, Kent & Sue Cherryholmes Ushers needed for ALL services - Contact Glenn Kelley if you could give a month or two. Lectors April 2013 April 7 - Char Engstrom April 14 - Joseph Obleton April 21 - Alleluia students April 28 - Ellen Heritage ACOLYTES APRIL 2013 (Sundays 9:00a) April 7 THANKS! Grace, Anthony & Mateo April 14 Elizabeth Rome, Grace Babka, Nick Smith April 21 Alleluia students April 28 Kate Kealey, Hope Kealey, Adam Good THANK YOU ALL for your dependable leadership! you give to our worship! If you cannot serve when assigned, please try to switch with someone or get a sub for yourself. PEACE! Beth Longlett April 14 Jody Kealey (glasses) April 21 Babka family (intinction) April 28 Longlett-Sanders family THANKS! Communion Assistants - APRIL April 7 - at the altar rail April 14 - Anita Hagen; Need 1 more April 21 - Alleluia families April 28 - Ellen Heritage, Bonnie Miller (One Svc - 9:00am) 4/07 Chuck Dau, Dave Wright, Lisa Zosulis, Birdine Tucker (glasses) 4/14 John & Roxeann Ford, Jim & Sherry Koens 4/21 Stu Goldsmith, Delores Smith, Doug Kline 4/28 Mark & Beth Meyer, Mike Hamann, Gene Rome

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