The Contact December 2018 Pg. 2 Prayers, Birthdays, Anniversaries Group Gatherings Display Case Z-Book Club Office Closing Mitten Tree Pg. 3 Greeters, Readers, Acolytes, Hospitality Youth Night Poinsettias Classes Christmas Services Christmas Ushers Pg. 4 Ushers, Altar Guild, Meetings, Practices Contributions Epiphany Faith Stepping Stones Pg. 5 Thank You s AED Machine Invitation Pg. 6 Financial Update Pg. 7 Calendar Faith. Family. Community. SAVE THE DATE On Sunday, December 2 during the education hour, there will be a youth ministry summit meeting to plan for next summer's trip. We will also discuss current needs of our youth ministries and opportunities to reach more youth. See you there! ANGEL TREE Thank you to the generous Zion members who are helping to make the holidays brighter for families in the LSI HOPES Program. Angel tree gifts (unwrapped) are due December 2. The gifts will be distributed December 11 at the HOPES Christmas party at Grace Lutheran. Lutheran Living angel tags are now available on the tree. Gift suggestions are listed on the back of each angel. Lutheran Living Angel tree gifts (wrapped) are due December 9-16. Thank you for sharing the spirit of Christmas! CHRISTMAS PROGRAM We would like to have all the students here at the following practices and to please bring your parts: December 2 at 10 AM, December 8 at 9 AM, and December 9 at 10 AM. If you have lost your part, let Stacey know so she can get you another copy. The program is December 9 at 4 PM. This year s theme is Bethlehem!...Nothing Ever Happens Here. ADVENT MUSIC PROGRAM Please join the Bell Choir and organist, Charles Potter, for an Advent Music Program on Sunday, December 23 at 3:30 PM in Zion s sanctuary.
PRAYERS AROUND ZION Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. For those that are ill: Marietta Zimmerman, Elaine Van Grevenhof, David Hanson, Ray Stange, Thelma Hidlebaugh, Steven Pugh, Sharon Pugh, Bette Logel, Ron Subbert For those who have lost a loved one: Sheryl Mercer on the loss of her mother, Kay Hedden. The Taylor family on the loss of Ray Taylor. The Poole family on the loss of Paula Poole. Birthdays & Anniversaries: * = 90+ yrs., ** = 100+ yrs. Anniversaries = 50+ yrs. *12/4 Bette Logel 12/7 Maggie Tiecke *12/9 Anita Davis 12/9 Sharon Pugh 12/13 Barb Sabbath 12/21 Carol Christophersen *12/23 Shirley Stange 12/24 Ruth Starkweather 12/25 Elaine Petersen 12/28 Carl Carlson 12/29 Dick Marr 12/30 Bob Martz 12/15 Bob & Bonnie Nicolai 12/18 Sharon & Betsy Martin OUT - TO - LUNCH BUNCH Out-to-Lunch Bunch will meet at 11:30 AM on December 13 at Happy Joe s. Sign up on the nursery bulletin board. SUPPER CLUB Supper Club will meet at 6:00 PM on December 15 at Applebee s. Sign up on the nursery bulletin board. GROUP 5 Group 5 will meet on December 18 at TBA for their Christmas Party. GROUP 6 Group 6 will meet on December 9 at 6:00 PM at Mamma Mia s for their Christmas Party. DISPLAY CASE December s display case will feature Christmas items such as figurines, centerpieces, etc. (no tree ornaments or nativity scenes). Have items to the church office by November 30. Z-BOOK CLUB The next meeting for Z-Book Club will be Monday, December 10 at 5 pm at HyVee Market Cafe. The book we will be reading is The Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah. OFFICE CLOSING The church office will be closed on December 24 and 25 for Christmas and December 31 and January 1 for New Year s. Please plan visits accordingly. MITTEN TREE Sunday School Sponsored Opportunity: The 4th and 5th Grade Class put up the Mitten Tree and it will remain up until Epiphany in January. Mittens, hats, scarves, socks, underwear, and sweat pants can be placed on the tree. They will be given to LSI, MCSA, and schools for children in need. 2
GREETERS UP: 12/2 Jim & Linda Maas 12/9 John & Melody Evans 12/16 Marilyn Briscoe 12/23 Mary Butcher & Kim Sears 12/24 (4PM) Sheryl Mercer 12/24 (9PM) Jim & Linda Maas 12/30 Sheryl Mercer GREETERS DOWN: 12/2 Charles & Jan Drumm 12/9 Bill & Patty Chrisman 12/16 Diane Emlet & Laurie Noah 12/23 Rosendo & Stacey Ramos 12/24 (4PM) 12/24 (9PM) 12/30 READERS: 12/2 Wendy Brendel 12/9 Tyler Baars 12/16 Mary Danner 12/23 Julie & Abi Frye 12/30 No Reader ACOLYTES: 12/2 Avery Schroeder 12/9 Matt Richardson 12/16 Nathan Taylor 12/23 Jackson Brendel & Clayton Smith 12/24 (4PM) Ella & Avery Schroeder 12/24 (9PM) Matt Richardson 12/30 Gabriella Steele HOSPITALITY: 12/2 Property 12/9 Stewardship 12/16 Council 12/23 Finance 12/30 Social Ministry YOUTH NIGHT (name, TBD) Tyler Baars ad Vicar Liz will be hosting a youth night at Zion On Sunday, December 16 from 4-8 PM. We hope this can be a time for the Youth to either work on homework, play games, or ask questions about the world and their faith if they feel so called. We will be providing pizza for dinner. POINSETTIAS Poinsettias can now be ordered. Envelopes are located in the Narthex. Price per plant is $10. Please return envelopes by December 19. Plants will come from HyVee. CONFIRMATION & SUNDAY SCHOOL Please note that confirmation classes will not be meeting on December 19, 26, and January 2 due to Christmas and New Year s. Classes will resume on January 9, 2019. Sunday School will not meet on December 23 and 30 but will resume on January 6, 2019. CHRISTMAS SERVICES Christmas services for Zion are as follows: Monday, December 24 at 4 PM - Family worship with candlelight & communion Monday, December 24 at 8:30 PM - Christmas Choir Concert from Zion s Senior Choir Monday, December 24 at 9 PM - Late worship with candlelight & communion Sunday, December 30 at 9 AM - Lessons and Carols *There will be no services on Christmas Day and the church will be closed. CHRISTMAS USHERS Extra ushers are needed to help with the 4 PM and 9 PM Christmas Eve worship services. If you are able to volunteer for one or both of these services, please speak with Riley Padgett (319-212-0396). 3
USHERS: Riley Padgett, Mike Watson, Mark Perisho, Duane Williams, Charles Meyer ALTAR GUILD: Stacey & Sheryl UPCOMING MEETINGS: Gateway: 3:15 PM - 12/7 All Comm: 6:30 PM - 12/6 Executive: 6:15 PM - 12/13 Council: 7 PM - 12/13 CHOIR PRACTICES: Bell Choir @ 6:15 PM on 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 1/2 Senior Choir @ 7 PM on 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 1/2 YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS All end of year contributions needs to be turned into the church by January 2, 2019 at 9 AM in order for them to count towards your 2018 contribution year. These must have a date of no later than December 31, 2018 or they can not be counted towards this year s giving. The year end contribution statements will be available on January 6, 2019. EPIPHANY Epiphany is January 6. Epiphany means manifestation. On this day we celebrate the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles that is, to all nations. Some Christian traditions celebrate three great epiphanies on this day: the magi s adoration of the Christ child, Jesus baptism in the Jordan River, and his first miracle, changing water into wine. The word and sacraments are for us the great epiphany of God s grace and mercy. We go forth to witness to the light that shines brightly in our midst. FAITH STEPPING STONES First Communion Instruction: Beginning Sunday, January 6, students in the 4th grade and up will be participating in a four-week course during the 10:15 AM Sunday School hour to prepare students to receive their first communion. These classes will also meet January 13, 20, and February 3. A parent or adult sponsor is required to attend each session with the student. Students will make communion bread February 9 and receive their first communion and faith stepping stone February 10. 4
THANK YOU Thank you for the flowers; they blend with the rose colored room. More appreciated are the cards, thoughts, and prayers from concerned friends. I am recovering, incisions are healing, strength is returning very slowly but I expect more rapid gains now that I am more capable of swallowing food and drink. ~ Richard Jacobsen Thank you all for the thoughts, cards, and prayers. Your support means so much to me. God Bless! ~ Sharon Pugh Thank you to all who gave blood. It was a small number that came, but it went well. Thank you to the 14 donors that did donate and to those who donate to the blood center. ~ Social Ministry AED MACHINE An AED Machine has been purchased through the Memorial Committee. AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator and is a device that once in use will automatically diagnoses the life-threating cardiac arrhythmias. It is a machine that in the event of a Heart Attack can monitor and deliver a electric shock to reestablish an effective rhythm of the heart. In these situations seconds are crucial, and even though first responders are only a few blocks away, every second counts and this could mean the difference in life and death. This machine is designed for easy use and will walk you through the entire process, step by step with voice directions. You do not have to have any special training to use the machine! You will simply follow the voice guided direction given through the machine until help arrives. There will be a total of six (6) informational sessions on the AED machine that will take place on the below dates following service in the Table area: Saturday, Dec. 8 at 6 PM after service Sunday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 AM after hospitality and 11:30 AM after adult ed. Saturday, Dec. 15 at 6 PM after service Sunday, Dec. 16 at 10:30 AM after hospitality and 11:30 AM after adult ed. These sessions will cover the basic function and use of the AED Machine and will allow you to ask any questions that you may have. There will be informational videos and pamphlets for you to take with you as well. If you are unable to attend one of the sessions but would like all the information please contact Tyler Baars at 563-506-5295. Also please direct any questions to Tyler regarding the AED Machine. INVITATION You are invited to help Sharon Pugh s 80th birthday at Sunnybrook of Muscatine on Sunday, December 9 from 1:30-3:00 PM. The family ask that you come have cake and a refreshment to celebrate Sharon s birthday. We request no gifts, cards are welcome. 5
FINANCIAL UPDATE Oct 2018 10/12 Yr. Yr.-to-Date Actual Budget Difference Budgeted Income $206,055 256,643 (50,588) Budgeted Expense 247,971 256,643 (8,672) Net Ordinary Income (41,916) - (41,916) Unbudgeted Income 4,621-4,621 Unbudgeted Expense 1,514-1,514 Net Income (38,809) - (38,809) Fund Balances Unified $104,728 Building $1,773 Memorial $24,568 Fellowship $4,527 Youth $6,756 Designated Benevolences $14 Quilters $1,956 Mission Fund $85,944 Flower Fund (1,062) Gateway $36,556 6
D e e e c c c e e e m b b b e e e r r r 2 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 8 8 8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 10:15 AM Sunday School/Adult Ed 2 LSI Angel & Diaper Tags Due 10:15 AM Sunday School/Adult Ed/ Youth Ministry Meeting 9 10:15 AM Sunday School/Adult Ed 4:00 PM Christmas Program 6:00 PM Group 6 - Christmas Party @ Mamma Mia's 16 Lutheran Living Angel Tags Due 10:15 AM Sunday School/Adult Ed 23 3:30 PM Advent Music Program 30 10:00 AM Gift of Goodies 26 12:00 PM Contact Articles Due 27 9:00 AM Quilting Ladies 28 6:30 PM Confirmation 3 4 9:00 AM Quilting Ladies 5 6:30 PM Confirmation 10 5:00 PM Z-Book Club @ HyVee Market Cafe 17 12:00 PM Contact Articles Due 4:00 & 9:00 PM Worship 8:30 PM Sr. Choir Concert 11 9:00 AM Quilting Ladies 18 9:30 AM Group 5 - Christmas Party 12 6:30 PM Confirmation 19 Poinsettia Orders Due 25 Office Office Office Closed 26 31 Office Office Office Closed 1 Office Office Office Closed 2 29 9:00 AM Contact Assembly 30 Display Items Due 1 6 7 8 6:30 PM All Committee Night 3:15 PM Gateway Meeting 9:00 AM Christmas Program Practice 13 11:30 AM Lunch Bunch @ Happy Joe s 6:15 PM Exec. Committee 7:00 PM Church Council 20 9:00 AM Contact Assembly 14 15 6:00 PM Supper Club @ Applebee s 21 22 27 28 29 3 6:30 PM All Committee Night 4 3:15 PM Gateway Meeting 5 24 Office Office Office Closed 7
THE CONTACT DECEMBER 2018 KEEPING ZION CONNECTED Zion Lutheran Church 513 Sycamore Street Muscatine, IA 52761 563.263.5074 Visit us online at ZIONMUSCATINE.ORG Follow us at TWITTER@ZIONMUSCATINE