ZION NEWS - April. from the Pastor. Alleluia! Sunday - April 17th. The April COMMUNITY DINNER. Wed., April 20th, 6:00pm

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1 ZION NEWS - Vol. 2016, Issue 4 1, 2016 A monthly publication of Zion Lutheran Church from the Pastor Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! This is the season of exclamation points. In literature an exclamation marking is a way to show excitement, or to indicate the words are to be said with enthusiasm, maybe to even shout them loudly. We have missed saying and singing Alleluia! during the season of Lent. Easter morning there were shouts of Christ is Risen! and Alleluia! Why do we write exclamation points after Alleluia!? What makes us want to shout it out? Our Easter hymns suggest why Christ is Risen! matters: because now above the sky he s king, the strife is o er the battle done, love abounds, he has set us free, God and sinners are reconciled, he brings us life from heaven, love s redeeming work is done, the sun s eclipse is o er, he has opened paradise, he scatters fear and gloom, now nothing ever saddens the joy within my heart. I invite you in these 50 days of Easter to consider what Christ is Risen! means in your life. Join together with others at Zion and share what it means in their lives, too. May you know the blessings of this Easter season because Christ is Risen! Alleluia!!!! Pastor Karen Ullestad Baptized into... We welcome into the body of Christ, these new brothers and sister in holy baptism... Coralee Rose Kimmel daughter of Chelsey Engelhardt & John Kimmel Martin Walter Kilgus son of Krista & Adam Kilgus Christopher James Wayne Soppe son of Katie Groenenboom & Chris Soppe New Life! Alleluia! Sunday - 17th On this Good Shepherd Sunday, the children and youth of Zion s Wednesday evening Alleluia program will take on many of the leadership roles in our worship... as greeters, ushers, acolytes, lectors, communion helpers, and sharing the gift of music during worship. You won t want to miss it! The COMMUNITY DINNER will be Wed., 20th, 6:00pm We ll be enjoying a spring indoor picnic with pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, coleslaw & salads, plus a variety of desserts. Sign up on the bulletin board across to provide what you can and/or help with set-up, serving, or clean-up. And remember, EVERYONE is invited to come eat & have great conversation & fellowship!

2 Zion News monthly W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 2 SUNDAY SCHOOL Scoop During, children in the G.I.F.T. Zone will open their Bibles to the New Testament to read the stories of Doubting Thomas and Mary & Martha. Intermediate and high school youth will continue meeting in the Youth Lounge. Continuing their concern for responsible use of our planet s resources, more is being considered as Earth Day approaches. Looking ahead as our program year concludes: May 1 A parable for ALL people! Everyone, learners of all ages, will read and explore The Good Samaritan May 8 Sunday School sing-a-long! May 15 A Pentecost celebration! The whole Zion congregation joins in a potluck brunch following worship. To facilitate planning, please remember to write names on the posted calendar when your children will not be here on a Wednesday or Sunday this spring. Thank you! For the SPARK Team: Linda Baustian & Ellen Heritage Sunday-Morning Adult Education & Fellowship Faith Talks Sunday mornings 10:15 in Room 8 Our next Faith Talks will be a 6 week conversation and exploration of the Muslim Faith. We will use the study guide: My Neighbor is Muslim developed by Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota with lessons authored by professors from Luther College and Luther Seminary. This document was also reviewed by Imam Hassan Ali Mohamud of the Minnesota Da wah Institute Islamic Dawah Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Grab a snack and something to drink and join us in Room 8 for conversation and learning. And don t forget T.G.I.S. [Thank God It s Sunday!] Fellowship & Hospitality In the Lounge 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! Here s to Higher Learning... ATTN: Zion College Students Apply for Scholarships Now! Zion currently has two active Scholarship funds for youth who are Zion members currently in or about to enter college. The EPIC Scholarship fund helps students attending Lutheran colleges in Iowa. The General Scholarship fund helps all other college students from Zion. You may apply for only one of the Scholarships, once per year you are attending college. A new Zion Scholarship Application form is included with this Zion News, posted on our website, and available in the Zion office see Beth. The amount of assistance awarded each applicant is based on the funds available and the number of applications received. Applications must be received by May 15 th to be considered. ATTN: Zion Members S.O.S. (Support our Students!) Please consider a donation to the Scholarship funds this month and invest in our college students!

3 Zion News monthly W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 3 Janine's Jottings... Outreach Ministries The Zion & Community Dinner will be held 20 from 6:00-7:00pm. We re getting that picnic feel this month as we will enjoy serving up and dining on pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, coleslaw/tossed salad and desserts. Check out the signup sheets across from the office. All are invited to join in the fun, food and fellowship. Food Pantry News: In February the pantry received exciting news! It was awarded a $1, grant from the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant Program! In July 2015 the pantry submitted a grant application to the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grant Program and in February we were informed of the award. This grant is on a 2 year cycle, thus Zion is eligible for an additional $1, next year (2017) upon completion of year one evaluation materials. This money will help to keep shelves stocked. Here s an invitation to all to come and join the pantry crew as we serve our neighbors and community through the ministry of providing food. The pantry is open Mondays and Thursdays 3:30-5:00. There is always something to do and it s never dull. We continue to do taste testing, which seems to be a success and we are even getting recipe ideas from the people who come to the pantry. The pantry truly is a community resource. Please prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to serve through the work of the pantry. If you have questions or want a tour let me know or ask one of the folks who help, because we would enjoy showing you around. God's Peace. Janine Thanks to so many... So many folks provided meals and were leaders in worship during our Midweek Lenten series. Thank you to all who served as musicians, readers, and song writers, soup makers and meal hosts. Comin down the road Zion s Annual CAR BLESSING & CLASSIC CAR DISPLAY will be sometime this summer (date TBA) In the Zion parking lot It s Always a Great time with Food, Fun, lots of fellowship and Car-Talk with the Quad-City Cruisers Car Club, so keep it in mind and we ll hope to see YOU there. Bring your custom and join us. All denominations of vehicles welcome. Come one, Come All!

4 Zion News monthly W. 8th St - Davenport IA page 4 Seniors... Small Groups and Such What do OWL s do in the daytime? They come out for a hoot of a time! Calling all 60+ folks to join the Zion OWLs (Older Wiser Lutherans) for lunch and visiting on Thursday, 28th, 11:30am at Granite City restaurant on Utica Ridge Rd Davpt) for our Spring fling lunch, great company, and fun! We ll meet there, order from the lunch menu, and enjoy some round table-talk on a (hopefully) sunny, warm day! Join us, and bring a friend we d love to grow our group. Blessings to these Zion Seniors springing into Birthdays! 4/05 Mary Lou Agan 4/21 Eva Hammond (94!) 4/25 Lloyd Bartling Call Grace Haller ( ) or Kathy Longlett ( ) if you plan to attend. Women's News... Welcome spring by joining us at the Cluster 6 Women s Spring Gathering Zion MEN S Group Saturday, 9th at Faith Lutheran Church in Eldridge. Registration & refreshments at 8:30am, and Program beginning at 9:00am will meet the third Saturday in 16th, 8:00am at the Hickory Gardens restaurant in Davenport for breakfast, fellowship, and a brief Bible-study session. Any questions, give Tom Handlen a call. There will be good food and, as always... wonderful fellowship with our sisters in Christ! Each participant is asked to bring items for Bath Product bundles. Call Gabrielle or Taina Machalek if you have any questions or want to share a ride. ALL men welcome! ALL women are encouraged to attend! Morning Book Review Join your fellow book-ies in Dengler Lounge on Monday, 18th at 9:30am to discuss Lila by Marilynne Robinson The 2016 all Iowa read and third in the Gilead trilogy, the author returns to the town of Gilead in an unforgettable story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe and wonder. Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church-the only available shelter from the rain-and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. Revisiting the beloved characters and setting of Robinson's Pulitzer Prizewinning Gilead and Home, Lila is a moving expression of the mysteries of existence that is destined to become an American classic. ALL are welcome - ALL or ANY time! Figures & Financial Facts: Regular & Loose offerings received MARCH 2016 (MAR Budget Expenses) Current month status +/General Fund 3/31/16 God s work. Our hands. Thanks be to God! = = $ 20, $ (23,667.95) - $ (3,600.70) $ 30,419.31

5 Worship Helpers: 2015 Zion News monthly ALTAR FLOWERS GIVING APRIL 3 Lilies 10 Gene & Donna Rome 17 OPEN 24 Family of Eva Hammond 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. USHERS 2016 John & RoxeAnn Ford, Kent & Sue Cherryholmes Ushers needed for ALL services Contact the Zion office if you could serve for a month or two. Assisting Ministers - Apr. 3 Apr. 10 Apr. 17 Apr Char Engstrom Joseph Obleton Dona Noble Janine Johnson TELLERS APRIL Chuck Dau, Carl Engstrom, Lisa Zosulis, Eva Hammond John & RoxeAnn Ford, Jim & Sherry Koens Stu Goldsmith, Delores Smith, Matt Engstrom Mark & Beth Meyer, Sue Keller, Gene R. Zion Lutheran Church Davenport IA Greeters for Chuck Dau Grace Haller Jentz-Gohlmann Bonnie Miller 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 - APRIL Apr. 3 - Harrison family (glasses) Apr Winn-Engstrom fam Apr Flynn family Apr Kealey family Linens - Altar Care Lectors 2016 Apr. 3 - Char Engstrom Apr Anita Hagen Apr Alleluia Youth Apr Dona Noble (sign up across from the Zion office) ACOLYTES APRIL Katey & Megan Harrison 10 Anna Winn & Grace Engstrom 17 Addison & Peyton Flynn 24 Kate Kealey & Grace Babka ATTENDANCE in MARCH Mar Mar Mar Mar (Easter!) Maundy Thurs 52 Good Friday 58 Easter Vigil 79 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