MT. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 2015

Transcription

1 MT. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY (715) Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In my family, instead of making New Year s resolutions on New Year s Day, we make New Year s predictions. We all write down 1 or 3 predictions of what is going to happen in the next year. These predictions can range to guesses of which college one of my cousins will pick, to who we think will win a presidential election. Every year my accident prone cousins would predict which one of them would end up in the ER the most times. We have guessed about proposals and weddings, new babies, who will win the Super Bowl. Sometimes we are right and sometimes we are wrong, but much of the fun comes on New Year s Day when we dig out the envelope full of last year s predictions and read them out loud, laughing at what we guessed would happen and gasping in surprise when someone was right. Last New Year s, if I had been making predictions I probably never would have guessed 2014 would end with me leaving St. John s and starting a new call at Mt. Zion. I m sure most of you would never have guessed you d be starting 2015 with a new pastor either. And for 2015, beginning with so many changes, I hardly even know what to predict for the year to come! I can t express to you how excited I am to have been called as your pastor. I will be joining you in your congregation and community so soon and I can hardly wait to start getting to know Mt. Zion, each of you and the Hudson Community. You have called me to a position where you let me be a part of the greatest joys in your lives and the deepest sorrows and I know what an honor it is to be your pastor. I look forward to a 2015 of new beginnings, new partnerships, new challenges, and new opportunities! I ve also been asked to share a little bit about myself. I grew up in Minneapolis and River Falls (where my parents still live). I have two sisters who both live in the Twin Cities. I went to college at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN where I majored in religion and minored in studio art and I attended seminary at Luther in St. Paul. My husband, Mitch, works at 3M and we have a daughter named Rosie who will turn 1 in February. We also have two dogs. I love reading, cooking, throwing pottery, playing the guitar, knitting and being active. What I m reading: I m currently reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby and Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie What I m watching: I spent December watching Christmas movies, including my favorites; White Christmas and Elf. What I m listening to: Right now I m obsessed with the recently ended podcast Serial. I can t wait until the next season! Blessings, Pastor Erin Nelson

2 December 22, 2014 A Message from Your Council President: As most of you know by now, Mt. Zion has called a new pastor. Pastor Erin Nelson has accepted our call and her first worship services at Mt. Zion will be on January 11, Pastor Erin will be officially installed two weeks later on January 25, 2015 by the NW WI SYNOD Bishop or one of his assistants. Pastor Erin has been Pastor at St. John s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, WI for the past five years. She is anxious to begin her call at Mt. Zion and plans to move to Hudson with her husband Mitch and ten-month-old daughter Rosie when they are able to sell their home in Spring Valley. Mitch is employed by the 3M Co. in Maplewood so he is looking forward to a shorter commute. An opportunity to meet Pastor Erin and family will be a reception at Mt. Zion held on January 4, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Please attend so she can meet as many of her new congregation as possible. Also please make a point of coming to either the 8:15 or the 10:30 service on January 11. She wants to see as large an attendance as we can manage on her first Sunday worship at Mt. Zion. Come and invite friends and family. Many of you have actively worked toward achieving this end. The Ministry Site Profile committee worked diligently and quickly to complete the document which was submitted to the Synod office on September 11, The Synod then reviewed and posted it to the ELCA s listing of Ministry Opportunities. After receiving responses from interested candidates, the Synod office provided our Call Committee with three candidates to interview. All of the candidates were very good and one was deemed to be exceptional so a recommendation to call the Rev. Erin Nelson was made, first to the church council and then to the Mt. Zion congregation. On November 16, 2014, of the 82 voting members at the congregational meeting, 80 voted for the call and 2 against. Pastor Erin was notified of the results and she immediately accepted the call! Pastor Mark Peters and Pastor Kirstin Kellaher, as our temporary shepherds, have been our guides to keep us on track during the transition. We thank them both for their help and their concern for our well-being. Your church council has willingly worked through this sometimes difficult time with grace and often went above and beyond the call of duty to assure the transition process was orderly. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the council, the members of the Ministry Site Profile committee, and the Call Committee for a job well done. I also wish to thank the congregation for your understanding and patience. I am confident that God will continue to show us the way. Floyd Foslien

3 Hello Friends and Family of Mt. Zion, Thank you for the care package I received up at school. It helped blow off some steam and cheer everyone up in the time right before and during finals. A special thanks to one of the few people whom still refers to me by my middle name for putting it all together. In Christ, Floyd "Benji" Johnson Dear Mt. Zion, Thank you so much for the Christmas gift! It was the perfect treat in this stressful week preparing for finals. I m lucky to have such a supportive church! God Bless, Amber Saathoff To my Secret Santa-- Thank you so much for the package I received! It was nice to have some goodies sent to me at this time of the year. Getting the package around finals week was a nice reminder that I'm always being supported in my endeavors. Again, thank you! The gift did not go unnoticed! Drew Tonsager Congregation of Mt. Zion Thank you very much for the care package my first semester of college at UW-LaCrosse. It was extremely appreciated and the candy really helped with those late night finals! Thanks Again Lauren Steinhoff Mt. Zion Thank you for the Christmas care package. I greatly appreciate the gifts during finals week. Jen Johnson The family of Douglas Fyksen wishes to extend a most sincere thank you to all Mt.Zion members who graciously gave of their time and much effort to carry out a welcoming luncheon following Douglas funeral service on October 25, We greatly appreciated the genuine volunteer spirit and hospitality by all who served in one capacity or another including set-up and take-down of the fellowship hall. A time to gather with friends and church members around great food was a wonderful transition piece for all family members on such a very sad and bitter-sweet day for us. We especially want to thank Nancy Weeks, Joan Christopher, Beverly Schletz, Mary Ellefson, Sharon Tepper, Karen McConville, Lynne Baker, Melody Wahlberg, Sandy Huppert, Katie Jones and Judy O Connell who were tireless in their welcoming attitude and ways while being strategic in their behind-the-scene organization and serving. Thank you, too, to Linda Yde, Fran Foslien, Linda Flatt, Kathy Opland, Mary Kay Mahler, Sally Nuebel, Donna Revoir and Nora Flavin who provided a variety of delicious dessert bars on that day. Douglas thoroughly enjoyed the coffee time on Sundays and all fellowship at his church home. You honored him in death that day just as he always felt welcomed in his lifetime at Mt. Zion. Most Sincerely, Betty Fyksen Karen and David Barber and Family Laurie and Bill Beise and Family To my Family at Mt. Zion Thank you for your cards, prayers and help over the Christmas Season while I was dealing with some unexpected health issues. I m grateful for such a loving congregation. A very special thank you to Jackie Anderson & Floyd Foslien for making sure we had Christmas Eve Bulletins!!! I m am truly blessed Thank you all Anna Peterson

4 AN EVENING IN VENICE The gondolas are circling, waiting to pick YOU (and your guests) up for a ride through the canals and under the bridges of Venice. At your destination, a white clothed table awaits, laden with a delicious Italian dinner. As the soft breezes move overhead, you will experience joy that you have given to three that s right three groups of people who make lives better for many. For Ticket information please contact the church office at (715) WHERE: St. Paul s Church DATE: January 31, 2015 TIME: 5:30-9:00 pm COST: $28.00 MAKING A BRIGHTER DAY FOR: Networks, Hudson Food Shelf and Grace Place. Tables of 6 or 8 can also be purchased for a group. What a great way to host family or friends! BIRTH PRE-K TOT TIME JANUARY 5 What is it? A time for kids to play and wear off winter energy! When is it? First Monday of every month 9:30-11:00 Where is it? Meet in the Church Nursery Come and enjoy some chat time with other adults while the kids play! Depending on the age of kids simple songs and crafts may be done. Light snack will be provided (goldfish crackers, dry Cheerios) For questions contact Angie Adams DEBORAH CIRCLE Tuesday, January 6 7:01 pm Hosted by Katie Jones Please RSVP to Katie if you are planning on attending JOY CIRCLE Thursday, January 8 9:15 am at the Church Hosted by Joan Christopher Please RSVP to Joan if you are planning on attending DINAH CIRCLE Tuesday, January 20 6:30 pm at the Church Please RSVP to Melody Wahlberg if you are planning on attending YOUTH 2014 CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Thank you to everyone who attending the Youth Christmas Program We hope you enjoyed it as much as the kids enjoyed presenting it to you! Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

5 JANUARY 4 THANK YOU, PASTOR KIRSTIN January 4 will be Pastor Kirstin Kellaher s last Sunday with us. We will be saying a fond farewell to her that day. Stop and visit with her between services during the fellowship time and enjoy a piece of cake. We have been blessed with her leadership as she has shepherded us through this transition. Pastor Kirstin will continue her work with Health Partners as the admission resource chaplain for the hospice program. She has also accepted the position of bridge pastor in Somerset at Christ Lutheran and will start January 11. Best wishes to you, Pastor Kirstin, and thank you. COME AND MEET PASTOR ERIN! We will be hosting a meet and greet for Pastor Erin Nelson, who has accepted Mt. Zion s call to become our permanent pastor. Please come to meet her and extend a welcome to Pastor Erin and her family at a reception on Sunday afternoon: Sunday, January 4 2:00-4:00 Fellowship Hall JANUARY 11 WELCOME PASTOR ERIN! PASTOR ERIN S FIRST OFFICIAL SUNDAY -- JANUARY 11 January 11 will be Pastor Erin s first official Sunday with us. On this Sunday, the transition will be complete, and she will be our new pastor! Be sure to be in church for worship on that day as she conducts the two services with us and becomes part of our Mt. Zion family. Welcome, Pastor Erin! JANUARY 18 DRIVERS LICENSE SUNDAY We will be celebrating all the new drivers during both worship services on Jan. 18. If you have received your permit or license this past year, please contact the church office. JANUARY 25 FAVORITE HYMN SUNDAY Come to worship on Sunday, January 25 and sing Mt. Zion s favorite hymns as chosen by you! Voting on your Favorite Hymns will take place Jan. 11 & 18. THE BOOK NOOK By Kathy Hunter If you read for pleasure, either fiction or nonfiction from the Mt. Zion library can satisfy. For example, our library includes at least two accounts of pioneering women missionaries, one fictional and one real. In The Calling of Emily Evans, author Janette Oke s title character is a fictional composite of missionary women in the Canadian West in the early 1900s. A young, single woman, Emily is assigned to start a church in what turns out to be an abandoned billiard parlor with broken windows and a floor used freely as a spittoon. She endures skepticism from both men and women, a quickly vanishing food supply, and other hardships as she learns how to bring the Gospel with a combination of simple, non-confrontational hospitality and direct, honest answers to hard questions. Golden Boats from Burma is the true story of Ann Hasseltine Judson and her husband Adoniram, the first American missionaries to the Far East, about a century earlier than the Oke story. Only after six years in Burma (Myanmar) did the Judsons win their first Christian convert. But when the king refused permission for them to preach, they feared other Burmese would be too frightened to listen to them, so they decided to leave. It was their first few converts who argued that the king had no power to stop the spread of Christianity. So they stayed. Later, with her husband imprisoned in horrible conditions, herself in poor health and grieving the loss of a baby, Ann persisted and managed to win over Burmese leadership.

6 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS January 2 ~ Angie Fellrath January 3 ~ Jim Eral William Billy Johnson January 4 ~ Margie Bungum Dominic Meincke Debra Page January 5 ~ Nicole Foster William Oswald January 6 ~ Greg Veenendall January 7 ~ Krista Hallen January 8 ~ Angela Adams Kathy Hunter January 10 ~ Robin Arneson William Mahler January 12 ~ Tara Sanders January 16 ~ Sylvia Albers January 18 ~ Rachael Saathoff January 19 ~ Josh Alters Natalie Horsman Susan Johnson January 20 ~ Howard Schletz January 22 ~ Lee Halberg Andrew Tonsager January 26 ~ Todd Johnson Lily Romzek Mark Romzek Nadia Yarrington Olivia Yarrington January 28 ~ Rosa Gigure Deb Matzek January 29 ~ Joan Saathoff January 30 ~ Katie Mahler Harley Saathoff Melody Wahlberg January 31 ~ Tracy Fredrickson MARRIED IN JANUARY January 9 ~ Todd & Laurie Johnson January 12 ~ Steve & Sue Kirt January 16 ~ Jon & Barb Walczak BAPTIZED IN JANUARY Aaron Adams, Robert Baker, Nora Beard-O Connell, Mary Ellefson, Nicole Gelina, Einar Hanson, Melissa Hines, Kathy Hunter, Kristen Johnson, Steve Kirt, Roger Leen, Jenny Neumann, Sally Nuebel, Olive Olson, Gwen Paulson, Jim Paulson, Les Rayome, Todd Solberg, Marcia Teschner, Terry Teschner and Deb Tonsager. *If you know your exact date, please contact the church office. Jan. 3 ~ Carol Gustafson Audrey Miller Jan. 6 ~ Logan Alters Samantha Keyes Jan. 9 ~ Anna Peterson Jan. 10 ~ Jim Eral Jan. 15 ~ Samantha Lockwood Jan. 20 ~ Dan Hallen Amelia Spence Jan. 26 ~ Paul Dombrock Keelan Tepper - Engh Jan. 30 ~ Kasen Schletz One of the privileges of being part of the body of Christ is the opportunity to share in the joy and the sorrow of others. If you have a special prayer request or would like to place someone on the prayer chain, please call the church office at (715) or the Prayer Chain Leader, Joyce Johnson, and we will make sure to add that person to our list! TOGETHER, WE CAN MULTIPLY THE JOY AND DIVIDE THE SORROW!

7 SUNDAY MORNING HOSPITALITY TEAMS MISSION: To provide a welcoming experience for all who walk through our doors January 4 8:15 am Lead: Nicole Gelina Acolyte Noah Gerdts Ushers Todd & Kristin Solberg Reader Nicole Gelina Greeters The Gelina Family Communion Renee Eickstadt Fellowship: Mt. Zion Church Council 10:30 am Lead: Olive Olson Acolyte Andrew Gustafson Ushers Dana & Tor Okerlund Reader Bill Olson Greeters Bill & Olive Olson Communion Olive Olson January 18 8:15 am Lead: Kristen Johnson Acolyte Ellie Johnson Ushers - Mike & Linda Yde Reader - Judy Meincke Greeters - Katie Jones & Don Kriegl Communion - Katie Jones Fellowship: Karen McConville 10:30 am Leads: OPEN Acolyte Ailee Neumann Ushers Jim & Gwen Paulson Reader Gwen Paulson Greeters Dave & Jackie Anderson Communion Jon Schneewind January 11 8:15 am Lead: Jim Eral Acolyte Maggie Gustafson Ushers Harley & Joan Saathoff Reader - Mary Ellefson Greeters Norm & Cheryl Maser Communion - Jim Eral Fellowship: Anna Peterson 10:30 am Lead: Karen McConville Acolyte Cameron Jahns Ushers Earl Monson & Colin McConville Reader Christopher Gustafson Greeters The Paul Mahler Family Communion Karen McConville January 25 8:15 am Jack Johnson & Chris Gelina Acolyte Sierra Keyes Ushers Dave & Lisa Anderson Reader Floyd Foslien Greeters Sandy Huppert & Sharon Tepper Communion Floyd Foslien Fellowship: Bev Schletz 10:30 am Lead: Andrea Dreier Acolyte: Jack Flattum Ushers TBT Reader TBT Greeters TBT Communion TBT If there is a conflict with scheduling, please contact your team lead or Kristen Johnson Hospitality Team Coordinator. If you would like to be added to a Team, please also speak with Kristen and find out how to get involved!

8 CONTACTING US Church Office (715) Pastor ~ Erin Nelson pastor@mtzionhudson.com Secretary ~ Anna Peterson secretary@mtzionhudson.com Milestones ~ Christine Jahns Organist ~ Deb Tonsager Sr. Choir Director ~ Craig Gustafson Jr. Choir/Tone Chime Choir ~ MaryKay Mahler Parish Nurse ~ Eileen Wymer President ~ Floyd Foslien